Your day will start with a delicious breakfast followed by a guided sightseeing tour of Chennai.

A day in Chennai sightseeing includes the historic Fort St George, Vivekananda House and your first opportunity to sample a traditional Tamil thali meal. This is the staple lunch of the vast majority of the population of Tamil Nadu and consists of a large selection of gravies, spices, chutneys and condiments served with mountains of rice and an array of breads and rice-flour concoctions, traditionally served on a banana leaf.

You will visit one of the most famous eateries in Chennai- a great place to sample this fabulous food and meet some locals.

Overnight stay in Chennai.

Meals: Breakfast Included.

Have breakfast and check-out from the hotel to visit the ancient city of Kanchipuram - the ancient capital of the Pallavas, famous as a city of 1000 Temples and 124 shrines. A guided sightseeing tour through the city includes visit to popular shrines namely Ekambareshwara, Kailasanathar Temple and Kaanchi Kaamachi.

Next on the list is beach side town of Mahabalipuram, a popular UNESCO World Heritage Site located between Great Salt Lake and the Bay of Bengal. Mahabalipuram is famous for its rock carvings and the beautiful 7th century Shore Temple.

Mahabalipuram’s proximity to the rich fishing grounds of the Bay of Bengal and a number of excellent beachfront restaurants make this a great place to sample seafood. You will be able to select your own fish and choose the way you would like it cooked.

Stay overnight at your beach resort.

Meals: Breakfast Included.

Today enjoy a visit to the heritage museum DakshinaChitra. It is an exciting cross-cultural living museum of art, architecture, lifestyles, crafts and performing arts of South India. DakshinaChitra has a collection of 18 authentic historical houses with contextual exhibitions in each house. All the houses bought and reconstructed at DakshinaChitra had been given for demolition by their owners. The authentic homes in a regional vernacular style are purchased, taken down, transported, and reconstructed by artisans (Stapathis) of the regions from where the houses came.

Later enjoy a sightseeing tour of Mahabalipuram. Explore the best of this ancient towns UNESCO World Heritage listed monuments of Pancha Pandava Rathas, Varaha Mandapa and other structures that were built during 7th and 8th century.

Mahabalipuram today is a sleepy town but the legacy of the past is rich and the temples and rock carvings here are outstanding for their craftsmanship and sheer beauty.

Stay overnight at your beach resort.

Meals: Breakfast Included.

Fifth day of the trip is all about adding French experience to your holiday in India. We will drive you to the Puducherry (formerly known as Pondicherry), an erstwhile French colony. Located along the Bay of Bengal, this Union Territory offers bewitching views of swaying palms dotting pristine beaches, fishing villages, great seafood, quality wine and backwaters. Although the French left Pondicherry more than half a century ago, the city retains a strong Gallic feel. Rooftop restaurants serving a variety of excellent continental dishes, superb bakeries and wonderful cafes are all testimony to the lasting continental influence.

In the afternoon you will explore The French Quarter and Sri Aurobindo Ashram. While exploring these sites, you can easily identify the French influence in Pondicherry’s culture and architecture. Later spend some time in the Tamil Quarter which is far more 'Indian' in feel and home to some superb shops and boutiques.

Spend evening with the local family. You will experience a great insight into the lifestyle of Indian family. Later, you will be part of a cooking class with the local family. You will learn few local dishes and how to prepare them from with fresh ingredients. Enjoy the dinner prepared by you with the family.

Stay overnight at Le Pondy beach resort.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner Included.
 

Have delicious breakfast and we will drive you to your next destination Tanjore, a city with 1500 years of impressive history. The city features 1000-year-old Brihadishvara temple, one of the largest temples in South India.  The Sacred Bull made from a single piece of stone is one of the significant highlights in the temple.

Stay overnight at your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast Included.

The day kicks off early in the morning with drive to the Chettinad district of Tamil Nadu which is famous for its ornate mansions and equally unique and spectacular cuisine. There will be plenty of time to explore the villages, observe the local craft of tile making and visit the markets.

Plenty of options for the day including a bullock cart ride around the village. You may like to have your future predicted by the rather unusual method known as 'parrot astrology' in which a specially trained parrot selects a card from a Tarot-like deck and this is then interpreted by the fortune teller.

