Discover Southern India and Kerala

Touchdown in Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport. After clearing customs and immigration make your way to your premium hotel, located a short drive from the airport. Spend time relaxing in one of 3 restaurants or indulge in a spa that features a menu of anti-jetlag treatments. Stay: Bengaluru, Taj Bangalore

Meet your Great Rail Journey Tour Escort and fellow travellers and transfer by coach to Mysuru for two nights.

On arrival, step out and explore the city or relax or simply settle in and unwind. The former capital of the Wodeyar dynasty, Mysore, now known as Mysuru, is often referred to as the cultural capital of Karnataka. Stay Two Nights: Mysuru, Radisson Blu Plaza Mysore (B/D)

Step out on a full-day's guided tour, exploring the cultural icons of Mysuru such as St Philomena's Church, a large neo-Gothic cathedral inspired by Cologne Cathedral, and Mysore Palace, a beautiful and intricately decorated building with Hindu, Muslim, Gothic and Rajput architectural influences. Continue to Srirangapatna, known for its ornate temples and forts and, poignantly, the site of a major battle between the British and Tipu Sultan.

Following lunch (not included) head to Chamundi Hills and discover the unique Nandi (Bull) statue. (B/D)

Journey to Ooty, short for Udhagamandalam, a hill station located in the Nilgiri Mountains, popular for the British during the time of the Raj and enjoy an afternoon at leisure. Surrounded by forested foothills and verdant tea plantations amid the Blue Mountains, named after a blue flower which blossoms every 12 years on the 'Nilgiris', Ooty the 'Queen of the hills', is a picturesque paradise for nature lovers. You may like to take a cruise on one of the nearby lakes, walk through the gardens, or visit the local honey and bee museum or simply relax and soak in the views. Stay Two Nights: Ooty, Fortune Sullivan Court Ooty (B/D)

Begin your day with a visit to Ooty's popular Botanical Gardens, with its vibrant displays of over 650 types of flora in terraced beds. Among beautiful native flowers, are several water features and sculptures. Continue to Doddabetta Peak, the highest point in the Nilgiris, for panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and reserve forests. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit St Stephen's Church, built by the British in the 19th century and known for its colourful depiction of 'The Last Supper'. (B/L/D)

Travel to Coonoor by local toy train and take a walking tour of this enchanting town. Pass by colonial mansions, view tea plantations and visit a local factory to learn more about the process of making tea. The area has produced tea for over 100 years, in particular a variety with distinctively dark colour and strong aroma.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before stepping on board a steam train for a scenic journey on the World Heritage Nilgiri Mountain Railway. Pass through forest covered hills, cross several bridges, traverse through tunnels and marvel at this feat of engineering. Arrive into Mettupalayam, and travel by coach to the city of Coimbatore for an overnight stay. Stay: Coimbatore, Vivanta Coimbatore (B/L/D)

Insider Experience: Ride the famous Mountain Toy Train passing through the Nilgiri Mountain.

Following a morning at leisure in Coimbatore on the banks of the Noyyal River, surrounded by the Western Ghats Mountain range, catch the train to the captivating city of Kochi in Kerala for two nights. Known as the 'Queen of the Arabian Sea', Kochi - previously called Cochin - is a captivating destination. Stay Two Nights: Kochi, Taj Malabar Resort & Spa (B/L/D)

Spend time discovering Fort Kochi, including St Francis Church, where Vasco da Gama the Portuguese explorer was first buried before his body was carried back to Lisbon. Head to Mattancherry Palace, known as the Dutch Palace, and admire the beautiful murals depicting scenes from the Ramayana. Gain insight into the daily life of local people at the Dhobi Khana, a sprawling open-air laundry where hundreds of pieces of clothing are washed every day and hung out to dry.

In the evening, sit down and watch a Kathakali dance performance. A Keralan tradition, this ritual dance combines colourful costumes with traditional music played by local musicians. (B/D)

Insider Experience: Watch a Kathakali dance performance accompanied by local music.

Visit the Jewish Synagogue decorated with Chinese blue titles and Belgian chandeliers and marvel at the incredible treasures, including The Great Scrolls of the Old Testament - before transferring to Alleppey. Board a houseboat, or kettuvallam, for a scenic cruise through Kerala's idyllic 'backwaters', a network of lagoons and canals. Constructed of traditional materials, these boats carried goods including exotic spices and rice, between Cochin and Kuttanad.

Enjoy a delicious lunch on board as you cruise across Vembanad Lake, the longest freshwater lake in India, gliding through a palm-lined maze of canals. Disembark at Kumarakom for an overnight stay. Stay: Kumarakom, Coconut Lagoon (B/L/D)

Insider Experience: Cruise through the serene palm-lined backwaters of Kerala.

Spend time at leisure before travelling through the Western Ghats to Thekkady, home to Periyar National Park for two nights. Enjoy a relaxed afternoon to settle in and appreciate your traditionally designed cottage set in beautiful gardens. Stay Two Nights: Thekkady, Spice Village (B/D)

Discover an aromatic spice plantation on a guided walking tour that uncovers the secrets of Southern India's flavoursome spices. This area has grown and exported some of the world's most popular and fragrant spices including ginger, garlic, cardamom, vanilla, pepper, cinnamon and clove. Learn how each one is cultivated. In the afternoon, head to Lake Periyar, a stunning body of water, for a peaceful cruise. Search for some of the diverse and protected wildlife including elephants and tigers. (B/D)

Insider Experience: Take a guided walk through a spice plantation and uncover the secrets of Indian spices.

Journey to Madurai, one of the oldest cities in India for two nights. En route, visit a village inhabited by artisans who specialise in sculpting aesthetic idols and puppets out of clay. Stay Two Nights: Madurai, The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai (B/D)

Take a guided tour of Madurai which includes the impressive 17th century Thirumalai Nayak Palace and the Gandhi Memorial Museum. An ancient city located on the Vaigai River in Tamil Nadu, Madurai's skyline is dominated by 14 colourful gopurams, or gateway towers, of the 12th century Meenakshi Temple. Covered in bright carvings of Hindu gods, this Dravidian-style temple has been a major pilgrimage site for centuries.

Witness the final puja of the day, a traditional Hindu ritual. Observe the priests as they symbolically bathe, dress and feed an idol of God Shiva, and then put him to bed alongside his wife, Goddess Meenakshi, to whom the temple is dedicated. (B/D)

Insider Experience: Step inside the Meenakshi Temple and witness traditional Hindu rituals.

Set off for the airport for your flight to Chennai and an overnight stay. Previously known as Madras during the colonial era, Chennai's architecture and culture has Portuguese, Dutch, French and British influences. 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, one of the world's longest. Stroll through the city's flower market in George Town, soaking up a myriad of colours and fragrances. Stay: Chennai, Taj Coromandel (B/D)

Spend time at leisure or take the opportunity for an optional excursion to Mamallapuram (payable locally), known for its World Heritage listed temples and monuments built by the Pallava dynasty in the 7th and 8th centuries. In time, transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B)