Grand Tour of South India

Day 1 : Bangaluru

On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Day 2 : Bangaluru

After breakfast, enjoy a sightseeing tour of Bangaluru. Visit beautiful colonial styled St Mark’s cathedral and the Queens Park to see Queen Victoria Statue and Mahatma Ganghi statue, known as the father of the nation. Next we visit Cubbon Park that has famed Bangalore as the ‘Garden City of India’. The park stretches over 300acres and houses various Government Buildings to explore. Continue exploring museums and famous buildings as you learn more about the city’s heritage. Make a stop at the four decade-old M. Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium home of team ‘Royal Challengers Bangalore’. Transfer to your hotel late afternoon.

Day 3 : Bangaluru > Mysore

Today you will drive to Mysore. Check in at your hotel before going on a sightseeing tour. Visit the Mysore Palace – the official residence of ‘Royal Family of Mysore’ who ruled the princely state 1399 to 1950. The palace is an Indo-Saracenic masterpiece, having blends of Hindu, Muslim, Rajput, and Gothic styles. Explore artifacts and important cultural symbols. Later enjoy panoramic sunset views of the city before returning to your hotel.

Day 4 : Mysore > Ooty

Travel to Ooty, a beautiful hill station with charming British Raj era houses. Upon arrival you will check in at your hotel.

Day 5 : Ooty > Coonoor > Coimbatore

Today morning you will be taken for scenic tour of Ooty visiting the 1848 built Botanical Garden famed as a living gallery of natural flora of the Nilgiris housing some of the oldest fossils some dating back to 20 million years. Next, we take you on scenic Lake Boatride on Pykara Lake, and if time permits, we continue spotting some more hidden Lakes of Ooty. In the afternoon transfer to Ooty Train Station to aboard your heritage steam train of Nilgiri Mountain Railway to Coonoor, located in the Nilgiri Hills of Western Ghats. Transfer to Coimbatore on arrival and check in to your hotel.

Day 6 : Coimbatore > Chennai

After breakfast transfer to the local airport for your flight to Chennai.

Day 7 : Chennai

Today witness history of colonial Madras from British East India Company and explore an architectural diversity of traditional ‘Dravidian’ styles with European influences. You will explore the fort St. George, built in 17th century, St. Marys church and learn about the real life of Madras as you stroll through the bustling bazaars of George Town. After your tour, return to your hotel.

Day 8 : Chennai > Mahabalipuram

This morning drive to Mahabalipuram, an ancient seaport, for an historic tour in the afternoon. Explore Shore temple dating back to 8th century AD, located on the sea shore and houses three shrines: one of Lord Vishnu and two of Lord Shiva. Next we visit Five Rathas also known as Pancha Rathas, these rock temples are a remarkable example of Dravidian style architecture, constructed in the form of pagodas and resembling Buddhist shrines and monasteries.

Day 9 : Mahabalipuram > Pondicherry

Travel to Indo-French Pondicherry, established in 1674.

Day 10 : Pondicherry

Today explore an existing French Colony with a unique heritage, architecture and lifestyle. Enjoy Heritage Walk in colonial streets of Old Pondicherry Town to discover Indo-French heritage evident all around. Later visit to Auroville, an experimental community founded in 1968 by the spiritual leader Mirra Alfassa as a town where people from all over the world could live in harmony. Return to your hotel.
In the evening you will enjoy a French Masterclass followed by dinner.

Day 11 : Pondicherry > Kumbakonam > Tanjore

Drive to Tanjore via Kumbakonam, where you will visit the UNESCO Heritage Site Chola Temples. On arrival in Tanjore, enjoy the day at leisure before a sightseeing tour late in the afternoon. Visit Maratha Palace and join a gold painting tour.

Day 12 : Tanjore > Madurai

Travel to Madurai after your breakfast. Madurai is an ancient city located on the banks of ‘River Vaigai’, Madurai is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world that majorly traded with ancient Rome. In evening head out for Pooja ceremony at Meenakshi temple and participate in Sacred Aarti Ceremony.

