Introduction to South India

Take the overnight flight from London Heathrow, or selected other UK airports, to Bangalore in South India.

On arrival in Bangalore you will be met and transferred to your hotel - your driver will be with you for your whole holiday. Put your feet up and get ready for the adventure ahead.

You will be picked up from your hotel this morning, and before driving to Mysore, have a quick look around Bangalore to see Tipu Sultan’s Palace and the Botanical Gardens. It’s then a 3-hour drive to Mysore, stopping on the way at the island fortress of Srirangapatna.

There’s a lot to see in Mysore. You can head out with your guide to explore the myriad treasures of Mysore Palace, wander Brindavan Gardens, stop at the medieval temple at Somnathpur, and take in the views from the top of Chamundi Hill.

Today it’s a 2-hour drive to Nagarhole National Park, and once you have checked in you can set off for a game drive in the park, binoculars at the ready for 250 bird species, gaur, elephants, sambar, chittal and possibly the odd tiger.

A second jeep safari inside the park and spend the rest of the day relaxing or explore the nearby tribal villages.

Travel 3 hours to Sultan Battery in the green mountains of Kerala, where a warm family welcome awaits you at a 400-acre coffee and spice plantation. Enjoy the pool or pamper yourself with an Ayurvedic massage at Tranquil Resort. There are lots of good walking routes around the plantation, or you can head out to visit nearby caves, lakes and temples.

Relax and enjoy life on the plantation.

Leave the mountains today and drive down to the coast of northern Kerala (about 3-4 hours) to check into the homestay of Ayisha Manzil in a lovely old-fashioned colonial style mansion. Your hostess Ms. Faiza Moosa is an expert on the local mopillah cuisine so get ready for a culinary treat.

Have a cooking lesson at the hotel, relax or head out to the area – pop down to the beach, the spice and fish markets, and watch the closing ritual at the Muthappan temple.

Time to experience Indian rail travel today as you board the Netravati Express to Cochin (at either 08:00 or 14:10). On arrival in Cochin you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel. Relax and explore Cochin, and in the evening you'll be taken to see a performance of the local dance, the Kathakali, if you wish .

Enjoy a private guided tour of Cochin and explore this fascinating historical seaside town with its European churches, Jewish synagogues, Indian palaces and Chinese fishing nets. This has been a cosmopolitan place for thousands of years.

Drive a short distance to board your houseboat and spend the day cruising around the waterways and lagoons of Kerala’s backwaters. The houseboat is also your accommodation for the night so relax and enjoy.

Hopping off your houseboat, it’s a short drive to spend the last few days of your holiday winding down on Marari Beach, one of the best beaches in Kerala, with a good variety of accommodation.

Enjoy the beach, take a dip in the sea, work on your tan, sip a fresh coconut and finish that book.

It’s a 2-hour drive from your hotel to the solar-powered Cochin International Airport for your flight home.