india Tours Grand Tour of South India

Itinerary:

Day 1  Chennai        
Upon arrival transfer to your hotel.        

Day 2  Chennai        
Learn about Chennai’s rich colonial history on a half day city tour.        

Day 3  Chennai to Pondicherry      
Visit the coastal town of Mahabalipuram, famous for its cave temples. Stop at the temple city of Kanchipuram before driving to the former French colony of Pondicherry.        

Day 4  Pondicherry        
Visit the Pondicherry Museum, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and nearby Auroville, a township dedicated to human unity.

Day 5  Pondicherry to Tanjore        
Drive to the famous temple city of Tanjore.    

Day 6  Tanjore        
Visit the spectacular Brihadeeswara Temple, one of India’s most prized architectural wonders.    

Day 7  Tanjore to Chettinad      
Today head to Trichy to visit the imposing Rock Fort Temple and the enormous Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. Later continue to Chettinad, homeland of the Chettiars, once a prosperous trading community. Their legacy lives on in the palatial houses and spicy cuisine for which the area is famous.        

Day 8  Chettinad to Madurai
Continue to the colourful city of Madurai. The afternoon is free to explore this ancient city at leisure.    

Day 9  Madurai        
Today enjoy a half day city tour including a visit to the celebrated Sri Meenakshi Temple.    

Day 10  Madurai to Periyar
Depart Madurai and drive up into the cool Western Ghats mountain range towards Lake Periyar and its wildlife sanctuary.      

Days 11-12  Periyar        
Enjoy an early morning boat ride and then visit a spice plantation. The next day is free to relax or why not add in an organised hike?  

Day 13  Periyar to Backwaters        
Leave the hills behind and board your houseboat, your home for the night. Cruise the palm-fringed lakes and waterways of Kerala’s beautiful backwaters.  

Day 14  Backwaters to Cochin (Kochi)        
Bid farewell to your crew and head to the historic port city of Cochin, where you’ll enjoy a sunset harbour cruise.        

Day 15  Cochin
Explore Cochin with a half day city tour. In the evening experience a traditional Kathakali dance show.

Day 16  Cochin        
Transfer to the airport.

Additional Options:

Discover the natural beauty of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary on an organised hike which can be easily added to this tour. Accompanied by an expert guide and forest ranger, this moderate 6 hour hike takes you across scenic and varied terrain. Sightings of sambar deer, gaur (Indian bison) and wild elephant are possible, as well as a variety of birds and butterflies.        

Your Bespoke Tour can depart on any day you please.