South India — Kerala and Karnataka
🌿 Gentlest Introduction to India

South India:
Kerala + Karnataka

Less crowded, calmer, and deeper. Backwaters, tea hills, a great palace, and the extraordinary ruins of Hampi.

13
Days
4
Regions
2
Flights
📅
Duration
13 days
📍
Route
Kochi · Munnar · Thekkady · Backwaters · Mysore · Hampi
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
Best for
Families · Couples · Those wanting a gentler pace
🌤️
Best season
October – March
Your Journey
The Route — All South India
🛬
Sydney
Depart
✈
🌴
Kochi
Days 1–2
🚗
🍃
Munnar
Days 3–4
🚗
🌿
Thekkady
Days 5–6
🚗
⛵
Backwaters
Day 7
✈
🏛️
Mysore
Days 8–9
🚗
🗿
Hampi
Days 10–11
✈
🏙️
Bangalore
Days 12–13
Quick Jump
  • Days 1–2Fort Kochi
  • Days 3–4Munnar
  • Days 5–6Thekkady
  • Day 7Backwaters
  • Days 8–9Mysore
  • Days 10–11Hampi
  • Days 12–13Bangalore / Depart
Plan This Trip
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Day by Day
Your 13-Day Itinerary
Day
1
Arrive Kochi
Airport pickup and an easy evening to settle in. Nothing scheduled.
✈️ International arrival🏨 Hotel check-in🍽️ Easy first evening
Day
2
Fort Kochi
A relaxed walking day through the old port — fishing nets, spice markets, churches, and an evening Kathakali performance.
🎣 Chinese fishing nets🌶️ Spice markets⛪ Colonial churches🎭 Kathakali evening
🗺️
Into the Hills
Kochi → Munnar
🚗By Road
~4 hours
Recommended. A scenic mountain climb into the Western Ghats — the drive itself is part of the experience.
✈️By Flight
No flight option
Munnar has no airport. The road journey is the only way — and you wouldn't want to skip it.
Recommendation: Road only. The scenic mountain climb is one of the most beautiful drives of the trip.
Day
3
Kochi to Munnar
The scenic climb into the tea hills, arriving by mid-afternoon. Cool air and green as far as you can see.
🚗 Scenic mountain drive🍃 Tea country arrival🌡️ Cool mountain air
Day
4
Munnar
Tea estates, viewpoints, and gentle walks in the cool mountain air. One of the most peaceful days of the trip.
🍃 Tea plantation🏔️ Mountain viewpoints🚶 Gentle walks
🗺️
Forest Country
Munnar → Thekkady
🚗By Road
~3 hours
Recommended. A short, comfortable drive through changing landscape from cool hills to forest country.
✈️By Flight
No flight option
No airport near Thekkady. The short road drive is the only option.
Recommendation: Road only — a short comfortable drive that takes you from cool hills into dense forest.
Day
5
Munnar to Thekkady
A short drive to Periyar, with an afternoon spice-plantation tour.
🚗 Short drive🌶️ Spice plantation🌿 Periyar forest
Day
6
⭐ Trip Highlight
Thekkady to the Backwaters
A morning lake boat at Periyar looking for wildlife, then on to Alleppey to board a private houseboat for an overnight cruise.
⛵ Lake boat🐘 Wildlife watch🚗 Drive to Alleppey⛵ Board houseboat
Day
7
Backwaters Morning
A slow start on the water, disembark after lunch. A travel day north into Karnataka.
🌅 Morning on the water🍳 Breakfast on board🚗 Travel north
🗺️
Crossing into Karnataka
Kerala → Mysore (Karnataka)
🚗By Road
~5–6 hours
A long but manageable drive north across the state border into Karnataka.
✈️By Flight
~1.5 hours flight + transfer
Via Bangalore. Saves significant time and energy, especially with children.
Recommendation: Flight saves time and energy, especially with children — highly recommended for families.
Day
8
Travel to Mysore
An easy evening on arrival in Mysore.
✈️ Flight via Bangalore🏨 Arrive Mysore🌆 Easy evening
Day
9
⭐ Trip Highlight
Mysore
The dazzling Mysore Palace, the hilltop Chamundi temple, and the city's markets — one of the most rewarding days of the trip.
🏛️ Mysore Palace⛩️ Chamundi Temple🛍️ City markets
🗺️
To the Ruins
Mysore → Hampi
🚗By Road
~5–6 hours
A long drive through Karnataka's interior — manageable but tiring.
✈️By Flight
~1 hour via Hubli
Flight via Hubli shortens a long drive significantly. Short transfer to Hampi from Hubli airport.
Recommendation: Flight via Hubli shortens a long drive significantly.
Day
10
Mysore to Hampi
A drive or short flight to the ruins of Hampi. An easy evening on arrival.
✈️ Flight via Hubli🗿 Arrive Hampi🌅 Easy first evening
Day
11
⭐ Trip Highlight
Hampi
A full day among the boulder-strewn ruins of the Vijayanagara empire — temples, royal enclosures, and a sunset over the landscape.
🗿 Vijayanagara ruins⛩️ Ancient temples🏛️ Royal enclosures🌅 Sunset over the ruins
🗺️
To Departure City
Hampi → Bangalore
🚗By Road
~5 hours
Road is fine if you have time — a straightforward drive on good roads.
✈️By Flight
~1 hour from Hubli
Small aircraft from Hubli airport. Quick and easy if your schedule is tight.
Recommendation: Road is fine if you have time; flight if tight on schedule.
Day
12
Hampi to Bangalore
A drive or short flight to Bangalore, with the evening free in the city.
✈️ Flight to Bangalore🏙️ Arrive Bangalore🌆 Evening free
Day
13
Departure
Transfer to Bangalore airport for your flight home.
🛫 Bangalore departure✈️ Flight home

Ready to plan your
Kerala + Karnataka?

The gentlest introduction to India we plan. Every detail shaped around you — nothing is fixed until you say so.

  • Flat planning fee · No commissions on hotels or flights
  • Two rounds of revisions included
  • Ground services quoted transparently
  • One person handles everything, start to finish
Start a conversation →
What You Pay
Planning fee
$2,500 AUD13-day trip
Ground services
$200–$350 AUDper person · per day
Hotels
Booked by youWe recommend · you pay direct
Flights
Booked by youUse your points or travel agent
Commissions
$0We earn nothing from your hotels
Figures are indicative. Your final quote is itemised before you commit.
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