Trip Introduction
Spend two-weeks on a literal roller-coaster ride for the senses, straddling Southern India’s temperate regions from the rain shadow region of the Western Ghats and then onto the Kerala coast.
You start with a quick introduction to Bangalore, India’s Silicon Valley before you dash off to Mysore, the former kingdom of Tipu Sultan where the vestiges of royal patronage still exist. There are palaces, markets and temples to see – a riot of colour that will keep your camera busy! From here, head south to the wonderful wildlife experiences of the Nilgiris Biosphere at the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, where you can see wildlife representative of this area of the world – elephant, bison, deer, and maybe the elusive leopard and tiger. Ascend the magnificent backdrop of the blue-gum Nilgiris Mountains to the colonial hill retreat of Ootacamund, with its English cottages, golf courses, boarding schools and fabulous mountain views. Board the UNESCO World Heritage Nilgiri Mountain Railway on its breathtaking cliff-side journey and drive across the border to the revered temple town of Guruvayur with its stunning regiment of elephants.
From there you drive down to the important historic town of Cochin and glimpses of Dutch, Jewish and Portuguese influences. Spend a night on a houseboat in Kerala’s iconic backwaters, and then drive down to Kerala’s southern beaches and relax for the last few days in Kovalam with its faded backpacker charm.
Short Program
Day 1: Arrival Bangalore and afternoon visits.
Day 2: Drive to Mysore and afternoon visits.
Day 3: Morning visits of Mysore
Day 4: Drive to Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. Evening jeep safari.
Day 5: Stay Mudumalai.
Day 6: Drive to Ootacamund and afternoon visits.
Day 7: Morning toy train to Coonoor & local visits. Drive to Guruvayur.
Day 8: Drive to Cochin via elephant camp.
Day 9: Day visits of Cochin.
Day 10: Drive to Alappuzha and embark on overnight houseboat trip.
Day 11: Disembark houseboat & drive to the beach at Kovalam.
Day 12: Day at Kovalam
Day 13: Day at Kovalam
Day 14: Departure transfer to Thiruvananthapuram Railway Station / Airport
This trip focuses on giving travellers a wonderful experience of Southern India visiting some of Southern India’s most popular destinations. Throughout this trip, you pass through different eco-systems, deepening your awareness of the diverse and fragile environment of the region. Time is spent in the Nilgiri Biosphere which enriches your knowledge of the flora and fauna of the area and the conservation activity that is being undertaken, through jungle treks and jeep safaris.
The trip gives back to the local economy in a variety of ways – using small locally owned accommodation through-out the trip that they themselves run responsible and sustainable businesses; using local guides and local drivers’ through-out; and encouraging guests to use local transport wherever possible.
The tour is designed to showcase the historic heritage of Kerala in Fort Cochin, the ancient kingdom of Mysore in its palaces, markets and temples, and the UNESCO World Heritage Nilgiri Mountain Railway.
Your tour operator has a sense of moral responsibility towards the development of the tourism industry in Kerala. They commit 2% of their profit to various Tourism Associations for the development of tourism projects in India. They have taken it upon themselves to raise the living and social standards of the people in the Kuttanad area, which is the site of their company’s resort, the Our Land Resort. Here, the local people are employed and offered good wages. Special care is taken to educate them to be well equipped in communicating with tourists and providing them excellent service.
Your tour operator is truly a local team who call Kerala home and are based in Trivandrum. All members of the team have healthcare insurance and retirement plans. Safety and comfort of their drivers is paramount. All accommodations used on this trip offer accommodation and food to the drivers.
Trip highs!
- The diversity of habitats, geographies and history – it’s a marvellously interesting introduction to the more undiscovered Southern India
- The guided forest trek in the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary – can be very exciting, so make sure you are appropriately dressed
- Going down to Coonoor from Ooty on the UNESCO World Heritage Nilgiri Mountain Railway.
Trip watch-outs!
- This is a long trip – expect some road journeys to take between 5-7 hours.
- Houseboat cruising on the Kerala backwaters is not ecologically responsible in most cases and adds to the pollution of the backwaters.
- The trip does cover mass tourism destinations such as Ootacamund and Kovalam – so be prepared for some unsightly and overcrowded development.
Your tour operator is a Kerala-based destination management company for travellers with specialist requirements looking for a highly skilled & knowledgeable service provider on the ground. They provide complete, reliable & consistent services. Their knowledge encompasses all of Southern India and they have great depth of expertise in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamilnadu. The company is deeply committed to operating a sustainable tourism business which reflects in their choice of local partners, accommodation providers and use of local drivers, employees and guides.
One of their co-founders, armed with a Masters degree in Tourism Management and over 25 years of experience in the industry, has pioneered the concept of houseboat tourism, elephant safaris and bamboo rafting in Kerala. He specializes in adventure, eco-tourism, trekking and special interest travel. He is constantly innovating to bring new experiences of Kerala to the outside world.
