Tour overview

This 16-day adventure travels from the tip of India to Goa by private vehicle, local transport and sleeper train. A local leader travels with the group, which numbers no more than twelve. You stay fifteen nights in simple hotels, a resort, a backwaters homestay and three overnight trains, with a few meals included.

From Trivandrum you head to the clifftop beach of Varkala for a free day, then take the train to Alappuzha and a boat to a family homestay on the backwaters. You explore Fort Kochi's old Jewish quarter and spice markets, and visit Periyar in the hills.

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In Madurai you see the towering gopurams of the Meenakshi Temple, then take the night train to Mysuru and its palace. Another train brings you to Hampi, where the ruins of the Vijayanagar Empire lie among giant boulders, before a final train to Goa.

The physical rating is low. This trip suits adventurous travellers who want to see the variety of south India on a budget.

Trip highlights

  • Varkala (Days 2–3)
  • A backwaters homestay (Day 4)
  • Fort Kochi (Day 6)
  • Madurai (Days 9–10)
  • Mysuru (Days 11–12)
  • Hampi (Days 13–14)

Your route

11 stops from Trivandrum to Goa

16-day route: Trivandrum – Varkala – Alappuzha – Kochi – Periyar – Madurai – Mysuru – Hampi – Goa
  1. Trivandrum Day 1
  2. Varkala Days 2–3
  3. Alappuzha Day 4
  4. Kochi Days 5–6
  5. Periyar Days 7–8
  6. Madurai Days 9–10
  7. Mysuru Days 11–12
  8. Somnathpur Day 11
  9. Hampi Days 13–14
  10. Hubli Day 14
  11. Goa Days 15–16

Why choose this tour

Four states of south India in two weeks. A homestay and three sleeper trains.

Best suited to

  • Adventurous travellers
  • Travellers on a budget
  • Solo travellers
  • Culture lovers
Varkala beach below its cliffs

Day-by-day itinerary

16 days from Trivandrum, India to Goa, India

  1. Day 1 · Trivandrum Trivandrum

    A welcome meeting.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Varkala Varkala

    Clifftop beaches.

    Hotel
    Resort
  3. Day 3 · Varkala Varkala

    A free day.

    Hotel
    Resort
  4. Day 4 · Alappuzha, Kerala backwaters Backwaters

    A family homestay.

    Hotel
    Homestay
    Meals
    Lunch, Dinner
  5. Day 5 · Alappuzha, Kochi Kochi

    To Kochi.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  6. Day 6 · Fort Kochi, Mattancherry Kochi

    Spice markets.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  7. Day 7 · Periyar Periyar

    Into the hills.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  8. Day 8 · Periyar National Park Periyar

    A free day.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  9. Day 9 · Madurai Madurai

    A temple city.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  10. Day 10 · Meenakshi Temple Madurai

    The night train.

    Hotel
    Overnight sleeper train
  11. Day 11 · Mysuru Mysuru

    A palace city.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  12. Day 12 · Mysore Palace Mysuru

    A free day.

    Hotel
    Overnight sleeper train
  13. Day 13 · Hampi Hampi

    A boulder landscape.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  14. Day 14 · Vijayanagar ruins Hampi

    Ancient ruins.

    Hotel
    Overnight sleeper train
    Meals
    Breakfast
  15. Day 15 · Goa Goa

    To Goa.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  16. Day 16 · Goa Goa

    The trip ends.

Houseboats on the backwaters at Alappuzha

Where you stay

  • Trivandrum (1 night) Hotel
  • Varkala (2 nights) Resort
  • Backwaters (1 night) Homestay
  • Kochi (2 nights) Hotel
  • Periyar (2 nights) Hotel
  • Madurai (1 night) Hotel
  • Overnight train (1 night) Sleeper train
  • Mysuru (1 night) Hotel
  • Overnight train (1 night) Sleeper train
  • Hampi (1 night) Hotel
  • Overnight train (1 night) Sleeper train
  • Goa (1 night) Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 15 nights in hotels, a homestay and sleeper trains
  • Meals 5 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 1 dinner
  • Sleeper trains, private vehicles, buses and boats
  • Backwaters homestay
  • Guided visits in Kochi and Hampi
  • Madurai temple visit
  • Local leader throughout

Not included

  • Flights
  • Meals not included 10 breakfasts, 13 lunches and 14 dinners
  • Most meals
  • Optional activities
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
Mysore Palace in Karnataka

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want comfortable hotels
  • You want most meals included
  • You dislike sleeper trains
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 5–8 and 14 · Lunch: Day 4 · Dinner: Day 4
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for India
Colourful carvings on a south Indian temple

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £595 per person, twin share, tour only. 72 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Do I need a visa for India?

Yes, UK citizens need a visa for India, usually an e-visa applied for online.

What are the sleeper trains like?

Shared air-conditioned berths with bedding provided.

What is the homestay like?

A simple guesthouse with a local family on the backwaters, with meals.

Is there beach time?

Yes, in Varkala and at the end in Goa.

Can I have my own room?

A single supplement is available, except on trains and at the homestay.

How many people travel together?

No more than twelve travellers, with a local leader.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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