Day 01:  Bangalore- Mysore

Arrival at Bangalore  Airport, where you will be met by our representative who give you a warm welcome and transfer to private deluxe car. Directly proceed to Mysore  and check in to hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Mysore.

Day 02: Mysore

A full day for exploration of Mysore with a guide including visits to the Sultan’s Palace, Chamundi Hill temple and famous Mysore flower market. Overnight in Mysore

Days 03: Mysore- Wayanad

Today you’ll make a very picturesque drive to the Wayanad region through hills and valleys in order to reach your Homestay in time for a late lunch. Wayanad was the last region of Kerala to be opened to the outside world and as a result large tracts of virgin forest remain, along with the traditional tribal inhabitants of the district. Staying in the Wayanad district, you can enjoy the cool air and lush, verdant forests of the area. Overnight in Wayanad

Day 04: Wayanad

 Your time in the Wayanad Hills can be as energetic or as relaxed as you wish- you may like to take a guided trek in the hills or a jeep safari further afield to one of the local Wildlife Sanctuaries. Also in Wayanad are the famous Edakkal Caves, the site of India’s most ancient Neolithic rock-carvings, believed to be up to 6000 years old. Overnight in Wayanad

Day 05: Wayanad- Thallasery- Sapphire Coast

Descend the Ghats road to the coast and head to the remote but very beautiful Sapphire Coast near Thallasery. Your accommodation here is simple but very homely and your host, Kurian, is a fount of knowledge about all things local. Spend the afternoon walking along the coast, visiting villages and local temples. Overnight in Costa

Day 06: Sapphire Coast

This day will be relatively unstructured- you can head north half an hour to the city of Kannur- a major centre of trade for many centuries- and explore the abandoned fort and other historic buildings, or spend time around the villages on the coast. Overnight in Costa

Day 07: Sapphire coast

After breakfast , rest of the day free for own independent activites. Overnight in Costa

Day 08: Sapphire Coast- Thallasery- Palakkad

 A drive of around 5 hours today to the home of the Bhagwaldas family at Tharavad where you’ll arrive in time for lunch and be able to enjoy all the comforts and hospitality of this traditional home, along with optional activities including fishing, bird-watching, cooking demonstration and classes, trekking and a bullock cart ride through the nearby countryside. Overnight in Palakkad

Day 09: Palakkad

 Full day around Tharavad, Overnight in Palakkad

Day 10: Palakkad- Cochin

Depart at your leisure for the drive to Cochin- the journey shouldn’t take more than 4 hours or so. Free time on arrival in Cochin. Overnight in Cochin

Day 11: Cochin

The history of Cochin is as fascinating as it is long and complex. A morning sightseeing tour with a knowledgeable local guide will give you some valuable insights into the colourful past of the port and city. Of the many trading and colonizing powers which have impacted on Cochin over the past five hundred or more years, you will see elements of the Arab, Chinese, Jewish, British, Dutch and Portuguese influences during your tour. While the historic Fort Cochin and Mattancherry precincts are relatively quiet and low on vehicle traffic, the modern city of Kochi/Ernakulam across the harbour is best viewed from a distance- to this end you can enjoy a harbour cruise at sunset. Overnight in Cochin

Day 12: Cochin - Alleppey

 The backwaters of Kerala are a world-famous tourist destination but thankfully they justify the millions of words of gushing praise written about them. The best way to experience life on the backwaters is at a homestay-type property adjacent to one of the many rivers and canals. Drive south to Alleppey (2 hours) and transfer to your accommodation by boat. Afternoon of exploration and activities around your accommodation. Overnight in Alleppey

Day 13: Alleppey Backwaters

A full day to experience the unique lifestyle around the backwaters; you can take a canoe ride, paddle a kayak yourself, watch local fishermen at work, join a cooking class, walk or cycle along the riverbanks or just relax and enjoy the ambience of this unique region. Overnight in Houseboat.

