South India Wildlife, Backwaters and Beaches Tour

Welcome to Chennai International Airport. Our representative will meet you at the airport and escort you by air-conditioned car to your pre-booked hotel in Chennai. During check-in, you will receive the documents and service information for the tour, with time to clarify any queries regarding the itinerary and included services. If you arrive on an early flight and have sufficient time after settling in, take a short orientation drive through the city, with an opportunity to visit Marina Beach and explore a nearby market. The remainder of the evening is free for relaxation. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, proceed for a full-day sightseeing tour of Chennai. Begin with Fort St. George, established by the English East India Company in the 17th century and today an important historic complex associated with the Tamil Nadu government. Continue to San Thome Basilica, a major Christian pilgrimage site traditionally associated with the tomb of St. Thomas the Apostle. Visit Kapaleeshwarar Temple, a prominent Dravidian-style Shiva temple in Mylapore, followed by Parthasarathy Temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna. Continue to Guindy National Park and Snake Park if time permits. In the evening, explore Marina Beach and the surrounding waterfront. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive to Tirupati, one of India's most important pilgrimage centres and the gateway to the sacred Tirumala Hills. On arrival, check in at the hotel and refresh. Later, proceed towards Tirumala for Darshan of Lord Venkateswara, subject to the applicable TTD booking, queue and temple schedule. The temple stands on the seven hills of Tirumala and attracts pilgrims throughout the year. Depending on time and temple schedules, additional visits can include Sri Varahaswami Temple, Sri Bedi Anjaneyaswami Temple or Sri Govindarajaswami Temple. Return to Tirupati for overnight stay.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive towards Kanchipuram, one of Tamil Nadu's historic temple cities and a former Pallava capital. Visit Kailasanathar Temple, one of the finest surviving early Pallava structural temples, followed by Ekambareswarar Temple, Kamakshi Amman Temple and Vaikunta Perumal Temple, subject to opening hours and access restrictions. Kanchipuram is also renowned for its traditional silk weaving, and time can be set aside to explore the local silk market. Continue to Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram), a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing Pallava rock-cut caves, monolithic rathas, open-air reliefs and structural temples dating mainly from the 7th and 8th centuries. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, continue exploring Mahabalipuram. Visit the Shore Temple, the Pancha Rathas, Arjuna's Penance, Krishna Mandapam, Mahishasuramardini Cave and Varaha Cave. These monuments illustrate the Pallava experimentation with rock-cut, monolithic and structural architecture that made Mahabalipuram an important stage in the development of South Indian temple architecture. Later, check out and drive to Pondicherry (Puducherry). On arrival, check in at the hotel. In the evening, take a walk along the seafront promenade and explore the historic French Quarter, including its streets, colonial-era buildings and public landmarks. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive towards Thanjavur. En route, visit Chidambaram, one of Tamil Nadu's major Shaiva pilgrimage centres and home to the celebrated Thillai Nataraja Temple. The temple is dedicated to Shiva as Nataraja, the cosmic dancer, and is particularly associated with the Chidambaram tradition of his sacred dance. The temple's religious traditions also connect it with the element of space, represented through the Chidambara Rahasya. Continue to Thanjavur and check in at the hotel. The evening is free for relaxation and independent exploration. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, explore the heritage of Thanjavur. Visit the magnificent Brihadisvara Temple, built under Chola ruler Rajaraja I in the early 11th century and now part of the UNESCO World Heritage property Great Living Chola Temples. The temple is one of the defining achievements of Chola Dravida architecture, with its monumental vimana, sculptural programme and surviving inscriptions. Continue to Thanjavur Maratha Palace and the Saraswathi Mahal Library, known for its historic manuscript collections. Later drive towards Madurai, en route visiting Trichy. Explore Rockfort Temple, perched on the historic rocky outcrop, followed by Srirangam and, subject to time, Jambukeswarar Temple. Continue to Madurai for overnight stay.

