Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in India
You'll arrive and head to your hotel to settle in. Depending on when you get there, there might be time to rest or take a quick look around the city to get your bearings.
- Days 2 - 3
Mumbai
After landing at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, you'll drive into Mumbai's city center. The day includes exploring slum life with a local guide and having lunch with a family, then biking along Marine Drive to the Gateway of India and checking out Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. Later that evening you'll board a night train heading south.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch with a local family)
Included Activities
- Guided slum tour with local guide
- Lunch with a local family
- Cycling along Marine Drive
- Visit to Gateway of India
- Visit to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
- Night train to the south
Landmarks Gateway of India Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Marine Drive - Day 4
Agonda
You'll arrive at Tivim railway station in the morning and head to the Mandovi River area. After stopping in Old Goa to see the former Portuguese capital, you'll drive to Agonda beach where simple beach huts and a local family will be your home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Old Goa
Optional Activities
- Water-based activities at Mandovi River
Landmarks Old Goa - Day 5
Agonda
The full day is yours on Agonda beach. You can walk around, watch fishing boats, browse the beachside boutiques, and explore the village at whatever pace feels right.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Cola Beach
- Cooking course
- Kayaking on the Sal River
Landmarks Agonda Beach - Day 6
Agonda to Netravali Organic Spice Farm
Morning at Agonda beach is free time. Then you'll drive 40 kilometers to the Organic Spice Farm near Netravali nature reserve. After checking into simple rooms, you'll get a guided tour of how spices and crops are grown, followed by a freshly cooked Goa dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Freshly prepared Goa dinner)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Organic Spice Farm
Optional Activities
- Canyoning in Netravali Reserve
Landmarks Netravali Nature Reserve - Day 7
Netravali to Hampi
After breakfast you'll drive overland toward Hampi, arriving early evening. About 2.5 hours into the journey you'll stop at Dudhsagar waterfall, one of India's highest. From there you'll cross into Karnataka and continue to Hampi, the historic capital of the Vijayanagar kingdom.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Stop at Dudhsagar waterfall
Landmarks Dudhsagar Waterfall - Day 8
Hampi
Today you'll explore Hampi's UNESCO ruins by bicycle. You'll see the 42-metre-high Gopuram of Virupaksha temple, ride through Bazaar Street with its colonial architecture, and cycle through grounds surrounded by banana plantations and rice fields.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cycling through Hampi ruins
- Visit to Virupaksha Temple
- Visit to Bazaar Street
Landmarks Virupaksha Temple Bazaar Street, Hampi - Day 9
Hampi to Mysuru
You have a free day to check out Hampi on foot or by bike, taking in the granite rocks and scenic viewpoints at your own pace. After dinner together, you'll board the night train from Hosapete to Mysuru.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Individual exploration of Hampi on foot or by bike
- Day 10
Mysuru to Nargahole National Park
The Hampi Express gets you to Mysuru at 9:15 in the morning. You'll walk through colorful bazaars, look at spices and incense, and catch views of Mysuru Palace. Then it's a short 1.5-hour drive to Nargahole National Park where you'll check in at your lodge. In the afternoon, a boat safari on the Kabini River gives you chances to spot elephants, monkeys, crocodiles, and birds, ending with an Indian sundowner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Mysuru bazaars
- Visit to Mysuru Palace
- Boat safari at Nargahole National Park
- Indian sundowner on Kabini River
Landmarks Mysuru Palace Nargahole National Park Kabini River - Day 11
Nargahole National Park to Kochi
You'll start early with a jeep safari while it's cool and animals are active. Then drive about 8 hours through Kerala's landscapes to Kochi on the Malabar coast. You'll stay with host families in the Fort district and have the evening free to walk around and grab dinner on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Jeep safari at Nargahole National Park
Landmarks Nargahole National Park - Day 12
Kochi
You'll explore Kochi's history shaped by spice trade and Portuguese, Dutch, and Chinese influences. Starting with the famous Chinese fishing nets, you'll walk through the Jewish quarter, traditional trading streets, and colonial houses. Morning can also be spent on your own. Later you'll stop at Marari Beach before heading to the backwaters around Allapuzha where you'll stay with a host family for two nights. Dinner is included.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner with fresh vegetables and home-grown spices)
Included Activities
- Visit to Chinese fishing nets
- Walking tour of Jewish quarter and trading streets
Optional Activities
- Individual morning exploration in Kochi
Landmarks Chinese Fishing Nets, Kochi Marari Beach - Day 13
Allapuzha Backwaters
You'll experience the backwaters using local wooden canoes and walking. Time with islanders shows you their daily work in the fields and water activity. A local lunch fuels the return journey. The afternoon is free to do what you want. In the evening, you can join a cooking class with your hostess and eat what you've made.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Backwater exploration by local canoe and on foot
Optional Activities
- Cooking class with hostess
Landmarks Allapuzha Backwaters - Day 14
Allapuzha to Departure
Morning brings biking through more remote backwater areas with a pleasant breeze. The rest of the day is yours to spend however you like. After watching the last sunset of your trip, you'll start your journey home. Depending on flight times, you might eat at the resort, in Allapuzha, or at Kochi airport.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Bicycling through remote backwaters
Landmarks Allapuzha Backwaters - Day 15
Departure
Early morning departure after midnight, around 3 or 4 o'clock.
