Southern Landscapes: Lush Serenity

From

$150 / night

Best time to visit

Tailored to your schedule

Overview

Embark on a tour through India’s most scenic highlands and heritage landscapes covering 3 southern states. Enjoy boutique heritage hotels, luxury mountain resorts, and unique camp experiences all while exploring the culture, nature, and soft adventure of every stop.

Duration

11 days · 10 nights

Highlights

Tea Hills & Mountain Landscapes

Tea plantations, lakes, waterfalls, sunrise viewpoints, Nilgiri Mountains and toy train

Rainforest & Wildlife

Safaris, Muthanga Sanctuary, prehistoric Edakkal caves

Heritage, Culture & Spirituality

Adiyogi Shiva statue, colonial streets, spice markets, Kathakali performance

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Your Journey · 11 Days

Day by Day

Day 1 - Kochi

The Port City of Malabar Coast

The Malabar Coastlines
The Chinese Fish Nets at sunset
Nightlife at the port city Kochi

The city of Kochi will be your starting point. Once our team picks you up, they’ll drive you to Fort Kochi, Mattancherry Palace, and the Jew Town. Each of them has a special history backing their modern-day importance, and we would love to share it with you. Afterwards, travel further in the city and closer to the seashore. Here you will see a stunning sunset passing through the Vasco da Gama Square, or as locals call it, the Chinese Fish Nets. Once the sun is down and the air starts cooling down, head back to your luxury rooms in Dutch Manor with an optional add-on of a Kathakali dance performance.

Meals included
breakfast • dinner
Day 2 - Munnar

Wild Monkeys & Waterfalls

Down angle of the Cheeyappara Waterfalls

Your second day will have a long ride from Kochi to Munnar. But don’t worry, there are plenty of activities along the way to keep you engaged. Like Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls, for example. Here, you can not only enjoy a fresh wave of cold but also feed some of your ancestors waiting patiently for their evolved offspring. But beware, they like shiny things, so keep your glasses and fancy purses in check. After arriving in Munnar, check into your private suite or drive deep into the mountains for the resort. If you want, explore the nearby markets in the evening or just chill out in your hotel and prepare for the big day ahead.

Meals included
breakfast • dinner
Day 3 - Munnar

Tea Plantations & Mountain Lakes

Eravikulam National Park with a backdrop of tea gardens
Tea Gardens as far as eye can see
Boat docked at the Kundale Dam Lake

This is a big day, because you will salvage the city’s top attractions, starting with Echo Point, Rose Garden, Eravikulam National Park, Photo Point, Kundale Lake, Mattupetty Dam, and finally, the Tea Museum. We can try to explain more about them here, but that will be such a waste. Plus, we don’t want your personal guides to sit around all day! Anyways, after a long day of sightseeing, head back to your hotel and enjoy a warm meal to finish off the day.

Meals included
breakfast • dinner
Day 4 - Kolukkumalai

The Tea Haven

Sunrise from your campsite
Views of the distant valleys from your campsite

Today we will take it easy and go out for some fresh air. You can even call it one of the finest, because the air comes directly from Kolukkumalai, the highest tea plantation in the world, and your next destination. This will be a jeep ride, and you'll get some nice pics along the way. After reaching the heart of this terrain, pack up because you’ll be staying here for the night. You should expect the legendary duo of sunset & sunrise, stargazing from your camp, and a bonfire session with a few interesting stories about this region.

Meals included
breakfast • dinner
Day 5 - Palakkad

Ancient Fort and Local Cuisine

Moat surrounding the Palakkad Fort
Pathways of Palakkad Fort filled with wild red flowers

An early ride will take you to Palakkad, where you’ll clock in for the day. After refreshing yourself, you’ll visit the Palakkad Fort, which has a deep-rooted history of blood and battle. But the main attraction is not the fort itself; instead, it’s the temple corridors made out of wood. It’s located close to the fort, which also houses a children’s park behind it. Here you can walk along the pathway filled with red flowers, or just turn into a kid and start playing; no one's gonna judge you! After the colonial tour, get back to your lodging and wander around the local food stalls for a taste of something new.

