
Sandalwood, Spice & Backwater Route
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Start location – Bengaluru End location – Kochi Total number of days – 15 Key experiences or destinations – Bengaluru city sights; Mysuru heritage and Chamundi Hills; Somnathpur and Srirangapatna; safaris in Nagarhole National Park; Wayanad plantations and trails; Ooty botanical gardens and Nilgiri Mountain Railway; Fort Kochi with Chinese fishing nets, Mattancherry Palace and the synagogue; Alleppey backwaters houseboat; Mararikulam beach. Kick off in Bengaluru and wind up in Kochi on this 15 day South India adventure. You’ll explore garden filled Bengaluru, then soak up Mysuru’s royal heritage and hilltop temples before tracking wildlife on Nagarhole safaris. Expect coffee scented walks in Wayanad, cool air and classic rail journeys around Ooty, and a flavour packed wander through Fort Kochi’s lanes – from Chinese fishing nets to Mattancherry Palace and the synagogue. Drift across Alleppey’s backwaters on a private houseboat, watching village life glide by, then finish with lazy beach time in Mararikulam. A balanced mix of culture, scenery and downtime throughout.
For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more.
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Tour Overview
Duration
15 daysHotel Rating
3, 4 or 5 star hotelsStarts
BangaloreEnds
KochiMinimum Age
No minimum ageMaximum Age
Tours have upper age limits for several reasons, such as but not limited to: tour pace, activity level, and accommodation standards. If you fall outside of this age limit, we do have lots of other tours in India that are suitable for all ages!
Arrival Transfer
YesDeparture Transfer
YesTour Guide
Yes - for included sightseeing.Country
IndiaPassengers
€3,300.00
€1,773.00
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Tour Style
Group Size
Min 1 / Max Private Tour
Trip Type
Private Tours
Range
On this tour, you won't be joined by other travellers, and will just be travelling with your booking party. Some transportation & sightseeing may be shared, check the Inclusions for more information.
Guiding Style
This tour includes scheduled sightseeing with expert guides in key destinations as per the Inclusions, as well as transportation (either with a driver or public transport), plus of course your accommodation. There is no single tour guide or tour leader throughout the trip. You’ll have support where it counts, and more freedom in between. Our cruise tours also fall into this category where you will be looked after by a crew. For more information, check the Inclusions of this tour.
Tour Pace
A balanced pace, with a mix of free time and visits to multiple locations, allowing for both relaxation and exploration. Generally doesn't visit more than one or two destinations per day.
Physical Rating
Demands a higher level of physical effort, including extended walking, hiking, or more challenging terrain. You must be able to walk around 5-kilometres without stopping and on overland trips, you must be able to manage steps up into overland trucks.
Tour Guide
Yes - for included sightseeing.Group Size
Min 1 / Max Private TourRange
On this tour, you won't be joined by other travellers, and will just be travelling with your booking party. Some transportation & sightseeing may be shared, check the Inclusions for more information.
Guiding Style
This tour includes scheduled sightseeing with expert guides in key destinations as per the Inclusions, as well as transportation (either with a driver or public transport), plus of course your accommodation. There is no single tour guide or tour leader throughout the trip. You’ll have support where it counts, and more freedom in between. Our cruise tours also fall into this category where you will be looked after by a crew. For more information, check the Inclusions of this tour.
Tour Pace
A balanced pace, with a mix of free time and visits to multiple locations, allowing for both relaxation and exploration. Generally doesn't visit more than one or two destinations per day.
Physical Rating
Demands a higher level of physical effort, including extended walking, hiking, or more challenging terrain. You must be able to walk around 5-kilometres without stopping and on overland trips, you must be able to manage steps up into overland trucks.
Trip Type
Private ToursPlaces You'll See

Bengaluru

Mysore

Mysuru (Mysore)

Mysuru

Mangalore

Ooty (Udhagamandalam)

Ooty

Kochi

Kochi (Cochin)

