Itinerary
- Day 1
Chennai
You'll arrive at Chennai International Airport where your tour rep meets you and takes you to the hotel. After settling in and getting some rest, the afternoon opens up for exploring the city's highlights. Marina Beach gives you a feel for local life along the coast, and from there you can check out Fort St. George with its historical significance. St. Mary's Church and the Fort Museum show you different layers of the city's past, while Santhome Cathedral and the National Art Gallery offer cultural stops. If you have energy, squeeze in Kapaleshwar Temple to round out the day.
Included Activities
- Half day sightseeing of Chennai
- Visit Marina Beach
- Explore Fort St. George
- Visit St. Mary's Church
- Fort Museum tour
- Visit Santhome Cathedral
- Visit National Art Gallery
- Visit Kapaleshwar Temple
Landmarks/POIs Marina Beach Fort St. George St. Mary's Church Fort Museum Santhome Cathedral National Art Gallery Kapaleshwar Temple - Day 2
Chennai to Kanchipuram to Mahabalipuram
This morning you'll head toward Kanchipuram, one of India's seven holy cities. The 8th-century Kailasanatha Temple is the main draw here with its detailed carvings and 58 small shrines built into the structure. Next comes the Ekambaranatha temple, which sits as a major shrine to Lord Shiva and houses a 3000-year-old mango tree that's genuinely impressive to see. After that you'll continue driving to Mahabalipuram and check into your hotel. The rest of your day is free, so you can settle in, grab a meal, and prepare for tomorrow's temple tour.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet breakfast at hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Kailasanatha Temple
- Visit Ekambaranatha Temple
- Drive to Mahabalipuram
Landmarks/POIs Kailasanatha Temple Ekambaranatha Temple - Day 3
Mahabalipuram
After breakfast you'll take a guided tour starting with the Shore Temple, a 7th-century structure that sits right by the water. The five Rathas (chariot temples) come next and showcase how these structures were carved from single rock formations. You'll also see the Varaha Cave with its intricate Pallava carvings that show real technical skill from ancient artisans. Arjuna's Penance, a massive bas-relief carved into rock, is another key stop that gives you a sense of scale. In the afternoon, you'll drive toward Pondicherry for your overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet breakfast at hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Mahabalipuram
- Visit Shore Temple
- Visit Beach Temples and Five Rathas
- Visit Varaha Cave
- Visit Arjuna's Penance
- Visit Kailasanatha Temple
- Visit Sri Varadaraja Temple
- Visit Sri Vaikuntaperumal Temple
- Drive to Pondicherry
Landmarks/POIs Shore Temple Five Rathas (Pancha Rathas) Varaha Cave Arjuna's Penance Kailasanatha Temple, Mahabalipuram Sri Varadaraja Temple Sri Vaikuntaperumal Temple - Day 4
Pondicherry
Your full day in and around Pondicherry takes you through several contrasting spaces. Auroville City represents a modern spiritual community, while the Sri Aurobindo Ashram connects you to the city's spiritual roots. Promenade Beach offers a chance to walk along the coast and see how the city meets the water. The Pondicherry Museum fills in historical context, and you'll notice French colonial influence mixed with Indian culture throughout. The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Manakula Vinayagar Koil Temple both sit within this cultural blend, showing how different traditions coexist here.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet breakfast at hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Full day excursion in and around Pondicherry
- Visit Auroville City
- Visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram
- Visit Promenade Beach
- Visit Pondicherry Museum
- Visit Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Visit Manakula Vinayagar Koil Temple
Landmarks/POIs Auroville City Sri Aurobindo Ashram Promenade Beach Pondicherry Museum Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Manakula Vinayagar Koil Temple - Day 5
Pondicherry to Chidambaram to Tanjore
After breakfast you're driving toward Tanjore with a stop in Chidambaram along the way. This temple stands out because it houses shrines to both Shiva and Vishnu together, which is uncommon. The Dravidian architecture here is notable, and the site also connects to Bharatanatyam dance traditions. Once you reach Tanjore, the Brihadeeshwara Temple becomes your focus with its monolithic granite cupola that rises impressively above the complex. The Palace and Art Gallery nearby holds Chola period statues that give you insight into the region's artistic heritage.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet breakfast at hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Chidambaram Temple
