Two very lovely hill stations feature in this itinerary, Ooty in Tamil Nadu and Munnar in Kerala.
Ooty, styled as ‘Queen of the Hills’, sits at the top of the famous Nilgiri Mountain Railway and is one of a cluster of similar hill station towns in this district along with Coonoor and Kotagiri. Munnar, the centre of Kerala’s tea producing region, is a centre for trekking but also a great place to just stay and relax with spectacular views at every turn.
Cochin– Alleppey
Depart after breakfast and drive down to Alleppey. Here you can explore the backwaters by means of motorboats or canoes (kayaking is possible if you’re feeling energetic) with the option of a lunchtime houseboat cruise also available. By staying on-shore rather than joining the masses of houseboats, all crammed into a small area, you can see how life in the backwaters is traditionally lived, mix with local people and enjoy a much more serene experience of this unique region. Overnight near Alleppey.
Alleppey- Munnar
Spend some time around Alleppey in the morning, then drive 3-4 hours up into the Western Ghats mountains to scenic Munnar. Settle in on arrival with no set programme today. Overnight in Munnar
Munnar- Cochin
Descend from the Ghats back to the plains and visit historic Fort Cochin with afternoon sightseeing of this 500-year-old port and its multi-layered cultural story. Overnight in Fort Cochin
Cochin – Mettupalayam
Leave Cochin and drive through lush agricultural land, reaching Mettupalayam at the bottom of the hill road after about 6 hours’ driving. Overnight in Mettupalayam
Mettupalayam- Ooty
Early morning departure on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway bound for Ooty. This is one of the most remarkably engineered pieces of railway in India with a very steep ascent through a series of innovative spirals and many tunnels. Your driver will reach Ooty ahead of the train and be there to welcome you when you arrive. Afternoon free to explore the surrounding area. Overnight in Ooty
Ooty, Coonoor Sightseeing
We can structure this day to include hiking, a long scenic drive, a visit to a remote forest village and other options besides. The adjacent, smaller towns of Coonoor and Kotagiri are worth visiting while you are here. Overnight in Ooty
Ooty- Coimbatore- Depart
Depart Ooty and drive down the hills to Coimbatore with a flight from here to your international departure point.
