Itinerary
- Day 1
Chennai
You'll arrive in Chennai and get transferred to your hotel. After settling in, the afternoon is reserved for a city tour where you'll see St George Fort, which was built back in 1653, and St Mary's Church, the oldest British church in India. Both sites give you a good sense of the city's colonial history and religious significance.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Afternoon city tour of Chennai
- Visit to St George Fort
- Visit to St Mary's Church
Landmarks St George Fort St Mary's Church - Day 2
Chennai to Pondicherry
Head south from Chennai toward Pondicherry, making a stop in Kanchipuram along the way. This sacred city is known for its handwoven silk production, so you'll see workshops and shops throughout. From there, continue to Mahabalipuram, a seaside town where you can see the Shore Temple and rock-cut sculptures that date back to the 5th-8th centuries. Later that day, drive into Pondicherry, a former French colony with Mediterranean vibes, whitewashed buildings, and French-Indian restaurants lining the streets.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Kanchipuram
- Visit to Mahabalipuram and Shore Temple
- Sightseeing in Pondicherry
Optional Activities
- Visit to Sri Aurobindo Ashram
Landmarks Kanchipuram Mahabalipuram Shore Temple Sri Aurobindo Ashram - Day 3
Pondicherry to Tanjore
This morning, take a sightseeing tour covering Pondicherry's main spots: the Aurobindo Ashram, French Colony, Pondicherry Beach, and Sacred Heart Church. Then drive south to Tanjore (Thanjavur), an ancient fortified town that served as the capital of the Chola kings over 1500 years ago. The town has layers of history visible in its architecture and layout.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sightseeing tour of Pondicherry including Aurobindo Ashram
- Visit to French Colony
- Visit to Pondicherry Beach
- Visit to Sacred Heart Church
Landmarks Aurobindo Ashram Pondicherry Beach Sacred Heart Church - Day 4
Tanjore to Trichy
Start with a morning tour of Tanjore's highlights, then drive to Trichy. Once there, you'll see the enormous Brihadishwara Temple, a World Heritage site built by Raja Raja in 1010 with an 80-tonne dome that's hard to miss. After that, visit the Rock Fort and its temples, which reflect Trichy's complex military and religious history through the centuries.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sightseeing tour of Tanjore
- Visit to Brihadishwara Temple
- Visit to Rock Fort and temples
Landmarks Brihadishwara Temple Rock Fort - Days 5 - 6
Trichy - Madurai
Start early and head out from Trichy with a morning sightseeing tour before traveling to Madurai. Once you arrive, you'll walk around this important worship and commerce hub, checking out the bazaars and shops that line the streets. Later this evening, you'll attend a religious ceremony at a local temple. The next morning includes a sightseeing tour of the Sri Meenakshi Temple and the busy bazaars, then the afternoon is free for you to wander around on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Morning sightseeing tour of Trichy
- Afternoon exploration of Madurai bazaars
- Religious ceremony at local temple
- Morning sightseeing tour of Madurai
- Visit to Sri Meenakshi Temple
Landmarks Sri Meenakshi Temple 
- Day 7
Madurai - Periyar
You'll travel south from Madurai toward Periyar and stay in Kumily, a nice town filled with spice and handicraft shops near the wildlife sanctuary. The sanctuary is known for being the most popular in south India, and you'll have chances to see sambar, wild boar, elephant, bison, antelope, langur, and a small tiger population while you're there.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Periyar wildlife sanctuary
Landmarks Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary 
- Day 8
Periyar
This morning, spot herds of wild elephants and other wildlife on a boat ride across Lake Periyar, or choose to visit a nearby spice plantation instead. The afternoon is free, so you can rest at your hotel, walk around Kumily's shops, or do whatever suits you best after the morning's activity.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Lake Periyar boat ride to spot wildlife
Optional Activities
- Visit to nearby spice plantation
Landmarks Lake Periyar - Days 9 - 10
Periyar - Kumarakom
From here, you'll move on to Kumarakom, an island sitting on Lake Vembanad with tropical waterways all around from the Kerala backwaters. You're spending two nights in this peaceful location, with time to relax and explore the bird sanctuary at your own pace during your stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to bird sanctuary at Kumarakom
Landmarks Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary - Day 11
Kumarakom - Allapuzha
You'll board a traditional Kerala rice boat and travel through the backwaters around Allapuzha. The boat takes you through shallow, palm-fringed lakes and quiet canals where copra and cashews get loaded onto local boats. An on-board cook prepares local food for you while you sit back and take in the surroundings.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Locally-inspired food), Dinner (Locally-inspired food)
Included Activities
- Traditional Keralan rice boat cruise through backwaters
- Locally-inspired food prepared on-board
Landmarks Kerala Backwaters - Day 12
Allapuzha to Kochi
Disembark at Allapuzha and take a short drive to Kochi (Cochin). Explore the eclectic city with its winding streets featuring mosques, a 16th century Jewish synagogue, an ancient Jewish community, and 500-year-old Portuguese cottages. The rest of the day is yours to wander around and soak up the atmosphere at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Short drive to Kochi
- Exploration of Kochi's historic sites
Landmarks Jewish Synagogue Fort Cochin - Day 13
Allapuzha - Kochi
The morning includes a sightseeing tour and a walking tour of Fort Cochin, where you'll see the historical layout of this old port city. The afternoon is yours to do as you like. If you're interested, you can watch famous Kerala dancers perform, and arriving early lets you see the artists applying their traditional makeup before the show.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Morning sightseeing tour of Kochi
- Walking tour of Fort Cochin
Optional Activities
- Watch famous Keralan dancers perform
Landmarks Fort Cochin - Day 14
Kochi
You'll check out of your hotel and get a transfer to the airport for your departure. If you'd like to stay longer, optional hotel extensions and add-ons are available, so you can arrange those before leaving if you want more time in Kerala.
Optional Activities
- Hotel extensions or add-ons available
