Southern India Explorer Bangalore, Mysore, Ooty, Wayanad, Kochi, Alleppey and Poovar · 13 nights
Bangalore to the backwaters: palaces, a tiger safari, tea and the mountain train, ending on Poovars beaches.
Arrive Bangalore
Met at the international airport and driven to the hotel, then a guided walk through the city in the afternoon — the Raj-era centre on one side, the tech city on the other.
One night at Fortune Select JP Cosmos.
Tonight you sleep at Fortune Select JP Cosmos.
An ITC Fortune hotel in Bengaluru.
See the full stay →Bangalore to Mysore
A vineyard at Channapatna, 60 km south-west, with tastings. Then Srirangapatna, Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan’s seat until the British took it in 1799 — the ramparts and battlements still stand.
Two nights at the Grand Mercure, for the palace and the hill.
Tonight you sleep at Grand Mercure.
For the palace and the hill.
See the full stay →Mysore
Mysore Palace, Indo-Saracenic, with the Doll’s Pavilion, the Elephant Gate and the golden howdah. In the afternoon the Chamundi hill temple and its 16-foot Nandi, given by Dodda Devaraja Wodeyar in 1659, and St Philomena’s church, built in 1936.
Mysore to Ooty
Bandipur by car, once the Mysore maharajas’ reserve and now 880 sq km of tiger, elephant, leopard and sloth bear. An afternoon safari at Mudumalai, 12 km on, then up to Ooty.
Two nights at ITC's Sullivan Court, in the Nilgiris.
Tonight you sleep at Fortune Resort Sullivan Court.
In the Nilgiris at Ooty.
See the full stay →Ooty and Coonoor
A tea factory and Lovedale, a British hill town from 1812 with its cottages and gothic churches. Lunch, Sim’s Park and the Coonoor tea plantations, back to Ooty for the evening.
Ooty to Wayanad
Needle Rock viewpoint at Gudalur, the Wayanad wildlife sanctuary, Pookot Lake and the Chain Tree, into the resort mid-afternoon.
Two nights at Wayanad Wild, a jungle lodge at Vythiri.
Tonight you sleep at Wayanad Wild.
CGH Earth's jungle lodge at Vythiri.
See the full stay →Wayanad
Yours. The resort runs nature walks with a naturalist and treks to the hillocks, and there is a cooking demonstration in the evening.
Wayanad to Kochi
Down through Lakkidi and its viewpoint, into Kochi by evening.
Two nights at the Casino Hotel, CGH Earth's place on Willingdon Island.
Tonight you sleep at Casino Hotel.
CGH Earth's place in Willingdon Island, Kochi.
See the full stay →Kochi
The Chinese fishing nets, in use since 1350; St Francis’ Church, built in 1503, where Vasco da Gama was buried before he was taken to Lisbon; the Jewish Synagogue, over 400 years old; and the murals of the Dutch Palace.
Kochi to Alleppey
Aboard the houseboat for the backwaters, three meals cooked on board.
One night on a deluxe houseboat through the backwaters.
Tonight you sleep at Backwaters Houseboat.
A night afloat on a traditional kettuvallam houseboat, cruising the lagoons and village channels of the Alleppey backwaters.
See the full stay →Alleppey to Poovar
Off the boat and south down the coast, past Kovalam, to Poovar.
Three nights at Isoladicocco in a Heritage room, where the backwater meets the sea.
Tonight you sleep at Isola di Cocco.
On the banks of the Poovar River at the far south of Kerala, where river, beach and backwater meet, Isola di Cocco is a coconut-grove retreat of Kerala-style villas, a private beach, and a proper Ayurvedic centre on site. Its name means the Island of Coconuts. Days go slowly here: the pool, the sand, or the long calm of an Ayurveda treatment.
See the full stay →Poovar
Yours.
Poovar
Yours, and the day for the massage.
Home
Breakfast, then the drive to Trivandrum airport.
How much does the Southern India Explorer cost?
Southern India Explorer starts at ₹1,49,500£1,300€1,500$1,900 per person, based on two people sharing a room, with taxes included. That covers 13 nights and everything listed as included on this page. It does not include international flights: this is a land-only price, so you book your own flights to India and we handle everything from the airport onwards. Festival and peak dates are priced separately.
How many days do you need for Bangalore, Mysore, Ooty, Wayanad, Kochi, Alleppey and Poovar?
This one runs 13 nights, which is 14 days counting the day you travel home, split between Bangalore, Mysore, Ooty, Wayanad, Kochi, Alleppey and Poovar. The length is fixed, but tell us if you want it changed and we will re-quote.
What is included in the price?
half-board throughout: breakfast and dinner every day, wine tasting and vineyard tour near bangalore, guided tour of mysore palace and the city, 4x4 tiger safari at mudumalai, the unesco nilgiri mountain train, tea tasting in ooty, kerala cooking demonstration in wayanad, one night aboard an air-conditioned houseboat, all meals on board, private chauffeur-driven car throughout, english-speaking local guides, sunset mangrove cruise at poovar, one complimentary full-body ayurvedic massage and monument and park entrance fees.
What is not included?
international flights: this is a land-only price, meals beyond those listed, tips, laundry and personal expenses, christmas and new year dates (21 dec to 10 jan): around 20% peak surcharge plus compulsory gala dinners and dussehra dates in mysore and ooty (10 to 26 oct): festival supplement applies. Everything else on this page is covered by the price shown.
Is this a private tour or a group tour?
Private. The car, the driver and the guides are yours alone, and the trip runs on your dates rather than a fixed departure. You are never put onto a coach with strangers.
How do I book?
Tell us your dates and we come back with a firm price and availability. There is no online checkout: a person answers, on WhatsApp or by email, and you book with Indiaesque directly rather than through an agent or a booking site.
Same 13 nights, one price.
The days never change. The season does, and the price moves with it. Per person, two sharing, 13 nights:
per person, two sharing, taxes in. Exact dates are priced at enquiry.
InHalf-board throughout: breakfast and dinner every day · Wine tasting and vineyard tour near Bangalore · Guided tour of Mysore Palace and the city · 4x4 tiger safari at Mudumalai · The UNESCO Nilgiri mountain train · Tea tasting in Ooty · Kerala cooking demonstration in Wayanad · One night aboard an air-conditioned houseboat, all meals on board · Private chauffeur-driven car throughout · English-speaking local guides · Sunset mangrove cruise at Poovar · One complimentary full-body Ayurvedic massage · Monument and park entrance fees
Not inInternational flights: this is a land-only price · Meals beyond those listed · Tips, laundry and personal expenses · Christmas and New Year dates (21 Dec to 10 Jan): around 20% peak surcharge plus compulsory gala dinners · Dussehra dates in Mysore and Ooty (10 to 26 Oct): festival supplement applies
Ask us anything. Dates, rooms, the driver. A person replies. Or email us.