South India Tour: Bangalore to Kerala

Today your journey with "Best Travel Agents in India" begins. Upon arrival in New Delhi International Airport, you will be welcomed by our English-speaking representative and transferred to your hotel. The Rest of the day is at your leisure.

After a good night's sleep, a city tour of Bangalore is on the agenda today. During the tour, you'll see some of the city's past. You'll visit the granite Vidhana Soudha building and drive through Cubbon Park, where you'll visit the Government Museum. The Lalbagh Botanical Garden is also on the itinerary. After the tour, the journey continues to Hassan, approximately a four-hour drive. Along the way, you can arrange a stop at the pilgrimage site of Sravanbalagola with your driver. You'll spend the night in Hassan.

Before traveling to Mysore, a drive of approximately three hours, you will visit the Chennakeshava Temple in Belur and the Hoysaleshwara Temple in Halebrid. Both temples feature characteristic South Indian architecture. After your visit, you will depart for Mysore. The afternoon is at your leisure, and you may choose to visit the local spice market on your own. The markets are very picturesque, including the Devaraja fruit and vegetable market.

In the morning, you will take a tour of Mysore with your private, English-speaking guide. You will see the city's major sights, such as Mysore Palace, one of the largest palaces in India. After your visit, you will drive to Chamundi Hill. At the top lies the 2,000-year-old Chamundeswari Temple. From here, you can descend the steps to the Nandi Bull, a 4.8-meter-high monolith. Many pilgrims visit this place year-round. The afternoon is at your leisure, and you can explore the city at your leisure.

From Mysore, you will continue to Ooty (approx. four hours' drive). After arrival, the rest of the day is at your leisure. You can, for example, take a walk in the surrounding area.

Today you will tour Udagamandalam (Ooty), situated at an altitude of 2240 meters. Ooty is the highest hill station in the Nilgiri Hills. Enjoy the beautiful green mountain scenery and the many tea plantations.

In the morning, you will be transferred to Ooty station where you will board the hill train to Coonoor. At a maximum speed of 33 km/h, this journey takes about 1.5 hours. Along the way, you can enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery and train life. After arriving in Coonoor, you will continue by car to Coimbatore (approximately 2 hours). You will stay here overnight. After arrival, you will take a city tour of the "Manchester of South India." Coimbatore is particularly known for its cotton production, with more than a hundred textile mills.

From Coimbatore, you will continue to Cochin, approximately five hours' drive. The city is a major port with a rich past and a vibrant present. The historic heart of the city is the Fort Kochi district. The afternoon is at your leisure.

In the evening, you will attend a traditional Kathakali dance performance. While the storyline and intricate symbolism may be a bit overwhelming, the costumes, masks, and colorful makeup of the actors alone make it worth it.

In the morning, you'll take a guided city tour of Cochin. During the tour, you'll visit Mattancherry Palace, also known as the Dutch Palace, where you'll see murals depicting events from the important Hindu epics Mahabharata and Ramayana. The palace was originally built by the Portuguese but was renovated by the Dutch in the 17th century. You'll also visit the Synagogue, the oldest in India (closed to visitors on Fridays and Saturdays). Throughout the city, you'll see many spice warehouses, still used for a lively trade.

Tip: For truly delicious food, try Dal Roti. It's incredibly affordable, but correspondingly popular: arrive early or you'll have to wait outside for a spot.

In the morning, you'll depart for Munnar (approx. a three-hour drive). You'll spend the night in this higher mountainous area (Hill Station). After arriving at the hotel, you'll take a tour of the surrounding area in the afternoon. There are waterfalls, tea plantations, lakes, and the higher altitude ensures a pleasantly cool climate. On the tea plantations, you'll see women picking tea leaves. They carry traditional bamboo baskets on their backs, tied with ropes around their foreheads. You'll visit Lockhart Gap, from where you'll have a magnificent view of the Annamalai Hills and the tea plantations. With a bit of luck, you'll spot the Nilgiri Tahr, a rare mountain goat. A visit to a tea museum is also a must today (closed on Mondays).

The journey continues to Periyar (approximately a four-hour drive), a good starting point for a visit to the national park of the same name. In the afternoon, a jungle trek is planned. During the trek, you can spot various animal species. You will also receive information about the various spices you encounter. Cardamom and vanilla, among others, are native to this region.

Note: Bring good quality of shoes and plenty of water.

Note: This afternoon, you can also opt for a boat trip on Periyar Lake, the heart of the park. From the boat, you can easily spot the park's wildlife. You have a chance to see elephants, wild dogs, black langurs, otters, turtles, and many bird species.

After breakfast, you will be taken to the next location: Emerald Isle (approx. three hours' drive). This island is located in the heart of the Backwaters nature reserve. Enjoy the hospitality of this accommodation, a small, historic building with a friendly host family.

In the afternoon, you can optionally participate in various activities, including boat trips. You can also enjoy a traditional Ayurvedic treatment… pure pampering! Or simply take a stroll along the waterfront. You'll see all sorts of activity on the waterfront: children walking to school, women washing dishes on the shore, and men practicing for the annual boat races. There are some lovely seating areas in the garden. Ideal for taking it easy and reading a book.

You will be taken to the jetty where you will board a houseboat. Today and tomorrow, you will explore the Kerala Backwaters nature reserve. A unique experience! You will sail across lagoons, lakes, rivers, and canals, passing local villages and watching fishermen bring in the catch of the day. The backwaters form a unique ecosystem because the freshwater of the rivers meets the Arabian Sea at various points. This is the habitat of various animal species such as cormorants, kingfishers, otters, herons, and turtles. The banks are covered with palm trees and shrubs, creating a refreshing view. Meals and overnight stays are provided on board this boat.

In the morning, you can enjoy the tranquillity of the Backwaters. After breakfast, you will sail back to the mainland (Alleppey), after which you will continue your journey by car with a private driver to your final destination: Kovalam. Here you will stay on the beach, allowing you to reflect on all the impressions of your tour. Kovalam is the most famous seaside resort in the Indian province of Kerala and boasts beautiful beaches. It is located at the very tip of India, where the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean meet. This seaside resort is sometimes called the new Goa, but tourism is not yet as developed here.

Day at leisure. Here you can relax and unwind from all the impressions of the tour. You can relax on the beach or, for example, enjoy a genuine Indian Ayurvedic massage.

Day at leisure. If desired, we can arrange a day trip to Trivandrum for you. Trivandrum is the capital of Kerala; here you will find the Shri Padmanabhaswamy Temple and Padmanabhapuram Palace, among other things.

You will be transferred to Trivandrum airport in time for your return flight. End our services.