Itinerary
- Day 1
Departure to Bengaluru
Your flight departs today as you head to Bengaluru. You'll arrive and get settled into your accommodations, ready to start exploring tomorrow.
- Day 2
Bengaluru to Hassan
Your guide meets you at night and takes you to the hotel for some rest. After breakfast, you'll get oriented to Bengaluru, then drive toward Hassan. Along the way, you stop at Sravanabelagola to see the impressive monolithic Jain statue before checking into your Hassan hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Orientation tour of Bengaluru
- Visit to Sravanabelagola - Jain pilgrimage center with monolithic statue
Landmarks/POIs Sravanabelagola - Day 3
Hassan to Madikeri
You'll start at the Shiva temple in Halebid and check out its intricate soapstone sculptures. From there, you head to the Belur temple to see the magnificent stone carvings. Later you drive to Madikeri in the Coorg region, where a cooking demonstration gives you the chance to learn local recipes from the chef (1,925 m elevation, cooler climate).
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Halebid Shiva temple with sculptures of Hindu mythology
- Visit to Belur temple with carved corner figures
- Cooking demonstration at hotel in Madikeri
Landmarks/POIs Halebid Shiva Temple Belur Temple - Day 4
Madikeri to Mysuru
Morning starts at Raja's Seat gardens and Abbey Waterfalls in Madikeri. You'll visit a coffee plantation for lunch with a farmer's family who'll talk about their crops and life on the farm. After that, you stop at Bylakuppe Buddhist monastery settlement to learn about Tibetan monks in exile, then head to Mysuru at the base of Chamundi mountain.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at coffee plantation with farmer's family), Dinner
Included Activities
- Raja's Seat gardens visit
- Abbey Waterfalls visit
- Coffee plantation visit with lunch and farmer's family meeting
- Bylakuppe Buddhist monastery settlement visit with Tibetan monks
Landmarks/POIs Raja's Seat Gardens Abbey Waterfalls Bylakuppe - Day 5
Mysuru
This morning you'll check out St. Philomena's Church, then drive to the ruined city of Srirangapatnam. You'll see the 19th-century Hindu temple and Sultan Tippu's palace there. Next comes the grand Maharaja's Palace, then you visit both a church and the Jama Masjid mosque. After that, you wander through the historic Devaraja Market. By evening you'll see the palace lit up, which creates a different feel than daytime.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- St. Philomena's Church visit
- Srirangapatnam ruined city with Hindu temple and Sultan Tippu's palace visit
- Maharaja's Palace visit
- Church visit
- Jama Masjid mosque visit
- Devaraja Market visit
- Maharaja's Palace illumination viewing
Landmarks/POIs St. Philomena's Church Srirangapatnam Maharaja's Palace Jama Masjid Devaraja Market - Day 6
Mysuru to Kozhikode
You start at the Chamundi temple, which has a five-metre-high monolithic Nandi bull statue. Traveling through rural areas, you stop in a village to see how people live and work daily. From there you continue to Kozhikode, a former port city with temples and palaces, where you'll stay the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Chamundi temple visit with five-metre-high Nandi bull monolith
- Village visit on the way to Kozhikode
Landmarks/POIs Chamundi Temple - Day 7
Kozhikode to Kochi
You'll travel to Kochi, a city spread across small islands with deep cultural roots. Once a major spice trading center, it still has that layered historical feel throughout. Later in the evening, you catch a traditional Kathakali mask dance performance.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Kathakali mask dance performance
Landmarks/POIs Kochi - Day 8
Kochi
Today you explore Kochi's cultural side starting with the oldest Jewish settlement and synagogue in India. You'll see one of the oldest Franciscan churches and the distinctive Dutch Palace. The famous Chinese fishing nets, which are really the symbol of the city, are also on your route.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Jewish settlement and synagogue visit
- Franciscan church visit
- Dutch Palace visit
- Chinese fishing nets visit
Landmarks/POIs Jewish Synagogue Kochi St. Francis Church Dutch Palace Chinese Fishing Nets - Day 9
Kochi to Backwaters
A short drive takes you to the backwaters where you'll spend about three hours on a houseboat. You'll drift through interconnected waterways with jungle-like landscape and activity along the banks. Later you stay overnight at a resort on the backwaters, surrounded by palm trees with chances to catch the sunset in that tropical setting.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch during houseboat trip), Dinner
Included Activities
- 3-hour houseboat trip in the backwaters with lunch
Optional Activities
