Enjoy the entertaining, ever-changing scenery of India
If you crave ever-changing scenery, unravelling tales in historical buildings, and landscapes flanked with undeniable charm on your vacations, the guided 14-day Houseboating and Safari in Karnataka & Kerala Tour is tailor-made for you! This city walking tour will take you to eight different destinations in beautiful India.
Discover how the old world continues to linger amid the hustling and bustling modern-day life in Bangalore. Bask in the sprawling, infectious scenery in Coorg. Look out for the exotic wildlife dotting Nagarahole National Park, and then marvel at the soaring palaces in Mysore. Enjoy in the lush tea gardens of Ooty, and enjoy the tropical atmosphere of Cochin and Kumarakom. You’ll even spend a night along the backwaters on a houseboat. It’s easy to see that the Houseboating and Safari in Karnataka & Kerala Tour won’t fail to keep you entertained, relaxed, and enchanted!
Highlights of the Houseboating and Safari in Karnataka & Kerala Tour
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Houseboating and Safari in Karnataka & Kerala Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Bangalore
Meet and greet a tour representative upon arrival before transferring to your hotel in Bangalore. Admire how the old world contrasts with the new world and appreciate the many gardens spanning this popular city. Spend the night relaxing at your hotel.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Bangalore
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Explore Bangalore
Embark on a sightseeing tour around Bangalore after a slow morning and a delicious breakfast. Check out historical and royal landmarks and lush gardens, including The Bangalore Fort, Bull Temple, Cubbon Park, Lal Bagh, and Vidhana Soudha. In the afternoon, you’ll travel to Coorg—a beautiful hill station with beautiful natural scenery!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Coorg
Distance: 5-6 hours, 250 km
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 3 Coorg at your leisure
Enjoy exploring the array of sights scattered throughout this lovely hill station at your leisure. Check out the coffee and spice plantations and admire the hazy mountains standing tall in the background.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Coorg
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4 Travel to Nagarahole National Park
Have breakfast before you hop in your mode of transportation and travel to Kabini/Nagarahole National Park. This park is home to tigers, elephants, bison, and more wildlife. After you check into your hotel, step into your Jeep for a safari through the park! A naturalist will accompany you to help enhance the overall experience.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Kabini/Nagarahole National Park
Distance: 3 hours, 110 km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5 Safaris in Nagarahole National Park
Enjoy marvelling at the wildlife scattered throughout the park on your safaris during the morning and again in the evening.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Kabini/Nagarahole National Park
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6 Travel to Mysore
Eat breakfast before beginning your drive to Mysore, where lines of palaces, rich heritage, and lofty buildings demand attention. Spend the day at your leisure after you check into your hotel.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Mysore
Distance: 3 hours, 100 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Sightseeing around Mysore
Enjoy a yummy breakfast before going on your sightseeing tour around Mysore! Check out The Mysore Palace, The Jaganmohan Palace, Chamundi Hill, St. Philomena's Church, and Brindavan Gardens.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Mysore
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 Go to Ooty
Have a slow morning before departing to Ooty, another stunning hill station! Admire the array of picnic spots in this summery getaway. Enjoy the bubbling brooks, lovely waterfalls, rolling hills, and collection of tea gardens covering the land. Spend the rest of the day relaxing at your leisure upon arrival.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Ooty
Distance: 5 hours, 170 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 Discover Ooty
Explore the vast natural scenery of this charming hill station today. Go on a mountain train ride, check out the tea gardens, or enjoy a hike on the Blue Mountains. If you want to revel in total peace and relaxation, consider going on a day trip to Coonoor.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Ooty
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 Travel to Cochin
Get ready to go tropical for the remainder of this tour! Head to Cochin after a tasty breakfast. Upon arrival, marvel at one of the world’s most stunning natural ports. This city contains historical buildings that have stood the test of time, but outside of these long-standing wonders, you’ll find the pleasures that often accompany a modern, fast-paced city. Cochin also offers lush natural scenery- palm-tree-lined lagoons, backwaters, and beaches.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Cochin
Distance: 6-7 hours, 280 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11 Sightseeing around Cochin
Eat breakfast before going on a sightseeing tour around Cochin! Check out The Jewish Synagogue, Dutch Palace, Cochin Harbor, Fort Kochi Beach, and St Francis Church. In the evening, you’ll get the chance to enjoy an authentic Indian show, the Kathakali Dance Performance. Watch as the dancers, decorated in colourful costumes, act out Indian epics.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Cochin
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12 Board houseboat in Kumarakom
Drive to Kumarakom after enjoying breakfast, and board your houseboat upon arrival! Enjoy spending the rest of the day and the night floating along the picturesque backwaters weaving through Kerala. Stop at local markets dotting the banks and enjoy authentic Kerala cuisine prepared by the chef on board.
