Itinerary
- Day 1
Chennai
You'll arrive in Chennai and get settled at your hotel. If you touch down by 2pm, your tour leader will meet up with you for a welcome session and a walk through Mylapore, the historic neighbourhood where you'll check out the Kapaleeshwar Hindu Temple and Luz Church.
Included Activities
- Welcome meeting and walking tour of Mylapore (if arriving by 2pm)
- Visit Kapaleeshwar Hindu Temple
- Visit Luz Church (Our Lady of Light)
Landmarks/POIs Kapaleeshwar Hindu Temple Luz Church (Our Lady of Light) - Day 2
Puducherry
Head out early to Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary for some birdwatching, then drive on to Puducherry. You'll spend time in the French colonial quarters and see the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and a handmade paper factory before checking into your hotel.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch in Puducherry's colonial French Quarters)
Included Activities
- Birdwatching at Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
- Walking tour of Puducherry's French Quarters
- Visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram and handmade paper factory
- Lunch in Puducherry's colonial French Quarters
Landmarks/POIs Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary Sri Aurobindo Ashram Notre Dame Church (Notre Dames des Agnes) - Day 3
Puducherry to Madurai
This is a long driving day starting early, heading via Tiruchirappalli where you'll stop at the Srirangam Hindu Temple complex and the river ghats at Amma Mandapam. You'll reach Madurai in the early evening with the rest of the day to yourself.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Srirangam Hindu Temple
- Visit river ghats at Amma Mandapam
Landmarks/POIs Srirangam Hindu Temple Amma Mandapam - Day 4
Madurai
Spend your morning at the 16th century Meenakshi Temple with its distinctive gopurams, then move on to the 17th century Thirumalai Nayaka Palace. The afternoon is free to explore on your own, and there's an optional evening visit to the temple's spiritual bed ceremony.
Included Activities
- Visit Meenakshi Temple
- Visit Thirumalai Nayaka Palace
Optional Activities
- Visit Gandhi Memorial Museum
- Visit Madurai flower market
- Evening visit to Meenakshi Temple for the 'bed ceremony'
Landmarks/POIs Meenakshi Temple Thirumalai Nayaka Palace Gandhi Memorial Museum - Day 5
Madurai to Thekkady
Drive west through the changing landscapes as you head toward Kerala, passing through the Western Ghats mountains. You'll check in at your hotel, then take a walking tour of a spice garden to see how Indian spices are grown and processed.
Included Activities
- Walking tour of spice garden
Landmarks/POIs Western Ghats Mountain Range - Day 6
Thekkady to Kerala Backwaters
Get an early start to the Kerala Backwaters, a network of lagoons and rivers with tropical vegetation all around. By midday you'll board a traditional houseboat for a leisurely cruise through the waterways, watching village life and catching the sunset before docking for the night.
Included Activities
- Houseboat journey on Kerala Backwaters
Landmarks/POIs Kerala Backwaters - Day 7
Kerala Backwaters to Kochi
Leave the houseboat behind and drive to Kochi, the fort town. After lunch you'll see the iconic Chinese Fishing nets and have free time to explore the area. There's an optional Kathakali dance performance or local cooking class available if you're interested.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Kochi fort
- View Chinese Fishing nets
Optional Activities
- Kathakali dance performance
- South Indian cookery class at a local home
Landmarks/POIs Chinese Fishing nets - Day 8
Kochi
You've got a leisurely morning, then you'll explore Kochi's historical spots. Check out Mattancherry Palace with its Ramayana murals, the Paradesi Jewish Synagogue in the Jewish quarter, and St Francis Church. Later, take a harbour cruise to watch the sunset over the Chinese fishing nets.
Included Activities
- Visit Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace)
- Visit Paradesi Jewish Synagogue
- Explore antique warehouses and spice auction rooms
- Visit St Francis Church
- Harbour cruise with sunset viewing over Chinese fishing nets
Landmarks/POIs Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace) Paradesi Jewish Synagogue St Francis Church - Day 9
Kochi to Coimbatore
It's a long drive northeast back toward Tamil Nadu with a stop at Palakkad Fort to see its 18th century granite construction and water moat. You'll continue to Coimbatore where dinner featuring South Indian specialties is waiting.
- Meals
- Dinner (South Indian delicacies including savoury dosas served on a banana leaf with chutneys, pickles and vegetables)
Included Activities
- Visit Palakkad Fort
- Dinner in Coimbatore
Landmarks/POIs Palakkad Fort - Day 10
Ooty to Bandipur
Drive early to Coonoor to catch the historic Nilgiri Mountain Railway toy train through dense forest to Ooty (or drive if there are maintenance issues). You'll have lunch and tour the botanical gardens, then continue to Bandipur National Park for a 2-night stay.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch in Ooty)
Included Activities
- Nilgiri Mountain Railway toy train journey from Coonoor to Ooty (or scenic drive alternative)
- Lunch in Ooty
- Visit Ooty Botanical Gardens
Landmarks/POIs Nilgiri Mountain Railway Ooty Botanical Gardens Bandipur National Park - Day 11
Bandipur National Park
This is your dedicated wildlife day with morning and afternoon safari drives in Bandipur National Park. Between drives you can relax at the lodge with a swimming pool, massage, or nature walks. Keep watch for deer, monkeys, bears, bison, elephants, and if you're lucky, leopard or tiger.
Included Activities
- Morning wildlife safari drive
- Afternoon wildlife safari drive
Optional Activities
- Swimming pool at lodge
- Massage at lodge
- Nature walk around resort
Landmarks/POIs Bandipur National Park - Day 12
Bandipur to Mysuru
You can do an optional early morning safari drive, then have a leisurely breakfast before heading north to Mysuru, known as the City of Palaces. Visit Chamundi Hills for temple views and the iconic Nandi statue, then catch the evening sound and light show at Mysuru Palace.
Included Activities
- Visit Chamundi Hills and Hindu Temple
- Visit Nandi statue
- Sound and light show at Mysuru Palace
Optional Activities
- Final wildlife safari drive at Bandipur
Landmarks/POIs Chamundi Hills Nandi statue Mysuru Palace - Day 13
Mysuru to Mamallapuram
After a leisurely breakfast you'll explore Devaraja Market's vibrant stalls and visit Mysuru Palace with its Hindu and British architecture. You'll take an express train to Chennai in the afternoon (6.5 hours, dinner onboard), then drive 2-2.5 hours to Mamallapuram, arriving around 10pm.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch in Mysuru), Dinner (Dinner onboard express train to Chennai)
Included Activities
- Explore Devaraja Market
- Visit Mysuru Palace
- Lunch in Mysuru
- Express train journey to Chennai
- Dinner onboard train
Landmarks/POIs Devaraja Market Mysuru Palace - Day 14
Mamallapuram
Start with a traditional South Indian dosa breakfast, then explore the shore temples nearby including the 7th century Shore Temple (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and Ajuna's Penance, the world's largest bas-relief. The rest of the day is yours to relax on the beaches or shop.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Traditional South Indian dosa breakfast with chutney, potatoes and lentil sambars)
Included Activities
- Traditional South Indian dosa breakfast
- Visit Shore Temple
- Visit Ajuna's Penance
Optional Activities
- Beach walk on Mamallapuram's sandy beaches
- Shopping at local market
Landmarks/POIs Shore Temple Ajuna's Penance - Day 15
Mamallapuram
Your tour ends today with no activities planned, so you can depart whenever suits you. The hotel offers luggage storage if your flight leaves later in the day.
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