Kerala Classic Tour

Day 1. Depart Home
Depart for Bangalore, via Dubai and Mumbai.

Day 2. Mysore
On arrival, you will be met and transferred by road to the old royal capital of Mysore, arriving in time for an afternoon city tour and a relaxing evening at the Lalita Mahal Palace Hotel. This hotel is a 5-star property, situated approximately 6 kilometers form the city center. All rooms here are air-conditioned with private facilities, and the public areas include a restaurant, bar, swimming pool, tennis court, jogging track and even a hell-pad!

Days 3 to 5 Nagarhole
Today you transfer to Nagarhole Wildlife Sanctuary, situated in Western Ghats, Nagarhole contains a mixture of teak and mathi forest, little villages and cultivated land in a region of hills and valleys. Traveling by jeep you explore these grasslands and forests where you may see Indian Bison (Gaur), the largest and most impressive of all the world’s wild cattle, together with Leopard, Sloth Bear, Wild Dog, Spotted Dear, Common Langur and Wild Boar. Southern India’s bird specialties are also present, such as Grey-headed fishing Eagle, Brown Fish Owl and Malbar Pied Hornbill.
You spend 3-nights at the Kabini River Lodge, a former Maharaja’s hunting Lodge, which is situated outside the sanctuary and provides comfortable accommodation in 14 individual cabins, each with private facilities. The public areas include a restaurant, lounge area and bar.

Days 6 &7 Ooty
This morning you continue by road to the atmospheric hill-station of Udhagamandalam (or Ooty as it is more commonly known) nestling amongst the Nilgiri Hills. You spend 2-nights at the Savoy Hotel, a wonderful establishment with manicured lawns and a tennis court. All rooms here are air-conditioned and have private facilities. The public areas include a lounge, bar and restaurant.

Day 8 Coimbatore
Continue to Munnar, a serene hill station set at an altitude of 1525 meters amid stunning mountain scenery. It is a small quaint town that exudes old world charm and is reminiscent of the days of the Raj. Tea estates litter the landscape, and what with the invigorating mountain air and magnificent views, you will not want to leave!

Although it is possible to go on wonderful walks from Munnar itself, you may wish to visit the nearby Eravikulam Sanctuary, home to Nigiri Tahr, the only species of the wild goat found south of the Himalayas. The Sanctuary also provides a good opportunity to observe 2 of the region’s endemic bird species-White-breasted Laughing Thrush and Nilgiri Pipit.
Your overnight stay at Munnar will be at the Windermere Hotel.

Days 10 to 11 Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Continue by road to the Lake Palace Hotel within Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Periyar is one of the worlds, covering an area of 777 Square Kilometers in total, though with an accessible tourist zone of just 55 square kilometers. A lake helps to protect source of water for the local wildlife. The area is a haven for a wide range of mammals including Elephant, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Wild Dog, Nilgiri Langur, Lion-tailed Macaque and even Tiger. The Reserve also has a rich and varied avifauna with species such as Malabar Trogon, Malabar Grey Hornbill,. Loten’s Sunbird and, if you are very lucky, Ceylon Frogmouth. With its waterways, forests and grasslands Periyar certainly provides a fitting climax to your southern India safari. The Lake Palace Hotel is ideally situated within Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, on an island in the middle of lake Periyar. The hotel was once a Maharaja’s summer palace.and consists of 6 rooms, each with private facilities and a patio. Which overlooks the lake. Although now slightly jaded in appearance with a somewhat dated décor, its major attraction is the position it occupies. Tigers, Elephants and deer have all been seen from here! It is reached by boat from the main jetty at Thekkady, and offers a secluded, peaceful place to stay. (Thekkady is the main town within Periyar from where boat trips on the lake and guided walks commence). Excursions from the Lake Palace Hotel May be by boat or on foot.

Days 12 to 13 Cochin
Today you drive to Alleppy, where you can explore the waterways of the region before heading on to cochin. These waterways are more commonly called the ‘backwaters of Kerala’, and consist of palm-fringed canals, rivers and lakes, which stretch over 1900 kilometers. Spend 2-nights at the Taj Malabar Hotel, on Willington Island, which provides 5-star accommodation while retaining the elegance and style of a world gone by. All rooms are air-conditioned with private facilities, and there is also an Ayurvedic Massage Center on site, together with restaurant, lounge areas and a swimming pool.
Cochin lies at the heart of the historical and fertile state of Kerala, and its position, straddling a number of islands and peninsulas, together with its rich trading past and Jewish, Portuguese, British and Dutch influence, make it one of the most fascinating cities in India. A tour of Cochin will include a visit to see the Chinese fishing nets, still in use at the entrance to the harbour (infact you can see these from your hotel!), St. Francis Church, Mattancherry Palace, and the magnificent Jewish Synagogue. You may also have the opportunity to see a Kathkali performance, Kathkali being the classical dance from of Karala, which originated in the first half of the 17th century. Scenes from the great epics of Ramayana or Mahabharatha are usually enacted which often last throughout the right, though rest assured shortened versions are on offer!

Day 14 Homeward
Transfer to the airport for your homeward flight via Mumbai and Dubai.

Day 15 Arrive home