Welcome to Chennai, our gateway to the rich and varied culture of the South Indian peninsula.

You will be warmly received and greeted by one of our team members at the Chennai (Madras) International Airport and transported to your accommodation in a private vehicle.

We will spend a day exploring Chennai, its history and heritage and its current modern state through architecture, art, cuisine and crafts.

Meals:   B | – | –
Accommodation:  Crowne Plaza

Mamallapuram was once a bustling seaport that provided shelter to illustrious travellers like Ptolemy and Periplus in the first century! Today, the city’s claim to fame lies in its ancient Pallava heritage, evident in Mamallapuram’s exquisite collection of temples, caves, rathas (chariots) and monuments. It was and still is home to master stone sculptors who practice their ancient art to this day.

Meals:   B | – | –
Accommodation:  Kences Palm

Pondicherry offers a slice of France in South India! Once a sleepy fishing village, the trading town was a French settlement from the 17th century until 1962. Puducherry is home to many foreigners who seek a laid-back lifestyle within a community that embraces the arts and diversity. Creole, a French-Tamil fusion cuisine unique to Puducherry, is not to be missed.

Meals:   B | – | –
Accommodation:  Crowne Plaza

On the banks of the river Cauvery, we visit the ‘Granary of South India’, Thanjavur. It is known for its heritage in water management and architectural marvel, Brihadisvara Temple. Stroll through the lanes to meet craftspeople making musical instruments and casting bronze statues.

Meals:   B | – | –
Accommodation:  Svatma

The city of incense and chiming cymbals is one of the oldest in India! Dubbed the ‘Athens of the East’, the historical city was reputedly visited by learned men from Rome and Greece, including Megasthenes, in the 3rd century BC! Cosily nestled amidst the towering mountains. This is an energetic city of contrasts where Hindu Gods and a growing IT industry go hand in hand.

Meals:   B | – | D
Accommodation:  Heritage Madurai

Munnar offers a haven of peace and tranquillity within the verdant hills of Kerala. This picturesque little town lies about 1800m above sea level in a part of the Western Ghats known as the High Ranges.

Meals:   B | – | –
Accommodation:  Olive Brook

Cruise Kerala’s backwaters and stay overnight in a traditional kettuvallom, a boat made from coconut rope and wooden planks. This unique and exotic barge experience provides all the comforts of a hotel, with furnished bedrooms, a modern shower and toilet room, a living area and a shaded balcony for relaxing on as you enjoy uninterrupted views of rural Kerala.

There is also a kitchen where the boat’s crew will rustle you up deliciously fresh meals and snacks, served traditionally on banana leaves. The skipper (captain) might moor up and take you to a backwater village, where you can meet local people and observe ancestral homes and places of worship. After a relaxing day, drop anchor and rest your head to the gentle sounds of the swishing lake waters.

Meals:   B | L | D
Accommodation:  Houseboat

Kochi, formerly Cochin, is considered the queen of the Arabian Sea as it was one of the first European settlements in India due to its ideal position for trading.

Meals:   B | – | –
Accommodation:  Malabar House

As with all good things, this tour has to close. We can drop you off at the airport or organise a trip to the Taj Mahal.

Meals:   B | – | –