Grand South India Tour: 21 Nights & 22 Days

Tour Route
Chennai » Mysore » Coorg » Kabini » Sulthan Bathery » Calicut » Cochin » Kumarakom » Houseboat » Periyar » Madurai » Karaikudi » Tanjore » Pondicherry » Mamallapuram

Overview
South India exudes a magic that draws travellers to it from far and wide....and not without reason. The diversity it offers is awe inspiring, the colours vivid, the cultures varied, the monuments mesmerising and the whole experience is an enthralling one. Experience the very best of South India with our 21 night tour that offers you a wide array of experiences in South India including bustling cities, temple towns, monuments, hill stations, spice plantations, wildlife, the houseboat experience, French colonies, beach temples and much more.

DAY 01: Arrival Chennai
Greeted by Kerala Travel Centre representative at Chennai airport and transferred to the hotel. Relax and unwind on your first day. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 02: Chennai - Mysore (By Train)
Drive to Chennai Central Railway station and board the train to Mysore. On arrival transfer to your hotel and rest of the day at leisure.Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 03: Mysore
Enjoy sightseeing of Mysore, starting with the famous Palace that used to be the residence of the Wodeyars dynasty. Built in 1912 in an Indo-Saracenic style, it is one of the largest palaces in India. Then, visit the Jayachamrajendra Art Gallery which houses a collection of paintingsdating back to 1875. Drive to the Chamundi hill, with a stop at the bull temple. On arrival, visit the 2000 year old temple, dedicated to GoddessChamundi. Overnight at the hotel.(Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 04 : Mysore - Coorg (140kms/3hrs)
Drive to Coorg which offers you incomparable scenic beauty, lush green valleys, coffee plantations, teak wood forests and majestic mountain ranges. Check into your resort. Overnight at The Camp at Orange County.(Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 05: Coorg
Enjoy a sightseeing of Coorg – visit Omkareshwara Temple, Madikeri fort, Palace, Gaddige (Raja's tombs)and Raja's seat. Overnight at The Camp at Orange County.(Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 06: Coorg - Kabini (90kms/2.5hrs)
Drive to Kabini, a scenic place which was once the hunting lodge of the erstwhile Mysore Maharajahs. Check into your hotel. You couldspot elephants, leopards, antelopes and even tigers if you are lucky. Overnight at the hotel.(Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 07: Kabini - Sulthan Bathery
(31kms/1hrs)Drive through winding roads in the hills covered with thick forests, coffee, rubber and tea estates and crop plantations to Sulthan Bathery. Check into a plantation estate tucked in a 400acre coffee and spice plantation. Visit the pre historic Edakkal caves which are a rock shelterformed naturally out of a strange disposition ofthree huge boulders. Overnight at the TranquilPlantation Hideaway. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 08: Sulthan Bathery
Today you could visit the Wayanad sanctuary where one can find animals such as sloth bears, sambhar (wild deer), elephants, monkeys, tigers,reptiles, deer, panthers, and many species of rare birds. Overnight at the Tranquil Plantation Hideaway. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 09: Sulthan Bathery - Calicut
(125kms/3.5hrs)Drive to Calicut, the traditional capital of North Kerala and a leading trading centre for spices on the west coast. On arrival, transfer to your hoteland rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at the Kadavu Resort. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 10:Calicut - Cochin (185kms/4hrs)
Drive to Cochin and transfer to your hotel. A port town since early centuries, Cochin offers you some fascinating snippets of history andculture. Relax and unwind at the hotel. In the evening you could go for a relaxing sunset cruise. Overnight at the hotel.(Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 11: Cochin
Today you could go for an optional sightseeing tour to explore the many fascinating highlights of Cochin which include - The Jewish Synagogue, St. Francis Church, the Santa Cruz Basilica built in 1557 by the Portuguese, the Dutch Palace, the Spice market and the 15th century Chinesefishing nets .Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 12: Cochin - Kumarakom
(60kms/1.5hrs)Drive to Kumarakom, the enchanting backwater region of Kerala and check into your hotel. The labyrinthine network of rivers, canals, streams and lagoons which form the famed backwatersoffer stunning views and is an ideal place to relax. Day at leisure. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 13: Kumarakom
Day at leisure at the resort. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 14: Kumarakom - Alleppey (by boat)
Drive to Alleppey and embark on your private houseboat and cruise on the Backwaters, a splendid area full of canals, lakes and coves. Your houseboats or 'Kettuvalloms' are luxurious boats with well appointed bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms. You can sunbathe on thedeck or observe the palm fringed landscape from your cabins. Apart from the mesmerizing surroundings it's the life along the backwatersthat makes this a fascinating experience. (Vehicle for transfer

