Leave London Heathrow by British Airways on a non-stop flight to Bangalore (9½ hours).

Arriving in the early hours of the morning, your Tour Manager will meet you and take you to the Taj Residency Hotel for 1 night (rooms will be available for immediate check in). This afternoon there will be a brief tour of the city.

Travel by road to Chikmagalur (200 KM/approximately 5 hours) for a 2 night stay at the Taj Garden Retreat in the cool fertile foothills of the Babaudangiri Hills.

A unique feature to this itinerary are visits to the remarkable sites of Belur and Halebid, ancient capitals of the Hoysala Empire and home to the spectacular Chennakesava and Hoysalasvara Temples respectively. Highlights include an amazing stone frieze of intricately carved elephants, dancing girls and musicians illustrating scenes from the great Hindu epics of the Ramayana. This afternoon is free to enjoy at your leisure, perhaps taking an optional trip out to a local coffee plantation.

Transfer to Mysore (153 KM/approximately 3 hours) this morning, for 2 nights at the Regalis Hotel. An afternoon tour of the city’s highlights includes the majestic Maharajah’s Palace and the Nandi Bull. The palace, built at the turn of the 20th century, is undoubtedly Mysore’s premier attraction, blending the diverging styles of Hindu, Muslim, Rajput and Gothic together in a 3-storied edifice of grandiose opulence. Once the official residence of the former royal family of Mysore, it is filled with elegantly carved halls and ornate gilded columns and houses a rich collection of Indian and European sculptures and artefacts. If time allows there may also be the opportunity to take a small detour via the bustling fruit and vegetable market, to soak up the atmosphere and view some of the locally grown produce before returning to the hotel.

A morning visit to Somnathpur, on the banks of the Kaveri River, takes in one of the last and greatest of the Hoysala monuments, the spectacular 13th century Kesava Temple, built in 1268AD by one of the kings most trusted commanders. A masterpiece of Hoysala craftsmanship, the temple highlights the golden age of a dynasty that ruled this region for nearly 350 years. The tour also includes the island of Srirangapatnam, home to the Summer Palace of Tipu Sultan (the Tiger of Mysore), as well as the 15th century fort and prison, and one of the most important Vaishnavite pilgrimage sites in southern India. Returning to the hotel in time for lunch (at your own expense), the rest of the afternoon is free.

An early morning drive to Ootacamund (frequently abbreviated to Ooty) (158 KMS/approximately 6 hours), a popular hill station of the British Raj located amidst the forested landscapes of the Nilgiri Hills, where we spend 2 nights at the Hotel Savoy.

Breakfast is followed by a tour of the town, taking in the local church, the botanical gardens (seasonal) and the artificial lake. After lunch take a ride on the remarkable Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a narrow-gauge track that has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is without doubt one of the most remarkable rail journeys on earth. Recapturing some of the colonial grace of yesteryear, the journey negotiates a route through the forested hills and tea plantations, on a track measuring just 610mm. This afternoon will include some sightseeing around the charming hill station of Coonoor before the return back to Ooty by road.

A long drive today to Cochin (282 KM/approximately 9 hours including stops) for a 2 night stay at the Taj Malabar Hotel, overlooking the attractive harbour.

Cochin has been described as the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’ and this morning visit some of the highlights of this captivating port, taking in the myriad styles and cultural influences that attest to Arab, Jewish and European tenure. There will be time to explore the 16th century Portuguese built Mattancherry Palace and its exquisite murals, as well as the Church of St Francis, which was briefly the repository for the body of Vasco de Gama, before viewing the remarkable cantilevered Chinese fishing nets en route back to the hotel. This afternoon is free to enjoy more of the town at your leisure. You may wish to explore more of what is actually the oldest European settlement in India, or perhaps visit the former residence of the old Maharajahs of Kochi, the Tripunithura Hill Palace.

Journeying by road and boat to Alleppey (64 KM/approximately 1½ hours), transfer to the Lake Palace Hotel. This afternoon cruise through the backwaters, taking in the rural idylls of village life, visiting Champakulam Church and seeing something of the traditional Snake Boats. Life amongst these backwaters revolves around the channels and waterways and boats are very much an integral part of daily life here, delivering goods, people and even livestock to the remote communities that pepper this captivating landscape.

Continuing through the intricate network of labyrinthine channels head for Coconut Lagoon this morning, arriving in time for lunch. This afternoon transfer by road to Periyar and an overnight stay at the Spice Village.

A morning cruise on Lake Periyar reveals some of the diverse natural beauty of this spectacular wildlife refuge. One of India’s 16 Project Tiger Reserves, Periyar is actually more famous for its elephant population and there is every chance we may see some of these magnificent creatures drinking at the water’s edge as we pass through the fertile jungle landscapes. Boasting some 40 tigers, around 250 species of birds and a divergent collection of other wildlife, including sambars, bisons and star tortoises, Periyar is a staggeringly rich tropical paradise and a river journey affords a unique view of its variety of flora and fauna. There will also be an opportunity to visit a local spice plantation before continuing to Madurai (138 KM/approximately 4½ hours) after lunch, for a 2 night stay at the Taj Garden Retreat.

A morning tour of Madurai, one of India’s oldest cities, takes in the renowned Meenakshi Temple, Tirumalalnalk Palace and the water tank. The focal point of the city, the Meenakshi Temple is central to a city that can trace its history back two and a half millennia, taking in the golden ages of the Chola and Pandya dynasties and earning itself the enviable title of the ‘Athens of the East’. Important: Please note that Meenakshi Temple is currently under renovation work due to rain damage. The temple remains open but photography from the outside will be obscured due to the renovation work. The work is due to be completed by June 2009. The afternoon is free for further exploration of this colourful town.

Depart Madurai this morning and fly back to Chennai (1 hour 15 minutes). On arrival there will be an orientation tour of the city, taking in some of the highlights of its cultural heritage. This will include the strategically important Fort St George, the first fortress built by the British in India (by the East India Company in 1639) and the focus of the city’s original foundings. The Church of St Mary’s, the oldest Anglican Church in India, and St Thomas’s Basilica provide an insight into the city’s rich religious history, whilst a tour of the Kaplleswara Temple, notable for its 37 metre high Gopuram, serves to highlight the ancient Dravidian style of architecture in the city. Continue south of the city to Covelong for a 2 night stay at the Taj Fisherman’s Cove Resort, located by a sandy beach on the Bay of Bengal.

A free day affords an opportunity to enjoy a range of optional excursions, including a full day’s visit to Kanchipuram and Mamallapuram on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. A port city that thrived under the auspices of the Pallavas, Mamallapuram dates from the 7th to 9th centuries and its mix of Dravidian architectures, Buddhist styling and Pallava artwork has seen it designated a World Heritage Site.

Fly in the early hours of this morning by British Airways non-stop flight to London Heathrow, arriving later the same morning.