Days 14: Backwaters- Kanjirapally

After breakfast, transfer back from Emerald Isle by boat to the road end and meet up with your driver; depart from here for Kanjirapally, arriving for lunch. Later in the day you’ll be free to explore the Estate with Kurian and learn a little about the history of the area and the crops grown around here, including rubber and various spices. Overnight in Kanjirapally.

Day 15:  Kanjirapally- Dindigul

Morning departure from Kanjirapally, driving first to Periyar for lunch and then down to the plains of Tamil Nadu, eventually reaching Dindigul and on then the village of Athoor and Cardamom House after around 6 hours total driving time. Conceived, designed and overseen by retired English physician Chris Lucas, Cardamom House is a wonderful place- one of our favourites in all of India. Chris and his team (all of them from nearby towns and villages) will make your stay here as relaxing or as invigorating as you wish. There are walks in the valley ranging from a few minutes to a full day, birdwatchers will revel in the wealth of avian life which flocks to the nearby lake, and there are genuinely interactive visits to the village of Athol just down the road as well. But Cardamom House also has a way of turning into a rejuvenation stop part way through your trip- the perfect place to relax and unwind. Overnight in Dindigul

Day 16: Cardamom

After breakfast full day free for leisure. Overnight in Cardamon.

Day 17: Cardamom House- Madurai- Kannudakathan

It’s not easy to top Cardamom House, but the next stop on your journey will be a pretty good alternative- the small region of Chettinad in central Tamil Nadu, reached after about 3 hours drive this morning. The people of this area are the Chettiars, a banking and merchant sub-caste who, over several centuries, made their fortunes trading with empires to the east and west and used the proceeds to build some of the most colossal and impressive homes in southern India. The intermingling of influences is dizzying- Burmese teak, Italian marble, British steel and a myriad of architectural styles are used and blended in these vast mansions (some of which are over 40,000 sq ft) and you will not only get the chance to explore some of these buildings, but to stay in one too. This is a superb place to explore a large village at a relaxed pace. En route between Cardamom House and Chettinad, stop in at Madurai and tour the vast Sri Meenakshi temple here. Overnight in Kannudakathan

Day 18: Kannudakathan

The Chettinad region is best explored slowly- this reflects the pace of life here too. The district headquarters of Karaikudi is a bigger town than Kannudakathan but still lends itself to exploration on foot. Nearby places of interest include hand-painted tile factories (a local specialty), small village temples and the ‘granddaddy’ of all the Chettiar homes- Chettinad Palace. You will also be able to experience a bullock cart ride and perhaps have your fortune told by the rather unusual practice of parrot astrology while you are here. Overnight in Kannudakathan

Day 19: Kannudakathan- Pondicherry

Full day’s journey through the temple heartland and rich agricultural plains of the Cauvery Delta; stop in at Trichy en route for lunch, and continue on to reach Pondicherry by late afternoon. This unique city was the stronghold of the French in south India for several centuries and retains an obvious Gallic feel to this day. Overnight in Pondicherry.

Day 20: Pondicherry

The emphasis in Pondicherry is on history, culture and some of the best coffee in India. If shopping is a priority then Pondicherry is the place to pick up designer items from some very stylish boutiques. A self-guided walking tour of the French Quarter can easily consume half the day. Interestingly the French when they ruled here implemented a Spanish-style afternoon siesta, a habit which the modern India inhabitants seem only to happy to continue. Overnight in Pondicherry

Day 21: Pondicherry- Mahabalipuram- Chennai- Depart

Drive north along the coast to the small seaside town of Mahabalipuram, now a sleepy village with a fishing fleet, some stone carvers and a long strip of sandy beach. This relative lack of activity belies the fact that this was once the capital of the Pallava dynasty which ruled southern India over 1000 years ago. The lasting legacy of the Pallavas is in the form of some remarkable rock carvings, many of which have been afforded UNESCO World Heritage listing. Tour these monuments this afternoon, and then continue on to Chennai for your flight home in the evening.