Fort Kochi

Alleppey

Alappuzha

Mararikulam
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Included
Not Included
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Itinerary
Day 1 - Bangalore - Bengaluru
On arrival at Bengaluru airport, we meet you and provide assisted transfer to your hotel. Standard check-in is from 12:00 – early check-in is subject to availability or can be pre-booked at an additional cost.In the afternoon, we take a half-day city tour visiting Lal Bagh Garden, Vidhana Soudha, and Bangalore Palace and Fort. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 - Bengaluru - Mysore - Mysuru
After breakfast in Bengaluru, we drive to Mysore – 150 km, approximately 3 hours – and check in at the hotel on arrival. In the afternoon we set out on a two–hour heritage walk that starts at the bustling Town Hall, passes through the colourful Devaraja Market and ends at the magnificent Jagan Mohan Palace, uncovering stories of the city along the way. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 - Mysore - Mysuru (Mysore) - Somnathpur - Srirangapatnam
Mysore After breakfast at the hotel, we set out on a comprehensive city tour. We begin at Chamundi Hills to visit the hilltop Chamundeswari Temple and the Nandi bull statue, then continue to the City Palace, re-built by Henry Irwin in 1897 in an Indo–Saracenic style and noted for its wall paintings, stained glass and ornate doors. We then take an excursion to Somnathpur to see the exquisite Keshava Vishnu temple – considered one of the finest in India – and continue to Srirangapatnam, where Tipu Sultan was killed in battle against an East India Company army that included Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 - Mysore - Nagarhole
Mysore – Kabini/Nagarhole (90 km – around 2 hours). After breakfast we drive to Nagarhole National Park, a renowned wildlife reserve in southern India that is home to tiger, bison, elephant, panther and sloth bear, and more than 250 bird species. On arrival we check in at our resort and have lunch. In the afternoon we head into the park for a safari. Dinner and overnight at the resort.
Day 5 -
Kabini/Nagarhole After breakfast at the resort, we explore Nagarhole on both an early morning and an evening game safari in the company of an expert naturalist. Established in 1955, the reserve is predominantly lush deciduous forest stretching north of the Kabini River. Lunch and dinner are included – overnight at the resort.
Day 6 - Mangalore
After breakfast at the resort, we drive 80 kms – about 2 hrs – to Sultan’s Battery in Wayanad, a small Western Ghats town at the centre of a region known for premium coffee, cardamom and vanilla. On arrival, we check in at the resort and the rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy Tranquil and its surroundings. If you’re feeling energetic, you can follow the walking trails through the grounds, including a more challenging hill trek to Look Out Rock. Dinner and overnight at the resort.
Day 7 - Wayanad - Ooty
After breakfast at the resort, we drive 135 km – around 3 hours – to Ooty, the hill-station capital of the Nilgiri Blue Mountain district. Its temperate climate once drew the British to escape the heat of the plains, earning the town the nickname Snooty Ooty. On arrival we check in to the hotel and the rest of the day is free – you can relax and settle in. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 8 - Ooty - Ooty (Udhagamandalam) - Coonoor
Breakfast at the hotel in Ooty, then we explore the town with a visit to the well maintained botanical gardens, home to more than 1,000 varieties of plants, shrubs and trees. We also ride the Nilgiri Mountain Railway – a scenic journey that winds down to the nearby town of Coonoor. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 9 - Ooty - Kochi
Ooty – Kochi (300 kilometres – 6 hours approx). After breakfast at the hotel, we drive to Kochi and check in on arrival. From 1502, when Vasco da Gama arrived, Kochi developed into a principal port and centre of the Malabar Coast spice trade, with Portuguese, Dutch and British influences still evident around its palm-fringed harbour. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 10 - Kochi - Fort Kochi
After breakfast at the hotel, we set out on foot to explore Fort Kochi. We begin at St Francis Church, the oldest European church in India, then stroll to the waterfront to see the iconic Chinese fishing nets and bustling fish stalls. Later, we visit Mattancherry Palace – built by the Portuguese in 1557 as a gift to the Raja of Kochi – and the town’s synagogue. You can browse the area’s many antique and souvenir shops at your own pace. We round off the day with a sunset cruise around the bustling harbour. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 11 - Kochi - Alleppey - Alappuzha
After breakfast we drive about 60 km – roughly 1 hour 30 minutes – from Kochi to Alleppey in the Kerala backwaters and board a private houseboat for an overnight cruise. The boat is staffed by a captain, a deck hand and a cook, with all meals prepared on board. We spend the rest of the day cruising a network of lakes, coconut shaded canals and estuaries, passing tiled and thatched cottages bright with hibiscus and the distinctive Chinese fishing nets along the water’s edge. Local life unfolds on the banks – children swimming, women at their daily chores and men fishing from canoes. Lunch and dinner are served on board, and we overnight on the houseboat.
Day 12 - Alleppey - Mararikulam
After breakfast we disembark the houseboat and drive 20 kilometres – around 30 minutes – to Mararikulam. On arrival we check in to a beach resort for a three-night stay. The rest of the day is free – you can relax on the beach at your own pace. Overnight at the beach resort.
Day 13 - Mararikulam
After breakfast at the resort, the day is at leisure – you can relax on Marari’s beach and take time for yourself. There are no scheduled activities today, so simply unwind at your own pace. Overnight at the beach resort.
Day 14 - Mararikulam
Mararikulam We include breakfast at the resort, then the day is yours – relax on the beach and take it easy at your own pace. There are no scheduled activities today, so you can do as much or as little as you like. Overnight at the beach resort.
Day 15 - Mararikulam - Kochi
Mararikulam – Kochi (75 kilometres – approx. 2 hours) After breakfast at your hotel, we drive to Kochi and transfer you to the airport in line with your flight schedule for your onward journey.
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Extras and add-ons
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Hotels
The hotels listed below are examples which we frequently use on this tour. Alternative hotels of a similar standard may be used instead.

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Prices & Dates
The prices you see below are a guide, with final prices per person being determined by the number of travellers in your booking party, desired hotel standard and the rooming arrangements required. To see an accurate price, please click "Book Dates" and enter the details for your booking party.
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