Take an adventurous journey through India on this 14-day tour from Bangalore to Cochin, while also learning about southern India's rich culture. Visit southern Karnataka's stunning scenery before departing for Cochin, where you may experience colonial life. Stroll around Mysore Palace, which is an exceptional example of Indo-Saracenic architecture. Next, head to Nagarhole and Bandipur National Park, home to a bird sanctuary and wild animals. Stay in a tree villa in Wayanad while exploring the area's coffee and tea plantations. Your trip ends in the city of Cochin, which is on the Indian peninsula's southwest coast in the beautiful state of Kerala.
Highlights
Visit the magnificent Mysore Palace during the Dasara Festival
Explore Nagarhole National Park, paradise for wildlife and bird-watchers
Enjoy exceptional wildlife encounters in Bandipur National Park
Watch local farmers harvesting on coffee and tea plantations
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Mysore is the third-largest city in Karnataka, India, which served as the capital city of Mysore Princely Kingdom (Kingdom of Mysore) for nearly six centuries, from 1399 to 1947. Mysore is known for its palaces, including the Mysore Palace, and the festivities during the Dasara festival. It lends its name to the Mysore style of painting, the sweet dish Mysore Pak, the Mysore Peta (a traditional silk turban), and the garment known as the Mysore silk sari.
Later in the afternoon, visit Mysore Palace, one of the finest Royal Palaces in India. Mysore Palace is one of the most magnificent buildings. The interior of the Palace is equally worth a visit, for its spacious halls, called Mantaps, paintings, and architectural beauty. The Palace is an excellent combination of Indo-Saracenic architecture, where the domes and the outside construction are of Muslim architecture. But the interior of the Palace is a fine example of Hindu architecture and an aesthetic blend of Hindu and Muslim architecture.
After breakfast, an early morning excursion to Rangnathithu bird sanctuary. Ranganathittu covers an area of less than 1sq km, but the bird population density is very high. The most common birds in the sanctuary are painted storks, spoonbills, white ibises, egrets, herons, and partridges. Most birds stay on tiny islands within the river, which you can approach by boat. However, the river is also home to a few crocodiles.
In the afternoon, take a 2-hour drive to Nagarhole National Park.
Nagarhole National Park is a perfect getaway for bird lovers and wildlife enthusiasts alike; a place rich in forests, little streams, undulating valleys, and fascinating waterfalls; a haven for many wild habitats and one of the last safe asylums for the Asian Elephants. Visiting Nagarhole would undoubtedly be an ethereal experience, a trip to paradise and back. The misty Brahmagiri Mountains form a perfect backdrop to the natural sounds of the jungle and the gurgling of the streams and rivers. Deriving its name from Kannada, ‘Naga’ signifying Snake, and ‘Hole’ meaning River, the park derives its name from the snake-like river that winds through the forests. Nagarhole is a never-ending enchanting place due to its wide collection of wildlife-four horned antelope, panther, warblers, hornbills, spotted deer, mouse deer, pangolin, gaur, giant flying squirrel are some of them.
After breakfast, take the morning Jungle Safari in the park by shared jeep or canter. Later enjoy a short Coracle Ride on the Kabini River. A coracle is a small country-made boat ideal for game viewing in this park.
Night Trails in Safari: As night descends upon the Kabini landscape, a whole world of nocturnal life emerges. After dinner, you can explore nature around the resort at night, armed only with flashlights and a spirit of adventure. Naturalists will skilfully escort you around the areas just outside the resort and by the Kabini’s waterline, where you will encounter the fascinating nocturnal world of beetles, spiders, owls, moths, lizards, and even plants as you go about this unusual night expedition
Morning Nature Walk: A Guided Nature Walk is one of the best ways to explore the treasures of nature. A Naturalist would unravel the beauty of birds, insects, trees, and wildflowers. The walk would take you along the banks of the Kabini river and then through the scrub and fields along the village roads. Afternoon, cruise through the serene backwaters of the Kabini River on a motorboat viewing sleepy crocodiles and chirpy birds intent on their morning catch. View a variety of wildlife, especially the elephants, coming to the river for a bath or a drink
After your leisurely breakfast, drive a 2-hours to Bandipur National Park. Unlike any other resort in the region, it is located very close to the Bandipur National Park. And because Serai-Bandipur rubs shoulders with the National Park, it provides an experience quite unlike anything you experienced before. It is not uncommon to hear the calls of animals and the trumpeting of elephants as they pass by the resort. Among other things, Cicada-Bandipur offers a panoramic-breathtaking view of the magnificent Nilgiris. Look out of your bedroom, and you will be surprised with a perpetually changing view of the Nilgiris. Bandipur overflows with wildlife and provides a haven to a wide swath of wildlife, which includes the four-horned Antelope, Gaur, Asiatic Elephant, Leopard, Sloth bear, black napped hare, black leopard, and a host of bird species like the Barbet, Babbler, Warbler and the IndianPeafowl
Spend your morning and afternoon on a shared jeep/canter in the park for safari games. Option to hire a bicycle from the resort to go on cycle trails around the resort and enjoy bird watching or could be stargazing in the evening under the clear skies.
