Namaste! Welcome to India. A fusion of modernity and tradition, the vibrant colours of India are truly captivating. Be at one with bustling cities, surrender to the simplicity of villages, and be touched by the spirituality of this land. A journey through India is enriching, inspiring and unforgettable. Your adventure will usually begin with a welcome meeting in the joining hotel. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place. If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception as soon as possible. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please ensure you have all these details to provide to your leader. Your trip starts in Bengaluru (aka Bangalore), the capital of Karnataka State. Bangalore is the centre of India's high...

This morning, travel across the undulating Karnataka plains to Mysore (approximately 3 hours). You’ll stop en route to have a memorable locally made biryani lunch with our local friend Raju and his family. Mysore is one of India's most attractive towns. Unlike some of India's biggest cities, it feels quite manageable in size, and it's beautiful buildings are packed full of history. The Maharajah’s Palace, the Lalitha Mahal (Summer Palace) and Shri Chamarajendra art gallery are all definitely worth a visit. There’s plenty to see, so take an orientation walk with your leader to get your bearings. The town was once the capital of the might Mysore Maharaja kingdom, pretty much ruled by the same family from 1399 until 1947. Today it's the state capital and a silk trade centre. It’s well laid out, with wide streets and many garde...

This morning after breakfast, travel about an hour to the small town Somnathpur and its intricate Keshava Temple, which is an excellent example of Hoysala architecture. The ornate temple’s outerwalls are bedecked with intricate designs, and the stonework throughout is stunning. For a better look at the surrounding countryside, you’ll then walk the 1,008 ancient stone steps to the summit of Chamundi Hill – site of the Sri Chamundeswari Temple, which is dedicated to Goddess Durga. Stop halfway to look at the huge statue of the bull Nandi. This vahana, or ‘vehicle’, of Lord Shiva is 4.9 metres tall and 7.6 metres long and carved out of a single piece of black granite. Later you’ll catch and overnight train heading directly east to the coast and Chennai (approximately 11 hours). Trains are an integral park of Indian life and ...

After alighting the train in Chennai, drive along the scenic East Coast Road to the fishing village of Mamallapuram, home to sprawling, relaxed beaches (approximately 2 hours). When you arrive, saddle up for a bicycle tour, visiting the World Heritage-listed 7th-century Shore Temple – a magnificent rock cut building that over looks the sea – and the massive bas-relief rock carving known as Arjuna's Penance, which is one of India’s greatest ancient art works. There's time to inspect the numerous mandapams (carved pillars in front of temples), watch locals pay their respects to the deity Shiva, or lookout at the fishing fleet. The stone carving tradition from the 9th century continues to this day, with the sound on hammers and chisels still filling the air. You can admire the handiwork of the numerous talented masons that line...

The united territories of Pondicherry (now Puducherry) are unmistakeably and charmingly French, complete with a Hotel de Ville, French consulate and police who wear red “kepis” hats and belts. The city is also a duty free zone, reputed for its quality leather and hand crafted paper products. You'll notice the French influence of the area extends to the European feel of the shopping, and it’s a great place to satisfy any croissant cravings! Puducherry still retains its Indian roots though, making it one of India's more surprising and delightful cities. Explore the shorefront city on a guided walking tour to see local temples, the French Quarter and the spiritual community of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, one of the most affluent and most popular ashrams for tourists and ex-pats alike. The rest of the day is free for your own explorat...

Hop back on the rails today for a train ride westward to Madurai, a city with an illustrious past (approximately 6 hours). Arrive at your accommodation around lunchtime. Madurai is the largest of what are collectively known as ‘The Temple Towns’ – town’s full of temples! South India’s temple architecture is very different to that of the north, but these are iconic structures in their own right. On the northern plains, temples are graced with slim sikaras (towers), but here in the south, immense gopurams (gateways) carved with thousands of painted Hindu gods are the most striking elements of the Dravidian temples. In the afternoon head out to explore this scenic city, full of temples, markets and even the occasional passing elephant! Walk the intricate halls and sanctuaries of Meenakshi Amman Temple – the heady fragrance o...

This morning cross from Tamil Nadu to Kerala, driving into the countryside along a winding road past rubber and pineapple plantations and thick jungle to the spice plantation town of Thekkady (approximately 5 hours). Thekkady is the gateway to Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve. Periyar is one of the main wildlife sanctuaries of southern India and one of the countries largest. Perched high in the Cardamom Hills region of the Western Ghats, in 1973 the park became part of Project Tiger in an effort to save this wonderful animal from extinction. You’ll have some free time to relax and get used to the sounds of the wildlife in the park before exploring the local area. This region is well known for its spice growing, so this evening prepare for a fragrant tour of a spice plantation and discover local ginger, cardamom, vanilla...

This morning after breakfast, say goodbye to Periyar and head south to Kochi for the next leg of your adventure. This is quite a travel day, and the journey will take 5-5.5 hours on good roads. There’ll be plenty of places to stop and stretch your legs before you arrive at your hotel in Kochi for the night. Cochin, as it’s more commonly known, is a melting pot of Portuguese, Dutch, Chinese and British influences. If there’s any time when you arrive, you could hop on one of the ferries that cruise between the island to visit Fort Kochi and explore its antique shops and spice bazaars. In the evening you can wander down the beach at sunset, seek out the best coconut curry in town, or perhaps witness a Kathakali dance performance. This is a classical, powerful and dramatic dance style that combines symbolic storytelling with phy...

This morning, descend from the hills and make the three-hour drive to Alleppey (Alappuzha). Once a significant trading port, the town is now famed for the long ‘snake boats’ races that take place in August every year. Here you will board a typical Keralan houseboat to cruise through the complex system of beautiful lagoons and canals known as the ‘Malabar Backwaters’. The backwaters are best explored by boat as life revolves around the water here – children often learn to swim before they can walk and they row boats before they ride a bike. These waterways are the principal means of communication and trade for scores of homes and villages. Along the banks, at jetties and ferry stops, there's often a wonderful array of produce ready for market, with sacks of cashews piled high next to coconuts. Meander down the waterways, tr...

Swap the water for the road today as we drive to Kovalam this morning (approximately 5-6 hours). When you arrive, you’ll transfer to your accommodation for the next two nights at Kovalam Beach (approximately 45 minutes). Here you’ll get a slice of some royally sanctioned paradise – Kovalam was once a quiet coastal village known for its export of fresh fish and coconuts, but it was developed and promoted by the Godavarma Raja, who fell in love with its beauty when honeymooning here in 1934. Move from sun lounger, to beach, to hotel pool, and back again, perhaps squeezing in a traditional ayurvedic massage. Oils extracted from plants with medicinal properties are worked into the head, arms, shoulders and back – a perfect trip end for parents! If you’re keen to explore, there’s plenty to do in and around this coconut tree-ri...