Tours and Safaris

South India

South India Tour

Ask the Society

Experienced travel consultants

The Luxury Travel Society is for lifes' discerning travellers. Our travel consultants are on hand to advise you on your perfect luxury escape.

Call us on 0203 538 5564

Welcome to India!

India’s most cosmopolitan city and financial nerve center, Mumbai is also the center of the country’s thriving film industry, popularly known as Bollywood. Some 15 million people from billionaire tycoons to homeless pavement dwellers live in this teeming megalopolis. No city highlights the glaring contrasts between the wealthy and the poor or the indomitable spirit to succeed as Mumbai does.

- Read Less

Accommodation

Enjoy 14 nights in six different luxury hotels.

Immerse yourself in the local culture, exploring the sites and staying in our hand picked luxury hotels. At each hotel, you’ll be greeted with smiles and luxurious amenities to make you feel at home.

The hotels you will be staying at are:

  • 3 nights at The Taj Mahal Palace & Towers, Mumbai
  • 3 nights at Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad
  • 2 nights at Evolve Back, Hampi
  • 3 nights at Brunton Boatyard, Kochi
  • 1 night at Backwaters, Alleppey
  • 2 nights at Kumarakom Lake Resort, Kumarakom

Your Journey

Day One - Mumbai

As you disembark, our airport representative will meet you at the top of the aerobridge.  In the arrival hall the airport representative will introduce you to our Peirce & Leslie colleague who will escort you to your hotel. Upon arrival at the hotel, you will be accorded a traditional welcome along with a ‘welcome drink’.

Day Two - Mumbai

After breakfast, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and you will take a “Colonial Walk” through Mumbai.  Covering the various tourist landmarks of Mumbai, this ‘heritage walking tour’ will start at the Gateway of India. Afterwards you will drive to Churchgate Station where you will get the opportunity to see the famed ‘dabbawallas’ or ‘lunch box carriers’ in action. This will be followed by a visit to Dhobi Ghat, the world’s largest outdoor laundry. After lunch, you will go on a special tour that is designed to show you the world of Dharavi – the industry, the people and their way of life. In the evening, you may wish to visit the Taj Art Gallery in your hotel.

Day Three - Mumbai

Today, you will start at 05.15 hours with a memorable tour to watch the city come to life. The early morning start is well worth the effort because it is fascinating watching the city wake up. Breakfast will be served en route at a local restaurant before returning to your hotel. After lunch, you will be taken on an off-the-beaten-track tour of “Chor Bazaar” (Thieves’ Market). You will then walk through a traditional market area, where your guide will show you the famous Crawford Market and the “native” bazaar area of Bombay. In the evening, you will be joined by one of Mumbai’s local foodies and together you will explore the city’s famous and unpretentious street food.

Day Four - Mumbai to Hyderabad

After breakfast, you will be met by our Peirce & Leslie colleague in the lobby of your hotel and escorted to your flight. In Hyderabad, you will stay in India’s latest palace-hotel, the Falaknuma Palace. From the palace gate, a horse-drawn carriage will transport you to the grand welcome ritual that awaits you. This evening, you will take a palace tour with the in-house palace historian where you will be served a glass of champagne. This will be followed by a Sufi performance in the palace courtyard.

Day Five - Hyderabad

After breakfast, you will visit the quaint and bustling by-lanes of the Charminar area and the Mecca Masjid.  You will get to try local cuisine with one of the traditional families in Hyderabad. After lunch, you will visit the extraordinarily beautiful Paigah Tombs, known for their architectural excellence. You will then return to your hotel and the remainder of the day will be at leisure.

Day Six - Hyderabad

After breakfast, you will visit the fort at Golconda, which served as the capital of the Qutb Shahi Kings who ruled over the area. Also on the tour will be a visit to the Qutb Shahi Tombs, which lie on a low plateau northwest of the fort. You will then visit the workshop of Mrs. Suraiya Hassan, renowned for her silk and cotton weaves. Lunch will be served at a city restaurant. After lunch, you will visit the buildings, gardens, old churches and residential colonies where the English lived.