DAY 15: Alleppey - Periyar (150kms/4hrs)
Drive to Periyar an area known for its undulating hills, spice plantations, and elephant sightings. One of the 27 tiger reserves in India, the Periyar valley in Thekkady is the oldest. Check into your hotel. You could enjoy a spice plantation tour today. Enjoy a general Ayurvedic full-body massage today. Overnight at the Hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 16: Periyar - Madurai (160km/3.5hrs)
Drive to Madurai in Tamilnadu, one of South India's greatest temple towns synonymous with the celebrated Meenakshi Temple. Check intothe hotel. In the evening, visit the Meenakshi Temple to attend the popular evening ceremony where the Hindu God Siva is taken in a palanquin to thebedroom of his wife Meenakshi. Overnight at the Hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 17: Madurai - Karaikudi (90kms/2hrs)
Drive towards Karaikudi which is famous for its heritage and traditions. The palatial mansions with their rare architecture make Chettinad a place of rare charm, and a must-visit destination.Karaikudi is also known for its cuisine. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 18: Karaikudi - Tanjore
(110kms/2.5hrs)Drive to Tanjore - visit the Bridhadeshwara temple and fort, the crowning glory of Chola temple architecture and a World Heritage Site. Also visit the impressive Bronze Museum withthe world's finest Chola bronzes, followed by a visit to a bronze factory. We will take you on a special visit to the nearby village to experiencethe art of statue making and glass painting. Overnight at the resort. (Vehicle at disposal

DAY 19: Tanjore - Pondicherry
(225kms/5hrs)Drive to Pondicherry and check into your hotel. Pondicherry is a former French colony on the sea with French street names, croissants and even Indian policemen in French-like uniforms. Excursion to Auroville – the 'universal town'. Overnight at the Hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 20: Pondicherry - Mamallapuram
(100kms/2hrs)Drive to Mamallapuram and day at leisure in the heritage town. Overnight at the Hotel.(Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 21: Mamallapuram
Sightseeing of the famous World Heritage Monuments of Mamallapuram: the 7th century Shore Temple, the Arjuna's Penance, a Bass Relief - the Five Rathas which symbolizes equality of men and women and the many cave temples. You can also visit a sculpture studio. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 22: Mamallapuram - Chennai -Departure
(65kms/1.5hrs)Departure transfer to Chennai airport for return flight. (Vehicle for transfer)

Place	Nts	Standard	Superior	Deluxe
Chennai	1	Quality Inn Sabari	Residency Towers	Taj Connemera
Mysore	2	The Viceroy	Royal Orchid Metropole	Lalit Mahal Palace
Coorg	2	Orange County	Orange County	Orange County
Kabini	1	Kabini River Lodge	Kabini River Lodge	Cicada Kabini
Wayanad	2	Tranquil	Tranquil	Tranquil
Calicut	1	Kadavu	Kadavu	Kadavu
Cochin	2	The Old Courtyard	Koder House	Brunton Boatyard
Kumarakom	2	Abad Whispering Palms	Coconut Lagoon	Kumarakom Lake Resort
Houseboat	1	Muthoot River Escapes	Muthoot River Escapes	Muthoot River Escapes
Periyar	1	Silver Crest	Silver Crest	Spice Village
Madurai	1	GRT Regency	Sangam	Taj Garden Retreat
Karaikudi	1	Chettinadu Mansion	Chettinadu Mansion	CGH Visalam
Tanjore	1	Oriental Towers	Ideal River View Resort	Ideal River View Resort
Pondicherry	1	Anandha Inn	Promenade	Le Dupleix
Mamallapuram	2	Sterling Beach Resort	Ideal Beach Resort	GRT Temple Bay

Tour	1 May 11-30 Sep 11	1 Oct 11-19 Dec 11	20 Dec 11-15 Jan 12	16 Jan 12-30 Apr 12
Standard	£ 2104	£ 2373	£ 2631	£ 2373
Superior	£ 2365	£ 2849	£ 3213	£ 2849
Deluxe	£ 2664	£ 3359	£ 4037	£ 3359

Prices are per person based on 2 people occupying a double/twin room. Prices may vary based on local market fluctuations. For single supplements please contact Kerala Travel Centre. Price Includes: B&B at all hotels except where cited on the itinerary, chauffeur driven AC car, sunset cruise in Cochin, Ayurveda massage, all entrance fees, cookery demonstration, train fares, guide charges, assisted airport transfers. Price Excludes: Flights - Please contact Kerala Travel Centre for booking flights.