The other co-founder of the company has over 21 years of experience in running her own company in Denmark. She has specialized in responsible tourism and operates tours from Scandinavian countries to South India. She advises the company in new product development and helps make the company and its tours more sustainable and responsible.
A third Executive Director of the company has a Masters in Tourism Management with five years of experience in operating tours in Kerala. He handles operations and technology for the organisation.
Ideal For Whom
Ideal for just about anyone who wants an introduction to Southern India’s temperate weather regions straddling the rain shadow region of the Western Ghats and then onto the Kerala coast.
It gives you an introduction to Bangalore, India’s Silicon Valley (for anyone who wants to know what makes the new IT generation tick!), slips you through Mysore, a former Islamic kingdom of Tipu Sultan, offers a wonderful wildlife experiences in the Nilgiris Biosphere (great for kids or travellers interested in bird-watching), and then takes you up into one of Southern India’s colonial hill retreats.
From there you drive down to the coast in Kerala cover the important historic town of Cochin and a glimpse of urban life, spend a night on a houseboat in Kerala’s iconic backwaters (romantic for couples!), and relax for the last few days on a beach in Kovalam.
Children are welcome on this trip – comfortable, safe and fun!
When To Visit
Since this itinerary covers the temperate regions of Southern India, it’s never too hot or too cold, so anytime of the year is good to travel. But saying so, October to March is the best time to visit, as the heat is least intense on the Kerala coast and hinterland (max. of 30°C and min. of 18°C).
Summer, from April to May gets quite warm and humid – (max of 35°C and 23°C min). There are occasional bushfires in the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and safaris and visitors may be restricted at times. The monsoon runs from June until September (max. of 32°C and min. of 20°C) – most of the wildlife stays deep in the forest and Ooty can be very windy and chilly.
Things To Bring
Mosquito repellent and wrist and ankle-covering layers are a must in Southern India. Loose linen trousers and dresses, sunscreen and a wide brimmed hat will come in handy. Good walking shoes and a pair of binoculars for the two days in the wildlife sanctuary. Some smart clothes for Bangalore if you are trying a trendy restaurant or bar! Bring a camera along – the markets in Mysore and wildlife in Mudumalai are a big reason to!
Road distances are long in some cases, so portable games for children to keep them busy, some comfort snacks from home, and motion sickness medicine or acupressure wristbands to keep the nausea at bay.
South Splendour is a two-week trip starting in Bangalore and ending in Thiruvananthapuram covering the best of Southern Karnataka, the Nilgiris Biosphere straddling Tamilnadu, and the best of Kerala – its cities, backwaters and beaches.
Arriving into Bangalore
By air: The closest airport is outside Bangalore (50 km / 60 minutes). Served by numerous airlines from Europe, Far East and the Middle East, as well as connecting flights from all over India. Your tour operator will organise your arrival transfer from the airport.
By train: If you’re in India already, you can catch a train to Bangalore from most destinations within the country. The railway station is located in the city centre. From there, your tour operator will pick you up.
By car: If you are arriving by car, then you must go directly to your hotel in Bangalore. Detailed directions will be given after booking is confirmed.
Departing from Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)
By air: In Trivandrum, there is an international airport with good connectivity serving various carriers to the Middle East and South East Asia. Some European charter flights call in as well. Domestically several major cities in India such as Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, and Kochi have direct flights to Trivandrum. Transfers to the airport are included in your itinerary.
By train: The railway station in Trivandrum is one of the biggest in Southern India. Various parts of Kerala and also different parts of South India are connected to Trivandrum through rail. Transfers to the station are included in your itinerary.
By car: If you are departing by car, then you must ask the car to report to your hotel in Kovalam. Detailed directions will be given after booking is confirmed.
Normal payment policy: To confirm your booking, a non-refundable deposit of 10% of the tour quote is charged to your credit card in Euro equivalent by Travel To Care on behalf of the tour operator. In addition, on the balance amount, 50% must be paid 45 days or earlier to the date of arrival. The balance 50% is payable at least one week before arrival. A credit card fee will be applicable on the deposit.
Normal cancellation policy: For all cancellations, the initial deposit is non-refundable. On the balance, you may cancel your booking at any time prior to commencement of the tour by notifying the operator in writing. The following cancellation charges apply:
30 days or more before the first day of the tour: 10%
15-29 days before the first day of the tour 50%
Less than 15 days before the first day of the tour 100%
If you request any changes to your travel arrangements once the operator has confirmed a booking, all out of pocket charges, including charges imposed by their suppliers, will be payable by you. If after the commencement of your tour you request any changes to your travel arrangements, the operator will do its best to implement them, but they cannot guarantee that it will be possible. In the event of such change(s) being made, you will be liable for any cancellation charges that may be levied for the previously booked service and for any costs incurred by the operator and its suppliers in attempting to secure any revised arrangements.
Payment options:All major credit cards are accepted for deposit and balance payment. Wire transfers accepted for balance payments. Instructions on request.
Period(s) tour is not operational: Never