- Visit Brihadeeshwara Temple
- Visit Tanjore Palace
- Visit Art Gallery
Landmarks/POIs Chidambaram Nataraja Temple Brihadeeshwara Temple Tanjore Palace - Day 6
Thanjavur to Trichy to Madurai
You'll drive toward Madurai with a stop in Trichy. Srirangam sits as a 600-acre island town surrounded by the Kaveri River, and the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple dominates the space with its 22 gopurams rising up at different points. The Rock Fort in Trichy is worth climbing because you get views across the city, and the ancient rock formation with its temple at the summit shows how location was chosen for sacred sites. After these stops, you'll continue to Madurai and check into your hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet breakfast at hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Srirangam
- Visit Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple
- Visit Rock Fort
- Explore Trichy
Landmarks/POIs Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple Rock Fort - Day 7
Madurai to Munnar
Following breakfast you'll visit the Madurai Meenakshi Temple, one of India's most important religious sites dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswar. The scale and detail here take time to take in. Later in the day you'll drive to Munnar and check into your hotel there, arriving in the late afternoon or early evening depending on travel time.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet breakfast at hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Madurai Meenakshi Temple
- Drive to Munnar
Landmarks/POIs Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple - Day 8
Munnar
Your full day around Munnar, which sits at the confluence of three mountain streams, focuses on the region's natural and agricultural character. The tea estates here rank among the world's highest elevation plantations, and the landscape rolls with green across hundreds of kilometers. Eravikulam National Park is where you go to see the Nilgiri Tahr mountain goat in its natural habitat. After these organized activities, the rest of your time is free to walk around town, explore local shops, or simply enjoy the cool mountain air.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet breakfast at hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Tea Plantation tour
- Visit Eravikulam National Park
Landmarks/POIs Eravikulam National Park - Day 9
Munnar to Periyar
You're heading to Periyar Wildlife Reserve, which sits as South India's most popular wildlife sanctuary on an attractive lakeside location. A boat ride on Periyar Lake is the main event here, where you might see tigers, leopards, elephants, bison, antelopes, and various bird species depending on the day and season. After the boat tour, you'll get a Spice Plantation tour that shows how different spices grow and how they're processed in this region.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet breakfast at hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Boat ride in Periyar Lake
- Spice Plantation tour
- Wildlife viewing at Periyar
Optional Activities
- Periyar Bamboo rafting
- Trekking in Periyar
Landmarks/POIs Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary Periyar Lake - Day 10
Periyar to Kumarakom
You'll drive to Kumarakom, which sits as a cluster of small islands on the Vembanad Lake with canals, paddy fields, and houseboats scattered throughout. Your day here is left open for relaxing at the hotel and using its facilities as you like. If you want to do something active, the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is nearby where you can spot various species including cormorants, teals, ducks, darters, night herons, egrets, and occasionally Siberian storks during migration season.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet breakfast at hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Drive to Kumarakom
Optional Activities
- Visit Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
Landmarks/POIs Vembanad Lake Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary - Day 11
Kumarakom to Alleppey
After breakfast you'll board a traditional houseboat, called a Kettuvallam, and cruise around the Vembanad Lake backwaters. This cruise lets you see how villagers live along the water and gives you a sense of daily rhythms in these communities. You'll move through waterways surrounded by coconut palms and see how this landscape functions. Later you'll proceed to Alleppey, known for its calm atmosphere and mix of natural scenery with architectural attractions.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on houseboat), Lunch (Lunch on houseboat), Dinner (Dinner on houseboat)
Included Activities
- Houseboat cruise on Vembanad Lake
- Backwater cruise experience
Optional Activities
- Kumarakom sunset cruise
- Kumarakom ayurveda session for 60 min
