From the sublime backwaters of Kerala, to wildlife wonderlands, to ancient cities and perfect beaches – this two-week journey will give you memories to last a lifetime. Click for Luxury, Mid-range or Budget. Here’s your Southern India itinerary:
| Luxury |  |
||||
| 1 | โTo Kochi (Book >) | Dep: Afternoon | ๐จ In flight! | ||
| 2 | Arr: Morning | ๐จHotel Old Harbourย (Book >) | All hotels > | ||
| Enjoy a relaxed day in the serene surroundings of Kochi. See the Chinese fishing nets in action, visit the opulent Mattancherry Palace and St. Francis church – the oldest European-built church in India and where Vasco da Gama was first buried. | Kochi is a pretty conservative place and so you will probably be more comfortable by dressing accordingly. | ||||
| 3 | ๐Kochi to Alleppey taxi | Dep: 10:00 | Arr: 11:30 | ๐จHouseboat (Book >) | All hotels > |
| Book a taxi through your hotel and join your houseboat for a midday departure. Sail through the serene Kerala backwaters, stopping off at villages along the way. | Be sure to take a filter water bottle some insect repellant with you. | ||||
| 4 | ๐Alleppey to Mettupalayam drive (Book >) | Dep: 12:30 | Arr: 19:00 | ๐จKurumba Village Resort (Book >) | All hotels > |
| Enjoy a relaxing morning on the water before meeting your driver and heading to the foothills of Nilgiri hills. | I highly recommend buying train tickets as far in advance as possible. | ||||
| 5 | ๐Mettupalayam to Ooty train (Book >) | Dep: 07:10 | Arr: 12:00 | ๐จTreebo Trip Rosefield Heritage (Book >) |
All hotels > |
| The Ooty Toy Train has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site – it’s well worth the early start and 35-min taxi journey. Admire the magnificent engineering as the train traverses dense rainforests and steep mountains. The colonial hill station of Ooty has a lovely lake, nearby tea plantations and some wonderful botanical gardens. | You will need to register with IRCTC to use the links featured in this Southern India itinerary before buying a ticket on their site. | ||||
| 6 | ๐Ooty to Nagarhole National Park drive (Book >) | Dep: 09:00 | Arr: 14:00 | ๐จEvolve Back Kuruba Safari Lodge (Book >) | All hotels > |
| Drive through more plantations and spectacular views – asking your driver to stop whenever you wish – on your way to Nagarhole National Park. Settle in to your hotel then join the 15:30 jeep safari into the park. | Visit TripSavvy for a guide on how much to tip your driver. | ||||
| 7 | Sloths, leopards, tigers, wild Dogs, sambar, antelopes, deer and boars can all be spotted in this remarkable park. Start early and get the 06:30 road and river safari. | Birds are mainly seen in the morning, elephants in the afternoon and tigers rarely. | |||
| 8 | ๐Nagarhole National Park to Mysore taxi | Dep: 09:00 | Arr: 12:00 | ๐จRadisson Blu Plaza (Book >) |
All hotels > |
| Your hotel can help arrange your taxi to Mysore. Mysore Palace is the must-see attraction here. If you’ve time to spare after that then the almost 800 year-old Somnathpur temple is well worth a visit, as is the lofty Sri Chamundeswari Temple, or the Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens if you really want to see a tiger. | Remember to dress modestly when visiting temples. | ||||
| 9 | ๐Mysore to Bangalore train (Book >) ๐Bangalore to Hampi train (Book >) |
Dep: 11:30
Dep: 22:05 |
Arr: 14:00 | ๐จTrain | |
| Visit those places you were unable to see yesterday before journeying to Bangalore. Once you’ve dropped your bags at the railway station visit the immense ISKCON temple, as well as the old temples in the Basavanagudi area before heading for your night train to Hampi. | Give yourself plenty of time to travel around Bangalore as the traffic congestion can be terrible. | ||||
