Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Kerala & Karnataka A Journey Along India’s Southwest Coast
India – Bangalore – Cochin – Alleppey – Palakkad – Coonoor – Wayanad – Mysore – Coorg – Neeleshwar
Kick off in Karnataka’s capital, Bangalore, before journeying south to Kerala with stays in Cochin, Alleppey, Palakkad and Wayanad. You’ll also enjoy a brief foray into the state of Tamil Nadu for a few days in the tea plantations of Coonoor.
Then, slip back into Karnataka with a visit to the vibrant metropolis of Mysore. Having hit the streets with a string of expert guides, continue to Coorg and Neeleshwar to round out your trip with a healthy dose of R&R split between the highlands and the coast.
To see the country off in style, your last night will unfold in Mumbai, the ideal spot for a seriously swanky dinner and a bittersweet toast to a trip well spent. After all, if there’s one country that can have you desperate to return after a whopping 26 days, it’s India…
Itinerary
100% customisable for you
Passports at the ready and out-of-offices set – your escape to southwest India kicks off today. Flights to Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka, take just under ten hours, so you’ll spend the night on board and arrive the following day. Nothing left to do but kick back, crack open your holiday reads and... relax.
After landing, step out into the heat to meet your private driver, who’ll whisk you off into the heart of the city. Check in for two nights, drop your bags and freshen up before taking some time to unwind this afternoon.
Come dinnertime, start your adventure on a high note by reaching out to our local Concierge for some stellar restaurant recommendations. Let’s dig in.
After breakfast this morning, head out to meet a local guide for a private tour of the city. Home to some 14 million people, Bangalore is one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the world, making some insider intel incredibly helpful.
Start with a walk through the city’s old district to experience this buzz first-hand. Then, following an invigorating cup of coffee at one of the trucks lining the streets, venture into the narrow alleyways to meet local jewellers, weavers and street vendors.
Afterwards, head to St. Mary’s Basilica – the oldest shrine in the city – before strolling through one of the city’s lively markets to work up an appetite for lunch.
Return to your hotel this afternoon to enjoy some downtime before heading back out in search of another delicious dinner tonight. If you didn’t yesterday, order up some donne biryani (a regional rice dish) this evening.
Heed the call of the coast this morning as you head to the airport to catch a speedy one-hour internal flight to Cochin, a major port city in Kerala.
After landing, grab your bags and meet a friendly driver for the private transfer to your next hotel. The rest of the day is yours to spend acquainting yourselves with your new surroundings before heading out in search of dinner tonight.
This morning, you’ll be met at your hotel after breakfast for a private tour of the city. Rich in history and swept by the sea breeze, Cochin is a delight to discover on foot, so prepare to rack up some steep step counts.
Start at St. Francis Church, one of the oldest churches in the country, then stroll on to the Mattancherry Palace. This 16th-century site, originally built by the Portuguese and later renovated by the Dutch, is one of the most visited places in the city.
Later on, head to the Jewish Quarter to see the oldest synagogue in the country before weaving through the trading houses, warehouses and charming cobblestone streets that populate the rest of Cochin.
Having worked up quite the appetite, return to your hotel this afternoon to freshen up before dinner. Since you’re on the coast, it would be only right to opt for a seafood-centric meal tonight.
Wake up bright and early this morning to meet a private guide, hop on a bike and pedal through the city while it wakes up. Along the way, watch the sun rise over locals playing sports on the beach, soundtracked by Gospel music from a distant church. Sounds dreamy, right?
Then, following some downtime this afternoon, set your sights on the Francis Residence, where you’ll roll up your sleeves for a traditional cooking class. Guided by an expert chef, learn all about delicious local specialities – specifically seafood – and how to make them. At the end you will, of course, be able to taste the fruits of your labour. We hope you’re hungry…
Keep cosying up to the coast today as you meet your private driver to travel to Alleppey. The journey takes an hour and a half, crossing between land, Arabian Sea, lagoons and brackish water lakes – eyes on the windows.
