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Explore the beaches, bazaars and backwaters of Southern India, from Chennai to Kovalam
Travel to India and embark on this classic southern India tour from Chennai to Kovalam Beach. Lush, tropical southern India is charming, captivating and hospitable. Discover a thousand shades of green and share smiles with the friendly local people. Experience the culture, religion and history of this region in its small rural towns, quaint fishing villages and scented spice plantations. This is a fabulous part of India includes Kerala and follows the road less travelled - without sacrificing too many creature comforts.
- Start
- Chennai, India
- Finish
- Kovalam, India
- Destination
- India
- Style
- Peregrine
- Code
- PIES
- Physical rating
- Trip rating
- 50 reviews
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1, Max 12
Why you'll love this trip
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Discover a different side to India on east to west coast trip that takes in beaches and temples, hidden waterways and jungle, and rolling tea-covered mountains and spice plantations
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Chennai is a flurry of ordered chaos, but find peace at the magnificent Kapaleeshwarar Temple at its centre
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Explore the beautiful seaside town of Puducherry, a mix of idyllic and contemporary lifestyle
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Feel the weight of history and learn about the man who dedicated his life to the independence of India at The National Gandhi Museum
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Track footprints in search of wild elephants in the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
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Ferry-hop between the islands of Fort Kochi to discover palaces, temples and Portuguese architecture at every turn
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In Kochi enjoy the trendy 1960' themed Art Deco feature stay hotel at the Grand Kochi Hotel
Is this trip right for you?
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This trip now drives by private vehicle on Day 5 for approximately 5 hours after past traveller feedback about the train journey.
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There are some long travel days on this departure, which can be tiresome but offer a quintessential Indian experience.
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The drive to Munnar on Day 9 is on windy roads into the mountains. Motion sickness can be an issue for some, but the scenery is stunning and regular stops will be made to break up your journey.
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Itinerary
Accommodation
- Lemon Tree Hotel Guindy or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.Accommodation
- The Wildflower Resort & Spa or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Mamallapuram - Shore Temple
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Accommodation
- The Windflower Resort & Spa or Similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Auroville - Experimental township
- Puducherry - Walking tour & Sri Aurobindo Ashram
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Accommodation
- Poppy's Hotel or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Accommodation
- Poppy's Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Madurai - Sri Meenakshi 1000 Pillar Entrance
- Madurai - Sri Meenakshi Temple
- Madurai - Gandhi Museum
- Madurai - Walking tour
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Accommodation
- Rangerwood Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Periyar - Spice plantation visit
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Accommodation
- Rangerwood Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Periyar - Guided nature walk
Optional Activities
- Periyar NP - Ayurvedic Massage - INR700
- Periyar - Kalaripayattu (Indian Martial Art) performance - INR200
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
please note the optional Ayurvedic massage price starts at INR700. The range is INR700 to INR4000Accommodation
- Hotel Eastend or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Munnar - Tea Garden visit
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Accommodation
- Hotel Eastend or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Munnar - Mattupetty Dam
- Munnar - Town Walk
Meals Included
- Breakfast
In the early evening you will also witness a Kathakali dance performance, a classical, powerful, and dramatic dance style that combines symbolic storytelling with physical technique. It is one of the most vibrant and extraordinary theatre forms in the world, and requires incredible commitment and rigorous training physically, as well as incredible emotional sensitivity to properly express the nuances of expression required.
Accommodation
- The Grand Hotel (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Kochi - Fort Kochi walk
- Kochi - Kathakali performance
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
Please note that Kerala is officially a dry state, with alcohol sales and consumption limited to bars in 5 star hotels.Maybe ask your tour leader to make a booking at the excellent restaurant at the Grand Hotel.
Accommodation
- The Grand Hotel (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Tour
- Kochi - Jewish Synagogue
- Kochi - Dutch Palace
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Accommodation
- Pickadaley Houseboat (1 night)
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Accommodation
- Uday Samudra Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Kovalam - Walking tour
Optional Activities
- Kovalam - Anchuthengu Fort - INR50
- Kovalam - Koyikkal Palace - INR50
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Kovalam is a lovely place to spend some extra days on the beach. Peregrine can organise a departure transfer to the airport in Trivandrum otherwise your leader will assist you in booking a taxi.
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Meals
13 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinnerTransport
Boat, Private vehicleAccommodation
Comfortable Hotel (10 nights), Houseboat (1 night), Kochi Feature Stay (2 nights)Included Activities
- Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
- Mamallapuram - Shore Temple
- Auroville - Experimental township
- Puducherry - Walking tour & Sri Aurobindo Ashram
- Madurai - Sri Meenakshi 1000 Pillar Entrance
- Madurai - Sri Meenakshi Temple
- Madurai - Gandhi Museum
- Madurai - Walking tour
- Periyar - Spice plantation visit
- Periyar - Guided nature walk
- Munnar - Tea Garden visit
- Munnar - Mattupetty Dam
- Munnar - Town Walk
- Kochi - Fort Kochi walk
- Kochi - Kathakali performance
- Tour
- Kochi - Jewish Synagogue
- Kochi - Dutch Palace
- Kovalam - Walking tour
Dates & availability
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There are currently no scheduled departures on our Essence of South India trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.
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Important notes
A single supplement is available for this trip and is applicable for all nights on tour.

Essential trip information
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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