The Best of South India

 - 14 Days
The Best of South India - 14 D
The Best of South India - 14 D

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Feature Upscale Opulent
Duration 5 Days 7 Days
Price $800 $1,200
Accommodation 3-Star Hotels 4-Star Hotels
Day
01
Fort Kochi

Greeted at Cochin International Airport on arrival.

Private escorted transfer to Fort Kochi (≈1.5 hrs).

Assisted check-in at Fort Kochi lodge.

Day
02
Fort Kochi

Chinese fishing nets and waterfront viewing.

Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica — artworks and nave.

St. Francis Church — Vasco da Gama memorial history.

David Hall gallery — rotating exhibitions and café stop.

Dutch Palace (Mattancherry) — carved wooden murals.

Jewish Synagogue and Jew Town — antique shops and history.

Optional: Chef’s home cooking lesson and dinner.

Day
03
Fort Kochi - Backwaters (Alleppey)

Drive to Alleppey and board private houseboat (≈1.5 hrs).

Private backwater cruise past coconut groves and canals.

Freshly prepared lunch on board • Village riverside life.

Disembark at jetty and transfer to lakeside resort.

Day
04
Backwaters - Thekkady (Periyar)

Drive into Western Ghats — photo stops at plantations.

Connemara Tea Factory tour and tasting at Vandiperiyar.

Spice-plantation naturalist walk with interpretation.

Arrive Thekkady — check-in at nature resort.

Day
05
Thekkady (Periyar)

Shared boat cruise on Periyar Lake for wildlife viewing.

Look for elephants, gaur and abundant birdlife.

Resort spice tour or optional cooking class.

Day
06
Thekkady - Madurai

Scenic drive through spice country into Tamil Nadu.

Arrive Madurai, Check-in at hilltop resort with views.

Attend Palli Arai evening ceremony at Meenakshi Temple.

Day
07
Madurai

Meenakshi Amman Temple complex — thousand-pillars hall.

Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal palace visit.

Gandhi Memorial Museum — curated historical collection.

Guided walks through Madurai bazaars and markets.

Day
08
Madurai - Chettinad (Karaikudi)

Drive to Chettinad via paddy fields and tamarind groves.

Chettinad mansion tour — courtyard houses and designs.

Multi-course Chettinad lunch served on banana leaf.

Athangudi tile workshop — traditional tile-making demo.

Day
09
Chettinad - Tanjore - Kumbakonam

Brihadishwara Temple, Tanjore — UNESCO Chola masterpiece.

Thanjavur Art Gallery — Chola bronzes and temple sculpture.

Drive to Kumbakonam, Check-in at heritage cottage.

Day
10
Kumbakonam

Airavateswara Temple — Hall of Musical Pillars (UNESCO).

Panch Rathas and temple ensemble sculptural highlights.

Kalamkari studio visit and pattu-silk weaving demo.

Optional: bullock-cart ride through village lanes.

Day
11
Kumbakonam - Mahabalipuram

Drive via Cauvery delta scenery, photo stops en route.

Arrive Mahabalipuram, Check-in at oceanfront resort.

Evening beach walk and visit to the local fishing community.

Day
12
Mahabalipuram

Shore Temple (8th c.) — coastal temple and Nandi sculptures.

Descent of the Ganga bas-relief (Arjuna’s Penance).

Cave temples: Varaha Mandapa, Krishna Mandapa, Trimurti Cave.

Panch Rathas and monolithic rock temples and photography.

Day
13
Mahabalipuram

Day at leisure — optional guided visits to workshops and beaches.

Time for seaside walking, craft shops and seaside relaxation.

Day
14
Mahabalipuram - Chennai — International Departure

Assisted check-out and transfer to Chennai Airport (≈1.5 hrs).

Connect with international flight or domestic transfer as needed.

Our services conclude at Chennai Airport.

Day
01
Fort Kochi

Greeted at Cochin International Airport on arrival.

Private escorted transfer to Fort Kochi (≈1.5 hrs).

Assisted check-in at Fort Kochi lodge.

Day
02
Fort Kochi

Chinese fishing nets and waterfront viewing.

Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica — artworks and nave.

St. Francis Church — Vasco da Gama memorial history.

David Hall gallery — rotating exhibitions and café stop.

Dutch Palace (Mattancherry) — carved wooden murals.

Jewish Synagogue and Jew Town — antique shops and history.

Optional: Chef’s home cooking lesson and dinner.

Day
03
Fort Kochi - Backwaters (Alleppey)

Drive to Alleppey and board private houseboat (≈1.5 hrs).

Private backwater cruise past coconut groves and canals.

Freshly prepared lunch on board • Village riverside life.

Disembark at jetty and transfer to lakeside resort.

Day
04
Backwaters - Thekkady (Periyar)

Drive into Western Ghats — photo stops at plantations.

Connemara Tea Factory tour and tasting at Vandiperiyar.

Spice-plantation naturalist walk with interpretation.

Arrive Thekkady — check-in at nature resort.

Day
05
Thekkady (Periyar)

Shared boat cruise on Periyar Lake for wildlife viewing.

Look for elephants, gaur and abundant birdlife.

Resort spice tour or optional cooking class.

Day
06
Thekkady - Madurai

Scenic drive through spice country into Tamil Nadu.

Arrive Madurai, Check-in at hilltop resort with views.

Attend Palli Arai evening ceremony at Meenakshi Temple.

Day
07
Madurai

Meenakshi Amman Temple complex — thousand-pillars hall.

Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal palace visit.

Gandhi Memorial Museum — curated historical collection.

Guided walks through Madurai bazaars and markets.

Day
08
Madurai - Chettinad (Karaikudi)

Drive to Chettinad via paddy fields and tamarind groves.

Chettinad mansion tour — courtyard houses and designs.

Multi-course Chettinad lunch served on banana leaf.

Athangudi tile workshop — traditional tile-making demo.

Day
09
Chettinad - Tanjore - Kumbakonam

Brihadishwara Temple, Tanjore — UNESCO Chola masterpiece.

Thanjavur Art Gallery — Chola bronzes and temple sculpture.

Drive to Kumbakonam, Check-in at heritage cottage.

Day
10
Kumbakonam

Airavateswara Temple — Hall of Musical Pillars (UNESCO).

Panch Rathas and temple ensemble sculptural highlights.

Kalamkari studio visit and pattu-silk weaving demo.

Optional: bullock-cart ride through village lanes.

Day
11
Kumbakonam - Mahabalipuram

Drive via Cauvery delta scenery, photo stops en route.

Arrive Mahabalipuram, Check-in at oceanfront resort.

Evening beach walk and visit to the local fishing community.

Day
12
Mahabalipuram

Shore Temple (8th c.) — coastal temple and Nandi sculptures.

Descent of the Ganga bas-relief (Arjuna’s Penance).

Cave temples: Varaha Mandapa, Krishna Mandapa, Trimurti Cave.

Panch Rathas and monolithic rock temples and photography.

Day
13
Mahabalipuram

Day at leisure — optional guided visits to workshops and beaches.

Time for seaside walking, craft shops and seaside relaxation.

Day
14
Mahabalipuram - Chennai — International Departure

Assisted check-out and transfer to Chennai Airport (≈1.5 hrs).

Connect with international flight or domestic transfer as needed.

Our services conclude at Chennai Airport.

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