About this trip
Fifteen days through southern India, moving from coastal fishing villages to tea-covered hills to the mountains of the Western Ghats. You'll spend time with locals in bazaars, on buses and boats, and share a home-cooked meal with a host family in Kerala.
Along the way there's the Maharaja's Palace in Mysore, a Kathakali performance in Kochi, French-influenced Puducherry and the wide landscapes of Periyar. It's a route built around variety — culture, wildlife, spirituality and a lot of ground covered.
This is a full itinerary with plenty of movement, including an overnight sleeper train from Mysore to Mamallapuram shared with locals and fellow travellers.
What you'll do
- Share a home-cooked meal with a host family in Kerala
- Visit the Maharaja's Palace in Mysore
- Watch a traditional Kathakali performance in Kochi
- Explore French-influenced Puducherry
- Travel through the Western Ghats and Periyar's national park landscape
- Meet fishing communities and browse local bazaars
- Fast-paced, with several single-night stays to fit in as much as possible
- Long overland journeys by train and bus, some up to 11 hours, including an overnight sleeper train
- Bring modest clothing for religious sites and be prepared for cool nights in the Western Ghats
Worth it if you thrive on variety and moving frequently. Think twice if you want deeper stays or consistently comfortable transport.
- Guide quality makes or breaks it—Abhi, Thilip, Afshar all earned specific praise for knowledge and going beyond itinerary.
- Most stays are one night only, meaning constant packing and moving; hotels were inconsistent and minibuses cramped at full capacity.
- Bring DEET and a warm layer; January heat is intense but tea plantations are cool. Activate Indian SIM at airport to save money.
- Genuinely packed itinerary—houseboats, narrow-gauge trains, wildlife safaris, cookery lessons, homestays, evening shows all fit into 15 days without feeling rushed.
Distilled from real traveller reviews on TourRadar — we don't edit out the bad bits.
The same-vibe trips, side by side — price, value per day, and how each is moving. Only we can lay two operators' trips out honestly.
Sorted by fit — never by who paid. Price moves and availability come from our own daily tracking.
Departing in Sep is cheapest — from £1,035, about 41% below the priciest month (Oct).
Getting there
Opens Trip.com, pre-filled — one-way so you can book your return whenever. Prices & booking shown there.
Where to stay
A night before your tour in Kochi (Cochin) · 17 Sept – 18 Sept
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