After an early morning safari and breakfast, take a drive to Wayanad.
Besides the Ayurvedic massages and pool, Tranquil also offers nature walks. You can choose from 12 different routes ranging from “Braveheart” to “Teaser” walk.
Tranquil Resort: A 400 acres of private coffee and spice plantation nestled in the lush forest of Wayanad, an exotic location in Kerala. The name says it all, a small private estate that offers a luxurious homestay experience within an environment of exquisite ecological beauty and unending relaxation. The suites & tree villas are standing elegantly with a panoramic overview of the coffee plantation, offering you your own personal and private sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of life. Besides relaxing, you can also enjoy leisure walks and bird watching in and around the plantation. The cropping season for Coffee and areca nut is between mid-January–mid-March, during which time the plantation buzzes with activity
Your whole day is free to enjoy the activities in Wayanad. Enjoy an afternoon coffee plantation visit and the viable spice cultivation program. The idea of the spice tour is to have an alternative source of income for small-scale farmers and planters in Wayanad. Spice tours are also arranged in such a way that it introduces the planter's lifestyle amongst these spice gardens to travelers. A Cooking class followed by dinner.
After breakfast, drive 7-8 hrs to Kochi. Cochin is a vibrant city situated on the southwest coast of the Indian peninsula in the breathtakingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala. Its strategic importance over the centuries by the sobriquet Queen of the Arabian Sea. Cochin is also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala.
In the evening, witness the performance of the famous the Kathakali Dance show. The Kathakali is a traditional dance form of Kerala, and the impressively facial expressions, hand gestures, and dance moves will leave one spellbound.
Today’s sightseeing tour will introduce you to the highlights of the city of Kochi. The city tour begins with a visit to the Jewish Synagogue, built-in 1568 by the prosperous Jewish trading community. The oldest synagogue in India was partially destroyed in the war in 1662 and rebuilt by the Dutch. Continue to the Dutch Palace, originally built by the Portuguese in the middle of the 16th century. The structure was taken over in 1663 by the Dutch, who added some improvements before presenting it to the Rajas of Cochin, who made further improvements.
The next stop will be St Francis Church, the oldest European church in India, originally built in1503. The Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama, died in Kochi in 1524 on his third visit to India. His body was buried in St Francis Church before his remains were returned to Lisbon 14 years later. Close by is the Santa Cruz Basilica, considered one of the finest and most impressive churches in India.
While driving along the coast on today’s tour, you will get the chance to see the iconic Chinese fishing nets(Cheenavala) that are distinctly unique to this city. Many fisheries are using these massive nets with a whole stretch of the coast along with Fort Kochi and Vypeen. Your tour includes a visit to Fort Cochin-a small community in itself. Since it is a natural harbor and one of the most important trade centers in the south of India, Kochi Fort of Kerala is one of the most important towns in the state.
After breakfast, a 1-hour drive to Alleppey to board in the boathouse.
The Kettuvallam, a tied-together boat, is a comfortable and traditional way to get around the Backwaters. It is Kerala's equivalent of a container ship and can carry 30 tons of cargo. Great planks of seasoned and oiled Jack wood were lashed together with coir rope and seams stuffed with coconut fiber before being slathered with a nice goop of boiled cashew shells to keep it watertight.
A backwater is a popular place for a quiet spot to moor for the night. Fringing the coast of Kerala and winding far inland is a vast network of lagoons, lakes, rivers, and canals. These backwaters represent a unique geographical formation & are the basis of a distinct lifestyle. Stay overnight on board (Houseboat)
The houseboat is operated by a crew of two or three local men who keep the engine chugging, steer it along the lagoon and arrange a canoe ride along a canal. A cook rustles up delicious meals in the impossibly small galley, and there is nothing for you to do except sit back and enjoy the view, lie in the sun, or catch up on that holiday reading you promised yourself.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Initial deposit is 25% (20% is non-refundable ) plus full airfare required at the time of booking, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check, or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and a maximum of $20,000 charge
Beyond expectations! Then again we weren't sure what to expect. Lovely stay at the lodge, met other like-minded travelers (many had their trips planned by Adventure Life) and the owner was a gracious hostess. It felt like you were one happy family, visiting with a favorite aunt.
Nancy Sin
TrustScore 4.8 | 175 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 175 reviews on
7 hours ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
2 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
