Exotic South India Tour with Backwaters of Kerala

Duration: 16 Days / 15 Nights

Destination Covered: Mumbai - Bangalore - Mysore - Bandipur - Coorg - Ooty - Cochin - Munnar - Thekkady - Kumarakom - Alleppey - Quilon - Kovalam - Kanyakumari - Kovalam - Trivandrum

DAY 01 - Arrival at Mumbai
You arrive in Mumbai by international flight. After a traditional 'Swagat' (Welcome) our representative would meet & assist you at the airport and at our hotel for check in and overnight stay.

DAY 02 - Mumbai / Bangalore (By Air)
Early morning departure for half day sightseeing tour covering the Gateway of India, the entrance to the port of Mumbai. It was built to commemorate the visit of King George V in 1911. Historically the Gateway holds greater significance as the last of the British troops, which left independent India by sea, marched through its portals. To be followed by an Elephanta Caves boat cruise from Gateway of India. The caves are at the top of a gentle stairway, which begins almost immediately where the ferry wharf hits dry land. Other attractions would be the Prince Wales Museum & Marine Drive which runs along the shore of the Arabian Sea from Nariman Point past Chowpatty Beach to the foot of Malabar Hill. Next we head for the airport to catch flight for Bangalore. On arrival we assist you to check in at our Hotel for overnight stay.

DAY 03 - Bangalore
Awaiting us is a half-day sightseeing tour of Bangalore, well known for its multifaceted modern marvels, historical monuments, busting shopping plazas, a racecourse and golf courses. It is also called the Silicon Valley of India for its burgeoning Software Industry. The tour would include Tipu Sultan's Palace, one of the most remarkable Islamic buildings of the city, now a museum, ISKCON Temple and Lal Bagh Garden. Overnight stay.

DAY 04 - Bangalore / Mysore (135 km / 3 hrs)
Early morning drive to Mysore. On arrival we assist you to check in at our Hotel. An evening trip to Brindavan Gardens, is next. Brindavan Gardens attracts thousands of visitors everyday, especially to its dancing musical fountains. Overnight stay.

DAY 05 - Mysore
Once the capital of Wodeyar Kingdom and one of the finest cities of south India, Mysore is a small and easygoing Sandalwood country and a crafts crazy city. We take a full day tour of Mysore with visits to Srirangapatnam and Tipu's Summer Palace, the Maharaja's Palace and Chamundi Hill, which is topped with a 12th century temple of Durga with the magnificent 5m tall Nandi. Carved from a single piece of granite in year 1659, it is one of the largest in India. Overnight stay.

DAY 06 - Mysore / Bandipur / Coorg (100 km / 3 hrs)
Early morning drive to Bandipur. Time for an exciting jungle safari through the 865 sq.km. Bandipur, erstwhile private hunting grounds of the Maharaja of Mysore. This sanctuary is one of the 15 in India, which run the Tiger Conservation Project. It is also noted for massive herds of Elephants, Indian Bison (Gaur), Spotted Deer, Sambhar, Sloth Bear, and above all around 75 Tigers. Later on we move to Coorg, a tiny district in Southern India, which is 800m above sea level. Endowed with unparalleled natural beauty, this tiny cluster of villages offers a lot to the tourists. On arrival we assist you to check in at our Hotel for overnight stay.

DAY 07 - Coorg / Ooty (75 km / 2 hrs)
After breakfast we leave for Ooty, better known as the queen of hill stations. At a height of 2,240m, Ooty is loved for its salubrious climate and scenic beauty. Later visits to Botanical Garden & Churches. Overnight stay.

DAY 08 - Ooty / Cochin (300 km / 6 hrs)
Early morning drive to Cochin, one of the finest harbours on the Arabian coastline, famous as a port for overseas traders from early times. Its cosmopolitan character is reflected in the buildings and structures representing different regions of the world. A city of peninsulas and islands, today it is Kerala's commercial hub. On arrival we assist you to check in at our Hotel for overnight stay.

DAY 09 - Cochin / Munnar (130 km / 4 hrs)
Post breakfast, we leave for a half day city tour of Cochin, with visits to St. Francis' Church, the scenic Chinese Fishing Nets, Dutch Palace and the 1568 Jewish Synagogue. Overnight stay at hotel. Later we leave for Munnar, hill station with beautiful tea gardens. On arrival we assist you to check in at our Hotel for overnight stay.

DAY 10 - Munnar / Thekkady ( Periyar ) (160 km / 4½ hrs)
We head for a half-day tour of Munnar, visiting its sprawling tea estates, the world's highest and Eravikulam National Park, the best place to see the Nilgiri Tahr (mountain goat). And now it's time to head for one of the finest wildlife sanctuaries in India, the Periyar Wildlife Reserve. Set on an attractive lakeside, Periyar is the home to herds of Wild Tuskers, Bison and Spotted Deer. Upon arrival at Thekkady (home to Periyar), we assist you to check in at our Hotel for overnight stay.

DAY 11 - Thekkady / Kumarakom (135 km / 3½ hrs)
Early morning game viewing tour to the sanctuary by boat on the ever-so-romantic Lake Periyar. After breakfast we leave for Kumarakom, known for its backwaters and the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. This sanctuary is rich with a number of noteworthy species including the Dater or Snake Bird, Little Cormorant, Night Heron, Golden Backed Woodpecker, Crow Pheasant, White Breasted Water Hen and the Tree Pie. The season for these migratory birds stretches till March from November. And yes! Do not forget your camera here! Overnight stay.

DAY 12 - Kumarakom / Alleppey /18 km / 2 hrs (Backwater cruise)
Yet another thrilling experience - Journey from Kumarkom to Alleppey on a houseboat. Known as 'Venice of the East', Alleppey is famous for its beautiful backwaters. Overnight stay at the Houseboat.

DAY 13 - Alleppey / Quilon (85 km / 2hrs)
Early morning we leave for Quilon, the peninsula that's surrounded by water and resembles a green planet with its shimmering lagoons, meandering canals, whispering palms and the tang of the ocean. We check in at our hotel here. The day is at leisure followed by overnight stay at our hotel.

DAY 14 - Quilon / Kovalam (50 km / 1 hr)
Next we head for Kovalam, South of Trivandrum, one of India's best beaches and famous for water sports in Southern India. The day's invested in exploring the unbounded beauty of this place. Overnight stay.

DAY 15 - Kovalam / Kanyakumari /Kovalam (100 km / 3 hrs)
We leave for Kanyakumari, the Southern most point of Indian mainland territory, at the confluence of the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. Visits to Vivekananda Rock Memorial and the Temple of Virgin Goddesses await us here. And for the die-hard romantics, this place here, on a full moon evening, offers one of the best sunsets and moon rising simultaneously. Later in the evening we head back for Kovalam and stay overnight at hotel.

DAY 16 - Kovalam / Trivandrum (16 km / 30 min)
Final day of the tour! And to make this day last forever, we take you to Trivandrum, located on the Southwestern tip of India. Famous for its long shorelines with glorious beaches, historic monuments, backwater stretches and a rich cultural heritage, Trivandrum undoubtedly makes an ever-popular destination. We spend half a day here covering Padmanabha Swamy Temple, Shri Chitra Art Gallery and the Museum. Tour concludes.

"Caper thanks you for your patronage and ensures a punctual transfer to the Railway Station / Airport for your onward travel."