Lotus India Adventures

Lotus India Adventures is unlike other tour companies. We like to keep group sizes small,  we prefer "off the beaten track" destinations and choose mostly family run, boutique, and wherever possible, eco hotels. Specialising for the last ten years only in India travel - we aim to give you an authentic 'hands-on' experience of India's extraordinary culture, spirituality, history and wildlife.  We like to keep our tours as relaxed as possible and aim to give you the sense of adventure, freedom and wonder you would experience as an independent traveler. Perhaps this is why most of our travellers have come back with us a second time.

Lotus travels and Retreats was established by Carrie in 2012. Carrie has been living, studying and working in India for many years. She creates and leads the tours along side Hari (who was is a yoga teacher and runs Mamasita’s in Stroud) and their amazing support team in India.

LOTUS INDIA TOURS PROGRAMME

Undiscovered South India - 6th - 19th Nov 2025

Hidden Rajasthan - 9th - 22nd Feb 2026

Wonders of the South - 22nd Feb - 8th March 2026

Sacred South Journey & Retreat - 14th - 27th March 2026

Hidden Rajasthan - 2nd - 15th November 2026

Coast to Coast - 9th - 22nd Feb 2027

information & Booking

To book your space please contact
Carrie on 07940 542181
or carrie@thelotusretreat.com

Undiscovered South India

6th November - 19th november 2025

Join us on a journey of a lifetime that traces India’s Western Ghats from Kerala to Goa. Experience the luscious beauty of north Kerala’s backwaters, stay on a coffee plantation in the remote Wayanad Highlands, wander amongst the ruins in the lost kingdom of Hampi, and sleep just a stones throw from one of the Malabar coast’s most beautiful and tranquil beaches. Your tour starts in north Kerala where we spend two nights on the coast experiencing Kerala’s most pristine backwaters and the enthralling Theyam Ritual - staying at the Stunning Neeleshwar Hermitage, before heading inland to the Wayanad Highlands. Here we stay at on a coffee plantation in the heart of the Wayanad hills for three nights. We then head north, via Mysore, to the fascinating town of Hampi with it’s World Heritage monuments and magical boulder strewn landscape. Here we take three days to explore the ancient Vijayanagar kingdom’s temples before heading west to the Arabian Sea. Your journey ends in south Goa on the tranquil Colomb Bay, an area famous for its nesting turtles and deserted palm fringed sands where we stay in charming cottages just yards from the sea.

This tour will be lead by holistic therapist and India enthusiast Carrie Rossiter and yoga teacher Hari Lambani. They also run the Lotus Retreat - a cafe, holistic centre and India boutique in Oxfordshire and Mamasita coffee shop in Stroud.

cost and what's included

£2450 (flights not included)

All transport between destinations.

13 breakfasts,  6 dinners and 7 lunches.

Guided tours of Hampi and Mysore.

Forest trek and temple visit in Wayanad.

Houseboat trip in Kerala.

(The price above is based on 2 people sharing - SS on enquiry)

day by day  ITINERARY

DAY ONE & TWO - NEELESHWAR HERMITAGE

Early morning you will be greeted at Mangalore Airport by Hari and carrie and transferred by minibus to the coast of north Kerala.
Our accommodation will be the gorgeous Neeleshwar Hermitage, a yoga and Ayuveda retreat set amongst 5 acres of lush gardens on the Arabian Sea. Included in your stay will be daily yoga, an Ayurvedic consultation with their resident doctor,

Neeleshwar will make the perfect start to your trip. You have free time on the afternoon of your arrival to enjoy the huge infinity pool, have a treatment in the Ayurvedic spa or maybe just lie in a hammock with a good book. You will also have the opportunity to watch a village performance of the enthralling Theyam ritual for which this region is renowned, go cycling to the local villages, or enjoy cookery and bird spotting. The hotel has 2 restaurants, one located directly on the beach, both serving delicious, healthy Keralan cuisine. Yoga classes are held every morning before breakfast in the beachside shala.

On the afternoon of day two we head down the coast to the unspoilt backwaters of northern Kerala and enjoy an afternoon exploring this magical ecosystem on the deck of a traditional House Boat and watch the birdlife and riverside villages drift past. Indian chai and snacks will be served on board the boat.