After breakfast, explore Madurai, one of Tamil Nadu's historic temple cities. Visit the magnificent Meenakshi Amman Temple, whose present monumental complex developed primarily under the Nayak rulers and is renowned for its towering gopurams, sculptural halls and living temple traditions. Continue to Thirumalai Nayak Palace, known for its monumental courtyard and ornate arches, followed by Koodal Azhagar Temple. Depending on time, visit Thirupparankundram Murugan Temple and Alagar Koyil or Pazhamudircholai. In the evening, return to the Meenakshi temple area to experience the evening rituals and atmosphere, subject to temple schedule and access. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive towards Ooty (Udhagamandalam), travelling from the plains into the Nilgiri Hills. The route gradually changes from the dry and temple-rich landscapes of Tamil Nadu to the cooler mountain environment of the Nilgiris. On arrival, check in at the hotel and refresh. The evening is free for leisure, allowing time to explore the nearby streets, local shops or the surroundings of the hill station. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, explore Ooty. Begin at the Government Botanical Garden, established in the 19th century and spread across approximately 55 acres, with landscaped gardens, ornamental plants, rare species and a fossilized tree estimated to be around 20 million years old. Continue to Ooty Lake, where boating is available subject to operating conditions. Visit Fernhill Palace, historically associated with the Maharaja of Mysuru, followed by the Ooty Golf Course. Later drive to Doddabetta Peak, the highest mountain in the Nilgiri range at 2,623 metres, for panoramic views across the surrounding hills. If time permits, continue to the scenic Pine Forest. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, travel from Ooty to Coonoor aboard the historic Nilgiri Mountain Railway, subject to railway schedule and ticket availability. The railway forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Mountain Railways of India and passes through tea plantations, forested hills, tunnels, bridges and steep mountain terrain. On arrival, visit Sim's Park, a botanical garden laid out along the natural contours of the hillside. Continue to Lamb's Rock and Dolphin's Nose, both offering views across the surrounding valleys and Nilgiri landscape. If time permits, visit Coonoor Golf Course. Return to Ooty by road and enjoy the evening at leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After an early breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive towards Kochi, descending from the Nilgiri Hills towards Kerala's Malabar coast. On arrival, check in at the hotel and refresh. In the evening, attend a traditional Kathakali performance, Kerala's classical dance-drama tradition known for elaborate costumes, facial makeup, expressive gestures and highly stylized storytelling. The performance provides an introduction to one of Kerala's most distinctive performing arts traditions. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, begin with a sightseeing tour of historic Fort Kochi. Visit St. Francis Church, one of India's oldest European-built churches, followed by the historic Paradesi Synagogue in Jew Town, subject to its visitor schedule. Continue to Mattancherry Palace, also known as the Dutch Palace, whose interiors contain historic murals and collections associated with the former Cochin royal family. Later, drive to Athirappilly Waterfalls, Kerala's largest waterfall, where the Chalakudy River drops approximately 80 feet through the forested landscape. After sightseeing, return to Kochi for overnight stay.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive to Munnar. En route, stop at Cheeyappara Waterfalls, subject to seasonal water flow and local access. Continue through the Western Ghats, with tea plantations spreading across the surrounding hills. On arrival in Munnar, check in at the hotel and refresh. Later, take a short orientation tour through the hill station and surrounding tea-growing landscape, with views of the hills, forests and reservoirs. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, explore the scenic surroundings of Munnar. Begin at Pothamedu View Point, known for views across tea, coffee and cardamom plantations. Continue to Mattupetty Dam and its reservoir, followed by Echo Point and Kundala Lake, where boating is available subject to operating conditions. If time permits, visit the Tata Tea Museum to learn about the development of tea cultivation and processing in the region, including historic machinery, photographs and exhibits. A tea, coffee or spice plantation experience can also be arranged subject to the selected property and operating schedule. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive to Periyar (Thekkady), gateway to the Periyar Tiger Reserve. On arrival, check in at the resort and refresh. Later, enjoy a regulated boat cruise on Periyar Lake, offering opportunities to observe wildlife along the forested shoreline. The reserve is home to species including Asian elephants, gaur, sambar and wild boar, together with a wide variety of birds. Tiger sightings are possible but never guaranteed. Later, visit a local spice plantation featuring crops such as cardamom, cinnamon, pepper and coffee, followed by the local spice market. Dinner and overnight stay at the resort.

After breakfast, check out from the resort and drive to Alleppey (Alappuzha), the gateway to Kerala's famous backwaters. On arrival, board your private Kerala houseboat and begin cruising through the interconnected waterways. The route passes coconut-fringed canals, paddy fields, villages and traditional rural settlements. Modern houseboats provide bedrooms, attached bathrooms, dining and living areas, kitchen facilities and an open deck, allowing guests to experience the backwaters while travelling through the landscape. Enjoy the changing scenery from the sun deck and watch the sunset over the waterways. Dinner and overnight stay on the houseboat.

After breakfast, disembark from the houseboat and drive to Kovalam. On arrival, check in at the beach resort and relax. Kovalam is known for its crescent-shaped beaches, coastal landscape, Ayurvedic wellness traditions and proximity to Thiruvananthapuram. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure on the beach or choose optional activities such as swimming, kayaking, catamaran rides or an Ayurvedic wellness experience, subject to local conditions and individual preference. Overnight stay at the beach resort.

After breakfast, enjoy a full day at leisure in Kovalam. Relax on the beach, explore the coastal area or arrange optional water-based activities such as kayaking, catamaran rides and other experiences according to sea conditions and local regulations. Those interested in Kerala's traditional wellness practices can arrange an Ayurvedic massage or wellness treatment through the resort or a licensed centre. A cultural programme can also be arranged depending on the season and local schedule. Overnight stay at the resort.

After breakfast, check out from the beach resort and drive to Kanyakumari, located at the southern tip of mainland India. On arrival, check in at the hotel and relax before exploring the waterfront. Visit the Kumari Amman Temple, dedicated to Goddess Kanya Kumari, followed by the Gandhi Mandapam. Later, take the ferry to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, associated with Swami Vivekananda's meditation there, subject to ferry operation and sea conditions. Continue to the Thiruvalluvar Statue, with ferry access subject to current operating arrangements. In the evening, enjoy the sunset from a suitable coastal viewpoint. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Begin the morning with an opportunity to experience sunrise at Kanyakumari, subject to weather and visibility. After breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive to Thiruvananthapuram. Depending on your flight schedule, visit Kuthira Malika (Puthen Malika) Palace, known for its traditional Kerala architecture and carved wooden interiors, followed by the Napier Museum and Sree Chitra Art Gallery. If time permits, also visit Padmatheertham, the historic temple tank associated with the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple complex. After sightseeing, transfer to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for your scheduled flight to your hometown. Your South India journey concludes here.