The state of Karnataka has incredible diversity on offer, from the coastal regions near Udupi and Honnavar, the interior forest villages fragrant with spices, or the surreal rock formations and temples in the ancient kingdom of Hampi.
This experience runs in winter, spring, and autumn
Explore the ancient palatial remains of the ‘City of Victory’ at Hampi; immerse yourself in the spice market, cycle through verdant forest, and discover the secrets of the spice plantations in the charming hamlet of Hulgol; then spend a day at the coast visiting the fishing harbour and the local market at Honnavar. This is a thrilling and comprehensive exploration of exotic Karnataka.
Start in Mumbai, move to Hampi, and then spend time in coastal Karnataka.
We welcome you at Mumbai airport, before dropping you to our favourite guesthouse for two days of discovering Mumbai’s madness and joy. On the second night, we’ll help you board the overnight train to Hubli.
After you arrive in Hubli; have a comforting lunch before transferring to Hospet (3 hours). Stay overnight in a hotel in Hospet (10 km from Hampi).
Spend the day exploring the nearby ancient site of Hampi, once a flourishing city and capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is an awe-inspiring and important cultural and religious site with ancient remains of palaces, forts and temples spreading over a vast area. Magnificent architecture juxtaposed with unusual, delicately-balanced boulder formations creates a surreal landscape. Stroll through Hampi Bazaar, explore the scattered remains of palaces and statues and visit Vittala temple.
This will be a guided tour with the option to explore by bicycle. Return to your charming hotel for a second night.
After breakfast, move on from Hospet and head to Hulgol (5 ¼ hours). Enjoy a hearty lunch and relax at our guesthouse. Your guide will meet you to plan and help you make the most of your stay. The ‘Spice House’ village guesthouse is set in seclusion at the forest edge. Built around an enclosed courtyard, the house offers three attractive twin bedrooms. It combines a traditional design with simple, modern facilities.
With four nights in the Spice House you will discover the magic of spice as you explore the plantations and the auction market in Sirsi, enjoy guided walks, or cycle through the forests, discover the astonishing rock carvings in the river, and get to know the charming community. A fort ascribed to Tipu Sultan is an easy walk from Hulgol, or travel further to the famous Banavasi Temple Complex. On one of the days, after breakfast, drive through the impressive forested slopes of the Western Ghats to visit the peaceful coastal town of Kumta (3 hours). Spend a day visiting the fishing harbour, having a stroll in the local market along with a delicious local lunch and return to Hulgol in the evening.
Transfer to the coastal town of Kumta for overnight train to Mumbai.
We bid you farewell at the Mumbai airport for your homeward flight.
Dates
Party of 2/3
Party of 4+
Winter
1 Dec 2025 – 15 Mar 2026
£1,183
£905
Autumn
15 Oct 2026 – 30 Nov 2026
£1,259
£963
*All prices are per guest. Prices vary by season and reduce with larger group sizes due to shared logistics and accommodation.
Winter
1 Dec 2025 – 15 Mar 2026
Party of 2–3: £1,183
Party of 4+: £905
Autumn
15 Sep 2026 – 30 Nov 2026
Party of 2–3: £1,259
Party of 4+: £963
Hotel Suba Palace in Mumbai is a comfortable, contemporary hotel located in the heart of Colaba, just a short walk from the Gateway of India and the city’s vibrant waterfront. Combining modern amenities with warm hospitality, it offers well-appointed rooms, an excellent in-house restaurant, and thoughtful touches like complimentary Wi-Fi and airport transfers. Its central location makes it ideal for exploring Mumbai’s heritage landmarks, art galleries, cafés, and bustling markets, while still providing a calm, welcoming space to unwind after a day in the city.
The Village Ways guesthouse in Hulgol, set in the verdant foothills of the Western Ghats, offers a peaceful stay surrounded by forests, spice gardens, and the gentle rhythm of village life. Built in partnership with the local community, the guesthouse features simple, comfortable rooms and open verandas overlooking lush greenery. Guests can walk through areca plantations, visit traditional homes, and learn about local crafts and farming practices. With its warm hospitality and deep connection to the landscape, the Hulgol guesthouse offers an authentic glimpse into rural Karnataka’s beauty and way of life.
Explore the ancient palatial remains of the ‘City of Victory’ at Hampi; immerse yourself in the spice market, cycle through verdant forest, and discover the secrets of the spice plantations in the charming hamlet of Hulgol; then spend a day at the coast visiting the fishing Harbour, the local market at Honnavar. A thrilling exploration of exotic Karnataka.
Welcome at Mumbai airport, transfer to city centre. Overnight Mumbai guesthouse.
A full day to explore the bustling city of Mumbai, before a transfer to the station to catch the overnight Express to Hubli.
