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Grand Tour of Southern India
Including flight
20 days
24 excursions & visits
2.5 days - free time
Active traveller pace
We love...
Riding an iconic Ooty Toy Train through the spectacular Nilgiri Hills. Cruising tranquil backwaters and staying overnight on a traditional coir houseboat. Spotting wildlife in Southern India’s sublime nature reserves.
Explore Southern India on a journey through Mysuru’s temples and palaces, tea plantations and ‘Toy Train’ rides in the Nilgiri Hills, and a night on a traditional coir houseboat. Enjoy rickshaw rides, Kathakali performances, cookery classes, and wildlife spotting in national parks and sanctuaries. Each day uncovers new sights, sounds, and experiences, capturing the vibrant culture, landscapes, and traditions of Southern India.
Including flight
20 days
24 excursions & visits
2.5 days - free time
Active traveller pace
No surcharges guaranteed
For further peace of mind, once you have booked your holiday and we have confirmed your booking, we guarantee not to increase the price you pay if fuel prices or exchange rates change.
Get more value every time
Nationwide return chauffeur service
Getting to the airport is easy, thanks to our nationwide return shared chauffeur service, which is included on every tour
See more, do more, experience more
We include incredible experiences and activities
Your holiday includes
39 meals
18 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 18 dinnersAccommodation
18 nights in hotels and 1 in flight
24 excursions & visits
City tours of Bengaluru; Kochi; and Puducherry (including a cycle rickshaw ride and Sri Aurobindo Ashram)
Visits to Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple Complex; Chennakesava Temple; Devarajan market, Mysore Palace and Jaganmohan Art Palace; Paradesi Synagogue; Periyar Spice Garden; Keeladi Heritage Museum; Brihadeeswara Temple; Kumbakonam temple town; and UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Mamallapuram
Ooty Toy Train ride and Coonoor Tea Plantation visit
Tour manager
Titan tour manager
Transport from the UK
International flights. Prices are based on return flights with British Airways from London Gatwick via Dubai.
Plus
Tipping (except tour manager, coach driver & coach assistant)
2.5 days free time
Enjoy time to explore independently, relax at your hotel, join our optional excursions or ask your tour manager for their recommendations.
Portable audio
Headset system on excursions
Porterage
Services included
Call us FREE on 0800 988 5823 to book this holiday
Your itinerary
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Day 1 - UK - In flight
Our nationwide shared chauffeur service collects you from home for your overnight flight to Bengaluru.
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Day 2 - Bengaluru
Arrive in Bengaluru this morning and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Radisson Blu Atria (5-star)
Today includes…
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Day 3 - Bengaluru - Mysuru
Enjoy a morning sightseeing tour of Bengaluru, taking in the Bull Temple and Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace. Later, head to Mysore, stopping en route in Sri Rangapatnam to visit Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Tipu’s Death Place, Daria Daultabad and Gumbaz.
Grand Mercure Mysore (4-star)
Today includes…
Excursions & visits: Bengaluru city tour (morning)
Guided visit to Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple Complex (afternoon)
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Day 4 - Mysuru
Visit Devaraja Market, and then head to Chamundi Hills and the magnificent Mysore Palace and Jaganmohan Art Palace. This afternoon, visit the 13th-century Chennakesava Temple.
Grand Mercure Mysore (4-star)
Today includes…
Excursions & visits: Visit to Devarajan market, Mysore Palace and Jaganmohan Art Palace (morning)
Guided tour of Chennakesava Temple (afternoon)
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Day 5 - Bandipur National Park and Madumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
Drive south to Ooty, known fondly as the Queen of Hill Stations. The three-hour drive passes through Bandipur National Park and Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, a prime habitat for wildlife including elephant, deer and peacocks.
Fortune Resort Sullivan Court (4-star)
Today includes…
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Day 6 - Ooty Toy Train
This morning ride one of the most iconic mountain railways in India: the Ooty Toy Train. These little locomotives with their smart blue and cream livery have become an institution in Southern India, and the ride through the hills, jungles and stations is like a journey through time. Stepping off in Coonoor (weather permitting), visit a local tea plantation, then return to Ooty to visit the Botanical gardens, church and local market.
