Natural wonders of Southern India including a houseboat cruise on the backwaters of Kerala

Day 1 London – In flight
Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service® transports you from your front door to London Gatwick Airport and our scheduled Emirates flights to Dubai and onward scheduled flight to Bangalore.

Day 2 Bangalore
On arrival in Bangalore, transfer to the 5★ Le Meridien Hotel for our overnight stay on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis. The afternoon is free to enjoy the surroundings of the hotel.

Day 3 Bangalore – Kabini
Today we begin our journey south to Kabini, the base for our exploration of Nagarhole National Park. After an included lunch, we arrive at our accommodation for the next two nights, the 4★ Orange County Resort, Kabini with dinner and breakfast included. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Day 4 Kabini
Nagarhole National Park is home to some of the most endangered wildlife species and the highest density of herbivores in Asia. The elusive tiger is resident, although more commonly seen are Muntjac, Chital and Sambar deer, wild boar, Asian elephant, Common Langur and Bonnet Macaques. Today we follow two different modes of exploration, beginning with a journey by boat along the Kabini River with the chance to spot some of the area’s spectacular birdlife and after lunch we return to the National Park taking a jeep safari.

Day 5 Kabini – Coorg
Leaving this beautiful area we depart for Coorg, stopping en route at Bylakuppe to visit the second largest Tibetan settlement in India, home to one of the largest Buddhist universities and many monasteries practising numerous traditions, including Namdroling Monastery, known as The Golden Temple. We continue to Coorg in time for lunch and arrive at the 4★ Orange County Resort, where we stay for three nights with breakfast and dinner included.

Day 6 Coorg
Located within the 300 acres of a working plantation, we awake in our resort to the subtly intoxicating aromas of coffee and spice, emanating from our surroundings. We enjoy a guided tour of the plantation, learning how the coffee and spices are cultivated and after lunch, our afternoon will be free to spend time at leisure in the resort’s relaxing environment.

Day 7 Coorg
Coorg, renowned for its incomparable scenic beauty, lush green valleys, coffee plantations and teakwood forests, is home to the Coorgs, a people that revere tradition and culture. Early this morning we have an included walking visit with a naturalist, to the village and environs surrounding the resort, where hidden natural delights are waiting to be discovered. After breakfast there is time to join another guided nature walk to continue our discoveries, before lunch.

Day 8 Coorg – Wayanad
An ‘ornithologist’s delight’; Coorg accounts for 25% of all bird species in India and we are up early today for a discovery tour, to glimpse many of the local bird inhabitants that may wish to grace us with their delightful presence and fascinate the amateur or professional birdwatcher. Our stay in this lush plantation at an end, we depart after breakfast for Wayanad, renowned for its majestic rugged terrain and promising a variety of wildlife, plantation resorts and ayurvedic spas. We arrive at the 3★ Wayanad Silver Woods hotel, perfectly situated on the banks of a reservoir offering picturesque views from its grounds, where we stay on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.

Day 9 Wayanad
After breakfast we visit Edakkal Caves in the Ambukuthi Hills, regarded as one of the earliest centres of human habitation. The cave contains ancient stone scripts and pictorial wall inscriptions of human and animal fi gures, comparable only to those found in caves within the European Alps. Later this afternoon we head out to Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary, where wildlife can be spotted most often as they roam in search of drinking water. Please note – due to annual closures between March – May, the visit to Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary will be substituted by a nature walk or temple visit.

Day 10 Wayanad – Cochin
Today we wend our way farther south to Cochin. En route Punnathur Elephant Fort awaits us; once the palace of a local ruler, the grounds are now used to house the elephants, numbering up to sixty, belonging to the Guruvayoor Temple. Later this afternoon we arrive in Cochin and the 5★ Crowne Plaza hotel, where we stay with dinner and breakfast included for the next two nights.

Day 11 Cochin
We embark on a fascinating tour of Cochin today, which includes the Dutch Palace, St Francis Church and Santa Cruz Basilica, all originally constructed by the Portuguese in the 16th century. We also view the Synagogue and learn of over two thousand years of Jewish history in the region. Later we view the unique Chinese Fishing Nets; of bamboo and wood construction, this style of fishing has been practised here and in many other areas of Kerala, since their introduction by 14th century Chinese traders. Our tour ends in the Fort Kochi area. This evening we witness a superb Kathakali dance performance, based on stories from Ramayana and Mahabharata. The dancers are elaborately made up with paint and masks, accompanied by drummers and musicians.

Day 12 Cochin – Kumarakom
After breakfast we drive to Alleppey and board a traditional houseboat and begin a cruise on the backwaters of Vembanad Lake. We journey through the intricate maze of backwaters, which mesmerise and surprise at every turn with serene beauty and charm. Enjoying the countryside of Kerala from a delightful angle, we will see an array of coconut trees and endless paddy fields. Lunch is included on the cruise and after disembarking this afternoon we arrive at our hotel the 4★ Coconut Lagoon, staying on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.

Day 13 Kumarakom
The last full day of our holiday is completely at leisure to enjoy the surroundings of our hotel in Kumarakom. Perhaps enjoy a rejuvenating massage, or walk along the village trails to discover more of the local area. Or simply enjoy the hotel’s facilities. Our fi nal dinner this evening, promises to be fi lled with animated discussion about our holiday adventure.

Day 14 Kumarakom – Cochin – London
We transfer to Cochin Airport for our Emirates flight to Dubai and onward connecting flight to London Gatwick Airport. On arrival our staff will greet you and transfer you to Titan transport for the return journey home to your own front door.