DAY 1  MON 8 FEB

HOME TO BANGALORE  (D)

Meet your Ross Tour leader at your hotel in Bangalore, India’s Garden City. Then check-in to your hotel for two nights at our 5-star luxury garden retreat. 

For guests travelling on the Qantas group flight, meet your Ross Tour leader at Sydney Airport for your flight to Bangalore. 

Join your fellow travellers tonight and celebrate a Welcome Dinner. 

Accommodation: Taj West End, Bangalore

DAY 2  TUE 9 FEB

BANGALORE  (B)

Enjoy a guided walk through Lalbagh Botanical Gardens housing India’s largest collection of tropical and sub-tropical plants. Then step into Koshy’s Heritage Bungalow Garden, where the owners are connected to plants they have nurtured for generations.

Accommodation: Taj West End, Bangalore

DAY 3  WED 10 FEB

BANGALORE TO MYSORE  (B/D)

Today, travel to Mysore via Channapatna, known for its 200-year-old lacquer toymaking craft, before checking in to your hotel overlooking the Chamundi Hills. Savour dinner at the Elephant Bar and visit vibrant terraced Brindavan Gardens, beside the Krishnarajasagara Dam.

Accommodation: Radisson Blu Plaza, Mysore

DAY 4  THU 11 FEB

SRIRANGAPATNA  (B)

Walk Kukkarahalli Lake to visit the gardens of Mysore Palace, maintained by the royal family for generations. Then travel to Srirangapatna, once capital of the rajas, to visit the Daria Daulat Bagh, summer palace of Tipu Sultan, the ‘Tiger of Mysore’.

Accommodation: Radisson Blu Plaza, Mysore

DAY 5  FRI 12 FEB

MYSORE TO KABINI  (B/D)

Enjoy a leisurely morning before travelling to your wilderness lodge on the Kabini River. This afternoon, you head into Nagarhole National Park on safari, keeping watch for elephants, tigers, leopards, deer and colourful birdlife.

Accommodation: Evolve Back Resorts, Kabini

DAY 6  SAT 13 FEB

NAGARHOLE NATIONAL PARK  (B/D)

An early-morning boat safari offers wonderful wildlife viewing along the Kabini backwaters. Later, time to relax at your lodge before an exciting afternoon jeep safari into the park.

Accommodation: Evolve Back Resorts, Kabini

DAY 7  SUN 14 FEB

KABINI TO OOTY  (B/D)

Travel to Ooty, the ‘Queen of the Hill Stations’. This afternoon visit a working tea estate and stroll through the historic Botanical Garden.

Accommodation: Taj Savoy, Ooty

DAY 8  MON 15 FEB

OOTY  (B/D)

Visit the old part of Ooty and learn how this former settlement turned into a hill station. Old trees and gardens line the streets. This afternoon learn how the locals garden at the Karnataka Siri Horticulture Garden.

Accommodation: Taj Savoy, Ooty

DAY 9  TUE 16 FEB

OOTY TOY TRAIN (B/D)

Accommodation: Vivanta, Coimbatore

DAY 10  WED 17 FEB

COIMBATORE TO KOCHI  (B)

Accommodation: Forte Kochi

DAY 11  THU 18 FEB

KOCHI  (B/L/D)

Accommodation: Forte Kochi

DAY 12  FRI 19 FEB

KOCHI TO MUNNAR  (B/L)

Travel through forests and plantations to Munnar, South India’s largest tea-growing region. After lunch with a local family, you explore the tea estates before settling into your hillside retreat with your afternoon free.

Accommodation: Scenic, Munnar

DAY 13  SAT 20 FEB

MUNNAR  (B/D)

Visit Srishti Trust, where you’ll see how local artisans are supported through textile and craft skills. You’ll create your own Batik block-printed stole to take home.

Accommodation: Scenic, Munnar

DAY 14  SUN 21 FEB

MUNNAR TO KUMARAKOM (B/L/D)

Drive to Kumarakom in the backwaters of Kerala. Enroute , enjoy a boat ride to Philipkutty's sustainable working farm. Check-in to your lakeside resort overlooking Lake Vembanad.

Accommodation: Kumarakom Lake Resort 

DAY 15  MON 22 FEB

KUMARAKOM (B/L/D)

A highlight of today – cruise the palm-fringed backwaters on a private houseboat, drifting past coconut palms, rice fields, birdlife and village activities. Enjoy a freshly prepared Kerala lunch on board. Afternoon free. Farewell Dinner this evening.

Accommodation: Kumarakom Lake Resort 

DAY 16  TUE 23 FEB

KOCHI TO HOME (B)

Transfer to Kochi Airport for your flight to Bangalore and onward journey. 

DAY 17  TUE 24 FEB

ARRIVE HOME 

Arrive home with extraordinary memories of South India.