The unique cuisine of Chettinad is a major focus for visitors. The Chettinad style cuisine is famous throughout India with many restaurants offering Chettinad dishes. But here at the source of the style you can experience this wonderful food in its purest form- spicy and delicious but not hot, with complex combinations of flavours making every dish distinct and unforgettable. 

Later visit the village of Alangudi. This is a superb opportunity to explore a traditional way of rural life in South India. By walking around the village gives you the perfect opportunity of  meeting local people and seeing agricultural practices at close quarters.

Overnight stay in Tanjore.

Meals: Breakfast Included.

Madurai is the next stop on the itinerary - it is a mix of modern commercial centre and ancient pilgrimage site, melded together into a compelling whole. The emphasis of your time here is on the major sights - Meenakshi Temple and Tirumalai Nayak Palace but there will also be time to visit some of the multitude of bazaars and the flower and vegetable markets.

Our Madurai team offers a bespoke ‘food safari’ tour which many people regard as a highlight of their time in South India- visit local restaurants with one of our Madurai crew and sample the best food on offer in Madurai.

In the evening, you can plan to experience the night at popular Shree Meenakshi Temple. A procession takes place during the ceremony where the bronze idol of Lord Shiva is taken to the bedchamber of the Hindu deity, Parvati.

Return to your hotel and stay overnight.

Meals: Breakfast Included.

The day starts with a scenic drive to Periyar National park, Thekkady. The drive will take you through the lush agricultural areas and the Spice Market at Theni, which is one of the largest in South India.

Later be a part of wildlife boat ride over the beautiful Periyar Lake in Periyar National Park, one of the prominent elephants and tiger reserves in India and admire the gorgeous natural surroundings. You can explore various species of animals and birds and might get a glimpse of wild elephants, tigers, boars and bison.

In the evening return to the hotel for an overnight stay in Thekkady.

Meals: Breakfast Included.

Today, we will take you to Alleppey, often referred to as the ‘Venice of the East’, with its meandering lagoons, coconut trees, endless rows of paddy fields. 
Around 1200 hrs check in at the Houseboat and start your cruise through the rich and splendid backwater. It will be a unique and exclusive experience in your lifetime. You will be cruising along the village sides and paddy fields witnessing the core life of the Kerala villages for the whole day. 
The houseboat is fully furnished with bedrooms and a kitchen. 
Lunch, Dinner, and overnight stay at the houseboat.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.

Enjoy healthy breakfast and drive to Cochin. Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel. Guided sightseeing tour of the city is the highlight of Day 13.

Our sightseeing tour has some of the most renowned heritage sites in Fort Kochi and other parts of the city on its list. Also, you get an opportunity to explore St. Francis Church- the oldest church in India and explore the imposing Santa Cruz basilica built by the Portuguese.

Explore the heritage sites of Fort Kochi and shop for antiques and spices. Chinese fishing nets, the Dutch Palace and Jewish Synagogue are other highlights of the tour. You can several opportunities to find prized souvenirs such as spices and antiques while shopping at Jew Street.

Add a cultural tinge to the evening with a Kathakali dance performance at a popular cultural centre in Fort Kochi. Kathakali is a classical dance form which was originated in Kerala in 17th century. The, colourful dance is not merely a dance. It is an art form that comprises powerful storytelling with ritual, drama, and music.

Return to the hotel and stay overnight.

Meals: Breakfast Included.

Your next day of the tour starts with a delicious breakfast followed by a morning visit to the fish market.

Later, visit the home of Mrs. Nimmy Paul, a renowned Keralan Chef. Enjoy a traditional Hindu food "Sadhya" served on a banana leaf, an extensive meal usually served at weddings and other festivals. Nimmy will explain the traditions and history behind the dishes. During the afternoon Nimmy will lead a cooking demonstration in which you can also participate.

Rest of the evening is at leisure till next morning. Enjoy an overnight stay at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast Included.

Check out from your hotel and get a transfer to Cochin Airport. Board your flight and fly back with memories to cherish for life. Tour ends.

Meals: Breakfast Included.