Itinerary
- Day 1
Kochi
You'll land in Kochi and meet up with your group at 6 pm. If your flight gets in early, there's time to wander around this historic spice-trading port city. The Chinese fishing nets along Fort Cochin's shore are worth checking out, or you could join an urban adventure tour to get a sense of the place before the evening meetup.
Optional Activities
- Urban Adventures in Kochi
- Explore Chinese fishing nets at Fort Cochin
Landmarks/POIs Fort Cochin - Day 2
Kochi
After breakfast, a leader takes you on an orientation walk and city tour through Kochi. You'll hop in a local tuk-tuk to Mattancherry to see the Dutch Palace and walk through spice bazaars filled with antique shops. By evening, you'll settle in for a traditional Kathakali performance, watching performers in ornate costumes tell stories through precise body movements and gestures.
Included Activities
- Leader-led Fort Kochi walking tour
- Dutch Palace visit
- Kathakali performance
Optional Activities
- Paradesi Synagogue visit
Landmarks/POIs Dutch Palace Paradesi Synagogue Mattancherry - Day 3
Kochi to Conoor
Most of today involves travel. You'll catch a train to Coimbatore, then transfer to a private vehicle for the scenic drive into the Nilgiri hills toward Conoor, known for its tea estates. Along the way, the landscape shifts to rolling hills and green valleys, so bring a book or play games with other travellers. You'll arrive in time to join everyone for a group dinner at your accommodation.
- Meals
- Dinner (Group dinner at accommodation)
Landmarks/POIs Nilgiri Hills - Day 4
Conoor to Ooty
Start with a walk around Conoor and head to a tea plantation to learn how tea gets grown and processed in this region. Next, board the famous Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a narrow-gauge toy train that winds through lush countryside, and try to grab a window seat for the views. Spend your afternoon in Ooty's Botanical Gardens with over 650 plant and tree species, or take an optional boat ride on the lake if that appeals to you.
Included Activities
- Tea plantation visit and orientation walk
- Nilgiri Mountain Railway ride
Optional Activities
- Botanical Gardens visit
- Boat ride on Ooty Lake
Landmarks/POIs Nilgiri Mountain Railway Ooty Botanical Gardens Ooty Lake - Day 5
Bandipur
You'll travel by private vehicle to Bandipur, a town set against the Nilgiri Hills. From there, you head into Mudumalai National Park, which used to be a royal hunting ground and now falls under Project Tiger protection. A safari takes you through the park where you might spot tigers, leopards, elephants, sloth bears, sambars, and spotted deer. The birdlife here is diverse too, making it one of India's better wildlife sanctuaries for seeing a variety of animals in a single day.
Included Activities
- National Park Safari in Mudumalai
Landmarks/POIs Mudumalai National Park Nilgiri Hills - Day 6
Bandipur to Mysore
After driving across the scenic Karnataka plains to Mysore, you'll head straight to a local family's home for lunch featuring traditional dishes. They'll teach you about making incense, a traditional local craft that you can try yourself. Later, take an orientation walk to get your bearings around town, then visit Mysore Palace with its ornate rooms filled with colorful mosaics and mirrors throughout.
- Meals
- Lunch (Home-cooked lunch of traditional Indian favourites with local family)
Included Activities
- Home-cooked lunch with local family
- Incense-making experience with local family
- Leader-led walking tour
- Mysore Palace visit
Landmarks/POIs Mysore Palace - Day 7
Mysore
Climb Chamundi Hill in the morning to reach Sri Chamundeswari Temple, dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Durga. Continue to the Keshava Temple in Somnathpur to see fine Hoysala architecture, and visit Tipu Sultan's mausoleum in Sriranga Patna. Alternatively, stay in Mysore for a palm reading or catch a film at the local cinema if that interests you more. That evening, board an overnight sleeper train to Chennai.
