b'ClassicGrand Tour ofSouthern India Indiaand Kerala BENGALURU 1 CHENNAI1MYSURU 2OOTY 2 1 COIMBATORESouthern India is callinga beautiful land of peacefulKOCHI 2 1 2 MADURAIfreshwater lakes, ancient temples, aromatic spice fieldsKUMARAKOM 2 THEKKADYby Coach by Railand fragrant tea plantations. by Air 1 Nights in HotelOOTY BOTANICAL GARDENS MYSURU KATHAKALI PERFORMERYOUR ITINERARYDays 1 & 2. Flight to Bengaluru takes us to Coonoor for a walking tourthe hills and valleys, rich with green Meeting the Tour Manager at Londonand visit a tea factory before riding thecardamom, black pepper, cinnamon, Heathrow, we board an overnightsteam-hauled Nilgiri Mountain Railwayginger, turmeric and many more. On a flight to Bengaluru, via Dubai. On the steepest in Asia. This evening, wePeriyar Lake boat ride, we explore the arrival, we check in to our hotel. check in to a hotel in Coimbatore. diverse flora and exotic birds.Days 3 & 4. Mysurus palaces Days 8 & 9. Malabar Coast Days 13 & 14. Tamil city of MaduraiA walking tour with a local guide bringsThere is a free morning to exploreWe experience one of Thekkadys Bengalurus history to life before weCoimbatore before boarding thefamed spice plantations before travel by coach to Mysuru. Day 5 startsIntercity Express for a journey to thiscontinuing by coach to Maduraione with a sightseeing tour of Mysorehistoric spice city of Kochi on theof the oldest cities in India. A guided Palace, Srirangapatna and ChamundiMalabar Coast. Day 9 sees us exploretour on Day 14 reveals the impressive Hill. Our explorations end at a uniquethe history of colonial Kochi. 17th-century regal Thirumalai Nayak Hindu temple dedicated to Shivas bull. Palace and the astonishing Dravidian-Days 10 & 11. Keralan backwaters style Meenakshi Amman Temple.Days 5 & 6. Ooty & Blue Mountains After a visit to Indias oldest active Travelling south by coach, we reachsynagogue, we board a luxury boat forDay 15. Short flight to ChennaiOoty, the Queen of Hill Stations. Wea cruise through Keralas backwaters.We head to Madurais airport for a get to know the town and the BlueTheres a free morning on Day 11,short internal flight to Chennai, and Mountains on Day 6. Our first stopbefore a guided walk of Kumarakom.get to know the city on a sightseeing is the Botanical Garden before weA boat ride takes us to Manjira village,tour which takes in the spellbinding The whole trip was explore Doddabetta mountain andwhere we taste coconut water and theDravidian Kapaleeshwarar Temple.visit striking St Stephens Church. famed Kerala beverage, toddy. mind-blowing and Ill Days 16 & 17. Homeward boundnever forget the tigers.Day 7. Nilgiri Mountain RailwayDay 12. Spice village of Thekkady Theres free time today before we Brian, 2024Today is a highlight of the holiday Leaving our sublime setting, we traveltransfer to the airport in the late two rail journeys through the Nilgiriinland by coach to Thekkady. Milesafternoon for our flight home, arriving Mountains. Firstly, the Ooty toy trainof spice plantations spread acrossat London Heathrow on Day 17.28 For more information on dates and prices, visit greatrail.com/GCJ26'