Day Seven - Hyderabad to Vidyanagar

After breakfast, you will be escorted to the airport by our colleague in time to check-in for your flight to Vidyanagar. On arrival, you will be met by the hotel`s representative and escorted to your hotel. Late in the afternoon, your guide will take you for a walk through giant boulders, the ruins of the Achyutaraya Temple and the famed ‘Courtesan Bazaar’. Lunch & dinner will be served at your hotel.

Day Eight - Hampi

This morning, you will participate in the ancient Indian art of yoga and meditation with a group class led by the in-house yogacharya in the verdant gardens of your hotel. After breakfast, your guide will take you on “The Raya Trail”. You will go back five hundred years and get a peek into the life and times of the Rayas (Maharajas) of Vijayanagara. In the afternoon, a cooking demonstration will be arranged at your hotel. After lunch, your guide will take you on the Virupaksha Trail. Tonight, dinner will be served at “Tuluva” the multi-cuisine restaurant at your hotel overlooking the infinity pool.

Day Nine - Hampi to Kochi via Bangalore

After a relaxed breakfast, you will be driven to Vidyanagar airport to check-in for your flight  to Bangalore. On arrival at Bangalore airport, you will collect your baggage and connect to your onward flight to Kochi. Upon arrival in Kochi, you will be met by our Peirce & Leslie colleague and escorted to your hotel where he will assist you to check-in.

Day Ten - Kochi

After breakfast, you will visit the Dutch Palace or Mattancherry Palace, which was commissioned by the Portuguese for the Raja of Kochi in exchange for trading rights. You will visit the Jewish Synagogue. One of the oldest in India, it is set in the Jewish Quarter, commonly known as “Jew Town”. Also on the tour, you will visit two of the prominent Christian churches – St Francis’ Church and Santa Cruz Cathedral. In the evening, you will attend a private Kathakali dance performance at a theater.

Day 11 - Kochi

After a quick cup of tea/coffee early this morning, you will walk down to the ferry terminal and join the local commuters on a 20-minute ferry ride to Ernakulam. You will return to your hotel for breakfast. After disembarking at Ernakulam jetty, you will walk along the Marine Drive promenade to the bazaar area. After breakfast, you will explore the Heritage Zone. Walking through the narrow cobbled lanes you will see various architectural styles reflecting the many cultures that existed here. Return to your hotel and the rest of the day will be at your leisure.

Day 12 - Kochi to Alleppey

After a relaxed breakfast, you will drive to Alappuzha boat jetty to board a private houseboat and sail up to Vembanad Lake. A visit to Kerala is incomplete without touring the backwaters. These are a series of canals that cross the state, eventually emptying into the open seas. Lunch, dinner, evening tea and snacks will be served on board.

Day 13 - Alleppey to Kumarakom

After breakfast, you will disembark from the houseboat and drive to Kumarakom. On the way, you will visit the Nagaraja Temple, an ancient and internationally known centre of pilgrimage for the devotees of serpent gods. You will continue your drive to Kumarakom and check-in to your lovely resort. A labyrinth of backwaters with shimmering lakes, a magical dreamland! Take a sunset cruise on the Vembanad Lake or just sit on its banks and delve into a desultory contemplation.

Day 14 - Kumarakom

Today, you will awake to the call of birdsong and take an early morning guided visit to the bird sanctuary where a naturalist will tell you about several rare species of birds including various migratory ones. Alternatively, you can participate in a private yoga and meditation session at your hotel. The entire day will be at leisure to enjoy the hotels pool and spa facilities. Tonight’s dinner will be a private affair by the poolside and will include a demonstration of traditional Kerala cooking.

Day 15 - Depart Kochi

After breakfast, you will be escorted to Kochi`s international airport where you will be met by our Peirce & Leslie colleague who will help you to check-in for your homeward bound flight.

Please contact us for a bespoke quote on
0203 538 5564