Included Activities
- Chamundi Hill and Sri Chamundeswari Temple visit
- Keshava Temple visit
Optional Activities
- Tipu Sultan's Mausoleum visit
- Palm reading in Mysore
- Local cinema visit
Landmarks/POIs Chamundi Hill Sri Chamundeswari Temple Keshava Temple Tipu Sultan's Mausoleum - Day 8
Chennai to Mamallapuram
After arriving in Chennai, a private vehicle takes you along the scenic East Coast Road to Mamallapuram, an ancient seaport town. You'll explore by tuk-tuk and check out the seventh-century Shore Temple and the massive Arjuna's Penance rock carving. There's time to see the town's mandapams (temple pavilions), watch local stonemasons carving, or simply relax at a beachside restaurant with a view.
Included Activities
- Shore Temple guided tour
- Arjuna's Penance visit
Optional Activities
- Watch local stonemasons at work
- Beachside relaxation
Landmarks/POIs Shore Temple Arjuna's Penance - Day 9
Mamallapuram to Puducherry
You'll drive through palm trees and rice paddies on your way to Puducherry. Once there, join your group and leader on a walking tour to see local temples, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, and the French Quarter. This former French colony shows its colonial heritage through architecture, wide town squares, and even the police uniforms, creating an interesting mix of French and Indian cultures.
Included Activities
- Leader-led French Quarter walking tour
Optional Activities
- Local temples exploration
- Sri Aurobindo Ashram visit
Landmarks/POIs Sri Aurobindo Ashram - Day 10
Puducherry to Madurai
Drive to Madurai, one of India's oldest cities with Tamil roots going back 2,500 years. Walk through the lamp-lit maze of Sri Meenakshi Amman Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Meenakshi, and then visit the Gandhi Memorial Museum. There you'll see displays about India's independence struggle and the bloodstained dhoti Gandhi wore when he was assassinated.
Included Activities
- Sri Meenakshi Amman Temple visit
Optional Activities
- Gandhi Memorial Museum visit
Landmarks/POIs Sri Meenakshi Amman Temple Gandhi Memorial Museum - Day 11
Madurai to Periyar
You'll drive along winding roads to Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve, set high in the Western Ghats. This is Southern India's most popular wildlife sanctuary, and today you'll explore on foot to understand why. Visit a local spice plantation to see how spices are grown, then join your local family hosts for an authentic home-cooked Southern Indian dinner with traditional flavors and recipes.
- Meals
- Dinner (Home-cooked meal with local family hosts featuring authentic Southern Indian flavours)
Included Activities
- Periyar National Park exploration
- Spice plantation visit
- Home-cooked meal with local family
Landmarks/POIs Periyar National Park - Day 12
Periyar
Head back into Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary for a guided nature walk through the jungle. While spotting tigers isn't guaranteed, you might find tiger tracks, spotted deer, Indian elephants, or gaur (the world's largest buffalo). It's more about experiencing the jungle than a dedicated animal-spotting tour. Later in the afternoon, relax with an optional ayurvedic massage at your accommodation, or simply unwind with a drink and take in the scenic surroundings.
Included Activities
- Periyar guided nature walk
Optional Activities
- Ayurvedic massage at accommodation
Landmarks/POIs Periyar National Park - Day 13
Periyar to Kerala Backwaters
Drive through rubber, tea, and coffee plantations on your way to Kerala's backwaters. You'll board a motorboat and cross to an island village where you're staying with a local family. In the late afternoon, explore the island with an English-speaking local guide to meet residents and learn about island life. Take a leisurely punt boat ride through the waterways, then sit down for a traditional home-cooked Keralan meal while sharing stories with your host family.
- Meals
- Dinner (Traditional home-cooked Keralan meal with host family)
Included Activities
- Pole boat ride in Kerala Backwaters
- Island village walk with local guide
Landmarks/POIs Kerala Backwaters - Day 14
Backwaters to Kochi
Start early and cross the backwaters by private boat to Alleppey, then take a bus back to Kochi. The afternoon and evening are yours to do what you want. Walk around Princess Street if you're interested in shopping, or sign up for a southern Indian cooking class to learn some local techniques. If you'd rather just relax, that's fine too. There's an optional group dinner at a local restaurant where you can try pazham pori, which are fried banana fritters.
Included Activities
- Backwaters crossing by private boat
Optional Activities
- Shopping on Princess Street
- Southern Indian cooking class
- Group dinner at local restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Princess Street Alleppey - Day 15
Kochi
No organized activities are scheduled today. Check out of your accommodation whenever suits you and depart at your own pace.
