Welcome to India! Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting this evening at 6 pm. Tonight is all about introductions, so maybe get together with your group after your meeting and head out for an optional dinner – your leader will be able to suggest the best neighbourhoods for a delicious local meal. It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place. Kerala is officially a dry state, with alcohol sales and consumption limited to bars in five-star hotels.

In the morning, travel up the coast by private vehicle to the town of Varkala. Settle into your hotel, then you’ll have free time to explore the Keralan coast – home to some of India’s best beaches. Soaring cliffs protect Varkala’s sandy bay and, depending on the time of year, dolphins can be spotted from high up on the rocks. In the evening, maybe head into town to one of the numerous restaurants serving fresh, local seafood caught right off the coast. Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours.

Today is a free day for you to discover Varkala at your own pace. This is a great place to sit back and relax, but if you want to get active, there are plenty of water activities on offer, like surfing and windsurfing. Even though this is a popular destination for Indian tourists, the beaches are quiet and have a laidback vibe. Take the rest of the day to relax, beachside or otherwise, before the rest of south India beckons.

This morning, board a train along the Keralan coastline to Alappuzha (Alleppey). Once an important trading port and now renowned for the annual Snake Boat race in August, Alappuzha is the starting point for most journeys into the Kerala backwaters. An auto-rickshaw will take you from the train station to your boat, which will take you to an island village. You’ll spend the night at a homestay owned and managed by a local family. Get settled, then you’ll have the option to explore the Kerala backwaters in a pole boat. Your local guide will also take you on a walk around the village, through paddy fields and small canals. This is a great opportunity for you to learn about the local ways of the backwaters. Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours. Accommodation tonight may be on a multishare basis depending on group configuration. All guesthouse accommodation will be located within a few hundred metres of each other, with at least one person in each guesthouse speaking a reasonable standard of English. Food is traditional Keralan home-style cooking and will be served at the main guesthouse. Standards and configuration of rooms may differ between guesthouses.

In the morning, cross the backwaters by private boat back to Alappuzha. You’ll then take a local bus to Kochi, arriving around midday. When you arrive, go for a walk around the Fort Kochi area, where you’ll be staying for the next two nights. In the early evening, there’s the option to attend a classic Kathakali dance performance – a snapshot into traditional cultures of this region. Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours.

Today, head to the Mattancherry part of Fort Cochin to explore the old Jewish quarter, synagogue, and Dutch Palace (Mattancherry Palace) on a guided walking tour. After the tour, the rest of your day is free for you to do as you wish.

This morning, get ready for a day of travel as you head by private vehicle to Periyar National Park. After checking in to your hotel, you might like to head out on an optional tour of a local spice farm. Walk through the winding pathways among the plantations as the scent of cardamom, pepper, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla lingers in the air. Take in the beauty of the cardamom flowers, feel the cool breeze and watch the sunlight seep in through the leaves of the pepper plants surrounding you. Afterwards, enjoy a relaxed evening back at your accommodation, maybe settling in for an early night. Your travel time today will be approximately 8 hours.

Today is a free day – maybe head out on an optional walk around Periyar National Park. Encounters with animals in the wild are never guaranteed, and this is more of a jungle walk than an animal-spotting tour, but do keep an eye out for tiger tracks, spotted deer, Indian elephants or gaur – the world's largest species of buffalo. This afternoon, you might like to unwind with an optional ayurvedic massage, watch a performance of Kalaripayattu (an ancient Indian martial art) or just relax in your scenic surroundings. For today’s optional walk in Periyar National Park, you will usually follow the Green Zone route. Please note that tigers are extremely rare and shy in Periyar National Park. It is, however, a lovely walk. The local guides are villagers who have lived in the area for generations and are very knowledgeable about the area’s flora and fauna. Bring water – you’ll start walking early, but it gets very hot and humid later in the morning. Leech socks are available to rent for a small fee – this is one critter that you often will spot!

In the morning, take a private transfer to Madurai. This buzzing city is crammed full of bazaars, pilgrims and cycle rickshaws. Go on a walking tour to see the highlights, then maybe visit the Sri Meenakshi Temple. This ancient temple is still in use and features a labyrinth of lamplit corridors leading to shrines. Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.

Today is a free day in Madurai. Consider heading to the Gandhi Museum to learn about the man who fought for India’s independence or wander through the 1000 pillars of Aayiram Kaal Mandapam. This is also a great opportunity to haggle with vendors at the bazaars and the tailors' market. This evening, you’ll take an overnight sleeper train to Mysore. Before you board, you may want to stock up on some extra snacks for the journey. Your travel time on the overnight train will be approximately 14 hours. Sleeper trains are clean and air-conditioned, and beds are padded berths with sheets, pillow and blanket provided (although some people prefer to bring their own sleeping sheet). Please note that you may be sharing with locals of all genders.

Disembark from your train and transfer to your hotel in Mysore – an easy-going town with a pleasant climate. Go on an orientation walk with your group, checking out the ornate Mysore Palace along the way. There’s also the option to visit the Keshava Temple in Somnathpur, which is a stunning example of Hoysala architecture. Keshava Temple is an hour’s drive out of town. Your leader can assist you in organising this optional activity.

Today is a free day in Mysore, with plenty of optional activities to keep you busy. If you’ve seen all you need to in town, maybe explore the countryside surrounding Mysore. You could climb up Chamundi Hill to the Sri Chamundeswari Temple at the top, which is dedicated to the goddess Durga. At around 7 pm tonight, meet up with your group and board an overnight train to Hampi. Your travel time on the overnight train will be approximately 10 hours.

In the morning, arrive in Hampi and travel to your hotel. Hampi is a temple town situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. Once you’re settled in, make an optional visit to the architectural masterpiece of Vittala Temple. This 16th-century temple contains mandapas (pillared pavilions), a pool, a palace and the popular stone chariot – according to Hindu mythology, this was the vehicle of the Lord Vishnu.

Today, you might like to explore the ruins of the Vijayanagar Empire and the huge boulders on the outskirts of town. In the early evening, board a private vehicle to Hubli, where you’ll hop on an overnight train to Goa. Your travel time today will be approximately 12 hours, including 9 hours on the overnight train.

Once your train arrives in Goa, head to the hotel and check in. Brimming with Portuguese influences and known for the sandy beaches lining its coast, Goa is a fascinating region in India's south-west. The rest of your day is free to spend however you like. Maybe relax on the beach, sip a cocktail at a local bar or go for a city walk. Tonight, why not get together with your travel crew for a beachside dinner – Goa is cause for celebration.

There are no activities planned for the final day and your adventure comes to an end. Goa is a great place to end the trip – if you can, it’s highly recommended you extend your stay for a couple of nights to relax and explore. If you would like to spend more time in Goa, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).