Day 1 : Bangalore :
You are welcomed at Bangalore airport by our local agency representative or your French-speaking guide who will greet you upon your arrival in India. They will ensure your transfer to the hotel we have reserved for you for the night. In the evening, a meeting for group orientation, introduction of all group members, a briefing on the trip, road conditions, and weather. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 : Bangalore / Mysore (150 kms / 3h15) : (by bike)
After breakfast, you depart for Mysore. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel. After lunch, visit the Chamundi Temple and the Mysore Palace. Reconstructed in 1912 after a devastating fire in 1897, the Maharaja's Palace in Mysore is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in India. The construction was led by a British architect, Henry Irwin, and it incorporates several styles, including Indo-Muslim, Oriental, and Dravidian arts.
Note: On Saturday and Sunday evenings, the Mysore Palace is illuminated.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 : Mysore / Ooty (130 Kms / 3h) : (by bike)
After breakfast, drive to Ooty, a small mountain resort on the Nilgiris mountain range. Ooty «the queen of southern mountain resorts» has long been a haven for British officials and tea planters in South India. Located at 2,286 m above sea level, the climate in winter is much colder than in the plain and the evenings can be chilly. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. After lunch you can fully enjoy this small mountain resort. In the late afternoon, you stroll through the bazaars of the city where you can taste the local chocolate.
Day 4: Ooty / Coonoor (train) / Ooty :
After breakfast, you board a train to Coonoor, traveling through the mountains. The trip to Coonoor Ghat is one of the most scenic in South India. It offers you a superb view of the plains and splendid forests of palm trees and other trees. Upon arrival, lunch, then you visit the town. You then return to Ooty by road through the many tea and coffee plantations. For those who wish, we offer a pleasant walk to Snowdon Peak (2,450 m) through a diverse flora (eucalyptus, conifers, Shola), before returning to the town to explore the Botanical Garden, which contains over 1,000 varieties of plants, shrubs, and trees (such as orchids, ferns, and other alpine plants, all set among beautiful lawns). Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 5 : Ooty / Palakkad (163 kms / 4h) (by bike)
After breakfast, you leave for Palakkad. Check in at the hotel upon arrival. After lunch, you visit the Kalpathy Temple. Also known as Kasi Viswanathaswamy, it is a very popular Hindu temple. Continue with the visit to Malampuzha Rock Garden, the first garden of its kind built in South India, showcasing impressive works in a calm and peaceful ambiance. Later, explore the city’s Fort. Built in 1766, it is located in the heart of the city and remains one of the best-preserved forts in Kerala. Then, take an excursion to the Dhoni Falls. Located about 15 km from Palakkad, this waterfall is a popular spot loved by tourists, especially for trekking. After reaching the top, you have a superb view of the jungle and the waterfall where you can swim to refresh yourself. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 6 : Palakkad /Munnar (160 kms / 4h30) (by bike)
After breakfast, depart for Munnar and check in at the hotel upon arrival. After lunch, visit the Tata Tea Museum and the beautiful tea plantations. (Closed on Mondays). Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 7 : Munnar
After breakfast, visit the town of Munnar, Eravikulam National Park, Ragamala Peak, Mattupetty Dam, and Echo Point. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 8 : Munnar / Madurai (152 Kms / 4h30) (by bike)
After breakfast, head to Madurai and check in upon arrival. After lunch, visit the most renowned temple in South India: Meenakshi Amman, dedicated to the fish-eyed goddess Meenakshi. In the evening, explore the local markets of Madurai around the Meenakshi Temple. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 9 : Madurai / Periyar (150 Kms / 3h30) (by bike)
After breakfast, head to Thekkady, a small village near the Periyar Reserve and numerous spice plantations. Have lunch and check in at the hotel upon arrival. In the late afternoon, visit the spice plantations in Kumily, where cardamom, pepper, ginger, and turmeric are grown. A boat safari on Periyar Lake is planned for the evening. (If, for any reason, we are unable to take the boat tour this evening, we will reschedule this activity for the next morning). Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 10 : Periyar / Alleppey (129 Kms / 4h) (by bike)
After breakfast, depart for Alleppey. Upon arrival, check in and have lunch on your houseboat before taking a short cruise on the backwaters to explore the surrounding villages. Dinner and overnight on the houseboat.
Day 11 : Allepey / Cochin (70 Kms / 2h30) (by bike)
After breakfast, depart for Cochin. Arrive and check in at the hotel. After lunch, visit St. Francis Church and Santa Cruz Basilica. In the evening, explore Fort Kochi to see the giant Chinese fishing nets. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 12 : Cochin
After breakfast, visit Mattancherry Palace. Also called the “Dutch Palace,” it was built in 1555 by the Portuguese (the first Westerners to arrive in the region) as a gift to the Raja of Cochin, Veera Kerala Varma. Its nickname was given after the Dutch restored it in 1663. Despite its Western origins, the palace is built in the Indo-Keralite style, with beautifully crafted wooden ceilings, magnificent coffered ceilings, and roofs reminiscent of Chinese pagodas. After lunch, visit the synagogue of Kochi, the oldest synagogue in any Commonwealth country (closed on Fridays and Saturdays), and the Jewish quarter. In the evening, attend a Kathakali dance performance. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 13 : Cochin / Flight back
This morning after breakfast, you will be transferred to Cochin airport for your return flight.