No. of Days: 16nights/17days
Day 1: South Goa: Arrive in Goa and drive to Colva and check into a hotel. If time permits go and visit Colva Beach. Have a nice dinner and enjoy a relaxing overnight sleep.
Day 2: South Goa: After an early breakfast start for the adrenaline pumping day trip of Dudhsagar Falls. This is one of the most gorgeous waterfalls of India, with water plummeting from a good 605 meters.
There are jeeps and motorcycles with pilots available to take you on a trip to the Dudhsagar Falls. However, you can choose to trek up to the falls as well.
You can also spend some time at the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary enjoying its rare treasures of the exotic flora and fauna species. You should also not miss the picturesque Devil’s Canyon.
Return to the hotel, have a nice dinner and retire to room for a comfortable overnight sleep.
Day 3: South Goa: After breakfast visit potter’s showroom in Bicholim Industrial Area. Return and visit Majorda Beach. Spending some time there and enjoying a nice sunset visit Martin’s Corner to enjoy a nice dinner. Have a nice overnight sleep in your hotel.
Day 4: North Goa: Check out from the hotel and drive to North Goa and check into a hotel near Candolim or Calangute or Baga Beach. Immediately afterwards go on a visit to Old Goa, known for its Portugese houses and churches. Have a look at Basilica of Bom Jesus, which was built during the Portugese rule in Goa. The Church is known for its exquisite carvings and paintings and its awe inspiring architecture. The UNESCO World heritage listed site, Basilica of Bom Jesus is known for preserving the remains of St Francis.
Return towards the evening and enjoy a nice dinner at one of the beachside restaurants or in theh otel you are staying. Have a nice sleep.
Day 5: North Goa: After breakfast head off to Donal Paula and Miramar beaches. Later visit Panjim, capital city of Goa. Visit Church of our Lady of Immaculate Conception, located right in the city square of Panjim. This is an impressive structure you can choose to explore. It is famous for having the second largest bell in the world. Later on, move over to Fontainhas for a special treat. Tucked away in Panjim, this old Portuguese neighborhood in Goa is adorned with brightly colored houses. Fontainhas has still retained its old colonial charm and you can admire the beauty of it wandering on the streets.
Have dinner at one of the restaurants in Panjim. Return to the hotel. Enjoy a nice sleep in the confines of your comfortable room.
Day 6: Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary: Goa is not about beaches alone. You can head off to enjoy bird watching at Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary. One of the most popular bird sanctuaries, it is located on the Island of Chorao which lies along the river Mandovi. This is a very spectacular sanctuary where you will find around 400 species of local and migratory birds. The Sanctuary is also home to quite a few muggers – the Goan crocodiles. Another unusual inhabitant is the mud skipper – a mid-sized bulbous headed fish which actually skips through the mud at low tide.
There are quite a few mud and thatch houses and some exquisite Portuguese villas on the island. There is also a small village Church. You can choose to visit Divar Island also which, again, has some Portugese villas. During monsoon Bonderam festival is celebrated in Divar.
Return to the hotel, have dinner and retire to your room for a relaxed overnight sleep.
Day 7: Goa – Mangalore: Take an early morning training from Madgaon Railway station for Mangalore. Reach in afternoon and check into a hotel in the city.
Go for a small sightseeing of the tour. Visit temples and do some shopping in the malls. Have dinner at one of the restaurants. Overnight in the hotel.
Day 8: Mangalore – Payyannur: Check out in the morning and catch Ernad Express to Payyannur. Drive to Oyster Opera, a resort on the backwaters.
Enjoy the serene environment. Enjoy the sea food at the resort and visit a secluded beach by boat in the backwaters. You can enjoy swimming in the backwaters. Spend a comfortable night.
Day 9: Payyannur Backwaters – Wayanad: After a relaxed morning, enjoy a hearty breakfast. Go for a swim in the backwaters if you want. Check out from the resort and head to Kalpetta in Wayanad. Check into a resort or hotel or a homestay in Kalpetta. Spend the evening walking in the nearby market or nearby villages. Have a good night sleep after a lovely dinner.
Day 10: Wayanad: After an early breakfast go out for a full day sightseeing of Wayanad. Visit Eddakal Caves and also enjoy the sight of Phantom Rocks. Go and enjoy the sight of some of the waterfalls. Visit Thirkaipetta, often referred to as Bamboo Village, thanks to presence of skilled artisans working with bamboos.
Day 11: Wayanad – Madikeri: Start after an early breakfast to Chembra Peak hiking (if hiking interests you). Return afterwards and leave for Madikeri by your own vehicle. Check into a plantation resort on arrival in Madikeri. Have a nice dinner. Overnight in Madikeri.
Day 12: Madikeri: Go for a visit to Mandalapati, a place at a height of more than 5500feet. Enjoy the scenic beauty and peaceful environment of the place. Spending some time there return to pay a visit to Abbey Waterfall. Also visit Raja Tomb and later Raja’s Seat and take a stroll in the main market sipping some authentic coffee. Enjoy a nice dinner and retire to you room for an overnight sleep.
Day 13: Madikeri – Ooty: Start after breakfast for Ooty. On the way, just a short distance from Madikeri, visit Kushalnagar. First of all, pay a visit to Dubare Elephant Camp. You can see some domesticated elephants in a forest camp. These are taken care of by the Forest Department. If some rafting in the river interests you, you can opt for a relatively easier rafting. Later visit the famous Buddhist Monastery built by the Tibetans living in Kushalnagar. The monastery is often referred to as Golden Palace by the locals.
Have lunch at a restaurant and leave for Ooty.
Just before you reach Ooty you pass through Bandipur National Park. You can see bisons and wild elephants by road side. Check into a hotel on arrival in Ooty. Have dinner and enjoy a relaxing overnight sleep.
Day 14: Ooty: After a lovely breakfast in the morning drive to Dolphin Nose view point. Afterwards drive to Lamb’s Rock. Enjoy breathtaking natural scenes from here. Later, drive to Conoor and have a sightseeing of a tea factory there. Take the evening train, a UNESCO heritage train, to return to Ooty.
Enjoy a nice dinner in the evening. Overnight in Ooty.
Day 15: Ooty – Mysore: Check out in the morning from the hotel in Ooty after breakfast and start for Mysore. Check into a hotel or resort on arrival in Mysore. Go for a nice massage at a nice spa. Later, visit Mysore Palace, the place of power under the Wodeyar Dynasty rulers. If you are in Mysore on a Sunday or a public holiday you can see the Palace being lit by thousands of bulbs.
Enjoy walking in the markets of Mysore. You can also choose to visit Brindavan Gardens. Enjoy dinner at a restaurant and enjoy a nice overnight sleep.
Day 16: Mysore – Seringapatnam – Bangalore: Check out after breakfast and start for Bangalore. On the way stop at Seringapatnam, yesteryear capital of Mysore under Tipu Sultan. You can take a guided tour of Tipu’s capital city. Later, drive to Bangalore and check into hotel on arrival in Bangalore. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Bangalore.
Day 17: Bangalore – Onward Destination: After breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive to the airport to catch flight for your onward destination.