| 10 | ๐Bangalore to Hampi train | Arr: 07:10 | ๐จWelcomHeritage Shivavilas Palace (Book >) | All hotels > | |
| The amazing 14th century ruins at Hampi stretch over 25 kilometers and so you’ll definitely need most of the day (and preferably a guide) to see them. | There are no ATMs in Hampi and so, if you need cash, make sure you take it out in Hospet. | ||||
| 11 | ๐Hampi to Goa (Madgaon) train (Book >) | Dep: 06:20 | Arr: 14:00 | ๐จHotel Taj Exotica Goa (Book >) | All hotels > |
| Glide towards the coast and start unwinding in the tropical surroundings of Goa. | Air-conditioned first class (AC1 or 1A) is the most comfortable way to travel by public train in India. | ||||
| 12-13 | Bored of the beach? Arrange tours with your hotel, including to the Basilica of Bom Jesus, and Se Cathedral in Old Goa, Singbalโs Book House in nearby Panaji and the Dudhsagar Falls. | Learn a few local words before you travel to India | |||
| 14-15 | โGoa to home (Book >) | Dep: Evening | Arr: Morning (next day) | Connect this Southern India itinerary with the Sri Lanka, Rajasthan – India or Nepal itinerary | |
| Direct flights are possible, but only at certain times of year. | |||||
| Mid-range |  |
||||
| 1 | โTo Kochi (Book >) | Dep: Afternoon | ๐จ In flight! | ||
| 2 | Arr: Morning | ๐จHotel Old Harbour (Book >) | All hotels > | ||
| Enjoy a relaxed day in the serene surroundings of Kochi. See the Chinese fishing nets in action, visit the opulent Mattancherry Palace and St. Francis church – the oldest European-built church in India and where Vasco da Gama was first buried. | Kochi is a pretty conservative place and so you will probably be more comfortable by dressing accordingly. | ||||
| 3 | ๐Kochi to Alleppey train (Book >) | Dep: 08:45 | Arr: 10:40 | ๐จHouseboat (Book >) | All hotels > |
| Take a tuk-tuk to the station and arrive into Alleppey in time to board your houseboat for a midday departure. Sail through the serene Kerala backwaters, stopping off at villages along the way. | Be sure to take a filter water bottle and some insect repellant with you. | ||||
| 4 | ๐Alleppey to Coimbatore bus (Book >) | Dep: 15:20 | Arr: 21:00 | ๐จTreebo Trend Jansi Residency (Book >) | All hotels > |
| Enjoy a relaxing morning on the water before heading to bustling Coimbatore. | I highly recommend buying train tickets as far in advance as possible. | ||||
| 5 | ๐Coimbatore to Mettupalayam train ๐Mettupalayam to Ooty train (Book >) |
Dep: 05:15 Dep: 07:10 |
Arr: 06:15 Arr: 12:00 |
๐จTreebo Trip Rosefield Heritage (Book >) |
All hotels > |
| The Ooty Toy Train has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site – it’s well worth the early start and 35-min taxi journey. Admire the magnificent engineering as the train traverses dense rainforests and steep mountains. The colonial hill station of Ooty has a lovely lake, nearby tea plantations and some wonderful botanical gardens. | You will need to register with IRCTC to use the links featured in this Southern India itinerary before buying a ticket on their site. | ||||
| 6 | ๐Ooty to Bandipur bus (Info >) | Dep: 08:24 | Arr: 10:30 | ๐จDhole’s Den Bandipur (Book >) | All hotels > |
| Drop your bags off at your hotel and arrange your safari in the village. If you want to save money then join the 15:30 bus safari into the park. | Bus times from Ootyย may change. Your bus will depart from Udhagamandalam Central Bus Stand (close to the station and so, on Day 5, you may want to check times) | ||||
| 7 | Sloths, leopards, tigers, wild Dogs, sambar, antelopes, deer and boars can all be spotted in this remarkable park. Start early and get the 06:30 safari. | Birds are mainly seen in the morning, elephants in the afternoon and tigers rarely. | |||