DAYS THREE, FOUR & FIVE - WAYANAD

Today we head east by minibus through the western Ghats to the beautiful highlands of Wayanad. This glorious, unspoilt region is dotted with spice, tea and coffee plantations, forested hills and nature reserves. After a stunning journey through the hills, we arrive at Tranquil Resort late afternoon. Tranquil is an eco eco homestay on a coffee plantation in the heart of the Wayanad forests with panoramic views and cozy wooden cottages, a pool and amazing Keralan food. After an afternoon’s nature trek we will enjoy home-cooked Keralan dinner on the terrace.

Day four starts with a guided walk through our hosts estate, a chance to learn about the fascinating workings of the plantation including the growing of coffee, tea, banana and spices. In the afternoon we head to the nearby 12th century Jain temples which are an excellent example of the Vijayangar empires architectural prowess. Day five there is a chance to head to the Kanthanpara waterfalls - this secluded and little know spot gives us a chance to absorb the incredible natural beauty of this region. Afternoon is at leisure - bird spotting walks can be arranged at Tranquil, and there are also many paths through the estate allowing you to enjoy the wildlife in your own time. Healing Ayurvedic treatments are also on offer in the hotels spa.. Or perhaps just enjoy the pool or take time to sit on your veranda and soak in the abundance of wildlife, .

DAYS SIX TO NINE - MYSORE to HAMPI

We leave Tranquil and travel east to Mysore and Karnataka. We break our journey by stopping at Tholpetty for a 2 hour Jeep safari. Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary is a vibrant sanctuary renowned for its rich biodiversity and rugged landscapes.
. The sanctuary's dense forests and open grasslands provide habitats for numerous species, we can an expect to see a variety of animals such as elephants, leopards, gaurs (Indian bison), sambar deer, spotted deer, sloth bears and maybe the ellusive tiger. The sanctuary is also a bird watcher's paradise, hosting over 300 species of birds.

We then stay one night in the colonial city of Mysore. Day seven we have an afternoon to discover it’s fabulous palace and wander through it’s markets famous for sandalwood, spices and silk. Early evening we board the Hampi Express night train and travel north (in the comfort of 2 tier AC) to Hari’s home town - the ancient kingdom of Hampi. This makes the perfect location to stop for three nights and take time to explore at leisure. Hampi - once the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire and a World Heritage Site - is one of India’s highlights. Not only famous for it’s fascinating history (it was once the second most powerful kingdom in the world) - but also for its magical boulder strewn scenery. Our hotel - Hampi Boulders - is located on the banks of the river Tungabhadra, it has a natural swimming pool, acres of grounds and morning yoga. This beautiful eco resort will make a perfect platform to explore the rich culture, wildlife and history of Hampi. The day of our arrival is spent bird-spotting before you have the option of climbing to monkey temple to watch sunset and enjoy the panoramic views.
The following day we will cross the river and enjoy a guided tour of the hampi’s main temples and monuments. Dinner will be at Top Secret river view restaurant. You final day in hampi is a day at leisure to explore the ancient town of Hampi and it’s beautiful surroundings by foot, bicycle or rickshaw. Visit the majestic Virupaksha Temple and Hampi Bazaar - a great place for a chai and a little retail therapy, wander the ancient ruins, or relax at the hotel. Ayurvedic treatments are also available at Lotus Ayuveda. We will have a campfire and barbecue diner in the hotel grounds on our final night in Hampi.

DAYS TEN TO THIRTEEN - HAMPI TO GOA

We leave early morning on our tenth day for Goa (journey time 6.5 hours). Today’s journey takes us back through the western ghats where we pass luscious jungle, waterfalls, nature reserves and remote villages. We reach Patnem beach in south Goa mid-afternoon where we check into the gorgeous beachside Turtle Hill. A stylish boutique hotel with rooms overlooking the bay. Take time at the end of your journey to relax on Patnem beach where there are many excellent yoga shalas and restaurants. Or take a short rickshaw ride to the deserted and absolutely stunning Turtle Beach or Talpona Beach. If you’re after a little action then Palolem beach is just a 15 minute walk over the headland - here you will find a colourful market and plenty of bars and restaurants.

Included in your time in Goa is sunset Dolphin spotting boat trip and for a small additional cost you can enjoy a day trip to swim at the Savri waterfall deep in the Natravali nature reserve.

DAY FOURTEEN

We get you back to Goa’s airport in plenty of time for your return flights home. If you would like to extend you stay in Goa please enquire on booking.