The Best Kept Secret of Kerala & Tamilnadu

12 Days Duration

Experiences

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About This Tour

Discover the cultural richness and natural beauty of South India on this 12-day journey through Kerala and Tamil Nadu. From historic Cochin and the tranquil bac...

Duration: 12 Days · Tour type: Private · Activity level: Easy · Accommodation: Included · Transport: Included · Wheelchair access: No · Cities: Kochi, Alappuzha, Pondicherry, Chennai, Madurai, Trichy, Tanjore, Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram, Munnar, Darasuram, Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Chidambaram, Thekkady, Eravikulam National Park, Periyar National Park · Languages: English

Know before you go: PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION NEARBY; STROLLER OR PRAM ACCESSIBLE; Infants must not sit on laps; Infant seats unavailable; Not suitable for pets; Not wheelchair accessible; Hotels used or similar for 11 nights accommodationCochin x 1 night3* - The Dune Hotel/ Abad Plaza4* - Casino Hotel/ The Avenue Regent5* - Xandari Harbour/ Le MeridienAlleppey x 1 night3* - Deluxe Houseboat (ATDC Houseboat/ Dream Boats)4* - Premium Houseboat (Abad Premium Houseboats/ Rainbow Premium Houseboats)5* - Luxury Houseboat (Xandari Riverscapes/ Lakes & Lagoons)Pariyar (Thekkady) x 2 night3* - Abad Green Forest/ Hotel Treetop4* - The Elephant Court/ Cardamom County5* - Spice village/ Cardamom CountyMunnar x 2 nights3* - Fort Munnar/ Abad Copper Castle4* - Nature Zone Jungle Resort/ Fragrant Nature Munnar5* - Chandys Windy Woods/ Tea CountyMadurai x 1 night3* - Astoria by Sparsa/ Madurai’s Residency4* - GRT Regency/ Fortune Pandiyan Hotel5* - Heritage Madurai/ The Gateway Hotel PasumalaiThanjavur x 1 night3* - Grand Gardenia/ Oriental Towers4* - Le Pondy/ The Windflower Resort & Spa5* - SvatmaPondicherry x 2 night3* - Shenbaga Hotel/ Annamalai International4* - Le Pondy/ The Windflower Resort & Spa5* - Palais De Mahe/ La VillaChennai x 1 night3* - Raj Park/ MGM East Woods4* - The Raintree/ Accord Metropolitan5* - ITC Grand Chola/ The Leela Palace

About Chennai

India

Chennai

Fusing ancient Hindu temples with big business, Chennai is now home to heritage sites and call centers aplenty. Get a private travel guide to help you explore this sprawling metropolis of Tamil Nadu.

Explore Chennai India All destinations

What's Included

Breakfast
Dinner
Lunch
Assistance on arrival at the airport.
11 Nights' accommodation (if option selected) in selected price category hotels.
Private AC car/van for airport transfers, sightseeing, and excursions as per the program.
English speaking tour guide on sightseeing days (local guide in each city), as per the program
Monument entrances and activity charges mentioned in the itinerary.
Bottled drinking water in the car.
Government taxes.

Not Included

Any flight ticket.
Camera charges at monuments if any.
Meals other than mentioned in inclusions.
Expenses of personal nature like liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, internet, etc.
Gratuities and optional activities.
Anything not mentioned in the inclusions.

Itinerary

1

Day 01

Arrive CochinOn arrival at Cochin airport assistance & transfer hotel, check in. In the evening enjoy Kathakali, a traditional dance form of Kerala with lavish costumes, exotic makeup, masks etc.Overnight at hotel.
2

Day 02

Cochin - Alleppey (60kms)Breakfast at hotel. Morning city tour visiting Fort Cochin St. Frances Church, Jewish Synagogue, Mattancherry Dutchs Palace & Chinese fishing nets.Later transfer to Alleppey boat jetty to board houseboat and sail through the tropical countryside enchanting backwaters. The Houseboats have generated electricity, sitting cum dining area, separate bedroom with attached English toilets, sun deck and fully loaded kitchen with a chef & driver.Overnight in Houseboat.
3

Day 03

Alleppey - Thekkady (160kms)Breakfast at hotel. Disembark from houseboat and drive to Thekkady check in at hotel. Evening watch Martial Arts & Kathakali Dance show.Overnight at hotel.
4

Day 04

ThekkadyBreakfast at hotel. Explore Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary on a boat. Sanctuary is home to tigers, elephant, rare lion-tailed macaques, sambar deer, leopards and Indian bison. Later spice plantation tour to see crops of cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, coffee etc.Overnight at hotel.
5

Day 05

Thekkady - Munnar (100kms)Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Munnar via Ramakkalmedu one of the windiest places in Asia and being so, one can find here a wind farm generating electricity. Visit Frog Rock, Turtle Rock and the highest twin-statue in Kerala called Kuravan & Kurathi.Continue drive to Munnar check in at hotel.Overnight at hotel.
6

Day 06

MunnarBreakfast at hotel. Visit Pothamedu, Mattupetty dam, Rajamala hill, Eravikulam National Park, Mattupedi Farm, Echo Point & Tea Museum.Overnight at hotel.
7

Day 07

Munnar - Madurai (160kms)Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Madurai check in at hotel. Later visit Meenakshi Temple, Thirumalai Nayakar Palace, Alagar Koil, Tiruparankundram Murugan Temple & Palamuthirsolai Murugan Temple.Overnight at hotel.
8

Day 08

Madurai - Trichy - Thanjavur (190kms)Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Thanjavur, via visiting Trichy Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Rock Fort Temple & Jambukeshwara temple. On arrival check in at hotel.Later visit Brihadeshwara Temple built by great Chola king in the 10th century. Also visit Thanjavur Palace & Museum.Overnight at hotel.
9

Day 09

Thanjavur - Darasuram - Gangaikondacholapuram - Chidambaram - Pondicherry (180kms)Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Pondicherry via visiting The Great Living Chola Temples at Darasuram, Airavateshwarar Temple a storehouse of art and architecture and Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple complex which includes Nandi Mandapa, Alankar Mandapa, Maha Mandapa, Mukha Mandapa and Ardha Mandapa. Also visit Chidambaram Nataraja Temple dedicated to the dancing posture of Lord Shiva.Overnight at hotel.
10

Day 10

PondicherryBreakfast at hotel. Visit Aurovil & Pondicherry Museum. Drive pass or walk through stunning French Quarters, charming mustard streets and colonial villas which include French consulate, Raj Nivas, Government Square, Churches & French schools. Rest time free and easy to rtelax on the beach.Overnight at hotel.
11

Day 11

Pondicherry - Mahabalipuram - Kanchipuram - Chennai (240kms)Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Chennai enroute visit Mahabalipuram Monolithic Temples, Five Rathas, Krishna Butterball, Cave Temples, Shore Temple & The Arjuna Penance.Next visit Kanchipuram Kailasanathar temple, Ekambareswarar temple, Varadharaja temple, Vaikundhaperumal temple & Kamakshiamman temple.Continue drive to Chennai check in and o/n at hotel.Overnight at hotel.
12

Day 12

Chennai - Departure (Flight)Breakfast at hotel. City tour of Chennai visit Fort St. George, St Mary's Church inside the fortress, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Vadapalani Murugan Temple, Government Museum, Dakshinachitra Museum, Santhome Cathedral & Marina Beach.Later as per flight schedule transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.