Fortune Resort Sullivan Court (4-star)
Today includes…
Excursions & visits: Ooty Toy Train ride and Coonoor Tea Plantation visit (morning)
Ooty sightseeing and visit to Botanical Gardens (afternoon)
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Day 7 - Ooty - Coimbatore - Kochi
After breakfast, drive to Coimbatore and board a modern Indian train travelling south-east to the coastal city of Kochi. On arrival, transfer to the hotel and spend the remainder of the day at leisure.
Hotel Casino - Kochi (4-star)
Today includes…
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Day 8 - Kochi
Kochi presents an intriguing blend of ancient mosques and synagogues alongside European colonial architecture – a legacy of centuries of traders and explorers. This morning’s tour begins with a visit to Fort Cochin, St. Francis Church and the giant, spider-like Chinese fishing nets on the north shore, as well as Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica. Later, enjoy an Anglo-Indian cookery class, followed by lunch with a local family. Tonight, experience a performance of Kathakali, a centuries-old art form.
Hotel Casino - Kochi (4-star)
Today includes…
Excursions & visits: Kochi city tour
Anglo-Indian cookery class and lunch with a local family (afternoon)
Cultural evening with Kathakali show (evening)
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Day 9 - Kochi - Alappuzha
This morning starts with a visit to the ancient Jewish Synagogue. We then drive to Alleppey and board a traditional, thatch-roofed ‘Kettuvallam’ houseboat for a leisurely lunch and cruise along the labyrinthine canals and waterways that run between the region’s coconut groves, rice fields, hidden temples and tiny islands. Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay on the houseboat.
Deluxe houseboat (3.5-star)
Today includes…
Excursions & visits: Visit Paradesi Synagogue (morning)
Backwaters cruise
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Day 10 - Alappuzha - Periyar - Thekkady
After breakfast, drive to Periyar in the Cardamom Hills and enjoy a free afternoon at leisure. In the evening, attend a Kalaripayattu performance at a local stadium – one of the oldest martial arts traditions in the world, originating in Kerala and dedicated to achieving ultimate co-ordination between mind and body.
Shalimar Spice Garden (5-star)
Today includes…
Excursions & visits: Kalaripayattu performance (evening)
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Day 11 - Periyar
The morning is at leisure, or you can join an optional guided nature walk in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, home to elephant, bison, wild boar and tiger. Later, visit Periyar Spice Garden to explore the region’s historic role in the spice trade, followed by a relaxing cruise on Periyar Lake.
Shalimar Spice Garden (5-star)
Today includes…
Excursions & visits: Visit to Periyar Spice Garden (morning)
Periyar lake cruise (afternoon)
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Day 12 - Thekkady - Madurai
Travel to Madurai, arriving early afternoon. Tonight there’s an included excursion to Sri Meenakshi Temple to witness the ‘Going to bed ceremony’. This ceremony is subject to numbers on the day and the temple doors close promptly at 9pm.
Fortune Madurai (3-star)
Today includes…
Excursions & visits: ‘Going to bed ceremony’ in Sri Meenakshi Temple (evening)
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Day 13 - Madurai
Discover Madurai – one of the oldest cities in India – on a morning drive through its twisting streets. Explore Sri Meenakshi Temple, noting its ornate carvings, shrines and towering gopurams – monumental gateways that frame the continuous ceremonies and devotions held throughout the day. Continue to Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace, whose vast scale remains striking despite its faded grandeur. In the afternoon, visit Keeladi Heritage Museum, where excavations dating back to the 3rd century BC reveal the lives and culture of ancient Tamil Nadu.
Fortune Madurai (3-star)
Today includes…
Excursions & visits: Madurai sightseeing including Sri Meenakshi Temple and Thirumali Palace (morning)
Visit to Keeladi Heritage Museum (afternoon)
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Day 14 - Madurai - Kumbakonam
Drive to Thanjavur and visit the 11th-century Brihadeeswara Temple. Tonight, visit the renowned temple town of Kumbakonam.
Sheraton Anchorage Hotel & Spa (4-star)
Today includes…
Excursions & visits: Visit to Brihadeeswara Temple (morning)
Visit to Kumbakonam temple town (evening)
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Day 15 - Kumbakonam - Puducherry
Travel on a scenic drive to southern India's coastal city of Puducherry. Spend the afternoon at leisure, with time to explore independently or browse local markets for saris, silks, leather goods and jewellery.
