Sandalwood Backwater and Spice Route (15 Days)

Sandalwood Backwater and Spice Route (15 Days)

This our personal favorite itinerary has the ability to touch your soul and melt your heart. Curated to take you on a journey that arouses all your five sense. It will begin in I-tech city Bangaluru followed by Mysore where you will be fascinated by the grandeur of its palaces, buildings and statues. We make a halt at one of the most scenic Nagarhole national park and Sultans Battery coffee estate. We will spend the time at the magnificent tea estates of Ooty and Munnar. Enjoy mesmerizing houseboat cruise on backwaters, before being lazy at the hippy loved beach at Marari.

Itinerary

Day 1: Bengaluru

Pass By: Bengaluru, Bengaluru, Bangalore District, Karnataka
On arrival at Bangalore airport assistance and transfer to hotel.

Stop At: Vidhana Soudha and Attara Kacheri, Cubbon Park, Bengaluru India
Half day city tour visiting Lal Bagh Garden, Vidhana Soudha and Bangalore Palace & Fort.
Duration: 4 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 2: Bengaluru - Mysore (150kms/ 3hrs approx)

Stop At: Mysore District, Mysore District, Karnataka
Breakfast at hotel drive to Mysore check in at hotel. Afternoon two-hour heritage walk in the city, which starts at the bustling town hall, visits the colorful devaraja market and ends at the magnificent jagan mohan palace. During the walk you will uncover secrets and stories of Mysore and why it holds such a special place in our hearts.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 3: Mysore

Stop At: Somnathpur Temple, Keshava Temple, Somanathapura Somanathapura Village, Mysuru (Mysore) 571120 India
Breakfast at hotel. City tour of Mysore which has a lot to offer. First stop the Chamundi Hills, site of the Chamundeswari Temple and Nandi Bull as well as the vast City Palace, which was re-built by Henry Irwin during 1897 in an indo-saracenic style. The palace contains astonishing wall paintings, authentic stained glass work and ornamented doors. Excursion to visit the temple complex at Somnathpur and the exquisite Keshava Vishnu temple, one of the finest in India, along with Srirangapatnam where Tipu Sultan was killed in battle against an East India Company army including Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington.


Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 4: Mysore - Kabini/ Nagarhole (90Kms/ 2hrs approx)

Stop At: Nagarhole National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Kodagu (Coorg), Karnataka
Breakfast at hotel drive to Nagarhole National Park. Southern India’s finest reserve, Nagarhole is home to the tiger, bison, elephant, panther and sloth bear and has over 250 diverse species of birds. Check in at resort followed by lunch. Afternoon safari in the national park. Dinner & overnight in resort.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in resort.

Day 5: Kabini/ Nagarhole

Stop At: Kabini Dam, Heggadadevanakote Taluk Akbini River, Mysuru (Mysore) India
Breakfast at resort. Explore Nagarhole with an early morning and an evening game safari in the company of an expert naturalist. Established in 1955, Nagarhole is a beautiful reserve and predominately consists of lush deciduous forests covering a large area to the north of the Kabini River. lunch, dinner & overnight in resort.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in resort.

Day 6: Kabini/ Nagarhole - Sultans Battery/ Wayanad (80Kms/ 2hrs approx)

Stop At: Sultan Battery, Mangalore India
Breakfast at resort drive to Sultan’s Battery, a small town at the Western Ghats and at the centre of a region, which produces some of India’s premium coffee, cardamom and vanilla. Arrive & check in at resort. Enjoy the local essence of Tranquil and the surrounding area. If feeling superbly energetic, you can opt for exploring the area with numerous walking trails through the grounds including a challenging hill trek to Look Out Rock. Dinner & overnight at resort.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at resort.

Day 7: Sultans Battery/ Wayanad - Ooty (135Kms/ 3hrs approx)

Stop At: Ooty (Udhagamandalam), Ooty (Udhagamandalam), The Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu
Breakfast at resort proceed to the hill station of Ooty. The capital of the Nilgiri ‘Blue Mountain’ district, Ooty boasts a temperate climate that once enticed the British to escape the summer heat of plains. Here they whiled away their time with endless socialising, bridge parties and Tiffin, which gave the town the catchy nickname of ‘Snooty Ooty’. Check in at hotel and rest time to relax.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 8: Ooty

Stop At: Botanical Gardens, Vannarapettai, Ooty (Udhagamandalam) 643002 India
Breakfast at hotel. Enjoy the town and visit the well-maintained botanical gardens, which have over 1,000 varieties of plants, shrubs and trees. also take a ride on the famous Nilgiri Mountain Railway that winds its way down through spectacular scenery and breathtaking views to the nearby town of Coonoor.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 9: Ooty - Kochi (300Kms/ 6hrs approx)

Stop At: Vasco da Gama, Vasco da Gama, South Goa District, Goa
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Kochi check in at hotel. Founded by Vasco-da-Gama in 1502, Kochi quickly developed into a principle port and the centre of the spice trade on the Malabar Coast. A picturesque town of dilapidated buildings, vibrant bougainvillea and a languid palm-fringed harbour, Portuguese, Dutch and British settlers have all influenced this charming city.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 10: Kochi

Stop At: Fort Kochi, Fort Kochi, Kochi (Cochin), Ernakulam District, Kerala
Breakfast at hotel. Smell of the seawater and fish, hung over nets and locals on the beach – today we explore the Fort Kochi. Starting on foot, begin the day at the church of St Francis, the oldest European church in India, then walk to the town’s waterfront – site of the iconic Chinese fishing nets and the many fish stalls. Later visit Mattancherry Palace, which was built by the Portuguese in 1557 as a gift to the Raja of Kochi, and the town’s fine synagogue. The area here is also known for its many antique and souvenir shops. End the day with a mesmeric sunset cruise around the bustling harbour.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 11: Kochi - Alleppey (60Kms/ 1.3hrs approx)

Stop At: Alleppey Backwaters, Alappuzha India
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Alleppey the Kerala backwaters to join a private houseboat for a night cruise. Authentic and comfortable, all meals are cooked on board and the boat is staffed with a captain, a deck hand and a cook. Spend the remainder of day cruising the picturesque and peaceful backwaters.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Alleppey Backwaters, Alappuzha India
Explore the backwaters that entails a network of lakes, coconut shaded canals and estuaries – tiled and thatched cottages bright with hibiscus dot the embankments and the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets hung over the water’s edge. Witness local life with children swimming and playing in the water, women attending to their daily chores and men fishing from their canoes. Lunch, dinner & overnight in houseboat.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in houseboat.

Day 12: Alleppey - Mararikulam (20kms/ 30min approx)

Stop At: Marari Beach, Beach Road, Mararikulam 688006 India
After breakfast disembark houseboat and drive to Marari and check in at a Beach Resort for a three-night stay. Rest time free and easy to relax on the beach.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at beach resort.

Day 13: Mararikulam

Stop At: Mararikulam, Mararikulam, Alappuzha District, Kerala
Breakfast at hotel, day free and easy to relax on the beach and connect with yourself.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at beach resort.

Day 14: Mararikulam

Stop At: Marari Beach, Beach Road, Mararikulam 688006 India
Breakfast at hotel, day free and easy to relax on the beach and connect with yourself.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at beach resort.

Day 15: Mararikulam - Kochi (75kms/ 2hrs approx)

Pass By: Kochi (Cochin), Kochi (Cochin), Ernakulam District, Kerala
Breakfast at hotel. As per your flight schedule transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.