Often compared to Venice due to its network of canals, Alleppey demands to be discovered by water. So, naturally, you’ll be spending two nights on a kettuvalam, a traditional houseboat once used to carry rice and spices.
Over the next few days, cruise through Kerala’s enchanting backwaters, drifting along palm-lined canals and floating atop the vast Vembanad Lake. Slip into a slower pace of life with birdwatching and village visits between moments spent kicking back on deck. It doesn’t come much better than this.
Bid the coast a fond farewell this morning as you reunite with solid ground and hop back in the car for the private transfer to Palakkad. Located in the heart of central Kerala, this pretty city takes four hours and 15 minutes to reach, so don’t hesitate to request some road trip tunes.
When you roll up to your next hotel, hop out and check in for two nights. The rest of the day is free for you to spend as you please, whether that means strolling around the neighbourhood or indulging in a pre-dinner cocktail before stepping out for a meal tonight.
Rise, shine and dine this morning before packing your day bags and meeting your private guide. To kick off your cultural immersion into Kerala, venture out to explore the Agraharam enclave at Thathamangalam.
Once buzzing with community life and sacred rituals, the Agraharams are now slowly disappearing, being replaced by modern homes and changing lifestyles. Your visit offers a rare opportunity to glimpse a way of life that is quietly slipping away, so be sure to listen closely as your guide fills you in on the history of these traditional complexes.
After stopping for lunch, continue your exploration with a visit to the Handloom Weaving Community in Thenari, where you’ll be introduced to one of Kerala’s oldest traditional crafts. Watch as skilled artisans work on wooden looms, weaving vibrant threads into beautiful textiles.
While you’re wandering around the site, you’ll also learn about the community’s history, the cultural significance of the handloom and the challenges the locals have faced in keeping its heritage alive.
After a hearty breakfast this morning, meet your private driver and continue north with a three-and-a-half-hour journey to Coonoor, a hill station in Tamil Nadu known for its tea estates.
Having arrived, drop your bags at a hotel nestled in the heart of the plantations and check in for a two-night stay. After some post-car-journey-stretching, turn your thoughts towards dinner tonight – which you simply must follow up with a steaming cup of tea.
Throughout the rest of your time in Coonoor, delve into its tea plantations, sample some of the local specialities and learn about the crafting process of high-grown Nilgiri teas.
While here, you’ll also visit the nearby town of Ooty, short for Udhagamandalam (we'll stick with Ooty for now). Here, embark on a walk to retrace the steps of British explorers from St Stephen’s Church to the Nilgiri Library. If you’re feeling parched afterwards – well – there’s an obvious solution...
After tucking into a tasty breakfast, strap in for another scenic car journey today to Wayanad, just over four hours away. Keep your eyes peeled for the banana plantations that you’ll pass along the way.
You’ll be dropped off in the afternoon, ready to unload the car and check in for two nights at your next home away from home. Having settled in, take the rest of the day to unwind and enjoy the laid-back allure of another rich natural landscape.
For dinner this evening, look out for Wayanad beef curry on the menu. This area is brimming with spice plantations, so you may as well reap the rewards…
Lather on the SPF and don your sun caps this morning to embark on a private hike through the villages of Wayanad. With an expert guide, let curiosity lead the way as you step behind the veil of rural life in India.
Spend the morning strolling through the lush landscapes, tea plantations and picturesque villages dotted around town. At each step of the way, your guide will introduce you to locals who can explain their culture and traditions.
While out and about, your guide will also take you to the Wayanad Heritage Museum and the Eddakal Caves, which are located 1,200ft above sea level and date back to at least 6,000 BCE. Talk about ending the day on a high note.
Rise and shine – it’s time to continue your journey north. After a tasty breakfast this morning, hop in the car for the private transfer to Mysore, three hours away. If your road trip tunes are in need of a refresh along the way, check out our destination-specific playlist.
