Day 01 : Cochin Arrival
You are welcomed at Cochin(Kochi) airport either by the representative of our local agency or by your French-speaking guide. He ensures with you the transfer to the hotel we’ve reserved you for the next two nights.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 02 : Cochin
This morning, after breakfast, you leave for the visit of Mattanchéry Palace. Also called "Dutch palace", this palace was built in 1555 by the Portuguese, first Westerners who arrived in the region, as a gift for the Cochin raja, Veera Kerala Varma.
Its nickname is in fact due to the restoration assumed by the Dutch in 1663. Despite these western origins, the palace is built in Indo-Kerala style, with beautiful carpentry work, magnificent painted coffered ceilings and roofs reminiscent of the pagodas Chinese.
In the afternoon you will visit the synagogue of Kochi, the oldest synagogue in all Commonwealth countries (closed on Friday and Saturday), the Jewish quarter, Saint Francis Church and Santa cruz Basilica.
In the evening you will have the chance to attend to one of the Indian classical dances- Kathakali.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 03 : Cochin(Kochi) / Alleppey(Alappuzha) (70km / 02hr)
After breakfast, you head towards Alleppey(Alappuzha).
As soon as you arrive, you settle into your house-boat before leaving for a short walk on canals backwaters to discover the surrounding villages.
Night in the house-boat.
Day 04 : Alleppey / Periyar (200km - 04hr 30min)
After breakfast, you take the road to Thekkady, a small village near the Periyar reserve and many spice plantations. You settle at the hotel when you arrive.
In the late afternoon, you visit spice plantations in Kumily. There, you will have the opportunity to find spice plantations such as cardamom, pepper, ginger or curcumin.
A boat safari in Periyar Lake is scheduled for the evening. (If, for any impediment, we are unable to make the tour by boat tonight, we will shift this activity the next morning)
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 05 : Periyar / Munnar (98kms - 3h20)
In the early morning, you go on a boat safari on Periyar lake to admire the fauna of this reserve. (Depending on yesterday)
You then leave for Munnar and you will settle at the hotel as soon as you arrive later, you will visit the Tata Tea Museum and the magnificent tea plantations. (Closed on Mondays).
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 06 : Munnar
After breakfast, a sightseeing of Munar, Eravikulam National Park, Rajamala Peak, Mattupetty Dam and Echo Point will fill your day.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 07 : Munnar / Ooty (243kms - 6h30)
Today, after breakfast, you take the road to Ooty, a small mountain resort located on the Nilgiris mountain range. A long day is waiting for you as we leave Kerala and Tamil Nadu to reach Niligiri through a winding road.
The trip to Coonoor ghat is one of the most picturesque of South India. It offers a superb view on the plains and the splendid woods of palm trees and other trees. Passing through the small resort of Coonoor we continue our way through the many tea and coffee plantations to reach Ooty where we stay for the next two nights
After an 8-hour drive, you arrive at Ooty and you settle down at the hotel and your evening is free so that you can fully enjoy this small mountain resort.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 08 : Ooty / Conoor / Ooty: Train (Ooty-Coonoor)
After breakfast, you board on a train that takes you to Coonoor crossing the mountains. When you arrive you visit the city of Coonoor. You then return to Ooty by road and you discover "The Queen of the Southern Mountain Resorts" which has long been a haven for British officials and tea growers in South India. Located at 2,286 m altitude, the climate in winter is indeed much colder here than in plain and the evenings can be quite cold.
For those who want, we offer a pleasant walk to Snowdon Peak (2,450 m) through a huge variety of flora (eucalyptus, conifers, Shola), before returning to the city to discover the Botanical Garden which maintains more than 1,000 Varieties of plants, shrubs and trees such as orchids, ferns and other alpine plants all grouped amidst beautiful lawns.
In the late afternoon, you stroll around the city's bazaars and can taste the local chocolate.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 09 : Ooty / Bangalore(Bengluru) (273kms - 6h)
After breakfast, you start for Banglore(Benguluru).
Upon arriving, you settle directly at the hotel before departing in the afternoon for a visit to the Legislative Assembly and the LalBagh Botanical Garden, which houses the largest collection of tropical plants, a public aquarium, as well as two lakes.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 10 : Bangalore / Mysore(Mysuru) (145kms -3h)
After having breakfast, you head towards Mysore(Mysuru). Upon arrival, you will settle at the hotel before visiting Chamundi temple and the palace of Mysore. Rebuilt in 1912 after devastation by a fire in 1897, the Mysore Maharaja’s Palace is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful of India. The peices of work were directed and led by a British architect: Henry Irwin and several styles were mixed; including Indo-Muslim, Oriental and Dravidian art.
Note: On Saturday and Sunday evening the Mysore Palace is illuminated.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 11 : Mysore / Halebid / Belur / Hassan (150 km - 03 h):
Early in the morning, you take the departure to visit Somnathpura- the ancient temple and it is after having breakfast, on the road to Hassan, that you visit Shravanabela gola, one of the high places of Jain pilgrimage of Karnataka. You will admire the colossal and monolithic statue of Bahubali, the saint of Jain mythology, dating from the end of the 10th century.
You continue on your way to Halebid and Belur, famous for their temples, masterpieces of the twelfth-century sculptorhoysala. You arrive at the hotel at the end of the day.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 12: Hassan / Hospet (Hosapete)(330 km - 07 hr)
After having breakfast, a long day's drive awaits you in Karnataka through the arid plateaus of Deccan. When you arrive, you will be settling at your hotel in Hospet, near the splendid site of Hampi, the former capital of the last Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagar and classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 13 : Hospet / Hampi / Hospet
After having breakfast, your day is entirely devoted to the discovery of Hampi site. You will discover Virupaksha temple, dedicated to the god Shiva, and Vitthala’s with its chariot of procession and its Mandapam, dance hall with superbly carved pillars.
In the royal enclosure you will discover the Lotus Palace, the Queen's Baths and other architectural wonders. This city, formerly greater than Rome, fascinated the European and Persian travelers who stayed there.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 14 : Hospet / Badami (180 km – 04 hr)
After having breakfast you take the road to reach Badami. On the road, you visit Aihole and Pattadakal sites, religious capital of the Chalukya dynasty. These temples, which were built between the 6th and 8th centuries, are renowned for their original beauty and purity, new styles experienced by builders and sculptors.
In Badami you will visit rock caves which overlook the beautiful Agastyatirtha basin before heading to the hotel where you will settle upon your arrival.
Overnight in hotel.
Day 15 : Badami/ Hubli (110km – 2h) / Goa (220 km- 04-05 hr )
After having breakfast, you take the road to Goa, Portuguese enclave and former witness of the spice race. As soon as you arrive you have a glimpse of Goa, a state favored by an ideal climate, containing fabulous beaches, charming people, delicious food, fortresses perched on hills, small whitewashed churches and imposing cathedrals dating from the Portuguese era. On the way, you make a stop at Hubli, where you visit ruins. In the afternoon, you arrive in Goa and after settling at the hotel, you can enjoy your end of the day to relax and enjoy the beach.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 16 : Goa / Departure
After having breakfast, your morning is spent visiting the old town and its churches.
You are free until your departure in order to fully enjoy your last moments of relaxation on the fabulous beaches. You are transferred to the airport according to the return flight schedule.