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Days
14
Price from
2035USD
Map of Essence of South India including India

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
29 reviews
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • 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

  • Chennai is a flurry of ordered chaos, but find peace at the magnificent Kapaleeshwarar Temple at its centre

  • Explore the beautiful seaside town of Puducherry, a mix of idyllic and contemporary lifestyle

  • Feel the weight of history and learn about the man who dedicated his life to the independence of India at The National Gandhi Museum

  • Track footprints in search of wild elephants in the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

  • Ferry-hop between the islands of Fort Kochi to discover palaces, temples and Portuguese architecture at every turn

  • In Kochi enjoy the trendy 1960' themed Art Deco feature stay hotel at the Grand Kochi Hotel

Is this trip right for you?

  • There are a number of long travel days on this trip. Some journeys take up to six hours, but are a great opportunity to get to know locals, fellow travellers and the diverse scenery.

  • 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.

  • Southern India can get very hot during the summer so remember to bring lots of water and a variety of clothing. Wearing light, loose layers is one of the best ways to tackle the heat.

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Floating Meenakshi temple, Madurai, India
Tea plantation hills, Kerala, India
Visitors at Periyar national park, Kerala, India
Boathouse among the palm trees, Kerala backwaters, India

Itinerary
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Welcome to Chennai, India. You will be met on arrival at the airport and transferred to your hotel. This adventure will begin with an important group meeting at 6 pm when we'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information, so please ensure you have all these details to provide to your leader. If you arrive in Chennai with free time to spare, take the chance to walk around India’s fourth largest city and perhaps visit the local marketplaces and temples. In the evening, maybe join your fellow travellers for dinner.
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.
Special Information
The arrival transfer is only valid if arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through us. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 14 days prior to travel, as we may not be able to confirm a request made within 14 days of travel.

This morning you will leave the city behind and drive along the scenic East Coast Road (approximately 2 hours) to the fishing town of Mamallapuram, home to sprawling, relaxed beaches. Visit the 8th-century Shore Temple and its mandapams (carved pillars) and watch locals pay their respects to the deity Shiva. Later in the afternoon continue the drive to Pondicherry (approximately 3 hours). On arrival the rest of your evening is free.
Accommodation
  • The Wildflower Resort & Spa or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Mamallapuram - Shore Temples guided tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Today you will visit Auroville, which sits just outside Pondicherry and is an experimental township dedicated to the concept of human unity. With more than 80 rural settlements and home to over 1500 residents, half of the town’s population are foreign nationals. Auroville is also home to the world’s largest solid crystal, which you can examine. Return to Pondicherry for a walking tour to see local temples, the French Quarter and the spiritual community of Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Evidence of the French colonial period is everywhere – the architecture, sprawling town squares and even in the police uniforms. 
Accommodation
  • The Windflower Resort & Spa or Similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Auroville - Experimental township
  • Puducherry - Leader-led walking tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Today, continue by private vehicle to Madurai (6 hours), with plenty of bathroom and chai stops along the way. After arriving in the city in the late afternoon, head out on a short orientation walk of the local area to get your bearings. The rest of the day is free. 
Accommodation
  • Poppy's Hotel or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Continue your walking exploration of Madurai today. Take guided wanders through the Tailor's Market, the  local bazaars and the Sri Meenakshi Temple. Still in use today, this ancient temple is a maze of lamp-lit corridors leading to shrines where traditional rituals take place. Next is the National Gandhi Museum, dedicated to the life and achievements of the 'Father of the Nation' and the leader of India's fight for independence. This evening is free for you to use as you wish.
Accommodation
  • Poppy's Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Madurai - Sri Meenakshi 1000 Pillar Entrance
  • Madurai - Sri Meenakshi Temple
  • Madurai - Gandhi Museum
  • Madurai - Leader-led walking tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Travel to countryside Thekkady by private vehicle on a roughly 4-hour drive past rubber and pineapple plantations. Thekkady is the gateway to Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve, perched high in the ranges of the Western Ghats. This afternoon, take a tour of a local spice plantation.
Accommodation
  • Rangerwood Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Periyar - Spice plantation visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

This morning, take a guided nature walk in the acclaimed Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Look out for tiger tracks, spotted deer, Indian elephants or gaur – the world's largest species of buffalo. You are most likely to encounter Bonnet macaques and the Malabar giant squirrel, a species native to India. The rest of your day is free, but you might want to unwind with an optinoal ayurvedic massage or attend an exciting demonstration of Indian martial arts (kalaripayattu) at the Kadathanadan Kalari Centre.
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 INR 700. The range is INR 700–INR 4000.

