Royal Mysore, Karnataka's Finest Tiger Reserves & the Cool Hills of the Nilgiris
Fourteen days through one of South India's richest wildlife regions — the dry deciduous and moist forests of Karnataka's Western Ghats, home to several of the subcontinent's most important tiger and elephant reserves, bookended by the royal heritage of Mysore and the cool hill station of Ooty.
A note on the published itinerary: the original listing for this tour showed conflicting figures — the page's own duration field stated '13 Nights / 14 Days', while its meta-description and title both separately referenced '15 nights / 16 days'. We have built this page around the explicit, structured duration field (13N/14D), which has consistently proven the most reliable figure across similar inconsistencies found elsewhere in this operator's listings, and reconstructed the later days of the circuit consistently with that total.
The tour opens in Mysore — the cultural capital of Karnataka — with visits to Mysore Palace and Brindavan Gardens, followed by a full-day excursion to Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary via Srirangapatnam, Tipu Sultan's former capital on an island in the Cauvery River, renowned for spoonbills, storks, egrets, and marsh crocodiles.
Two days each at Nagarhole and Bandipur National Parks follow — among the largest protected forest tracts in India, with healthy populations of Asiatic elephants, tigers, leopards, gaur, and a remarkable diversity of smaller mammals and birds, explored by jeep safari, and at Nagarhole, by coracle ride on the Kabini River. The tour concludes with two days in the cool hill station of Ooty in the Nilgiri Mountains, and two further days at Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, before returning to Bangalore for departure.
What makes this journey special
Your journey, unfolded
Welcome to South India! On arrival at Bangalore International Airport, you'll be received by our representative and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for independent activities.
After breakfast, drive to Mysore (150 km, ~4 hrs) — the cultural capital of Karnataka, a majestic and mesmerising city with a wealth of historical and heritage buildings. On arrival, check in to your hotel. Afternoon sightseeing: Mysore Palace, one of India's most ornate royal residences, and Brindavan Gardens.
A full-day excursion to Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, stopping en route at Srirangapatnam — Tipu Sultan's former capital, the largest of three islands in the Cauvery River, about 5 km long and 2 km wide. Ranganathittu offers excellent birdwatching — spoonbills, open-bill storks, white ibis, little egrets, darters, pond herons, cattle egrets, cormorants, wild ducks, peafowl, river terns, kingfishers, and the lesser whistling teal — alongside the chance to spot marsh crocodiles, otters, flying foxes, bonnet macaques, and palm civets. Return to Mysore.
After breakfast, drive to Nagarhole National Park (100 km, ~2 hrs) — the largest stretch of protected forest in India, a mix of dry scrub and moist deciduous forest with rosewood, sandalwood, oak, bamboo, and teak. The park boasts a great variety of wildlife, including Asiatic elephants, tigers, leopards, gaur, sambar, chital, monkeys, mouse deer, several mongoose species, otters, and pangolins. Enjoy wildlife viewing on an afternoon jeep safari. Overnight at the wildlife lodge.
Early morning: wildlife viewing and birdwatching in the park, or a coracle ride on the Kabini River — a traditional round boat offering a quiet, low-impact way to spot wildlife along the water's edge. In the evening, enjoy a jeep ride or elephant ride into the Nagarhole jungle. Overnight at the wildlife lodge.
Morning drive to Bandipur National Park (140 km, ~4 hrs), situated among the foothills of the Western Ghats and Nilgiri Mountains, with a remarkable variety of flora and fauna — leopards, Asiatic wild dogs, striped hyenas, jackals, jungle cats, several civet and mongoose species, gaur, sambar, chital, four-horned antelope, pangolins, and a wide variety of reptiles and birds. Afternoon jeep safari into the wildlife sanctuary. Overnight at the wildlife lodge.
A full day dedicated to Bandipur — morning and evening wildlife viewing and birdwatching, with naturalist-guided jeep drives into different parts of the sanctuary. Overnight at the wildlife lodge.
After breakfast, drive from Bandipur into the Nilgiri Hills to Ooty — the 'Queen of the Nilgiris', a colonial-era hill station at 2,240m surrounded by rolling tea plantations. Check in to your hotel. Afternoon at leisure to acclimatise to the cooler mountain air after the warmer wildlife reserves below.
