Southern India Explorer, Luxury Heritage Bangalore, Mysore, Ooty, Wayanad, Kochi, Alleppey and Kovalam · 13 nights
The same fortnight south, in heritage rooms: The Lalit Ashok, the Metropole, Marli Hill and the Travancore Heritage.
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 The Lalit Ashok, in a Premier Pool View room.
Tonight you sleep at The Lalit Ashok.
The Lalit's Bangalore house, in its gardens.
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 Royal Orchid Metropole, a heritage stay for the palace.
Tonight you sleep at Royal Orchid Metropole.
A colonial heritage stay for the palace.
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 Marli Hill, CGH Earth's boutique house in the Nilgiris.
Tonight you sleep at Marli Hill.
CGH Earth's colonial bungalow in the Nilgiris.
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 Vythiri Resort, in a Vythiri Heaven room.
Tonight you sleep at Vythiri Resort.
A 150-acre stretch of Wayanad rainforest the founders came across in 1993, six coffee-workers' row houses standing on it; today there are 36 villas and cottages, plus tree houses up in the canopy, beside a forest stream crossed by a swaying rope bridge. No TVs, no air-conditioning, patchy signal, quite deliberately. Kerala Ayurveda at the spa; the Malabar whistling thrush does the wake-up call.
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 Fragrant Nature in Mattancherry, in the Duke's Chamber.
Tonight you sleep at Fragrant Nature.
On the harbour at Mattancherry.
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 premium one-bedroom houseboat.
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 the Travancore Heritage, in a Premium Sea View Mansion.
Tonight you sleep at The Travancore Heritage.
A heritage beach resort at Kovalam.
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, Luxury Heritage cost?
Southern India Explorer, Luxury Heritage starts at ₹2,39,000£2,100€2,400$3,050 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 Kovalam?
This one runs 13 nights, which is 14 days counting the day you travel home, split between Bangalore, Mysore, Ooty, Wayanad, Kochi, Alleppey and Kovalam. 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 a premium one-bedroom houseboat, all meals on board, private chauffeur-driven car throughout, english-speaking local guides, sunset cruise on the backwaters at kovalam, 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 a premium one-bedroom houseboat, all meals on board · Private chauffeur-driven car throughout · English-speaking local guides · Sunset cruise on the backwaters at Kovalam · 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.