Traverse through the South of India, learning about local life and the region’s history though this in depth 14-day journey. Learn about time honoured crafts through a visit to a weaving colony and a pottery making experience. And spend a night afloat on a traditional houseboat in the backwaters of Kerala. From small villages to bustling centers, you’ll experience it all on this adventure though South India’s highlights.
14 days - from $3,330
ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS
- Wander through the French colonial influenced Puducherry, a UNESCO listed city
- Witness the famous Aarti ceremony inside the colourful Meenakshi Temple in Madurai
- Spend a night in a converted former traditional rice barge on the Kerala backwaters to watch the world go by
- Taste delicious traditional food that has been cooked and prepared for you as part of a cooking demonstration in Chettinad and Cochin
DAY 1 Chennai
Your tour commences with an arrival transfer to your hotel in fascinating Chennai.
Stay at: Lemon Tree Hotel (4 star) or Taj Connemara Hotel (5 star)
DAY 2 Chennai
Today’s guided city tour takes you to the highlights of the city formerly known as Madras. See Mylapore Temple, the colourful Kapleshwar Temple a hindu temple devoted to Lord Shiva, Fort St. George Museum, St. Mary’s Church and Marina Beach. Rest of the day is free for you to relax.
Stay at: Lemon Tree Hotel (4 star) or Taj Connemara Hotel (5 star)
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 3 Chennai - Mamallapuram - Puducherry
Travel south to the village of Mamallapuram to visit the 7th century Shore Temples. Overlooking the Bay of Bengal, the ancient monuments are an architectural marvel and carry a fascinating history. Your journey continues to Puducherry, a city under French rule until 1954. Today the city has a strong French influence with its French-style houses and tree-lined boulevards and chic boutiques.
Stay at: Accord Hotel (4 star) or Palais De Mahe (character property)
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 4 Puducherry
Enjoy a walking tour to see includes a visit to the spiritual community of Aurobindo Ashram, Botanical gardens, Church of Sacred Heart of Jesus, Puducherry Museum, French Institute of Ideology and Bharti Dasan Memorial Museum. The rest of the day and evening is free. Explore the city's unique food scene, a curious mix of Tamil and French flavours.
Stay at: Accord Hotel (4 star) or Palais De Mahe (character property)
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 5 Puducherry - Chettinad
This morning continue towards Chettinad stopping enroute for lunch at Lakshmi Vilas heritage bungalow. Chettinad is a fascinating destination famous for its historic architecture of significant cultural importance. The community of merchants and traders amassed their fortunes throughout the 19th century to build over 10,000 opulent mansions in the 75 towns. Tonight, participate in a cooking demonstration followed by dinner where you will experience first hand Chettinad's unique cuisine, known for it's complex flavours and innovative use of ingredients.
Stay at: Chettinadu Mansion (character property) or Visalam Hotel (character property)
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
DAY 6 Chettinad
Explore the city highlights on a guided sightseeing tour. Visit the huge country homes of the Chettiars, Chettinad museum where you can observe the local craft of tile making and the district of Karaikudi, well-known for the limestone houses unique to this area.
Stay at: Chettinadu Mansion (character property) or Visalam Hotel (character property)
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 7 Chettinad - Madurai
Today you will drive to the ancient city of Madurai in the state of Tamil Nadu. One of the oldest cities in India, it once was a capital city which traded with ancient Rome. This evening attend the Aarti ceremony at the colourful Meenakshi Amman Temple, in which an idol of Shiva is carried in a colorful musical procession from the temple sanctum to a shrine to the goddess Meenakshi. Quite a way to end the day with this unique cultural and spiritual experience.
Stay at: Courtyard by Marriott (4 star) or Gateway Hotel Taj Pasumalai (5 star)
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 8 Madurai
Your guided tour this morning includes a visit to the bustling local flower and vegetable markets, the weaver’s colony, the thousand pillared Madurai Meenakshi Temple, the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple one of the oldest temples known for its astonishing architecture. Also visit the Koodal Alagar Temple, 17th Century Thirumalai Nayak Mahal and the Gandhi Museum, dedicated to the life and achievements of the 'Father of the Nation' and the leader of India's fight for independence.