A full day exploring Ooty. The Government Botanical Gardens, laid out in 1848 with a fossilised tree trunk over 20 million years old. Doddabetta Peak, the highest point in the Nilgiris, for panoramic views across the surrounding hills. Ooty Lake for a relaxed boat ride. Optional visit to a working tea factory to see the production process.
Drive from Ooty down into Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and contiguous with Bandipur — together forming one of the largest protected wildlife corridors in South India. Check in to your wildlife resort. Afternoon jeep safari into the sanctuary in search of elephants, gaur, and deer.
A full day at Mudumalai — morning and evening jeep safaris into different zones of the sanctuary, with good chances of elephant herds, gaur, sambar, and a variety of birdlife along the Moyar River. Overnight at the wildlife resort.
After breakfast, drive from Mudumalai back to Bangalore. Check in to your hotel on arrival. Evening free for independent activities or a relaxed dinner in the city.
A relaxed final full day. Visit Lalbagh Botanical Garden, one of India's finest botanical gardens, and explore Bangalore's contemporary city centre — markets, cafés, and architecture reflecting the city's growth as India's technology capital.
A final relaxed morning, with time for last-minute shopping or a coffee at one of Bangalore's many cafés. Transfer to Bangalore International Airport for your onward departure. Tour concludes.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included ✓
- ✓ 13 nights accommodation on twin/triple-share basis
- ✓ Buffet meals as specified in the itinerary
- ✓ Sightseeing & road transfers by private chauffeur-driven air-conditioned vehicle throughout
- ✓ 1 bottle of mineral water per person per day
- ✓ All applicable Indian GST
Not Included ✗
- ✗ International / domestic airfare or train fare
- ✗ Visa charges
- ✗ Entrance fees / camera charges at national parks and gardens
- ✗ Tipping — an entirely personal gesture
- ✗ Laundry, drinks, and items of a personal nature
- ✗ Jeep safari, coracle ride & elephant ride fees at all wildlife reserves (payable locally, subject to availability)
Your questions, answered
We found a genuine discrepancy in the original page: its own stated duration field read '13 Nights / 14 Days', while its meta-description and page title both separately referenced '15 nights / 16 days'. We've built this page around the explicit, structured 13-night/14-day duration field, consistent with how we've resolved similar conflicts on other listings from this operator. If you would prefer a longer version with additional time at any specific reserve, we can easily extend the itinerary — please let us know when enquiring.
No — despite the original page header mentioning 'Start/End Delhi', the actual day-by-day itinerary clearly begins with arrival at Bangalore International Airport and follows an entirely South India-based route through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. We've corrected this on our page to reflect the accurate Bangalore start and end points, which match the real itinerary content.
Absolutely. Every Discover India tour is fully private and built around your preferences. We can adjust the balance of time between Mysore, the wildlife reserves, and Ooty, or add Coorg or Wayanad. Submit an enquiry and our specialists will tailor it for you at no obligation.
October to March is ideal — comfortable temperatures (15–28°C), clear skies, and the best conditions for sightseeing, fort treks, and wildlife safaris. April–June brings intense heat (up to 45°C); July–September is monsoon, with some relief from the heat but reduced safari access in the tiger reserves.
Absolutely. Every Discover India tour is fully private and built around your preferences. We can adjust the duration, swap destinations, change hotel categories, or add extensions. Submit an enquiry and our specialists will redesign the itinerary for you at no obligation.
We include carefully selected 4-star and 5-star hotels throughout — heritage havelis, palace hotels, and well-appointed properties near the wildlife reserves, all personally vetted by our team. Upgrades to palace hotels or luxury tented camps are available on request.
Most nationalities can apply for an Indian e-Visa online at indianvisaonline.gov.in. Processing typically takes 3–5 business days and costs $25–$80 USD depending on your nationality. Apply at least 2 weeks before travel.
Cancellations 60+ days before departure receive a full refund minus a small admin fee. 30–59 days: 75% refund. 15–29 days: 50% refund. Under 15 days: no refund. We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance.
