Day 1
Arrive early morning in Chennai on BA035 arriving at 0545. You’ll be received at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Your hotel room has been booked from the previous night, so you can check in on arrival early morning and relax for rest of the day
Hotel: Four Points by Sheraton (Deluxe Room)
Day 2
Explore Chennai full day tour with your local English-speaking guide
Hotel: Four Points by Sheraton (Deluxe Room)
Day 3
Visit World Heritage site of Mahabalipuram with a local guide, who will help interpret the architecture and religious mythology of this site.
Drive south to the city of Pondicherry to check into your hotel in the French Quarter of Pondicherry City.
Hotel: Shenbaga Hotel (Count Suite)
Day 4
Explore Pondicherry independently.
Hotel: Shenbaga Hotel (Count Suite)
Day 5
An early morning start (around 0900), driving south to Thanjavur, stopping at World Heritage Chola Temples enroute. These grand temples were built in the 11-12th centuries by the great Chola kings. The temples testify to the brilliant achievements of the Cholas in architecture, sculpture, painting and bronze casting.
The first stop will be Gangaikonda Cholapuram, the ‘City of the Chola who conquered the Ganges’ where you’ll visit the 1000 yr old Brihadishvara Temple (with local guide).
The nearby small town of Kumbakonam has several Chola temples including the Nageshvara Temple which has some of the finest early Chola sculptures.
A little further south at Darasuram, the Airavateshvara temple, a late Chola masterpiece is the second World Heritage Site. (A local guide will accompany you here)
Check in to your hotel at Thanjavur to relax and enjoy dinner.
Hotel: Sangam Hotel Tanjore (Deluxe Room)
Day 6
Full day guided city tour of Thanjavur including temples and monuments
The city of Thanjavur is dominated by the Brihadishvara temple of Thanjavur, not to be confused with the equally grand temple of the same name visited the day before. This is the third of the ‘Great Living Chola Temples’ World Heritage Sites.
The vast compound is entered via one of South India’ earliest monumental tower gates (gopurams).
Visit a local workshop to observe bronze making and glass painting.
If you have time, you can visit the museum in the Thanjavur Palace, which houses a fine collection of Chola sculpture, including bronzes.
Hotel: Sangam Hotel Tanjore (Deluxe Room)
Day 7
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and drive to Chettinad, a region famous for its aromatic and spicy cuisine, and its unique architectural style.
Enroute, visit The Bangala, a heritage hotel renowned for its food and cooking classes, where you will enjoy a cooking demonstration and a delicious lunch. The Bangala was rated the 7th Best Restaurant in India by Condé Nast Traveller in 2019.
After checking into your 120yr old heritage hotel, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, perhaps take a evening walk near the hotel.
Hotel: Chettinad – Chidambaram Vilas (Heritage Luxury Room)
Day 8
This morning, along with your guide, you will visit some of the famed mansions of the region, including Athangudi Palace, an ornately built mansion house with lavish interiors.
One of the specialities of the Chettinad region is the art of making tiles. The process is totally manual, and having lost ground to factory made tiles for a while, the traditional tiles are making a comeback with eco-conscious designers.
Visit the Athangudi Tile Factory where you can see local artisans use traditional techniques and tools to create tiles.
Hotel: Chettinad – Chidambaram Vilas (Heritage Luxury Room)
Day 9
After breakfast, drive to Madurai, considered by many to be the archetypal South Indian Temple town. A local guide will give you a tour of the city today.
The vast 17th century Meenakshi Temple complex has towering gateways covered with religious figures in spectacular colours. Although non-Hindus are not allowed within the sanctum, there is plenty to admire from the outer areas.
Your next stop is hardly a stone’s throw away from the Meenakshi temple, the Thirumalai Nayak Palace, a mix of architectural styles – Italian, Indo-Saracenic and Gothic.
If time permits, Madurai is a good place to shop for handicrafts including wood, brass and stone curios. The Poompuhar Handicrafts Emporium is especially recommended.
Enjoy the dusk/night prayer ceremony at Meenakshi temple with your guide to end your day and return to the hotel to relax.
Hotel: Madurai -Courtyard by Mariott (Superior Room)
Day 10
After breakfast, drive from Madurai to Periyar Tiger Reserve (4 hrs), which is surrounded by lush rolling hills, where the British introduced tea and spice plantations.
Check in at your hotel and enjoy lunch. The afternoon is at leisure to explore locally or relax.
At night, embark on a night patrol with a forest guide from the local community for a safe and unique way to explore the forests. Gaur and deer are often spotted resting, smaller mammals and birds can be seen – the guides will carry torches.
Hotel: The Elephant Court (Patio Room)
Day 11
This morning, embark on a very special half-day expedition into the wilds of Periyar – a combination of walking and bamboo rafting will immerse you in the pristine rain forest at close quarters. The rain forests at Periyar are some of the densest in India. Gaur, sloth bear and elephants are often sighted apart from birds and butterflies. You’ll be accompanied by guides and forest guards to ensure safety and comfort.
The rest of the day is at leisure. If interested, you can do a boat safari in the evening on the Periyar lake.
Hotel: The Elephant Court (Patio Room)
Day 12
Start early for a dawn boat ride in Periyar Tiger Reserve. The lake looks ethereally beautiful in the morning mist, and you’ll have a chance to spot wildlife from the comfort of your boat.
Back at the hotel, after breakfast, check out and drive to Munnar (3 hrs). Check into your hotel.
Explore the surround hills and tea estates on short walks/hikes independently
Hotel: Eastend Munnar (Suite Room)
Day 13
Explore Munnar – the nearby Eravikulam National Park is an excellent place to go for hikes, looking for the endangered Nilgiri Tahr and other wildlife.
Hotel: Eastend Munnar (Suite Room)
Day 14
Explore Munnar independently – there are opportunities to hike through tea estates, visit the tea factory/museum, spice plantations and the local market to shop for tea/spices to bring home.
Hotel: Eastend Munnar (Suite Room)
Day 15
After breakfast, drive to Cochin (4 hrs). Check into your heritage hotel, situated right at the heart of the historic Fort Cochin.
Rest of the day is at leisure to explore or relax
Hotel: The Old Court House by Abad (Boutique Room or Heritage Classic Room)
Day 16
Explore Cochin full day guided tour.
Hotel: The Old Court House by Abad (Boutique Room or Heritage Classic Room)
Day 17
Muziris tour
Hotel: The Old Court House by Abad (Boutique Room or Heritage Classic Room)
Day 18
After a leisurely breakfast, around 1000 drive to Allepey (1.5 hrs) – embark on your one-bedroom luxury Rice boat for an overnight cruise on the famed Kerala backwaters of Lake Vembanad.
The cruise takes you through narrow canals where you can watch life of the backwater people go by women pound their washing, families work in the fields, ducks being reared, men collecting shells for making local ‘cement’ or linger at the local ‘chai’ shop, and canoes and ferry boats.
Hotel: One Bed Room Deluxe House Boat
Day 19
After breakfast on your boat, upon disembarking, your vehicle will drop you to Marari Beach (0.5 hr). Check into your beachfront resort and enjoy the beach for the rest of the day.
Hotel: Abad Turtle Beach Marari (Beach Villa)
Day 20
Marari Beach at leisure all day.
Hotel: Abad Turtle Beach Marari (Beach Villa)
Day 21
Depart for your return flight to UK from Cochin airport.