Day 13 : Madurai >  Kovalam, Trivandrum

Enjoy a tour of the medieval city of Madurai. Visit 17th century Tirumalai Nayak Palace built by ‘Nayaka Dynasty’ that ruled Madurai, and showcases indigenous to Islamic architecture with masterpiece of giant pillars, remainder of the Roman Empire. Explore the 6th Century BC built Meenakshi Temple. Visit a local market before driving to Kovalam, a neighbourhood of Trivandrum. Kovalam is a popular beachside town by the Arabian Sea located 16 Km from Kerala’s capital city of Trivandrum. This small town is known for its secluded coastline.

Day 14 : Trivandrum

Enjoy your day at leisure. You can relax at your resort or enjoy a traditional Ayurveda massage, an ancient healing massage using herbal oils to detoxify the mind-body-soul.

Day 15 : Trivandrum > Alleppey > Kerala Backwater Cruise

Drive to Alleppey for an overnight aboard the Backwater Cruise. Relax and enjoy journey at a leisure pace as we cruise through scenic backwaters of South India made up of finest lakes and lagoons, floating villages, and spot rural and wildlife passing by.

Day 16 : Kerala Backwater Cruise > Alleppey > Periyar

Arrive at Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Upon arrival you will be checked-in to your eco-friendly retreat resembling a traditonal village using thatched built from elephant grass. Later enter on a shared boat ride inside the infamous Periyar National Park to sight some of the rare flora and fauna of South India.

Day 17 : Periyar > Munnar

Today early morning join hiking and bamboo rafting activities through some of the richest forest tracts of Periyar Tiger Reserve. Animals like Elephant, Gaur and Sambar deer are sighted keeping close to the edges of the lake. Return to your hotel for checkout before driving to Munnar. Located high in the Cardamom Hills, Munnar was developed to cultivate spices and varieties of tea plants during the British Raj Era.

Day 18 : Munnar

Today enjoy a tea tour and tasting in one of the country’s finest plantations. You will be taken to a family owned tea plantation in the region. Learn about growing tea and visit a tea factory to see how tealeaves are classified, processed and packaged. We also visit the iconic Tata Tea Factory and Museum. Enjoy tasting the various spices, herbs to teas that are regional to the area. The fragrance is in the air! Transfer to your hotel and just relax and enjoy the sunset views.

Day 19 : Munnar > Kochi

Travel to one of South India’s first European colonies, Kochi. Located by the Arabian Sea, Cochin aka Kochi is a major port city and a tourist hub in the Southern India. Nowhere else in India could you find such an intriguing mix: giant fishing nets from China, a 400-year-old synagogue, traditional art-crafts scene complimented with traditional Live Dances called Kathakali.

Day 20 : Kochi

Join a city tour and discover traditional houses at vibrant Princess Street having a mix of British, Portuguese, and Dutch architecture. Stop at Old Kochi beach and a small fishing village, visit India’s oldest European churches built by Portuguese Friars, The St Francis Church.

In afternoon we take you to local South Indian family residence for an ethnic Anglo-Indian Masterclass session followed by lunch. Next we drive or hop-on a Local tuk-tuk ride to Mattancherry, a hub for spice trading and historic sites. Inside 16th century Portuguese Dutch Palace featuring preserved murals from Hindu and South Indian epics. Explore the infamous Jew Town of Kochi where resides a 400 year-old Pardesi Jewish Synagogue. Afterwards we explore street markets including spice walking tour.

Return back to your hotel. Later in evening we take you to a vintage wood-lined theatre for a traditional Kathakali Live Dances of Kerala, completed with ancient story telling using intimate hand-eye coordination. Before the show begins, we take you backstage to witness the Dancers authentic make-up ceremony and routine.

Day 21 : Kochi

After breakfast, transfer to the airport where arrangements end.