Stay at: Courtyard by Marriott (4 star) or Gateway Hotel Taj Pasumalai (5 star)
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 9 Madurai - Periyar National Park -Thekkady
Pass by pineapple and rubber plantations on your way to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary which occupies 935 square kilometres of the Cardamom Hills region of the Western Ghats Mountain Range. This afternoon jump aboard a boat safari on the scenic Periyar Lake for the opportunity to see rare birds, a herd of elephants or a group of sambar deer. The reminder of the evening is at leisure in Thekkady where you can stroll through this small tourist town to find locals selling fragrant spices and organic teas.
Stay at: Greenwoods Resort (4 star) or Spice Village (unique stay)
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 10 Thekkady - Kumarakom
Your tour today will take you on a trip through the scenic south of India, past tea estates, rubber plantations and colourful villages towards the tropical coastline in Kerala. Your final destination for today is Kumarakom, a maze of lagoons and coconut groves and a quintessential Kerala backwaters village. The balance of your day is at leisure, wander through the village and discover age-old artisan crafts, watch the canoes and kettuvallam houseboats drift along Lake Vembanad and see the local fisherman ply their trade.
Your evening is at leisure to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
Stay at: Rhythm Resort (4 star) or The Zuri Kumarakom Resort & Spa (5 star)
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 11 Kumarakom - Alleppey
Travel to Alleppey, a picturesque city known for its intricate network of canals, backwaters, beaches, and lagoons. It is here you will board your very own private Kettuvalam or Houseboat (Riceboats) for an immersive experience of Kerala's enchanting palm-fringed backwaters.
In the early days the riceboats were used to transport goods, people and their produce along the backwaters which stretch over 1500 kms, with a network of 44 rivers, lagoons and lakes from north to south. This vital waterway was often the only link between isolated villages and crowded towns. Today, the converted riceboats are a fabulous way to experience authentic India as you sail under palm trees and between rice fields while you see local residents going about their daily lives.
Stay at: Private Deluxe Houseboat
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
DAY 12 Alleppey - Cochin
After a relaxing night aboard your houseboat it’s time to disembark and travel north to Cochin. Cochin is a fascinating city has been a hub to traders and travellers for over 600 years. It has a diverse history which has influenced the city in many ways, including the use of Chinese fishing nets still used today, Portuguese and Dutch era houses, ruins dating back to the British Raj and an ancient synagogue.
Stay at: Holiday Inn Cochin (4 star) or Crowne Plaza (5 star)
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 13 Cochin
This morning your city tour visits the Chinese fishing nets, Mattancherry Palace, Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue and St. Francis Church the oldest European church in India. Afterwards, visit a local family for an interactive cooking session where you can try your hand at cooking Indian dishes and learn some traditional methods of cooking and an opportunity to hear about the traditions and culture through the eyes of this local family. This afternoon enjoy a walk along the narrow street known as Jew Town, famous for its antiques and old world charm. Enjoy an evening performance showcasing the traditional folklore dance known as Kathakali, an elaborate, masked Keralan dance.
Note: Dutch Palace closed Fridays and Jewish Synagogue closed Friday and Saturday.
Stay at: Holiday Inn Cochin (4 star) or Crowne Plaza (5 star)
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
DAY 14 Cochin
Your South India tour concludes with a departure transfer for your onward journey.
Meals included: Breakfast
- Private 14 day tour
- 12 nights in hotel accommodation of your choice
- 1 night aboard a deluxe houseboat
- English-speaking local guides
- Entrance fees
- Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle
- Arrival and departure transfers
- 13 breakfasts
- 3 lunch (including a cooking demonstration and lunch in Cochin)
- 2 dinners (including a cooking demonstration and dinner in Chettinad)
Tours & Experiences
- Chennai
- Mamallapuram
- Puducherry
- Chettinad
- Madurai
- Cochin
- Traditional folklore dance performance in Cochin
- Aarti ceremony at Meenakshi Amman Temple
- Boat safari Periyar Lake
| 4 star Hotels | ||
|---|---|---|
Twin/Double Single | ||
| 5 Feb 2025 - 15 Apr 2025 | $3,550 $6,590 | |
| 16 Apr 2025 - 15 Sep 2025 | $3,330 $6,160 | |
| Price per adult in Australian Dollars (AUD) |