Having officially crossed over into Karnataka, check into your centrally located hotel, freshen up and head back out for a preliminary stroll.
Mysore is the second-largest city in Karnataka, so to cut through the noise of the many – and we do mean many – dinner options available tonight, simply contact our local Concierge for a few stellar recommendations.
Opt for a lighter breakfast today in preparation for your private cookery class this morning. Led by a local expert, learn about the different ingredients in Indian cooking, their properties and health benefits – followed by a tasting, of course.
This afternoon, swap cuisine for culture as you follow your gourmet introduction to Mysore with an immersion in the city’s streets. Accompanied by a friendly local guide, spend the rest of the day wandering from one big hitter to the next.
Start with Mysore Palace, the second-largest royal residence in India. Then, climb the 1,000 steps to the top of Chamundi Hill to see the 16ft-high Nandi (meaning bull) statue crowning the peak. Round out your adventure with a trip to Devaraja Market – bound to be a feast for the senses.
The name of the game today: delving into the rich cultural centres surrounding Mysore. Use the city as a convenient push-off point this morning, starting with a visit to a nearby village known for its silk manufacturing.
Textiles are one of the biggest industries in India, and South India produces 90% of the country’s silk, so it’s safe to say you’re in the right place. Observe the manufacturing process with a local guide today while learning some fascinating facts about everything from cultivation to spinning.
Brimming with niche know-how, extend your day of discovery in Somnathpur, another small village outside Mysore. Here, it’s not artisans but architecture that takes the spotlight – we’re talking about the Keshava Temple, a pristinely preserved site from 1268. Cameras at the ready...
Indulge in a delightfully decadent breakfast this morning before meeting your private driver to head west towards Coorg, which enjoys an altitude of 2,624ft. The journey takes just under three hours, giving you plenty of time to crack out a card game or throw on a podcast.
Throughout your three-night stay in this hilltop haven, you’ll be free to explore the rolling hills and coffee plantations that surround Coorg. Keen to slow down after a busy couple of weeks? Enjoy guided walks, birdwatching, yoga or a soothing treatment in your hotel’s spa. Those seeking something a little more active could also opt for a coracle ride, a bike ride, another cooking class or a cultural experience.
However you choose to spend your time, you’ll be able to unwind afterwards with a dip in the pool and an evening spent nursing a top-tier drink on the deck under a ceiling of stars. What a treat.
Keep the good times rolling this morning by grabbing your bags, checking out and meeting your private driver to reunite with the coast. The next four nights of your trip will be spent in Neeleshwar, a two-hour-and-50-minute drive away.
A Hindu village perched on the coast, Neeleshwar beckons those seeking a slower pace. Far from the hustle and bustle of India’s metropolitan centres, it allows you to fully relax and embrace the calm of coastal life.
When you’re not cracking open your holiday read and kicking back on the palm-lined shores, you can visit the three ancient temples that surround the village, board a ferry to cruise down the river and mull over the exquisite taste of fresh toddy (palm wine). Need we say more?
Enjoy one last breakfast overlooking the sea this morning before packing up and setting off towards Mangalore with your private driver. After two hours on the road, pull into the airport and hop aboard a one-hour-and-45-minute internal flight to Mumbai, where you’ll spend the final night of your trip.
Having dropped your bags and freshened up, contact our local Concierge to nab you a table at the swankiest restaurant in town. It’s time to toast to a trip well spent, and you may as well do it in style.
Like all great adventures, your time in southern India sadly comes to an end today. Make the most of your last morning here by ordering up a bountiful breakfast, then check out and hop in the car for your private transfer to the airport.
The flight back to the UK takes ten-and-a-half hours. Thanks to the time difference, you’ll arrive home the evening of the same day, ready to brew a sleep-inducing cup of tea…
Why visit India with Original Travel ?
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