Landmarks/POIs Vembanad Lake - Day 12
Alleppey to Cochin
You'll check out from the houseboat and head to Cochin. Once there, Fort Kochi becomes your focus for exploring European heritage architecture and history. Santa Cruz Basilica and St. Francis Church (the oldest European church in India) show different periods of colonial influence. The Jewish Synagogue stands out for its Chinese tiles and Belgian chandeliers, and the historic spice market connects you to centuries of trade. The iconic Chinese fishing nets unique to Cochin are worth seeing and photographing. In the evening you'll watch Kathakali, Kerala's classical dance form, which wraps up your day nicely.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet breakfast at hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Explore Fort Kochi
- Visit Santa Cruz Basilica
- Visit St. Francis Church
- Visit Jewish Synagogue
- Visit Spice Market
- View Chinese Fishing Nets
- Kathakali Dance show
Optional Activities
- Panormic boat ride cochin
- Cooking class in Cochin
- Kalaripattu cochin
Landmarks/POIs Fort Kochi Santa Cruz Basilica St. Francis Church Jewish Synagogue Chinese Fishing Nets - Day 13
Cochin to Ooty
You'll leave Cochin by road and head toward Ooty, located in the Western Ghats at 2240 meters above sea level. On arrival you'll check in at your hotel. Ooty, known as the 'Queen of Hill Stations', served as the summer retreat for British government officials back when colonial rule shaped South India, and that history still shows in its architecture and layout.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet breakfast at hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Travel to Ooty
Landmarks/POIs Ooty - Day 14
Ooty to Mysore
You're driving from Ooty to Mysore today. After checking in at your hotel, the afternoon brings a half-day city tour. Maharaja's Palace, built in 1897, shows Indo-Saracenic architecture at grand scale. Srirangapatnam connects you to the region's political history as the former capital of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Brindavan Gardens gets illuminated three days a week if timing works out. St. Philomena's Church and the Sri Jauyachamarajendra Art Gallery (housed in Jagmohan Palace) round out the tour with its collection of paintings.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet breakfast at hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Travel to Mysore
- Half day city tour of Mysore
- Visit Maharaja's Palace
- Visit Srirangapatnam
- Visit Brindavan Gardens
- Visit St Philomena's Church
- Visit Sri Jauyachamarajendra Art Gallery
Landmarks/POIs Mysore Palace Srirangapatnam Brindavan Gardens St. Philomena's Church - Day 15
Mysore to Hassan
After breakfast you'll head to Belur Temple, which showcases Dravidian architecture with the Chennakesava temple complex featuring intricate golden details. The craftsmanship visible in the structure reflects centuries of stone carving traditions in South India. You'll return to check out and then drive to Hassan, where you'll check into your hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet breakfast at hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Belur Temple
- Visit Chennakesava Temple
- Travel to Hassan
Landmarks/POIs Belur Temple Chennakesava Temple - Day 16
Hassan
Following breakfast you'll visit Shravanabelagola, a Jain pilgrimage site positioned between Vindhyagiri and Chandragiri hills. The 57-feet tall deity of Gommateshwara Bahubali dominates the location and draws pilgrims year-round. You'll spend time at this sacred shrine taking in the spiritual atmosphere and the surrounding landscape.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet breakfast at hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Shravanabelagola
- Visit Gommateshwara Bahubali statue
Landmarks/POIs Shravanabelagola Gommateshwara Bahubali - Day 17
Hassan to Bangalore
You'll depart for Bangalore by road today. On arrival, you'll check in at your hotel. Bangalore earned the nickname 'Garden City of India' in the 16th century and has transformed into the 'Silicon City of India' due to its IT industry growth. In the afternoon, a city tour takes you to Vidhan Soudha, an impressive neo-Dravidian legislative building, then Cubbon Park for greenery, Lal Bagh famous for its red roses, and Bangalore Palace showing colonial-era grandeur.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet breakfast at hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Travel to Bangalore
- City tour of Bangalore
- Visit Vidhan Soudha
- Visit Cubbon Park
- Visit Lal Bagh
- Visit Bangalore Palace
Landmarks/POIs Vidhan Soudha Cubbon Park Lal Bagh Bangalore Palace - Day 18
Bangalore Departure
You'll transfer to the airport in time to catch your flight for your next destination, bringing this South India tour to a close.