- Optional rejuvenation massage (60 min.) - €40
Landmarks/POIs Kerala Backwaters - Day 10
Backwaters to Periyar
You drive through Kerala's heartland to reach Periyar Elephant Wildlife Sanctuary. From there, you take roughly a 1.5-hour boat trip on Periyar Lake where wild elephants, bison, and monkeys show up in their natural environment.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Periyar Elephant Wildlife Sanctuary visit
- Approximately 1.5-hour boat trip on Periyar Lake with wildlife viewing
Landmarks/POIs Periyar Elephant Wildlife Sanctuary Periyar Lake - Day 11
Periyar to Madurai
You walk through lush spice gardens and can buy fresh spices straight from the producers. Then you continue to Madurai, the cultural heart of Tamil Nadu, where the famous Menakshi temple shows off Dravidian art and architecture. You'll wander through bazaars and stalls at one of southern India's most visited pilgrimage centers.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Spice gardens visit
- Menakshi temple visit
Landmarks/POIs Menakshi Temple - Day 12
Madurai to Thanjavur
You head to Tiruchirapalli to see the Srirangam Temple, the largest Hindu temple complex in India. Climbing the Rock Fort Temple on its massive rocky hill gives you unique views of the city. After browsing Trichy's bazaars, you continue to Thanjavur, the old Chola capital.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Srirangam Temple visit - largest Hindu temple complex in India
- Rock Fort Temple visit with city view
Landmarks/POIs Srirangam Temple Rock Fort Temple - Day 13
Thanjavur
You'll spend the whole day exploring Thanjavur. The Brihadeshwara Temple (built between 985 and 1012) is considered one of India's most valuable temples from an art history view. You also check out the Art Gallery, the 16th-century Saraswati Mahal Library (one of Asia's oldest), and a traditional bronze statue workshop to learn about Indian craftsmanship.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Brihadeshwara Temple visit (985-1012)
- Art Gallery visit
- Saraswati Mahal Library visit - 16th century
- Traditional bronze statue workshop visit
Landmarks/POIs Brihadeshwara Temple Saraswati Mahal Library - Day 14
Thanjavur to Puducherry
You visit the Airavatesvara temple in Darasuram, which shows beautiful Chola art and design. After that, you tour a silk weaving mill to see how colorful saris get made. From there, you drive to Puducherry, the former French colony with its distinctive colonial heritage.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Airavatesvara temple visit in Darasuram
- Silk weaving mill visit
Landmarks/POIs Airavatesvara Temple - Day 15
Puducherry
You'll explore French cultural relics in Puducherry (which only joined India in the 1950s). You visit Auroville, a visionary community founded in 1968, and the Aurobindo Ashram (started 1926) known for its spiritual teachings. Strolling through the French quarters, you'll see colonial-era buildings, then finish with a beachfront walk along the promenade lined with statues.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Auroville visit - visionary city founded in 1968
- Aurobindo Ashram visit - founded in 1926
- French quarters walk
- Beach promenade walk
Landmarks/POIs Auroville Aurobindo Ashram - Day 16
Puducherry to Chennai
You drive along the Coromandel Coast with views of beaches and Bay of Bengal waves. Mahabalipuram has some of the country's oldest temples, now UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the beach temple and Five Rathas (temple chariots). You'll also see Krishna's Butterball, a gigantic rock that's been balanced for 2,000 years. Later you reach Chennai, where the British East India Company set up its first major settlement in 1639.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Mahabalipuram temples visit - UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Beach temple visit
- Five Rathas (temple chariots) visit
- Artistic cave reliefs visit
- Krishna's Butterball visit
Landmarks/POIs Mahabalipuram Temples Five Rathas Krishna's Butterball - Day 17
Chennai
A city tour of Chennai, Tamil Nadu's lively capital, takes you to Kapaleeswara Temple, the old British base at Fort St. George, St. Thomas Cathedral, and St. Andrew's Church (built to match London's St. Martin-in-the-Fields). You have your hotel room until 21:00, then it's time for an evening transfer to the airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Kapaleeswara Temple visit
- Fort St. George visit
- St. Thomas Cathedral visit
- St. Andrew's Church visit
Optional Activities
- Fish market, Dakshina Chitra and St. Thomas Mount - 08.01.-05.03. €150; 05.11.-17.12. €160
Landmarks/POIs Kapaleeswara Temple Fort St. George St. Thomas Cathedral St. Andrew's Church - Day 18
Return to Germany
You arrive in Germany and make your way home from there.
