Itinerary

Day 1, Goa to Hampi

Today you’ll travel inland from Goa to the magical village of Hampi, on the shores of the Tungabhadra River. The journey takes about 7 hours and it is definitely worth the trip. Hampi is a small farming town in the state of Karnataka, nestled amongst mind-boggling ancient ruins and sculptures. The ruins are the remains of the old city of Vijayanagara, the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the early mornings and late afternoons, the combination of gentle light and striking landscape gives Hampi a special ambience that defies description.

Stay at Shama’s Cottages for three nights

Day 2, Hampi

After breakfast, you’ll spend the whole day exploring Hampi with your English-speaking guide.

The ruins are spread across a large distance between massive rocks, banana plantations and bright green shrubs. The remains of the palaces and gates to the city tell a magical story and showcase the creativity of the emperor of Vijayanagara.

You’ll visit many extraordinary sites - the Temple of Malyavanta, Hampi Bazaar (a beautiful street in the days of the Vijayanagaran Empire), the Virupaksha Temple, the Ugra Narasimha Burial Mound and the Vithala Temple complex with its 56 musical columns.

At the end of the day, you’ll be dropped off at your village or the resort. There’s nothing planned for the evening, so you’ll have plenty of time to explore. You’ll get a real taste of Indian rural living, with buffalo carts, cows and goats, roaming everywhere. Sunsets here are wonderful, so do take a walk up a hillock to enjoy this magical sight or enjoy a coracle ride on the river.

Day 3, Hampi

Today is completely free and there’s plenty to discover in this little town before you head back to Goa.

Hampi was once a huge capital city in the Vijaynagaran Empire, larger at that time than Paris or London. Like Fatehpur Sikri in the north, it has been deserted for centuries. One of the most famous ruins is the massive stone carriage that is parked in front of an impressive gallery of decorated pillars, each sculpted from a single block of stone. Alternatively, hire a bicycle or scooter and head for the dam, jumping into the clear blue waters from the overhanging boulders.

Day 4, Hampi to Goa

After breakfast this morning, you’ll say farewell to unforgettable Hampi, and set off on the 7 hours drive back to Goa. Alternatively, we can arrange for you to take the overnight train to Bangalore. From here you can continue with a beautiful drive through the land of Sandalwood & Spices to Kochi to explore the Backwaters & Jungles of Kerala and The Temple Trail of Tamil Nadu. Feel free to ask one of our travel specialists.

Back in Goa, you’ll either head to the airport or spend a couple of days on the beach. Take a look at our modules in Goa for more ideas.