The Western Ghats

• Bangalore - Mysore

  On our arrival in Bangalore, we will be picked up by our local transport and head towards Mysore. En route, we’ll stop by a local restaurant for lunch. In the evening, reach Geetanjali Homestay near Chamundi Hills and after freshening up, drive to the Mysore Palace to enjoy the sound and light show, followed by witnessing the illumination of the grand palace for 10 mins. We’ll have a local dinner in the city and head to the homestay for the night.

• Mysore - Ooty - Red Hills Resort

  Early morning after breakfast, visit the most beautiful Bonsai garden in perhaps the country. Post which we will depart for Nilgiris and drive through the Bandipur wildlife reserve in Karnataka and the Madhumalai reserve in Tamil Nadu. After lunch, in the Masinagudi area we will ascend the forty-hairpin bends to get to an altitude of 6000 ft above MSL. As We pass Ooty we will take a drive towards the remote Emerald Lake Region. The Red Hills Resort is more like a homestay run by the owners and overlooking the stunning view of the Avalanche Dam backwaters. In the evening we will enjoy tea and local cookies after which we will set off an a short nature walk before night fall. Dinner and overnight stay at Red Hills Nature Resort .

• Red Hills Resort ( Homestay)

  Wake up to the sounds of nature and the scent of Nilgiris, and start your day with a wholesome breakfast. Later proceed for a nature walk to spot some of our more elusive semi-permanent guests in the area: black bears, sambar deer, barking deer, and a variety of bird life. Have lunch with a view of the Nilgiris. After which we will head to the highest-growing tea plants in the Nilgiri region for tea-tasting session. Spend your evening around the Bonfire and BBQ meal. Dinner and overnight stay at Red Hills Nature Resort. The idea of staying in this remote area and amidst nature is to feel disconnected from the hustle and crowds of Ooty.

• Ooty - Siruvani

  After breakfast descend the mountains and towards the plains to Dvara Siruvani, a traditional south-Indian styled accommodation overlooking the dense Shorayur Forest. Each room has a private pool, so you can enjoy a dip after lunch. In the evening, we will head to Isha Foundation, a spiritual place that is home to The Sadhguru. The precinct houses the largest bust of Shiva in the world. As the evening sets in the energy is more vibrant as various activities for the evening the n the evening, we will stay for the aarti which is a magical experience to have. Dinner and overnight stay in Siruvani.

• Siruvani - Valparai

  After breakfast, we will check out and head towards the unexplored Pollachi and Valparai mountains. You will come across many waterfalls on the way to the Sinnadorai Bungalows in Valparai. The area has a thriving population of elephants and bisons that wander the surroundings especially the bisons which are commonly seen in the tea gardens that surround the Bungalows. We will explore the surrounding estate with the local naturalist in the evening. Make sure to not venture out after dark. Dinner and overnight stay in Sinnadorai Bungalows.

• Valparai

  We’ll start our day with a refreshing and easy hike to a nearby waterbody and later drive to the Sholayar Dam. The drive itself will make your day as we ride on the road to Ernakulum which passes through India’s thickest rainforest and touches the border with Kerala. After returning to the bungalows, we’ll have local food for lunch prepared by the skilled estate chef. In the evening, after tea, walk to the highest point on the property from where on a clear evening we can see a thick forest of clouds extending as far as Kerala over the Western Ghats. It’s an unforgettable and mesmerizing sight to see! Dinner and overnight stay in the Bungalows.

• Valparai - Marayoor

  After breakfast, as we drive towards our next destination in Kerala, you’ll see the topography changing from wet mountains to a more dry landscape, and again to hills and waterfalls. (We’ll go through several check-posts and alcohol is not allowed as we cross states). In the evening we’ll check into the most unique accommodation of our tour - Mud House, situated at an altitude of 1200m. After a home-cooked dinner, we will enjoy a night safari where we will go off-road in a jeep to spot the animals in the wild. Overnight stay at the Mud House.

• Marayoor

  After a late breakfast, we will visit a jaggery-making plant and sip fresh sugar cane juice. The high grown sugarcane has a unique taste and the jaggery from this area serves well to reduce the blood pressure. Later we will drive to the highest point in this range and take our time tasting some of the locally grown produce. For lunch, we’ll have traditional vegetarian food of Kerala on a banana leaf, followed by some time at leisure in the Mud House. In the evening, proceed to visit the burial site with stone houses dating back to the Iron Age. You’ll find some remnants from the Neolithic Age (500 BC to 2000 BC) as well. Return to enjoy dinner with a bonfire. Overnight stay at the Mud House.

• Marayoor - Neriamangalam

  Early morning, check out and leave for Neriamangalam. Our drive will take us through some of the most beautiful scenery in the Western Ghats region. We’ll take some stops on the way, including one for a traditional lunch. Today, we’ll check in to the exclusive River House property with only four rooms, all facing the river Periyar. In the evening, we’ll go for a nature walk to reach the Inchathotty Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in Kerala that connects two banks of the Periyar river. Dinner and overnight stay at the River House.

• Neriamangalam - Kochi Airport

  Spend the morning at leisure and after lunch, we’ll visit the Kodungallur region on the Malabar Coast where the Portuguese first landed in India. The Jewish Synagogue is classic in its architecture and a visit there takes you to an history of 300 years ago. Paravur is itself ideally located on the backwaters. In the evening, depart for Kochi airport and from there fly back home taking back amazing memories from the trip.

Handpicked Accommodation on Tour:

Mysore - Geetanjali Homestay - Overlooking the Chamundi hills in Mysore is the Geetanjali homestay. Owned and run by a family from Coorg, the homestay has a lovely lawn and a garden.
Ooty - Red Hills Nature Resort - A nature retreat with a splendid view of the forest and the 'Emerald Lake.'
Siruvani (near Coimbatore) - Dvara Siruvani - A 10-room intimate hotel in the foothills of the Nilgiris, where our rooms face the mountains and a lake. There is an individual pool in every cottage.
Valparai - Sinnadorai Bungalows- Owned by a group that owns many tea estates in this part of Tamil Nadu, the owners have given this 140-year-old estate British bungalow the South Indian touch it shines in today.
Marayoor - Mud House - The Marayoor Mud house is fully built with natural building materials sourced locally. The property belongs to an ex-air force engineer. The food here is home-cooked.
Neriamangalam - The River House (Windermere Estates) - A unique location on the banks of the Periyar river gives this house a Bali-like feel. There are only 4 rooms and all of them face the river.

(The departures in August and September will involve a stay in Coonoor. Please contact the office for further information.)
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TOUR DATE:

Tour Cost 

(5% GST will be added to the total tour cost)

Note: (for booking flights)
Pick up from Bangalore Airport by 9:30 AM
Airport drop to Cochin Airport at 5:30 PM