Self-Launched: Cultural Heartlands of South India — Bangalore to Kochi
7 days · South India (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu & Kerala)
Travel Con charges £790
No-markup version: ~£300 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY, self-launched version of Travel Con's 7-day all-inclusive "Cultural Heartlands of South India" tour, following the same Bangalore → Mysore → Ooty → Kochi route but booked piece by piece: trains and KSRTC buses instead of a private car, hostel/guesthouse stays instead of tour hotels, and self-bookable city walks and entry tickets instead of an accompanying guide. Expect temple architecture, hill-station tea country and Fort Kochi's colonial lanes for a fraction of the operator's £790-ish asking price. Costs are approximate, per person, and assume shared dorm or budget double rooms.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Bengaluru — markets and MG Road
Bengaluru, Karnataka
Land at Kempegowda International Airport and take the Vayu Vajra airport shuttle bus (KIAS-9 to Majestic, ~₹250/£2.30) or the Namma Metro Airport line to the city centre. Check into a hostel around MG Road or Indiranagar, then ease into India with an evening wander through Commercial Street and KR Market — the flower and spice stalls at dusk are the best free show in town. Grab a dosa and filter coffee at a local stand (₹100/£1).
🚌Airport shuttle bus + metro/walk (~£2.50)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, MG Road / Indiranagar area (~£12-16)
- →Commercial Street & KR Market wander
- →Dosa and filter coffee dinner
Bengaluru highlights — then train to Mysore
Bengaluru → Mysore
Do the classic Bangalore circuit on foot and by metro: Cubbon Park and Lal Bagh in the cool of the morning, then Tipu Sultan's Bangalore Fort and the Bull Temple in Basavanagudi (free or ₹10-20 entry, shoes off, no shorts). Skip the over-priced Vidhana Soudha interior and admire it from the gardens outside. In the late afternoon take the Shatabdi Express or a KSRTC Airavat bus to Mysore — roughly 3 hours, ₹150-450 (£1.50-4.50). Check into a guesthouse near the palace and eat a Mysore masala dosa.
🚌Metro/auto-rickshaw around Bengaluru; train or KSRTC bus to Mysore (~£4)
🛏Guesthouse near Mysore Palace (~£12-18)
- →Cubbon Park & Lal Bagh botanical gardens
- →Bangalore Fort
- →Bull Temple
- →Evening train to Mysore
Mysore Palace, Chamundi Hill and Brindavan Gardens
Mysore, Karnataka
Buy the palace ticket early (₹200/£1.90 for the palace, extra for the museum) and get there at opening to beat the crowds. Climb the 1,000 steps up Chamundi Hill for city views and the Nandi bull statue, then auto down to St. Philomena's Church. Visit the Rail Museum if trains are your thing (₹50). Late afternoon, take a local bus to Brindavan Gardens at KRS Dam for the musical fountain show at dusk (garden entry ~₹20-50), and return by bus before dark. Klook and GetYourGuide sell Mysore day tours from ~£20 if you'd rather not plan.
🚌Auto-rickshaw and local buses (~£3)
🛏Guesthouse near Mysore Palace (~£12-18)
- →Mysore Palace
- →Chamundi Hill climb
- →St. Philomena's Church
- →Brindavan Gardens musical fountain
Mysore to Ooty by Nilgiri hill road
Ooty, Tamil Nadu
Take the morning KSRTC bus from Mysore to Ooty via Bandipur and Mudumalai — about 4-5 hours, ₹300-450 (£3-4.50), and the drive through the tiger reserve forest is a highlight in itself (sit on the right for views). Alternatively, train to Coimbatore and bus up. Check into a hill-town guesthouse, then spend the afternoon at the Government Botanical Garden (₹75) and stroll Ooty Lake and Charing Cross for tea and homemade chocolate.
🚌KSRTC bus Mysore–Ooty (~£4)
🛏Budget guesthouse, Ooty town (~£12-18)
- →Bandipur/Mudumalai forest drive
- →Government Botanical Garden
- →Ooty Lake & Charing Cross
Nilgiri Mountain Railway to Coonoor and the tea estates
Ooty → Coonoor → Kochi (via Coimbatore)
Ride the UNESCO-listed Nilgiri Mountain Railway from Ooty to Coonoor (book the toy train on IRCTC in advance, ~₹30-100/£1-3; it sells out, so reserve a week ahead). Walk the tea estates around Coonoor and hike to Dolphin's Nose or Lamb's Rock for valley views. In the afternoon, bus down to Coimbatore (3.5 hours, ~₹100/£1), then take an overnight or evening train or KSRTC bus on to Ernakulam/Kochi (5-6 hours, ₹250-600/£2.50-6). Overnight on the move or in an Ernakulam guesthouse.
🚌Nilgiri toy train + bus to Coimbatore + train/bus to Kochi (~£7)
🛏Sleeper train berth, or budget guesthouse in Ernakulam (~£8-15)
- →Nilgiri Mountain Railway
- →Coonoor tea estate walk
- →Dolphin's Nose viewpoint
Fort Kochi — colonial lanes, churches and the Chinese fishing nets
Fort Kochi, Kerala
Cross to Fort Kochi by local ferry (₹8-10/under £1) and do the heritage circuit on foot, all cheap or free: St. Francis Church (Vasco da Gama's original burial spot), Santa Cruz Basilica, the Dutch Palace (Mattancherry, ₹5-10) and the Paradesi Jewish Synagogue (₹5, closed Fridays and Saturday mornings). Watch the Chinese fishing nets at sunset, then eat Kerala fish curry and appam at a Fort Kochi cafe — the Malabar House area is lovely but pricey, so head to a local thali joint for dinner. A GetYourGuide Fort Kochi walking tour runs ~£12-15 if you want the history explained.
🚌Local ferry and walking (~£1)
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel, Fort Kochi (~£14-20)
- →St. Francis Church & Santa Cruz Basilica
- →Dutch Palace, Mattancherry
- →Paradesi Jewish Synagogue
- →Chinese fishing nets at sunset
- →Kerala seafood dinner
Backwaters morning and departure from Kochi
Kochi, Kerala
If time allows, take an early shared backwater canoe trip or a half-day Alleppey shikara tour (from ~£12-18 booked locally or via Klook) before heading to the airport. Otherwise enjoy sunrise at Fort Kochi beach, browse the spice shops on Bazaar Road, and take the KSRTС/airport bus or a pre-booked taxi to Cochin International Airport (bus ₹100/£1; taxi ₹800-1,000/£7-10).
🚌Airport bus or taxi (~£8)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Fort Kochi sunrise walk
- →Spice market browsing
- →Optional backwater canoe trip
Self-launched vs. Travel Con
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Travel Con | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£300 | £790 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £490 per person (62%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Travel Con-style trips? Check them out here.~£300
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched: Cultural Heartlands of South India — Bangalore to Kochi cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £300 per person for 7 days in South India (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu & Kerala). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Travel Con?+
Yes — Travel Con charges around £790 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £300 — a saving of roughly £490 (62%) per person.
How long is the South India (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu & Kerala) trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through South India (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu & Kerala).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, foodie, budget trip through South India (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu & Kerala), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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