The Natural Splendors of South India

Day 01: Arrival / Mangalore
Mangalore / Coorg (148 Kms) (04 Hrs Drive)

Welcome to India, or as we say ‘atithi devo bhava’ (the guest is an incarnation of God). Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you!

Mid-morning arrival, meeting and assistance upon arrival at the Mangalore airport as our representative welcome you and from here, we will drive to The Evolve Back Chikkana Halli Estate in Coorg nestled among acres of lush greenery; this luxury eco-friendly resort has been thoughtfully handcrafted over the years. All the rooms of this wonderful resort come with a breathtaking view of the gardens, hills and valleys.

Rest of the day is at leisure for your independent activities.

Overnight at Evolve Back, Coorg (Lily Pool Cottage) (D)

Day 02: Coorg

ECO WALK: A short guided tour of the estate that introduces you to our various Responsible Tourism Initiatives. These sincere efforts seek to lessen our ecological footprints and strengthen our ties with local communities.

COFFEEOLOGY: A daily live session on the art and science of gourmet coffee held at the Sidapur Coffee & Culture Museum. At Coffee logy, visitors can observe and experience the making of an assortment of coffee preparations from around the world.

GUIDED PLANTATION TOUR: Take a guided tour of our 300-acre coffee and spice plantation. Learn how coffee and spices are cultivated and the journey from seed to bean.

CULTURAL SHOW (Available on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) - Get a feel of local culture through colourful art forms. This performance, held every evening by the local artists, would complete your Coorg experience.

CORACLE RIDE (Forty-five minutes ride) (Not Available in June, July, August and September) - A coracle ride on the Cauvery River not only helps you to gauge the myriad moods of the river, but also gives you a fish-eye view of the surrounding forest and the habitation. (Not included)

PLANTATION 4X4 (Two-hour tour) - A guided tour of the 300-acre coffee & spice plantation in a specially designed jeep. Experience the fabulous Chikkana Halli Estate and learn about the nitty gritty of coffee and spice cultivation. (Not included)

ELECTRIC TRAILS (One hour trail) - Explore the quaint villages adjacent to the resort on an ecofriendly electric cycle accompanied by an experienced Naturalist. One can choose between two different trails curated based on differing levels of difficulty. (Not included)

Overnight at Evolve Back, Coorg (Lily Pool Cottage) (B & D)

Day 03: Coorg

At 7:00 am, we will proceed for Bird Watching Trails, and discover the unexplored gems of the region. The area is considered as one of the best venue to spot several species of birds - migratory as well as resident. Some of the major birds seen here are Malabar Trogons, Nilgiri Laughing-Thrushes, Great Black Woodpeckers, and Malabar Whistling-Thrushes to just name a few. Rest of the day at Leisure or you can enjoy the spa treatment available at the resort (own arrangements) Later in the Afternoon, we will indulge ourselves in Yoga, and meditation sessions available in the resort. You may choose to take your Yoga practice a step beyond the physical exercise. The resident yoga master is highly experienced in the monastic traditions of yoga. He will take you through the journey of yoga, meditation, and, Pranayama in order to discover the true potential of your body and mind. You can then include these in your daily life. Imbibing the simple philosophies helps make life so much more peaceful.

STORY CORNER (Available on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday): An evening storytelling session where our guides tell stories of Coorg’s History, Culture & tradition

Overnight at The Evolve Back, Coorg (Lily Pool Cottage) (B & D)

Day 04: Coorg / Nagarhole (116 Kms) (03 Hrs Drive)

At 8:00 am we will drive to Nagarhole Arrive at Evolve Back Kuruba Safari Lodge (Kabini), where you are drawn into the vibrant social tapestry of the local KaduKuruba tribe. While you discover a vernacular dimension to luxury that’s truly liberating, the resort gives you a wildlife experience like no other. Inspired in design by the Hadisor tribal villages, this picturesque resort of sweeping panoramic vistas, is bordered on two sides by the Kabini River.

Afternoon, jungle excursion in jeep. The park derives its name from the combination of two Kannada words—'Nagar,' meaning snake, and 'hole,' meaning streams. True to its name, quite a few serpentine streams fork through the rich tropical forests of the park. The original forest was once an exclusive hunting ground for the erstwhile Maharajas of Mysore. Nagarhole Park is counted among India’s best wildlife parks. It has a large elephant and bison population besides other game and birds. The topography is undulating with several permanent and seasonal streams and tanks. The forest cover generally consists of a moist deciduous thick jungle with a thirty-meter high top. The rich tropical forests, flourishing green swamps and numerous water resources make Nagarhole National Park an ideal habitat for wildlife. The forest is home to animals like the four-horned antelope, sloth bear, jungle cat, civet, spotted deer, elephant, wild dog, flying fox, tiger, panther, gaur (Indian bison), sambhar, wild boar, black-naped hare, bonnet macaque, and pangolin. Cobras, crocodiles, kraits, pythons, vipers, and several species of lizards are also found here. Among the 250 bird species found here, the prominent ones are the common babbler, beeeater, bulbul, dove, crested serpent, hornbill, Malabar pied, alexandrine, peacock, woodpecker, warbler, great Indian reed, eagle, crested hawk, golden-back parakeet, and the southern tree pie. Nagarhole is worth visiting at the height of the dry season, when wild animals can be spotted in large numbers near sources of water.

Evening, we have option (not included) of exploring a night trail organize by the resort. r naturalists will skillfully escort you around the areas just outside the resort and by the Kabini's waterline that harbor a small universe of creatures that do most of their living at night. Recommended for all nature lovers but particularly for the adventurous and the curious.

Every alternate evening, the resort organizes a documentary on the wildlife. Here, films on Indian Wildlife by eminent filmmakers will be shown every alternate evening thus enhancing your knowledge on wild life.

Also, every alternate evening, a cultural program will take place a troupe of Kuruba tribal dancers will perform their traditional dance to the accompaniment of two wooden drums and one wind instrument. It is an invocation to the gods to join them and bless the occasion. It is performed by the light of a campfire near the main swimming pool.

Overnight at The Evolve Back, Nagarhole (Safari Hut) (B & D)

Day 05: Nagarhole

Morning, we will proceed for jungle excursion in jeep.

Afternoon is at leisure for independent activities. The resort offers a variety of options (not included) to visitors. We suggest that you indulge and involve yourself in activities depending upon your interests. We could suggest some of the possible activities as below:

The Bullock Cart Ride -
Take a joyride on a bullock cart on the banks of the river Kabini. Experience firsthand the only means of mass transport used by our ancestors, grace and expertise of the carts’ driver Shivalinga, who hails from the village of Beeramballi nearby, sings traditional Kannada folksongs as he rides his cart. A ride lasts for an hour and can carry up to five persons. (Timings: 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM)

Coracle Ride –
The Coracle ride is part of the package and they may opt for it at the resort subject to weather conditions. (Timings: 05:00 PM – 06:00 PM)

Sunset Cruise -
Cruise by twilight on the glistening River Kabini, and watch a magnificent sunset. Experience nature first hand: relax and feel the ebb and flow of River Kabini. Watch how a typical day in Kabini draws to a close. (Timing: 05.45 PM - 06.15 PM)

Overnight at The Evolve Back, Nagarhole (Safari Hut) (B & D)