Best of southern India - 2 weeks Kerala to Pondicherry and back

14 days Kerala INDIA
GBP 859.00 per person Based on Double occupancy + flights additional

Based on a minimum of 8 to a maximum of 14

My Own Room (single supplement) GBP 479.00

£100 Deposit payable on registration.
Departure Saturday 3rd Nov. from London

Sunday 4th Nov. Arrival Day

ITINERARY:

Day 1: 4th November - Kochi
Arriving in at 805am or 835am depending on your flight. Transfer to the starting hotel. Arrival transfers included. 
Take a orientation walk to the Dutch Palace, Jewish synagogue, and town. Enjoy a kathakali performance.

Day 2: 5th November - Kochi/Kalpetta
Take a morning train followed by a scenic drive to reach Kalpetta, in the Wayanad district.

Day 3: 6th November - Kalpetta
Walk the nature trails in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and prehistoric Eddakal Caves.

Day 4: 7th November - Kalpetta/Mudumalai
Spend the night at the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary provides one of the most important refuges for elephants and bison in India.

Day 5: 8th November - Mudumalai/Mysore
Visit the Chamundi Temple and Mysore Palace.

Day 6: 9th November - Mysore/Māmallapuram
Enjoy a full day of train travel to Chennai before a short bus ride to Mamallapuram. Visit the Shore Temple.

Day 7: 10th November - Māmallapuram
Free time to explore Mamallapuram.

Day 8: 11th November - Māmallapuram/Puducherry
Continue to Pondicherry (now known as Puducherry) and learn about Sri Aurobindo Ghose at the ashram.

Day 9: 12th November - Puducherry/Madurai
Travel inland to Madurai, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

Day 10: 13th November - Madurai
Hope on a cycle rickshaw for a tour of the city before visiting the famous Meenakshi Temple.

Day 11: 14th November - Madurai/Periyār Sanctuary
Drive to Thekkady. Take a guided tour of spice plantations in the Cardamom Hills.
Meals included: Dinner

Day 12: 15th November - Periyār Sanctuary/Kerala Backwaters
Take a private bus to Alleppey followed by a riverboat to a homestay. Experience local life and a guided walk along the lagoon.
Exclusive Inclusions:Local Living Kerala Backwaters Homestay
Meals included: Lunch | Dinner

Day 13: 16th November - Kerala Backwaters/Kochi
Travel back to Kochi.
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 14: 17th November - Kocki
Depart at any time.

As you can imagine, there are 100's and 100's of pictures showing magnificent temples, beaches, food, national parks and more....but suffice it to say, there is so much colour, sound and interesting things to see that you will never be bored.

Introduction

From calm Kerala backwaters and spice plantations to incredible temples and searching for tigers in the wild, have your camera ready as you experience the highlights of Southern India. This 2-week adventure offers a great balance of guided excursions and free time to explore on your own. Travelling by train, bus, rickshaw, and country boats will bring you closer to the locals and is a fascinating way to gain insight into the peaceful backwaters of Kerala and stunning temples of Tamilnadu.

Included:

Fort Kochi orientation walk. Kathakali dance show. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary walk. Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary safari. Chaumundi Temple and Mysore Palace visit. Mamallapuram Shore Temple visit. Pondicherry orientation walk. Madurai cycle-rickshaw ride and Sri Meenakshi Temple visit. Cardamom Hills spice plantation tour. Kerala backwaters homestay with guide. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.

Highlights
Relax in peaceful backwaters, spot wildlife in beautiful parks, uncover ancient temples, explore tea and spice plantations, take a rickshaw ride through the streets of Madurai

Dossier Disclaimer

The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience.

Important Notes

1. CULTURE
India is a country which is very different to anything you will have experienced before. Although this means it is not the easiest place to travel, this is also what makes it so special. Pollution, poverty and the crowds can result in initial culture shock but should be seen as an exciting new challenge. During our time here we have come to love this large and wonderfully different country but we know that we should always expect to encounter some difficulties along the way.

In India there are very different attitudes to time keeping, public cleanliness, privacy and service. Trains will sometimes be late, plumbing can sometimes be temperamental and power will often just vanish. Optimistic menus turn out to have only one dish available and everyone, just everyone, will want to know your name. If you are able to travel with a lot of patience and a healthy sense of humour, then we know that you - like all of us - will be captivated by what India has to offer.

GBP 859.00 per person Based on Double occupancy

Based on a minimum of 8 to a maximum of 14

My Own Room (single supplement) GBP 479.00