Detailed itinerary
Mysore & Nilgiris Grand Tour — 7N/8D
From
₹29,900
The unhurried South India tour. Three nights in Mysore including a flexible day for Ranganathittu's bird sanctuary or Tipu Sultan's Srirangapatna, then four nights in the Nilgiris covering Ooty, Coonoor and Pykara without a single rushed morning.
Trip at a glance
- Mysore Palace under evening illumination
- Ranganathittu or Srirangapatna day
- Ooty gardens and Doddabetta Peak
- Coonoor tea estates and toy train option
- Pykara lake, falls and pine forest
Day by day
8 days, start to finish — travel, activities and where you sleep each night.
- 1
Day 1
Arrive Mysore — an easy first evening
Transfer from Bangalore to Mysore and check in. A deliberately light start: St. Philomena's Church in the afternoon, then the Mysore Palace in the evening, which is the best time to see it — on illumination days the whole facade is outlined in nearly a hundred thousand bulbs. Overnight in Mysore.
- 2
Day 2
Mysore heritage day
Chamundi Hills and the Nandi viewpoint in the morning, then Mysore Zoo through the afternoon. Evening at Brindavan Gardens for the musical fountain, the terraced gardens lit up along the Krishnarajasagar dam. Overnight in Mysore.
- 3
Day 3
Mysore — flexible day, your choice
A relaxed, optional day built into the longer itineraries. Choose Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary and its boat ride among nesting storks and crocodiles; or Srirangapatna for Tipu Sultan's summer palace, mausoleum and fort; or a light day of the Railway Museum, market shopping and café hopping. Evening at leisure. Overnight in Mysore.
- 4
Day 4
Mysore to Ooty — through Bandipur and Mudumalai
Early breakfast and check-out; forest entry timings mean an early start matters. The road runs straight through Bandipur and Mudumalai tiger reserves — elephant, gaur, chital and langur are all regularly seen from the car — then climbs the 36 hairpin bends into the Nilgiris. Check in at Ooty and take an easy evening at Ooty Lake with optional boating. Overnight in Ooty.
- 5
Day 5
Ooty local sightseeing
Doddabetta Peak first, the highest point in the Nilgiris at 8,650 ft with a telescope house at the top. Then a working tea factory and museum for the processing line and a tasting. Afternoon in the Government Botanical Garden and the Rose Garden, both laid out in the 1840s–90s. Evening at the chocolate factory and Ooty market. Overnight in Ooty.
- 6
Day 6
Coonoor excursion — tea estates and viewpoints
An hour down the hill to Coonoor, quieter and greener than Ooty. Sim's Park for the botanical collection, then the trio of viewpoints — Dolphin's Nose, Lamb's Rock and the tea estates spilling down the slopes below them. Optional Nilgiri Mountain Railway toy train ride, subject to availability. Return to Ooty in the evening. Overnight in Ooty.
- 7
Day 7
Pykara and the offbeat Nilgiris
Away from the town circuit for a day. Pykara Lake with optional boating, the Pykara falls in the reserve forest, the pine forest at Shooting Point, and the 6th and 9th Mile viewpoints over the Mukurthi ranges. Deliberately unhurried, and an important buffer day in the longer itineraries. Overnight in Ooty.
- 8
Day 8
Departure
Breakfast and check-out, with a quick market or café stop if timings allow, then transfer to Coimbatore or Bangalore airport for departure.
Inclusions & exclusions
What's included
- Accommodation in selected hotels/resorts on double sharing
- Daily breakfast at the hotel
- Private AC vehicle for all transfers and sightseeing as per the itinerary
- Pick-up and drop at Bangalore or Coimbatore as per the plan
- All sightseeing mentioned in the itinerary
- Driver allowance, fuel, tolls, parking and interstate permits
- All applicable hotel taxes
- On-trip coordinator assistance
Not included
- Airfare / train tickets
- Lunches and dinners unless specified
- Entry tickets to the palace, zoo, gardens, parks and viewpoints
- Nilgiri Mountain Railway toy train tickets
- Boating, safari and optional activity charges
- Personal expenses, tips and shopping
- Any increase in taxes or government levies
- Travel insurance and medical expenses
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Inclusions
Where you stay
Heritage-style hotels in Mysore and colonial-era or garden hotels in Ooty, on double/twin sharing with daily breakfast.
Good to know
Is the Mysore Palace illuminated every day?
The full illumination normally runs on Sunday evenings and public holidays, with a shorter show on some other evenings. We plan the palace visit around the schedule wherever your dates allow.
Can we book the Nilgiri toy train?
We can attempt it, but the heritage train sells out weeks ahead and seats cannot be guaranteed. Tell us at booking and we'll try for the Ooty–Coonoor leg.
Will we see wildlife in Bandipur and Mudumalai?
Frequently — elephant, gaur, chital and langur are common sightings from the road. Note the highway through the reserves is closed to traffic between 9 PM and 6 AM, which is why the transfer day starts early.
Is Ooty cold?
Pleasant at 15–25°C most of the year, dropping to 5°C on winter nights. Carry a jacket for evenings in every season.
Which airport works best?
Bangalore for the start and Coimbatore for the finish is the most efficient pairing. Both transfers are included in the package.
Ready for Mysore · Ooty · Coonoor?
Tell us your dates and group size — we'll confirm availability and hold your seats.