South India Explorer - 14 days
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Overview
Highlights
- Kerala Backwaters – Sail along the famous backwaters in our deluxe rice boat and enjoy marvelous views
- Mahabalipuram – Visit the impressive Shore Temple on the Bay of Bengal and the striking Five Rathas
- Kumarakom – Relax on the shores of Lake Vembanad and opt to visit the local bird sanctuary
- Madurai – Attend an evening Aarti prayer ceremony and see the impressive rock cut temple of Thirupparankunram Murugan
- Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary - Spot herds of elephants from an included boat ride on Lake Periyar
- Tanjore – Visit the giant 1,000 year old Brihadishwara Temple on our guided tour of the city’s highlights
- Kochi – Enjoy free time to explore the coastal city and perhaps enjoy a traditional Kathakali dance show
- Pondicherry – Tour the French colonial city including the Sacred Heart Basilica and walk on the beach
- Munnar – Explore the former British Hill Station and enjoy a guided stroll through one of the many sprawling tea plantations
- Chettinad - Sample traditional life in the quaint village of Chettinad, renowned for its flavourful cuisine
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Trip includes
- 13 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners
- 12 nights 3-4 star and heritage hotels
- 1 night deluxe houseboat cruise along the Keralan backwaters
- Guided sightseeing - Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Tanjore, Chettinad, Madurai and Munnar Tea Plantation
- Boat ride on Lake Periyar
- Escorted by an English-speaking Indian tour guide (for groups of 4 or more)
- Services of English-speaking Indian specialist guides at some sites
- Airport arrival transfer on day 1 (For departures in 2024 a departure airport transfer is provided on day 14)
- All relevant transfers and transportation in private air-conditioned vehicles
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Itinerary
Sunday. Welcome to Southern India! On arrival at Chennai airport you are met and transferred to our hotel. The rest of today is free to explore the city at leisure before meeting the group and guide at the hotel at 18:00 for a Welcome meeting.
Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry. Say goodbye to Chennai this morning as we travel to the French colonial city of Pondicherry. French rule lasted here until 1954 and the influence is still clear in the city’s architecture. En route visit Mahabalipuram - the b...
Pondicherry. Today we explore the highlights of Pondicherry including the Sri Aurobindo Ashram spiritual community and Pondicherry Beach, with it's beautiful golden sand and lapping waves. Finally, we explore the striking Sacred Heart Basilica, a famous Christian pilgrimage site. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.
Pondicherry - Tanjore. Leaving Pondicherry today, we travel to the vibrant city of Tanjore (Thanjavur). We discover the ancient, fortified town with a guided tour exploring Tanjore's glorious history dating back more than 1,500 years. Take in the enormous Brihadishwa...
Tanjore - Chettinad. Today we travel to Chettinad which renowned across India for its unique spectacular combination of flavourful cuisine, yet few venture to this sleepy, tranquil village. Explore the crumbling Chettinad Palace and the famous tile factory in Athangudi, where your guide will explain how the renowned handmade terracotta tiles of Chettinad are crafted and readied.
Chettinad – Madurai. Departing Chettinad we continue onwards to Madurai, where we enjoy a half day guided tour taking in the Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal. This grand palace is known for the giant circular pillars in its courtyard and dates back to the 17th century. We con...
Madurai - Munnar. Leaving Madurai today we travel to the picturesque former hill station of Munnar where we spend the next two nights. Today we take a guided walk through a local tea plantation and visit a local market. The remainder of day 7 and day 8 is spent at your own leisure. You may wish to visit the nearby Blossom Park and enjoy cycling or boating in the stunning surrounds.
Munnar - Periyar. A drive south to Periyar, South India’s most popular Wildlife Sanctuary and home to bison, antelopes, sambar, wild boar, birds and even the odd tiger! Kumily, close to the sanctuary and where we’ll stay, is a pretty little town dotted with small spic...
Periyar. Today we enjoy an included boat ride on Lake Periyar to spot herds of wild elephants. The rest of the day is at your own leisure to explore on your own. You can opt for an optional visit to explore the spice plantation or enjoy a kalaripayattu dance performance.
Periyar - Kumarakom. Today, we leave Periyar and take a drive to Kumarakom - a village spread over a cluster of islands on Lake Vembanad. The day is free to relax or explore Kumarakom at your leisure. Perhaps take a boat ride on the lake or visit the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. The sanctuary is home to many rare bird species and is an important stopover for migratory birds in the winter (Nov-May).
Kumarakom - Alleppey - Keralan Backwaters. On day 12, we will take a scenic drive to Alleppey. Here we board our private rice boat for a voyage through the famous Kerala backwaters. Our rice-boat takes us sedately along the enchanting palm-fringed backwaters, covering...
Keralan Backwaters – Kochi. This morning, we disembark our rice boat and head for Kochi. Formerly a princely state, Kochi is also fondly referred to as “The Queen of the Arabian Sea”. The rest of the day is at leisure exploring Kochi on its own. This evening you can o...
Saturday. Our Indian adventure comes to an end today. A departure transfer is included today for departures in 2024. If you are travelling in 2025 this can be booked for an additional supplement if required.
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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
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Logistics
What's excluded
- International flights and visa
- Tip for your tour guide. We recommend you allow USD$4-7 per day, per traveller. Tipping your guide is an entirely personal gesture
- Entrance Fees: USD$35-45pp, paid in local currency
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15 + if accompanied by an adult.
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