| 8 | ๐Bandipur to Mysore bus (Info >) | Dep: 10:00 | Arr: 11:30 | ๐จLok Sagar Mysore Palace (Book >) |
All hotels > |
| Mysore Palace is the must-see attraction in this city. If you’ve time to spare after that then the almost 800 year-old Somnathpur temple is well worth a visit, as is the lofty Sri Chamundeswari Temple, or the Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens if you really want to see a tiger. | Your bus will be the one from Ooty and so exact times may not be available. | ||||
| 9 | ๐Mysore to Bangalore train (Book >) ๐Bangalore to Hampi train (Book >) |
Dep: 11:30
Dep: 22:05 |
Arr: 14:00 | ๐จTrain | |
| Visit those places you were unable to see yesterday before journeying to Bangalore. Once you’ve dropped your bags at the railway station visit the immense ISKCON temple, as well as the old temples in the Basavanagudi area before heading for your night train to Hampi. | Give yourself plenty of time to travel around Bangalore as the traffic congestion can be terrible. | ||||
| 10 | ๐Bangalore to Hampi train | Arr: 07:10 | ๐จCapital O 41723 Shree International(Book >) | All hotels > | |
| The amazing 14th century ruins at Hampi stretch over 25 kilometers and so you’ll definitely need most of the day (and preferably a guide) to see them. | There are no ATMs in Hampi and so, if you need cash, make sure you take it out in Hospet. | ||||
| 11 | ๐Hampi to Goa (Madgaon) train (Book >) | Dep: 06:20 | Arr: 14:00 | ๐จFabExpress Vagator Cottage (Book >) | All hotels > |
| Glide towards the coast and start unwinding in the tropical surroundings of Goa. | Air-conditioned first class (AC1 or 1A) is the most comfortable way to travel by public train in India. | ||||
| 12-13 | Bored of the beach? Arrange tours with your hotel, including to the Basilica of Bom Jesus, and Se Cathedral in Old Goa, Singbalโs Book House in nearby Panaji and the Dudhsagar Falls. | Learn a few local words before you travel to India | |||
| 14-15 | โGoa to home (Book >) | Dep: Evening | Arr: Morning (next day) | Connect this Southern India itinerary with the Sri Lanka, Rajasthan – India or Nepal itinerary | |
| Direct flights are possible, but only at certain times of year. | |||||
| Budget |  |
||||
| 1 | โTo Kochi (Book >) | Dep: Afternoon | ๐จ In flight! | ||
| 2 | Arr: Morning | ๐จBastian Homestay (Book >) | All hostels > | ||
| Enjoy a relaxed day in the serene surroundings of Kochi. See the Chinese fishing nets in action, visit the opulent Mattancherry Palace and St. Francis church – the oldest European-built church in India and where Vasco da Gama was first buried. | Kochi is a pretty conservative place and so you will probably be more comfortable by dressing accordingly. | ||||
| 3 | ๐Kochi to Alleppey train (Book >) | Dep: 08:45 | Arr: 10:40 | ๐จHouseboat (Book >) | All hostels > |
| Take a tuk-tuk to the station and arrive into Alleppey in time to board your houseboat for an 11:30 departure. Sail through the serene Kerala backwaters, stopping off at villages along the way. | Don’t forget to take a filter water bottle and some insect repellant. | ||||
| 4 | ๐Alleppey to Coimbatore train (Book >) | Dep: 10:15 | Arr: 15:27 | ๐จTreebo Trend Jansi Residency (Book >) | All hostels > |
| Glide to the end of your houseboat journey then board the train to Coimbatore. Your hotel is near the Karpagam Cinema – going to see a Bollywood film can be great fun. | This train only departs on Fridays. See here for other train times. | ||||
| 5 | ๐Coimbatore to Mettupalayam train ๐Mettupalayam to Ooty train (Book >) |
Dep: 05:15 Dep: 07:10 |