Arrive Hubli; lunch in Hubli before transfer to Hospet (3 hours).Overnight in Hotel in Hospet (10km from Hampi)
Spend the day exploring the nearby ancient site of Hampi, once flourishing city and imposing capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is an awe-inspiring and important cultural and religious site with ancient remains of palaces, forts and temples spreading over a vast area. Magnificent architecture juxtaposed with unusual, delicately-balanced boulder formations creates a surreal landscape. Stroll through Hampi Bazaar, explore the scattered remains of palaces and statues and visit Vittala Temple.
Guided tour and option to explore by bicycle. Return to Hotel for a second night.
Transfer from Hospet to Hulgol (5 ¼ hours). Lunch and relax at Spice House guesthouse; introduction to the area. Your guide will meet you to plan and help you make the most of you stay. The ‘Spice house’ village guest-house is set in seclusion at the forest edge. Built around an enclosed courtyard, the house offers three attractive twin bedrooms. It combines a traditional design with simple, modern facilities.
With four nights in the Spice House you will discover the magic of spice as you explore the plantations and the auction market in Sirsi, enjoy guided walk or cycle through the forests, discover the astonishing rock carvings in the river and get to know the charming community. A fort ascribed to Tipu Sultan is an easy walk from Hulgol, or travel further to the famous Banavasi temple complex. One one of the days , after breakfast, drive through the impressive forested slopes of the Western Ghats to visit the peaceful isolated coastal town of Kumta (3hrs). Spend a day visiting the fishing Harbour,
having a stroll in the local market and local lunch and return back to Hulgol in the evening.
Transfer to the coastal town of Kumta for overnight train to Mumbai.
Arrive at Mumbai station, transfer to airport for homeward flight.
Before reaching the Spice Gardens, spend a day discovering the marvelous ruins at Hampi, one of the principal areas of the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire between 1336 and 1565. Stroll through the Bazaar, explore the scattered remains of palaces and statues and visit Vittala Temple, a World Heritage Site. You are privately guided and have the option of exploring by bicycle if you wish.
The charming hamlet of Hulgol nestles in a wooded landscape in the Wester Ghats and enjoys the pleasant sub-tropical climate of upland Karnataka.Wander through aromatic spice gardens and rice farms, enjoy picnics by tumbling rivers and admire gushing waterfalls. Borrow one of the house cycles or walk along the shady forest paths to the Shalmala river to discover the astonishing carvings on rocks in the river. Explore 10th century temples and forts.
The local food is mouth-watering and packed with flavour. The villagers take pride in preparing tasty, traditional meals for you from local ingredients, banana, mango, jackfruit, cashew along with wild fruits and herbs. They love to teach you their art and share their many recipes. Stroll through the immaculate spice gardens with the cultivaors themselves to see how vanilla, pepper, cloves, cardamom and nutmeg are grown. Visit the co-operative market to witness the colourful scene, re-enacted in Sirsi market town for centuries.
Wander through the palm-shaded village of Pavinakurva to the secluded sandy beach, close to the guesthouse and over-looking Basavrajadurga island. Stroll along the beach at sunset or watch the local in-shore fishermen sort their overnight catch for market in the early morning. Watch the wonderful birdlife around the village, the mangrove swamps and along the coast. Visit the bustling off-shore fishing harbour at Honnevar, as the myriad varieties of marine life are landed and enjoy delicious vegetarian and fresh fish dishes. A wonderfully relaxing end to your holiday.
A warm welcome by knowledgeable, considerate and attentive village hosts are a feature in Hulgol and Pavinakurva. Our cheerful guides have intimate knowledge of the local scene, the way of life of the villagers, the wildlife, and will proudly introduce you to their families and friends. Discover a rare window into traditional family life played out in a rural village setting.
We look after you from the moment of your arrival at Mumbai airport. Your holiday includes transfers and rail journeys, accommodation in the village guesthouses and on the houseboat with all meals provided during your stay with communities. We have devised each of our holidays to provide a good balance between activity and relaxation; please feel free to tailor your holiday to your exact requirements.
We ask our guests to make their own arrangements for international travel to India. For Village Ways holidays in Karnataka we recommend Mumbai as the gateway. Spicejet flights from Mumbai to Hubli offer a good alternative to the train.
The suggested itinerary can be extended if you wish to spend more time exploring the Karnataka and Kerala, or shortened if your time in India is limited. Choose to upgrade to 1st class on the trains, add extra nights in Mumbai or the villages.
You may wish to prolong your exploration of the spice gardens and coastal villages. Extra nights can be arranged with both of the communities; there is so much to learn and appreciate about village life and the host communities would love to keep you for a day longer.
Our knowledgeable staff will be delighted to help fashion the holiday to suit you.
15/10/2024-30/11/2024
£1050
£830
01/12/2024-15/03/2025
£1056
£845
15/10/2025-30/11/2025
£1139
£899