Kerala Climate and Weather
Being a coastal state surrounded by the Arabian Sea and because of its proximity to the equator, Kerala has a more or less consistent temperature pattern in the summers and the monsoons alike. The temperature hovers around 29�32 degrees (Celsius) throughout the year with varying levels of humidity.



Best months for travel to Kerala:

The months of October through to March are considered to be the most favourable months to travel to Kerala when the weather is sunny and pleasant.
The months of April and May are also favourable for travel but the humidity tends to be comparatively higher.
August and September are also good months for travel.

Monsoon Months in Kerala:

June and July are monsoon months in Kerala, the showers being heavy at first and then easing off gradually. Whilst these are not the best months for tours, interestingly, this happens to the best time for travellers seeking the therapeutic Ayurveda treatment which is said to be most effective in these months.

Special Experiences

Kerala offers a myriad of delightful, lesser known experiences which one does not get to enjoy on a regular tour which is packed with standard excursions. At the Kerala Travel Centre we have always been keen to showcase these special, off-the-beaten-track experiences that will make your Kerala holiday a memorable experience like no other.

We have compiled a partial list experiences which you could choose to enjoy on this tour. When in doubt, just ask your Kerala Travel Centre driver and he will point you the right direction.

Calicut

• Visit the Beypore boat building yard which has been building boats of all sizes since early centuries. One of the highlights is that the carpenters build massive boats with precision, without the use of any drawings.
• If you are a food enthusiast, you will love Calicut. The region is famous for its 'Mopilla' cuisine and its 'Biriyanis' (dish comprising of rice and meat). You could try authentic Biriyanis at the Paragon and Sagar Hotel. Calicut is also the best place to try a 'falooda'- a dessert made of noodles, jelly, ice cream, takamaria seeds and nuts.
• Try the sweets at what is appropriately called the sweetmeat street where a number of Gujarati (North Indian community known for their sweetmeats amongst other things) shops near the beach offer a large variety.

Cochin

• Stroll down the beach in Fort Cochin to see the 15th century Chinese fishing nets. Whilst they are not as frequently used as before, you can see a demonstration of how the fishermen use these gigantic nets. It is also possible to take part in this experience along with the fishermen.
• The bustling fish markets adjacent to the fishing nets also make for an interesting visit.
• The sunset cruise in Cochin along the harbour is also a great experience where you pass other ships and boats of all sizes and can see the Cochin skyline and the Cochin shipyard which is more than 200 years old.
• Fort Cochin has a number of seafood restaurants ranging from the high end 'History' restaurant at the Brunton Boatyard to the all vegetarian 'Roti Dal' restaurant.
• Enjoy an enthralling Kathakali dance performance while you are in Cochin. Watching the dancers put on make up before the show is also quite a fascinating experience.
• Your sightseeing excursion in Cochin includes several fascinating highlights including the Jewish synagogue, Dutch Palace, St. Francis Church, the Santa Cruz Basilica and others. Apart from this, you could also try exploring the streets with their many shops both in Fort Cochin and in the bustling Ernakulam part of Cochin. Cochin is great for shopping especially for jewellery and garments. (Our drivers should be able to point you to select shops that do not hassle customers). If you are a cigar aficionado don't miss the 100 year old R.Baliga & Sons who stocks cigars of all types.
• If Henna and bangles are of interest to you, you can pay a visit to a small, yet vibrant shop selling bangles and other ornaments in Cochin.

Houseboat Cruise

• During a houseboat cruise, ask your captain to anchor the boat by one of the villages, where you could take a village walk along the backwaters which is an exciting way to get up and close with life along the backwaters.
• You could also go for canoe rides in the backwaters. Canoes can travel through narrower canals which houseboats cannot navigate.
• There is a boat building yard in a place called Champakkulam by the backwaters which makes the long banana boats used for Kerala's snake boat races.

Periyar

• In Periyar, we would strongly suggest the spice plantation visits and also the jungle trek.
• The Gavi sanctuary is worth a visit if you are staying for more than two nights in Periyar. Gavi is a one hour drive away from Periyar and is a great place for elephant sightings.
• Periyar has a few forest inspection bungalows. Those who are really adventurous can try these bungalows which are right inside the forest reserve.
• There are a large number of shops near the wildlife sanctuary selling handicrafts and other items. The handicraft shops are worth looking at as they make for excellent souvenirs. Please ensure you speak with your driver to point you to the appropriate shops.