Mysuru, Bandipur bus safari, Ooty railway and Wayanad

Arrive early in Bengaluru and take the private drive south to Mysuru, stopping en route for an optional breakfast. Check in to your hotel and take time to freshen up. You can enjoy an optional lunch at Gufha cave-themed restaurant at Hotel Pai Vista. In the afternoon, explore the magnificent halls and architecture of Mysore Palace. Afterwards, drive up Chamundi Hill to visit Chamundeshwari Temple and watch the sunset over the city. Depending on time, optional visits include Jaganmohan Palace art gallery, Lalitha Mahal, the Government Silk Factory, Mysore Zoo or Brindavan Gardens. Mysuru Palace illumination is viewable on select Sunday and holiday evenings. You can sample local dishes or filter coffee for dinner at your own expense. Overnight in Mysuru.

Check out early from Mysuru and drive to Bandipur Tiger Reserve for a morning bus safari through the forest, referencing Karnataka tourism schedules. Wildlife sightings depend on nature. Forest night-traffic rules apply on this route. After the safari, continue your scenic drive uphill along the winding roads into the Nilgiri hills to Ooty. Check in to your hotel and unwind. Spend the evening at your own pace, perhaps taking a quiet walk or browsing the local markets for homemade chocolates and regional tea. Overnight in Ooty.

Start early with a visit to the Government Botanical Garden, which features expansive terraced lawns and the seasonal annual Flower Show if your dates coincide. Drive up to Doddabetta Peak, the highest vantage point in the Nilgiris, to take in panoramic valley views from the summit. Continue to a nearby tea plantation for a walk through the emerald bushes, with an optional visit to a tea museum. In the afternoon, board the Nilgiri Mountain Railway toy train for a heritage ride from Ooty to Coonoor. Accept dates only when the schedule aligns. Explore Coonoor before returning by road to Ooty for the evening. Overnight in Ooty.

Take in views across the terraced fields from Ketti Valley Viewpoint on your way to Coonoor. Stroll along the landscaped paths of Sim's Park, then head to Lamb's Rock (sometimes noted as Limb's Rock) and Coonoor's Dolphin's Nose, not Kodaikanal, for Catherine Falls-view vistas cascading down the hillside, subject to weather conditions. Tour the Highfield Tea Factory to observe tea manufacturing machinery and processing methods from leaf to cup, with an optional tea tasting. Return to Ooty in the evening for your overnight stay.

Check out of Ooty and stop at Pykara Lake, where motorboat or rowboat rides are available at your own cost. Continue to the cascading Pykara Waterfalls for a scenic walk. From here, take the forested highway through Mudumalai towards Wayanad, watching for wildlife along the roadside. Arrive in the Kalpetta area of Wayanad and check in to your stay. If time and permits allow, an optional safari at Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary can be arranged. Enjoy a relaxing evening surrounded by greenery. Overnight in Wayanad.

Set out early for Edakkal Caves, climbing the hillside path to view prehistoric Stone Age petroglyphs. Please note Edakkal Caves follow Kerala tourism schedules and are closed on Mondays. Drive to Banasura Sagar Dam, India's largest earth dam, where you can walk along the reservoir, with optional boating or nature walks available at your own cost. Take in sweeping ghat views from Lakkidi View Point before concluding at Pookode Lake, where you can relax by the water, visit the freshwater aquarium, or hire a pedal boat at your own expense. Overnight in Wayanad.

Check out early for the scenic drive from Kalpetta in Wayanad to Coimbatore. Visit the Isha Yoga Center to see the 112-foot Adiyogi Shiva sculpture and spend time in the open visitor grounds. If schedule allows before your flight, you can stop for an optional traditional banana-leaf vegetarian meal at Annam Restaurant at your own expense. Transfer to Coimbatore airport for your evening flight home.