Between India’s better-known north and south lies the Deccan, a plateau of lost empires and green escarpments. So here are the boulder-strewn ruins of Hampi, the sandalwood city of Mysore and the coffee hills of Coorg. Leopards and elephants roam the Kabini forests, while Hyderabad glitters with nawabi splendour. Few travellers come, which is precisely the appeal. Every one of our tailor-made holidays is private and built around you. As a result, the Deccan feels like India’s best-kept secret.
This is India without the queues. So world-class sights arrive with space to breathe around them. Meanwhile, the lodges and palace hotels rank with the country’s finest. Wildlife, ruins and hill country interleave naturally. As a result, the region rewards second visits and first ones alike.
Nothing in India compares to Hampi. So the capital of Vijayanagara lies scattered across a surreal boulder landscape by the Tungabhadra. A private tour opens the royal enclosures and temples, while a second day digs deeper. At dusk, a coracle ride spins you down the river beneath the ruins. The temples of Hampi glow amber at sunset; you stay at the superb Evolve Back Hampi.
Mysore wears its royal history lightly. So the Maharaja’s palace blazes with Sunday illuminations while the markets perfume the air with jasmine and sandalwood. The palace of Mysore ranks among India’s most flamboyant. Yoga students and silk-weavers share the leafy streets. As a result, the city charms without ever overwhelming.
West of Mysore, the Western Ghats rise green and cool. So days in Coorg wander coffee estates, spice gardens and waterfall trails. The planters’ culture lives on in long lunches and longer verandas. You might stay at the gracious Evolve Back Coorg amid its own plantation. As a result, the hills add fresh air to the itinerary.
South of Mysore, the Kabini river gathers Asia’s largest elephant herds. So safaris in Kabini seek leopard, dhole and even the famous black panther. The backwaters of Nagarhole turn golden on evening boat drives. You stay at the riverside Evolve Back Kabini. As a result, the Deccan delivers a serious safari without the crowds.
The plateau’s cities reward curiosity. So a historical tour of Hyderabad sweeps from Golconda fort to the Charminar bazaars, while a culinary tour worships the city’s biryani. You might stay at the palatial Taj Falaknuma Palace, once the Nizam’s own. Bangalore, meanwhile, makes a leafy gateway at the Taj West End. As a result, the cities bookend the wild country in style.
The plateau anchors some of our most original routes. So Hyderabad, Hampi and the Indian Ocean runs from palaces to empty ruins to the beach. Northern Kerala and Karnataka joins the coffee hills to the Malabar coast, while North and South India sets the Deccan in the grandest sweep. Each can be reshaped entirely around you.
Generally, October to March is dry and pleasant across the plateau. By contrast, the monsoon greens the ghats from June. Kabini’s wildlife viewing, meanwhile, peaks as waterholes shrink in spring. So we tailor the timing to your plans. Either way, we advise on the ideal window for your dates.
The Deccan pairs beautifully with Kerala or Tamil Nadu. So ruins, wildlife and backwaters can share one journey. When you are ready, simply get in touch with our specialists. We will then craft a private itinerary around your interests. As ever, every detail is arranged for you.
The Deccan’s courts left rich artistic legacies. So Mysore’s sandalwood carvers and silk weavers still supply India’s finest. A private arts and crafts tour of Hyderabad hunts pearls, bidriware and miniature paintings through the old city. Meanwhile, Channapatna’s lacquered toys delight younger travellers. As a result, the plateau rewards collectors and browsers alike.
Everything we arrange across the Deccan is private and hand-built. So your own car, driver and expert naturalists carry you between ruins and reserves. We know the lodges’ best rooms and Hampi’s quietest hours. Meanwhile, our partners on the ground are on call throughout. As a result, India’s secret middle feels effortless.
In the end, the Deccan converts everyone who comes. So Hampi’s boulder sunsets and Kabini’s misty mornings linger for years. Many travellers rank it above the famous circuits. Meanwhile, the region stays blissfully uncrowded. As a result, you will be recommending it before you are home.
Few regions swing between moods so gracefully. So a dawn boat on the Kabini can end with dinner in a Nizam’s palace. Coffee-estate walks give way to candlelit courtyards. Meanwhile, each transition feels natural rather than staged. As a result, variety becomes the Deccan’s signature.
Access is simpler than the secrecy suggests. So Bangalore and Hyderabad fly direct from the Gulf and beyond. Good roads then link the hills, ruins and reserves. Meanwhile, internal flights shorten the longer hops. As a result, the Deccan slots into any route with ease.
Two full days is ideal. So the ruins, the river and the sunsets each get their moment. One rushed day undersells it.
Sightings are good but never guaranteed. So we build in enough drives to give luck its chance.
Entirely. Every itinerary is private and shaped around you. Simply share your dates and interests, and we will craft the rest.
This private tour of Hyderabad, Hampi, Gokarna, and Goa gives you a wonderful combination of bustling cities, the amazing historical ruins of Hampi and time to spend on the beaches of Gokarna and Goa.
Northern Kerala and southern Karnataka are fast becoming the destinations to visit, a blend of history, culture, coffee hills, wildlife and fantastic beaches.
We arrange totally bespoke trips and design an itinerary that is designed around you. You may have seen a suggested itinerary that we can base your plans around, or we can start with a blank sheet and paper and design something from scratch. You can leave a phone number and suggest a time to call you back, and we can also arrange to do this during the evenings or at weekends if you are busy during the daytime. We can also meet up with you in you fancy a coffee and are based in and around London.