Overnight Location: Overnight on houseboat
Distance: 1.5 hours, 70 km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 13 Explore Kumarakom
After another delicious meal prepared by the onboard chef, disembark the houseboat and spend the day exploring Kumarakom at your leisure. We recommend visiting the bird sanctuary!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Kumarakom
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Day 14 Travel to Cochin International Airport
Enjoy the activities at your hotel during the morning before transferring to Cochin International Airport. The tour ends here.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: 2.5 hours, 80 km
Meals: Breakfast
Houseboating and Safari in Karnataka & Kerala Tour Price and Dates
This guided tour to Karnataka and Kerala in India is always run as a private tour for your group only. Please note that the prices might increase during public holidays.
Prices below are per person:
- Guided Groups of 2-10: from $2,288 USD per person
Accommodation on Houseboating and Safari in Karnataka & Kerala Tour
This tour will have you staying in 4-5-star hotels that offer modern necessities to keep you comfortable. You will also spend one night in a houseboat. Do note that rooms are double occupancy, but you can often upgrade to single occupancy for an additional fee. Single travellers are also required to pay a supplement.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may be swapped for other similar accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel. It’s also often possible to match single travellers up.
Hotels on Standard Tour
The Park in Bangalore ★★★★★
Laze in total luxury and comfort at this 5-star lodge, which earned TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice 2020 award. Enjoy the pool, spa, and swim-up bar here.
Windflower Resort & Spa in Coorg ★★★★
Feel refreshed and calm after staying in this relaxing hotel. Enjoy the pool, gym, free breakfast, game room, and the spa.
The Serai Hotel in Kabini ★★★★
The Serai gives you the chance to relish in comfort and appreciate nature at the same time.
Windflower Resort & Spa in Coorg ★★★★
Feel refreshed and calm after staying in this relaxing hotel. Enjoy the pool, gym, free breakfast, game room, and the spa.
Savoy-IHCL SeleQtions in Ooty ★★★★
Bask in the old world charm at this upscale heritage hotel. Enjoy the spacious rooms that offer an array of luxurious amenities.
Trident Hotel in Cochin ★★★★★
Immerse your mind, body, and soul into a state of relaxation at the Trident! Take advantage of the pool, poolside bar, spa, bar, and more!
Aircon Houseboat
Enjoy a relaxing evening aboard a traditional-looking houseboat that offers the necessary modern amenities to induce comfort.
Coconut Lagoon Hotel in Kumarakom ★★★★
Situated along backwaters and cradled by greenery, the Coconut Lagoon can’t help but enchant its guests. Enjoy the pool, bar, and restaurant here!
What’s included in the Houseboating and Safari in Karnataka & Kerala Tour?
Meals
13 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 5 dinners are included on this tour.
Accommodations
Accommodation for 13 nights is included on this tour.
Transportation during the Tour
Transportation is included for transfers to pick-up and drop-off spots throughout the tour.
Also Included
- Guide
- Entrance fees
Not included
- Flights to get to Bangalore and from Cochin
- Accommodations before and after the tour
- Lunches and dinners not mentioned
- Tour guide gratuity
- Personal necessities such as drinks during mealtimes and snacks
Optional Extras
- You can upgrade to single occupancy for a fee
- Upgrade hotels to deluxe accommodation
- Additional nights before or after the tour
Frequently Asked Questions about Houseboating and Safari in Karnataka & Kerala Tour
Trans India Holidays was founded nearly 30 years ago in New Dehli, India. They grew their team from four dedicated travellers to 100 energetic guides and trip planners.
Trans India strives to provide the best possible value for client’s money, continually searching for ways they can upgrade their service and experiences.
Offering a range of tour styles, Trans India operates cultural, religious, adventure, wildlife, culinary, family-friendly, and sporting tours.
Looking after each little detail from the perfect hotel room to booking your tee time for you, Trans India knows how to make a holiday in India as unforgettable as possible.
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Rajiv has been working as a guide since 1996, and fell in love with sharing the ancient cultural and social roots of India with travellers. Rajiv believes that the diversity of India’s different regions in terms of food, language, and culture makes travelling the country an experience like no other. Rajiv runs all kinds of tours, but especially enjoys trekking tours. He’s climbed mountains up to 8,000 feet in -10 degrees with groups and considers those to be his greatest achievements as a guide.
- Q: What is your favourite trip to lead?
- A: I enjoy giving people walking tours of the city, because that’s the best way to give a vivid introduction to the country and also because there is an element of surprise on the streets. It cannot be controlled or planned, and I immensely enjoy presenting that world to them.
- Q: What is one experience anybody visiting your country should have?
- A: Learning to cook traditional Indian food.
- Q: What is one local dish or drink that visitors absolutely have to try?
- A: Masala Dosa, it’s very tasty.
- Q: What is the best part about guiding?
- A: Providing them with more than they expected and noticing and taking care of any discomforts the guests might experience. Sometimes the guests don’t say it, so as a guide you have to be very attentive to that.