Discover Southern India and Kerala

We depart London Heathrow on our overnight flight to Bengaluru, travelling via Dubai. Arriving on Day 2, we transfer by coach to Mysuru for two nights.

We enjoy a full-day's guided tour on Day 3, exploring the cultural icons of the city such as St Philomena's Church, a large neo-Gothic cathedral inspired by Cologne Cathedral in Germany, and Mysuru Palace, a beautiful and intricately decorated building that boasts Hindu, Muslim, Gothic and Rajput architectural influences. We continue to Srirangapatna, known for its temples and forts and as the site of a major battle between the British and Tipu Sultan, before pausing for lunch then making our way to the local market of Chamundi Hills. Our last visit is to the unique Bull Temple, which features a gigantic 16-foot granite statue of a bull.

We travel to Ooty by coach, where we stay for two nights. Your afternoon is free to settle in ahead of Day 5's visit to the Botanical Garden, home to vibrant displays planted in typical English-style terraced beds, and Doddabetta Peak, which offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and reserve forests. We stop for lunch at a local restaurant before a visit to St Stephen's Church.

On Day 6, we travel by toy train to Conoor, enjoying a tour of this enchanting town before visiting a local tea factory. Across the Nilgiris, isolated colonial mansions dot hillside tea plantations, a reminder of the region's main industry. This mountainous area has been producing tea for more than 100 years, in particular a variety known for its distinctively dark colour and strong aroma. We sit down to lunch at a local restaurant before boarding the UNESCO-listed Nilgiri Mountain Railway, one of the world's steepest operational rack-and pinion railways. The steam-hauled service takes us through forest-covered hills to Mettupalayam, where we board a coach to Coimbatore for an overnight stay.

Following a free morning, we catch the train to the captivating city of Kochi for two nights, exploring with a guided tour on Day 8. Sometimes known as the 'Queen of the Arabian Sea', Kochi is a fascinating destination to experience, and our tour includes the St Francis Church in Fort Kochi, one of the earliest European churches and where Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese explorer, was originally buried before his body was carried back to Lisbon. We also visit the Dutch Palace - built by the Portuguese in 1555 then renovated and extended by the Dutch in 1663. We get an insight into the daily life of the local people at the local Dhobi Khana, a sprawling open-air laundry where hundreds of clothes are washed every day and hung out to dry, then, this evening, we're treated to a Kathakali dance performance. Kathakali is the traditional dance-drama of Kerala and combines bright colourful costumes and ornate headdresses, with ritualistic dance movements set to a soundtrack of live music played by local musicians.

We enjoy a guided tour of the Jewish Synagogue this morning, home to an array of treasures including The Great Scrolls of the Old Testament, before transferring to Alleppey. Here, we board a houseboat, or kettuvallam, for a scenic cruise through Kerala's naturally idyllic backwaters. Constructed using traditional materials, these incredible boats were once used to shuttle goods, including exotic spices and rice, between Cochin and Kuttanad, and could carry up to 30 tonnes of cargo. We begin at Vembanad Lake, the longest lake in India. As we glide serenely through the bewildering maze of canals and channels, we enjoy lunch on board. We disembark at Kumarakom for an overnight stay.

On Day 10, we continue to Thekkady for two nights, where your afternoon is free.

Today's excursion takes us to an aromatic spice plantation, where we enjoy a guided walking tour that helps us uncover the secrets of Southern India's flavoursome spices. This afternoon we head to Lake Periyar, a stunning lake in a large wildlife sanctuary, for a cruise across its peaceful waters

Travelling to Madurai on Day 12 for two nights, we visit a nearby village inhabited by artisans who specialise in sculpting aesthetic idols and puppets out of clay. This evening, we make our way to the Meenakshi Temple where we're invited to watch the 'puja', the Hindu ritual of offering prayers. Each day the priests symbolically bathe, dress and feed an idol of God Shiva, and we witness the final puja of the day as Shiva is put to bed alongside his wife, Goddess Meenakshi, to whom the temple is dedicated.

We take a guided tour of Madurai on Day 13 that includes the impressive 17th-century Thirumalai Nayak Pal-ace and the Gandhi Memorial Museum.

We take an internal flight to Chennai for the night, formerly known as Madras and a metropolis within the Bay of Bengal. An important port during the colonial era, Chennai's architecture and culture bear pronounced Portuguese, Dutch, French and British influences, while also being rooted in more local traditions. We explore the San Thome Cathedral Basilica, built by the Portuguese in the 16th century, the Kapaleeshwarar Temple, and the Madras War Cemetery on Marina Beach. We also pay a visit to the city's flower market in George Town, soaking up a myriad of colours and fragrances.

There's an optional excursion this morning to Mamallapuram, known for its UNESCO-listed temples. Otherwise, enjoy a free day before we transfer to the airport for our flight, via Dubai, to London Heathrow. We land in the UK on Day 16.