Itinerary
- Intro
Introduction
- Day 1
Chennai
Chennai- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner at Chennai's first chain restaurant, serving iconic south Indian vegetarian dishes like idly, dosa and poori)
Included Activities
- Airport transfer
- Welcome meeting with group leader
- Welcome dinner at south Indian vegetarian restaurant (idly, dosa, poori)
Optional Activities
- Visit Georgetown Bazaar market stalls
- Day 2
Chennai to Puducherry
Chennai to Puducherry- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive along East Coast Road to Mamallapuram
- Shore Temple guided tour with mandapams (carved pillars)
Optional Activities
- Evening dining in Puducherry
Landmarks Shore Temple - Day 3
Puducherry
Puducherry- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Leader-led French Quarter walking tour
- Snack stop at local cafe in White Town
- Church of Notre Dame visit
- Local temples visit
Landmarks Church of Notre Dame - Day 4
Puducherry to Madurai
Puducherry to Madurai- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Leader-led street food tour featuring Tamil cuisine including mutton dosa, fish gravy and Jigarthanda dessert)
Included Activities
- Orientation walk in Madurai
- Leader-led street food tour with Tamil cuisine sampling
- Day 5
Madurai
Madurai- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Traditional home-cooked Tamil dinner at local family home featuring chettinad chicken, egg paratha and vegetable korma)
Included Activities
- Tailor's Market guided exploration
- Local bazaars visit
- Sri Meenakshi Temple guided tour
- National Gandhi Museum
- Thirumalai Nayak Palace visit
- Local family visit with traditional home-cooked Tamil dinner
Landmarks Sri Meenakshi Temple National Gandhi Museum Thirumalai Nayak Palace - Day 6
Madurai to Thekkady
Madurai to Thekkady- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Flavorful lunch made with spices from the plantation)
Included Activities
- Expert-guided spice plantation visit and lunch
Optional Activities
- Evening exploration of spice and tea shops
- Poolside relaxation at resort
Landmarks Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve - Day 7
Thekkady - Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Thekkady - Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided nature walk in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
- Traditional Keralite Ayurvedic massage and Ayurveda fundamentals session
- Kalaripayattu (Indian Martial Art) performance demonstration
Landmarks Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary Kadathanadan Kalari Centre - Day 8
Thekkady to Munnar
Thekkady to Munnar- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Tea plantation tour with expert guide and leaf-picking observation
- Tea varieties sampling
Optional Activities
- Tea Museum visit
- Day 9
Munnar
Munnar- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided walk around Munnar hills
Optional Activities
- Optional motorboat ride around Mattupetty Dam lake
Landmarks Mattupetty Dam - Day 10
Munnar to Kerala Backwaters
Munnar to Kerala Backwaters- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Houseboat cruise exploring Kerala backwaters and lagoons
- Day 11
Alleppey to Kochi
Alleppey to Kochi- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Leader-led orientation walk in Kochi
- Kathakali dance performance
Optional Activities
- Visit Princess Street for coffee
Landmarks Kathakali Performance Venue - Day 12
Kochi
Kochi- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Keralan cooking demonstration dinner using Satvik Bhojan (Ayurvedic diet) methods and recipes)
Included Activities
- Fort Kochi tuk-tuk sightseeing tour
- Antique shops and spice bazaars exploration with haggling lessons
- Chinese fishing nets visit
- Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace) visit
- Paradesi Synagogue visit
- Shantilal S. Mithaiwala sweets shop visit
- Ayurvedic doctor consultation on Satvik Bhojan (Ayurvedic diet)
- Keralan cooking class and demonstration dinner
Landmarks Chinese Fishing Nets Mattancherry Palace Paradesi Synagogue Shantilal S. Mithaiwala - Day 13
Kochi
Kochi- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Extend stay in India with additional accommodation or transfers (must be arranged with booking agent in advance)