This morning drive north to Munnar (approximately 4 hours), an old British Hill Station cradled in a picturesque valley. At 1525 metres above sea level, there’s likely to be dramatic drop in temperature here, so have your jacket ready! Take a tour of a nearby tea garden on arrival, where you can soak up the luscious green surrounds. There may be an opportunity to visit the tea museum, though opening hours are irregular so this cannot be guaranteed. This evening, relax at your mountain resort.
Accommodation
  • Hotel Eastend or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Munnar - Tea Garden visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

This morning take a guided walk around the lush hills of Munnar, India’s largest tea-growing region and favourite summer retreat during the British Colonial era. In the afternoon, journey out to the scenic Mattupetty Dam where you can take an optional motorboat ride. Return to Munnar for a free evening.
Accommodation
  • Hotel Eastend or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Munnar - Mattupetty Dam
  • Munnar - Town Walk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

In the morning, drive from the tea covered hills to Kochi (approximately 5 hours). Cochin, as it was formerly known, is spread over several islands and is a melting pot of Portuguese, Dutch, Chinese and British influences. On arrival, take some time to relax after a long drive. In the early evening you will enjoy a Kathakali dance performance. This classical dance style combines symbolic storytelling with physical technique. It is one of the most vibrant and extraordinary theatre forms in the world and proficiency requires incredible commitment and rigorous training.
Accommodation
  • The Grand Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • 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.

Today, you will explore the antique shops and spice bazaars, visit Fort Kochi and see the Chinese fishing nets that line the coast. You will also stop at the Dutch Palace (Mattancherry Palace), which was built in the 16th century by the Portuguese and later claimed by the Dutch in 1663. Continue to the Paradesi Synagogue, the oldest existing Jewish synagogue in India, built in 1568. The rest of your day is free.
Accommodation
  • The Grand Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Kochi - Ferry to Mattancherry
  • Kochi - Jewish Synagogue
  • Kochi - Dutch Palace
  • Kochi - Leader-led Fort Kochi walking tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Drive to the backwaters of Kerala this morning (approximately 3 hours) and discover Alleppey’s sleepy, palm-shaded waterways. Once a significant trading port, the town is now famed for the long ‘snake boat’ races that take place in August every year. Tonight, you'll sleep on a traditional Kettuvallam (houseboat). These floating cottages have western toilets, private bedrooms, a dining area and open deck where you can relax.
Accommodation
  • Pickadaley Houseboat (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Drive to Kovalam (approximately 4 hours). Kovalam was once a quiet coastal village known for its export of fresh fish and coconuts but is now one of India’s most popular beach resorts. On arrival, set out on a walking tour. The rest of your day is free, but you might want to make an optional excursion to the 16th-century Koyikkal Palace.
Accommodation
  • Uday Samudra Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Kovalam - Leader-led walking tour
Optional Activities
  • Kovalam - Anchuthengu Fort - INR50
  • Kovalam - Koyikkal Palace - INR50
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

No activities are included today and your trip ends after breakfast. We can organise a departure transfer to the airport in Trivandrum if you organise it in advance. Otherwise your leader will assist you in booking a taxi.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

13 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Transport

Boat, Private vehicle

Accommodation

Comfortable hotel (12 nights), Houseboat Feature Stay (1 night)

Included Activities

  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
  • Mamallapuram - Shore Temples guided tour
  • Auroville - Experimental township
  • Puducherry - Leader-led walking tour
  • Madurai - Sri Meenakshi 1000 Pillar Entrance
  • Madurai - Sri Meenakshi Temple
  • Madurai - Gandhi Museum
  • Madurai - Leader-led walking tour
  • Periyar - Spice plantation visit
  • Periyar - Guided nature walk
  • Munnar - Tea Garden visit
  • Munnar - Mattupetty Dam
  • Munnar - Town Walk
  • Kochi - Kathakali performance
  • Kochi - Ferry to Mattancherry
  • Kochi - Jewish Synagogue
  • Kochi - Dutch Palace
  • Kochi - Leader-led Fort Kochi walking tour
  • Kovalam - Leader-led walking tour

Dates & availability - 2021 season

Trip departures are unavailable.

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

1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

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.

View Essential Trip Information

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