South India Backwater Tour

Day 01 : Chennai
Meeting on arrival, transfer to Hotel.
Afternoon city tour.
Chennai a typical Indian city, its the capital of Tamil Nadu. Though it was the oldest settlement of the British, Chennai remained unaffected in spirit. Only the cathedral and the Fort of St.George are a reminder of its British past. Visit the Marina Beach - second longest beach in the world, it's an elegant promenade. Fort St. George - the first foothold of British from where Robert Clive started the expansion of British rule.

Day 02 : Chennai / Mahabalipuram
In the morning, drive to Mahabalipuram - 1 hour. On arrival, check-in at Hotel.
In the afternoon, visit:
Mahabalipuram an ancient coastal port South of Madras, here you will see many sculptures and temples of typical South India architectural design; the Five Radhas - a group of monolithic monuments and animal figures carved out of solid rock; the Shore Temple, lashed by the waves of the sea; and the huge fresco; 'The Penance of Bhagirath'.

Day 03 : Mahabalipuram / Kancheepuram / Mahabalipuram
Full day excursion of Kancheepuram: - 2 h from Mahabalipuram
Kancheepuram known as the Golden city of a thousand temples. Visit Ekambareshwar Temple, Kailashnath Temple, Kamakshi Temple, the Vaikunthaperumal Temple. The temples are closed from 12.00 to 16.00.

Day 04 : Mahabalipuram / Pondicherry
After breakfast, drive to Pondicherry - 2 hours. On arrival, check-in at Hotel.
Rest of the day visit of Pondicherry and Auroville.

Day 05 : Pondicherry / Tanjore
In the morning, drive to Tanjore - 8 hours, on the way visiting Chidambaram, Gangai Konda Chola Puram and Darasuram.
On arrival in Tanjore, check-in at Hotel.

Day 06 : Tanjore / Karaikudi
In the morning, visit the Brihadisvara temple.
After the visit, drive to Karaikudi - 2½h and check-in at Hotel.
Rest of the day visit the Chetinad area.

Day 07 : Karaikudi / Madurai
In the morning, continue your visit of the Chetinad region.
In the afternoon, leave for Madurai - 3 hours. On arrival, check-in at Hotel.

Day 08 : Madurai
In the morning, visit:Minakshi Temple
Afternoon free.
In the evening, view the night ceremony at the Minakshi temple.

Day 09 : Madurai / Periyar
After breakfast, drive to Periyar - 4 hours. On arrival, check-in at Hotel.
In the afternoon visit Periyar National Park.
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is an 800 sq m sanctuary in Thekkady on the border of Tamil Nadu and is one of the most important National Parks in India. It boasts of elephants, bisons, antelopes, sambars, wild boars and if one is lucky, even tigers. Periyar is the best sanctuary in India for watching and photographing elephants at close quarters. What makes Periyar fairly unique as a forest is that game viewing takes place either by small boats through the lake or even on foot.

Day 10 : Periyar / Cochin
During the day, drive to Cochin - 6 hours. On arrival, check-in at Hotel.
Rest of the day free.

Day 11 : Cochin
Full day city tour.
St. Francis Church, Mattancherry Palace / Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue.

Day 12 : Cochin / Alleppey
In the morning, drive to Alleppey - 2 hours. On arrival, board the House Boat.
Rest of the day cruise on the backwaters of Kerala.

Day 13 : Alleppey / Kumarakom
In the morning, leave the House Boat and transfer to Kumarakom. On arrival, check-in at Hotel.
Rest of the day free at leisure.

Day 14 : Kumarakom
Day free at leisure.

Day 15 : Kumarakom / Varkala
Morning drive to Varkala - 6 to 7 hours. On arrival, check-in at Hotel.
Rest of the day free at leisure.

Day 16 : Varakala / Trivandrum / Mumbai
In the morning, transfer to Trivandrum airport - 2 hours to board Jet airways flight 9W337 for Mumbai.
Leave Trivandrum at : 13:35 hrs
Arrive Mumbai at : 15:35 hrs.
Meeting on arrival, transfer to Hotel for wash and change.
Later in the evening transfer to the international airport to board your flight back home.