Residency Towers, Puducherry (4-star)
Today includes…
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Day 16 - Puducherry
After breakfast, visit the Pondicherry Museum and Sri Aurobindo Ashram – which has grown from a small group of 12 disciples into a community of around 2,000 members. You can also pay to take an optional trip to Auroville, another local community. Later, take a sightseeing and rickshaw ride around the French Quarter.
Residency Towers, Puducherry (4-star)
Today includes…
Excursions & visits: City tour of Puducherry including a cycle rickshaw ride and Sri Aurobindo Ashram (morning)
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Day 17 - Puducherry - Mamallapuram
Continue north to Mamallapuram – a coastal site celebrated for its extraordinary temples and carvings. A sightseeing tour reveals UNESCO World Heritage-listed monuments including the vast relief of Arjuna’s Penance – regarded as one of India’s greatest artworks – and the twin-towered Shore Temple overlooking the Bay of Bengal.
Welcomhotel By ITC Hotels, Kences Palm Beach (4.5-star)
Today includes…
Excursions & visits: Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Mamallapuram (afternoon)
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Day 18 - Mamallapuram
Enjoy a final day at leisure in Mamallapuram, with time to revisit favourite sites or simply absorb the atmosphere of southern India.
Welcomhotel By ITC Hotels, Kences Palm Beach (4.5-star)
Today includes…
Day 19 - Mamallapuram - Chennai
Transfer to Chennai, where you stay overnight.
Pullman Chennai Anna Salai Hotel (5-star)
Today includes…
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Day 20 - Chennai - UK
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. Upon arrival, your vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.
Day 1 - UK - In flight
Our nationwide shared chauffeur service collects you from home for your overnight flight to Bengaluru.
Day 2 - Bengaluru
Arrive in Bengaluru this morning and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Radisson Blu Atria (5-star)
Today includes…
Day 3 - Bengaluru - Mysuru
Enjoy a morning sightseeing tour of Bengaluru, taking in the Bull Temple and Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace. Later, head to Mysore, stopping en route in Sri Rangapatnam to visit Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Tipu’s Death Place, Daria Daultabad and Gumbaz.
Grand Mercure Mysore (4-star)
Today includes…
Excursions & visits: Bengaluru city tour (morning)
Guided visit to Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple Complex (afternoon)
Day 4 - Mysuru
Visit Devaraja Market, and then head to Chamundi Hills and the magnificent Mysore Palace and Jaganmohan Art Palace. This afternoon, visit the 13th-century Chennakesava Temple.
Grand Mercure Mysore (4-star)
Today includes…
Excursions & visits: Visit to Devarajan market, Mysore Palace and Jaganmohan Art Palace (morning)
Guided tour of Chennakesava Temple (afternoon)
Day 5 - Bandipur National Park and Madumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
Drive south to Ooty, known fondly as the Queen of Hill Stations. The three-hour drive passes through Bandipur National Park and Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, a prime habitat for wildlife including elephant, deer and peacocks.
Fortune Resort Sullivan Court (4-star)
Today includes…
Day 6 - Ooty Toy Train
This morning ride one of the most iconic mountain railways in India: the Ooty Toy Train. These little locomotives with their smart blue and cream livery have become an institution in Southern India, and the ride through the hills, jungles and stations is like a journey through time. Stepping off in Coonoor (weather permitting), visit a local tea plantation, then return to Ooty to visit the Botanical gardens, church and local market.
Fortune Resort Sullivan Court (4-star)
Today includes…
Excursions & visits: Ooty Toy Train ride and Coonoor Tea Plantation visit (morning)
Ooty sightseeing and visit to Botanical Gardens (afternoon)
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Why choose a Titan tour?
Titan Travel have always been about seeing more and doing more – which is why we meticulously plan our award-winning escorted tours so that our expertly crafted itineraries make sure that so much is included. Once you book your holiday, you can relax knowing that every element has been taken care of. Choose the tour that gives you more.
Nationwide return chauffeur service
Getting to the airport is easy, thanks to our nationwide return shared chauffeur service, which is included on every tour.
More value
From excursions to hotels, entry tickets and dining packages, we include more than any other tour.
More knowledgeable
Be guided by some of the most passionate and knowledgeable tour managers in the world, on hand to help every step of the way.
Happiness Guarantee
We’re confident you’ll enjoy every moment of your tour, but if you don’t, simply tell us and we’ll bring you home and refund you.
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