Mysore, Kabini & the Nilgiris Self-Launched: Bangalore to Wildlife Country Independently
6 days · Karnataka & Tamil Nadu, India
Travel Con charges £1,010
No-markup version: ~£304 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Travel Con's all-inclusive Bangalore–Mysore–Kabini–Coonoor loop, rebuilt for solo travellers using trains, KSRTC buses and self-booked jeep safaris. You'll still see Bangalore Fort and Lalbagh, the Mysore Palace and Chamundi Hill, three safari slots in Nagarhole/Kabini tiger reserve, and the tea slopes around Coonoor — but you book your own rooms, buy your own tickets and eat where you like. Budget estimate assumes shared/dorm-style accommodation, second-class or sleeper rail, and the standard Karnataka forest-department jeep safari rate (book early — safaris sell out weeks ahead in peak season). All figures are approximate and exclude flights to/from India.
Day-by-day
Land in Bengaluru: Fort, Palace and Lalbagh on foot
Bengaluru
Arrive at Kempegowda International Airport and take the Vayu Vajra airport bus (KIA-9 or similar) to MG Road / Majestic for around £2-3, or a prepaid taxi for £10-13. Drop your bag at a hostel or guesthouse around MG Road, Indiranagar or near Majestic (£10-16 dorm, £18-25 private). In the afternoon do the operator's Bangalore sightseeing circuit yourself: Tipu Sultan's Fort and the adjoining Bangalore Palace (£4-5 combined entry), then Lalbagh Botanical Garden (£1, glasshouse free) for a slow wander. Evening thali or biryani at MTR or a local darshini for £3-4. If you land late, swap the fort for a rooftop dinner and do Lalbagh at dawn on Day 2.
🚌Vayu Vajra airport bus to city centre (~£2-3); auto-rickshaw between sights (~£1-2 each)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse near MG Road/Majestic (~£14)
- →Bangalore Fort
- →Bangalore Palace
- →Lalbagh Botanical Garden
- →Vayu Vajra airport bus
Train to Mysore via Srirangapatna
Mysuru
Take the morning Shatabdi or a slower express from KSR Bengaluru to Mysuru (2-2.5 hrs, £2-5 second class, £5-8 chair car). Break the journey at Srirangapatna (a few stops earlier) to see Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace, the Gumbaz and the river ghats — local buses and autos link the sites for £2-3. Continue to Mysore in the afternoon: Mysore Palace entry is £6 (or £8 with the audio guide), and the Devaraja Market vegetable/flower halls are free to wander. Climb Chamundi Hill by city bus (£0.50) for sunset and the Nandi bull statue, or take an auto for £3-4. Stay in a guesthouse around Gokulam or near the palace (£12-20).
🚌Bengaluru–Mysuru train (~£3-6); local buses and autos in Mysore (~£3-4)
🛏Guesthouse in Gokulam or palace area (~£16)
- →Srirangapatna monuments
- →Mysore Palace (Amba Vilas)
- →Devaraja Market
- →Chamundi Hill & Nandi Mandir
Bus to Kabini and evening jeep safari
Kabini / Nagarhole
KSRTC buses run Mysore–Kabini (Antharasanthe/Kabini junction) in roughly 2 hours for £1-2; from the junction, resorts and the safari gate are a short auto hop. Check in at a budget jungle stay or the forest-department guesthouse near Kabini (£15-25). Book your safaris in advance through the Karnataka forest online portal or directly with Kabini/Nagarhole gate operators — jeep safari seats are typically £25-35 per person per slot, and afternoon slots run roughly 3-6pm. Evening safari in Nagarhole's Kabini range: elephants, gaur, deer and, with luck, the famous black panther and tiger. Back to the stay for a bonfire-style dinner of local thali (£4-6).
🚌KSRTC bus Mysore–Kabini (~£2); shared auto to resort (~£2)
🛏Budget jungle resort or forest guesthouse near Kabini (~£20)
- →Afternoon jeep safari in Nagarhole (Kabini range)
- →Kabini riverside sunset
- →Village walk near Antharasanthe
Double safari day on the Kabini backwaters
Kabini / Nagarhole
Two safari slots today, mirroring the operator's morning and afternoon drives. Dawn jeep safari (roughly 6-9am) is the best window for big cats and wild dog; the afternoon slot covers the riverbank herds. Between drives, take the Kabini backwater boat ride or coracle (book locally, £6-10) for crocodiles, otters and migratory birds, or rent a cycle and ride the river road. Meals at the resort or the small eateries at the junction — budget £8-10 for the day. Note safaris are closed during the monsoon core (roughly July-Sept), so plan October-May.
🚌Safari jeep transfers included in safari fee; local autos (~£2)
🛏Budget jungle resort or forest guesthouse near Kabini (~£20)
- →Dawn jeep safari
- →Afternoon jeep safari
- →Kabini backwater boat ride
- →Birdwatching on the river road
Up the Nilgiris to Coonoor: tea country
Coonoor
Long travel day the local way: bus back to Mysore, then the overnight or daytime route to Coimbatore and up the Nilgiri Mountain Railway from Mettupalayam to Coonoor (£1-3 for the steam rack railway, book the unreserved or second class early — it sells out). Alternatively take a direct KSRTC bus Mysore–Ooty/Coonoor (£6-9, 6-7 hrs). In Coonoor, walk the Sim's Park botanical garden (£1), the Dolphin's Nose viewpoint (shared jeep from town, £2-3) and wander a working tea factory and plantation on the slopes (£1-2 tasting). Sleep in a homestay or guesthouse in Coonoor (£15-22) — the toy-train nostalgia cottages are worth the splurge if budget allows.
🚌Bus Mysore–Mettupalayam/Coimbatore (~£5) plus Nilgiri Mountain Railway (~£2); or direct bus (~£8)
🛏Coonoor homestay or guesthouse (~£18)
- →Nilgiri Mountain Railway toy train
- →Sim's Park botanical garden
- →Dolphin's Nose viewpoint
- →Tea and coffee plantation walk
Sunrise over the tea slopes and back to Bengaluru
Coonoor to Bengaluru
Early morning walk to a viewpoint above the tea gardens for sunrise, then breakfast at a local bakery (£2). Take the toy train or bus down to Mettupalayam/Coimbatore and an onward train or KSRTC Airavat bus back to Bengaluru (5-7 hrs, £5-10). If you have an evening flight, leave a buffer of at least 4 hours; if not, add a final night in Bengaluru (£14). The operator drops guests at hotels/airport — you'll do the same with the Vayu Vajra bus (£2-3).
🚌Bus/toy train down to Mettupalayam (~£2), then train or Volvo bus to Bengaluru (~£7); airport bus (~£3)
🛏None (or extra Bengaluru night ~£14 if needed)
- →Sunrise viewpoint walk
- →Tea estate breakfast stop
- →Return journey via the Nilgiri foothills
Self-launched vs. Travel Con
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Travel Con | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£304 | £1,010 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £706 per person (70%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Travel Con-style trips? Check them out here.~£304
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Mysore, Kabini & the Nilgiris Self-Launched: Bangalore to Wildlife Country Independently cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £304 per person for 6 days in Karnataka & Tamil Nadu, India. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Travel Con?+
Yes — Travel Con charges around £1,010 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £304 — a saving of roughly £706 (70%) per person.
How long is the Karnataka & Tamil Nadu, India trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through Karnataka & Tamil Nadu, India.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, wildlife, culture trip through Karnataka & Tamil Nadu, India, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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