Arr: 06:15 Arr: 12:00 |
๐จPrabhu’s Place (Book >) |
All hostels > |
| The Ooty Toy Train has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site – it’s well worth the early start and 35-min taxi journey. Admire the magnificent engineering as the train traverses dense rainforests and steep mountains. The colonial hill station of Ooty has a lovely lake, nearby tea plantations and some wonderful botanical gardens. | If you use IRCTC links featured in this Southern India itinerary you’ll need to register before buying a ticket on their site. I highly recommend buying train tickets in advance. | ||||
| 6 | ๐Ooty to Bandipur bus (Info >) | Dep: 08:24 | Arr: 10:30 | ๐จThe hotel (Book >) | All hotels > |
| Drop your bags off at your hotel and arrange your safari in the village. If you want to save money then join the 15:30 bus safari into the park. | Bus times from Ooty may change. Your bus will depart from Udhagamandalam Central Bus Stand (close to the station and so, on Day 5, you may want to check times) | ||||
| 7 | Sloths, leopards, tigers, wild Dogs, sambar, antelopes, deer and boars can all be spotted in this remarkable park. Start early and get the 06:30 safari. | Birds are mainly seen in the morning, elephants in the afternoon and tigers rarely. | |||
| 8 | ๐Bandipur to Mysore bus (Info >) | Dep: 10:00 | Arr: 11:30 | ๐จThe Mansion (Book >) |
All hostels > |
| Mysore Palace is the must-see attraction in this city. If you’ve time to spare after that then the almost 800 year-old Somnathpur temple is well worth a visit, as is the lofty Sri Chamundeswari Temple, or the Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens if you really want to see a tiger. | Your bus will be the one from Ooty and so exact times may not be available. | ||||
| 9 | ๐Mysore to Bangalore train (Book >) ๐Bangalore to Hampi train (Book >) |
Dep: 11:30
Dep: 22:05 |
Arr: 14:00 | ๐จTrain | |
| Visit those places you were unable to see yesterday before journeying to Bangalore. Once you’ve dropped your bags at the railway station visit the immense ISKCON temple, as well as the old temples in the Basavanagudi area before heading for your night train to Hampi. | Give yourself plenty of time to travel around Bangalore as the traffic congestion can be terrible. | ||||
| 10 | ๐Bangalore to Hampi train | Arr: 07:10 | ๐จApartment (Book >) | All hostels > | |
| The amazing 14th century ruins at Hampi stretch over 25 kilometers and so you’ll definitely need most of the day (and preferably a guide) to see them. | There are no ATMs in Hampi and so, if you need cash, make sure you take it out in Hospet. | ||||
| 11 | ๐Hampi to Goa (Madgaon) train (Book >) ๐Madgaon to Panjim bus |
Dep: 06:20 Dep: 15:00 |
Arr: 14:00 Arr: 17:00 |
๐จThe White Balcao (Book >) | All hostels > |
| Spend a night amidst the wonderful old buildings of Panjim, including Singbalโs Book House. | When you arrive in Madgaon take a tuk-tuk or taxi to the KTC Bus terminus from where there are frequent services to Panjim. | ||||
| 12 | ๐Panjim to Arpora | Dep: 10:15 | Arr: 11:00 | ๐จWoke Morjim (Book >) | All hostels > |
| Glide towards the coast and start unwinding in the tropical surroundings of Goa. | Learn a few local words before you travel to India | ||||
| 13-14 | Enjoy a couple of days unwinding on the beach before heading home. | Be very wary of strong rip currents when in the sea | |||
| 15-16 | ๐Arpora to airport โGoa to home (Book >) |
Dep: Afternoon Dep: Evening |
Arr: 1hr later Arr: Morning (next day) |
Connect this Southern India itinerary with the Sri Lanka, Rajasthan – India or Nepal itinerary | |
| Direct flights are possible, but only at certain times of year. | |||||
A Plan To Go 