South India Family Explorer
Bespoke Holiday Itinerary / Experience Tour

A peaceful and gentle family-friendly exploration of one of India’s most beautiful regions: the south west interior and coast, from Karnataka through Kerala. From your entry point in exciting Bangalore, to historical Mysore with its magnificent palace, to peaceful and stunning Northern Kerala, this is a real once-in-a-lifetime chance to explore the quieter and more peaceful sides of the Indian subcontinent.  

A few highlights:

• Explore the magnificent Mysore Palace as well as colourful markets, temples and historical sites
• Stay on the edge of lovely Nagarhole National Park, home to tigers, leopards and much other wildlife, as well as wonderful scenery too
• Cruise the northern backwaters on your private boat – a world away from the more touristy lakes south of Kerala
• Enjoy a family-run homestay in the northern spice and tea plantations and get a feel for how life works in this corner of the country
• Relax on one of Kerala’s finest and least visited beaches in a gorgeous but simple resort, far off-the-beaten track  

This itinerary is ideal for anyone travelling during December and the Easter holidays and it is a gentle, safe and peaceful introduction to Indian culture. There is enough exploration, culture, scenery and wildlife to keep everyone interested and engaged, whilst leaving plenty of space for some quality family time. 

International flights

Privately guided tours and experiences

Hotels on minimum B&B basis

Internal transportation

International flights from the UK

DAY 1 DEPART THE UK

Depart the UK on your flight to Bangalore.

DAY 2 Bangalore

Arrive in the cosmopolitan rush of Bangalore, where the IT industry is booming. Meet our representative and transfer to your hotel to relax and overnight. There is some time for exploring the central district which, despite the rapid expansion all around, has remained relatively unchanged in the last 100 years.

DAY 3 Bangalore to Mysore

Today you will drive towards Mysore, a journey of about four hours. Enroute, enjoy a guided tour of Srirangapatna, which was the de facto capital of Mysore under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. In the afternoon, after checking in to your hotel, you’ll be taken up to Chamundi Hill; a lovely spot close to the grand white Lalitha Mahal Palace and from where you get a panoramic view of the city below. 

DAY 4 Mysore Exploration

Today there is a guided tour to explore Mysore, including the famous Palace. There is a large amount of history to take in and some incredible Hindu temples, though our guides will work around you and how much you want to take in. A must-visit is the Devaraja market, a colourful, noisy and vibrant traditional Indian market where, alongside the usual vegetables, fruit, incense and homewares, you'll find conical piles of kumkum (the powder used for bindis), beetle vine and banana leaves. It's a photographer’s delight and best visited in the evening when it’s at its busiest.

DAYs 5 - 7 Nagarhole National Park

The trip to Nagarhole National Park takes two hours and the journey is well worth it. The park is a key part of the Nilgiri BiosphereReserve, and with its teak and rosewood forests, a vast lake, valleys and waterfalls it's a lovely spot to explore. Tigers are incredibly elusive, but the elephants are relatively plentiful and it is also home to leopards, sambar and wild boar, amongst many other rare and endangered animals and birds.

Over the next few days you’ll enjoy a boat ride on the reservoir as well as both a morning and a later afternoon game drive in an open-top jeep. You’ll see the park from lots of different perspectives and there will be plenty of time to relax at the gorgeous lodge in between excursions.

DAYs 8 – 10 Wayanad

Today you’ll be driven up from Nagarhole into the spice and coffee plantations around Wayanad.  Your base at a family-run hideaway is in a beautiful and peaceful location. Aside from relaxing there are plenty of activities for you to try out during your stay, and walking trails meander across the 400 acres of plantation here. Whether or not you are a keen birdwatcher, a pre-breakfast walk with a guide to help you spot some of the 127 different species of birds that have been seen here is a memorable and peaceful experience. For a bit of adventure, take the challenging yet rewarding climb up Chembra peak for panoramic views.

DAYs 11 – 12 Cruise the northern backwaters

A longish drive down from Wayanad will take you to Nileshwaram, the gateway to the peaceful backwaters of northern Kerala which are a lot less touristy than the well-trodden backwaters in Alleppey. Your boat only has two bedrooms so you’ll have it to yourselves.

DAYs 13 – 15 Nileshwaram Beach

Your beach resort is just a short drive up the coast from the disembarkation point in Nileshwaram. The beach is lovely, wide and empty, and this is a perfect location to chill out at the end of your trip.

DAY 16 Calicut

You'll take a train ride today, southwards down the coast to Calicut. The journey takes three hours and, travelling in first class, your journey will be a relaxing and pleasurable experience. On arrival you’ll transfer to a beach resort for your final night in India.

Day 17 Onwards Flight home.

Take your flight home from Calicut airport.