Meals included
breakfast • dinner
Day 6 - Coimbatore

Adiyogi Statue & Temple Visits

The magnificent Adi Yogi statue right after sunset
Adi Yogi statue up close
The Naga engraved entrance

Have you heard of “Manchester of South India"? Well, now you do cause that’s your next destination. After a two-hour ride, you will reach Coimbatore and check into your hotel. After ditching your luggage, head over to the 112-foot Adi Yogi statue for a nice photography session. This monument is one of the main highlights of this trip, and owns the official title of the “World’s Largest Bust Sculpture.” Thereafter, you will visit Linga Bhairavi Temple and Naga Shrine, before returning to the Adi Yogi for an evening sunset watching and laser light show.

Meals included
breakfast • dinner
Day 7 - Ooty

Colonial Hill Station and Tea Museum

Valley views from The Tea Factory
The Tea Factory
Loads of tea leafs inside The Tea Factory

The hot part of this trip is over. Now you will ascend the mountains and pass through the chill regions of the Nilgiri Hills. The road will eventually lead you to the Queen of all Hill Stations, Ooty. Follow the same ritual and leave your luggage behind before ascending even further in the mountains, and reach the Tea Factory. Here you will get a first-hand experience of how top-quality tea is made, along with a stunning view from Doddabetta Peak. After the tour, take a quick sip in the cafeteria and enjoy a wide range of chocolate dishes. Once the factory tour is over, drive to Ooty Lake, where you can either walk along the shores or indulge in some optional boating sessions. This is a great moment to take some interesting pics; don’t miss that.

Meals included
breakfast • dinner
Day 8 - Coonoor

The Highest Mountain of Nilgiri

The UNESCO toy train from Ooty
Telescope at the viewpoint

Right after your breakfast, hop on your ride and move to your next destination. It'll take you to the third-highest peak of the entire South Indian region, the Doddabetta Peak. The path follows a steep terrain with lots of green wildlife along the way. The trail alone is stunning, but the top is even more gorgeous than that. It gives a 360-degree view of Ooty, and you can even use one of the two functional telescopes to zoom in on the scene. Next up is Dolphin’s Nose Viewpoint, followed by Lamb’s Rock, and believe me, both of them offer equally breathtaking views. After that, you can take an optional Toy Train ride, which has an official UNESCO World Heritage status and somehow still runs on an old steam engine. The last activity on our list is the famous tea gardens of Coonoor, which get filled with mist as the temperature starts to drop. Wander around as much as you want before returning back to your hotel.

Meals included
breakfast • dinner
Day 9 - Wayanad

Jungle Roads and Wild Sightings

Views en route to Wayanad

You will be traveling to Wayanad via the Masinagudi route. And honestly, you should expect a bumpy ride because this will be a jungle ride. You may also see some wild beasts like deer along the way, and maybe some predators too. Anyway, after arriving at your destination, you can start unloading at your lodge and just relax for the day. How you spend your free time is completely up to you from here on out.

Meals included
breakfast • dinner
Day 10 - Wayanad

Wildlife Safari & Ancient Cave Art

Edakkal Caves after the rain

This is one of your last days with us, but it’s not boring by any means. The day will begin early for a wild safari at the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary. You can see a large population of Indian elephants, along with the king cobra, vultures, and many more. Thereafter, you will move to a remote location in Sultan Bathery for the Edakkal Caves. You can see many petroglyphs and Stone Age carvings inside these two naturally carved caves, or maybe a cleft? Anyways, next up is the Banasura Sagar Dam, which is known as the second-largest earth dam in Asia. It’s as big as they come, and surprisingly offers a good amount of fun activities to enjoy. Spend your time as you like before heading to the campsite for a tribal music session. Food, fire, and music; a perfect combo to end the day.

Meals included
breakfast • dinner
Day 11 - Departure

Ciao, Catch You Later

Our time together eventually comes to an end, as your ride slowly enters the Food Capital of Kerala. You will pass the breathtaking Thamarassery Ghat Pass and experience its 9 hairpin bends with a touch of a horrific local legend. Once you are in Calicut, our team will swiftly escort you to your airport, where Anaveda will say its first, and hopefully not final, goodbye.

Meals included
breakfast • dinner

What's included

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Handpicked stays

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Daily meals as per itinerary

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Private ground transfers

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English-speaking local guides

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Monument entry & activity fees

Not included:International flights unless notedLunches and personal snacksVisa fees, travel insurance, and medical costsPersonal purchases, gratuities, and optional add-ons

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