Itinerary
- Intro
Introduction
- Day 1
Chennai to Puducherry
Chennai to Puducherry- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Hotel Atithi)
Included Activities
- Visit Mamallapuram, UNESCO site with 7th and 8th century carved shore temples
- Quick visit to Arjuna's Penance
Landmarks Mamallapuram Shore Temples Arjuna's Penance - Day 2
Puducherry
Puducherry- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Hotel Atithi)
Included Activities
- Cycle to Auroville and explore visitor center
- View Matrimandir meditation dome
- Guided walk through Puducherry's colorful market
- Walking tour of French Quarter colonial architecture
Landmarks Auroville Matrimandir Puducherry Market French Quarter, Puducherry - Day 3
Puducherry to Chidambaram
Puducherry to Chidambaram- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch)
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Lakshmi Vilas Heritage Resort)
Included Activities
- Cycle through rural villages and agricultural land in Tamil Nadu
- Picnic lunch under shaded tree by lake
Optional Activities
- Walk around local village with tour leader to see clay pot oven making
Landmarks Chidambaram - Day 4
Thanjavur
Thanjavur- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Hotel Parisutham)
Included Activities
- Guided cycle ride through Tamil countryside following the Cauvery River to Thanjavur
- Visit to Thanjavur Maratha Palace
- Visit to Brihadeeswarar Temple (UNESCO-listed) with sunset viewing
Landmarks Brihadeeswarar Temple Thanjavur Maratha Palace Cauvery River - Day 5
Thanjavur to Chettinad
Thanjavur to Chettinad- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Cooking demonstration of famous Chettinad cuisine including Chettinad chicken curry (or vegetarian curry) and chutney)
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Chettinadu Court)
Included Activities
- Cycle through Chettinad region
- Visit local tile maker in Athangudi and observe hand-poured and polished tile-making process
- Visit Athangudi Palace to view tiles and Burmese teak woodwork
- Cooking demonstration at host Grace's family home with regional Chettinad dishes
Landmarks Athangudi Athangudi Palace - Day 6
Chettinad to Madurai
Chettinad to Madurai- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Sadya lunch served on a banana leaf)
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (JC Residency)
Included Activities
- Cycle past granite quarries and mason workshops
- Visit Madurai flower market
- Visit Madurai Palace
- Rickshaw ride through city to Meenakshi Temple
- Visit Sri Meenakshi-Sundareshwara Temple
Landmarks Madurai Palace Meenakshi Temple Madurai Flower Market - Day 7
Madurai to Thekkady
Madurai to Thekkady- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Abad Green Forest-Best Resort)
Included Activities
- Cycle through Western Ghats landscape with banana groves, vineyards, and plantations
- Cross from Tamil Nadu into Kerala
Optional Activities
- Visit spice stores in Thekkady
- Try freshly-fried banana chips
Landmarks Western Ghats Thekkady - Day 8
Thekkady
Thekkady- Meals
- Breakfast (Late breakfast)
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Abad Green Forest-Best Resort)
Included Activities
- Guided trek in Periyar National Park with tribal guide (approximately 3 hours through teak, rosewood, sandalwood and mango forest)
Optional Activities
- Boat safari in Periyar National Park to spot Gaur, deer, monkeys, and elephants (March-May)
- Ayurvedic massage at hotel
- Spice plantation tour
- Evening traditional martial arts show
Landmarks Periyar National Park - Day 9
Cardamom Hills to Vagamon
Cardamom Hills to Vagamon- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner prepared with host family using ingredients grown on the plantation)
- Accommodation
- Home-stay (Planters Homestay)
Included Activities
- Tea factory tour and welcome tea stop to learn about tea-making process and history
- Guided cycling through tea plantations in the Cardamom Hills (approximately 40 kilometres/25 miles)
- Evening cooking demonstration and dinner preparation with host family at Planters Homestay
Optional Activities
- Gentle stroll around Grace's plantation to see turmeric, bananas, coconuts, and rubber cultivation
Landmarks Cardamom Hills Vagamon - Day 10
Vagamon to Kumarakom
Vagamon to Kumarakom- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Abad Whispering Palms)
Included Activities
- Cycle through rubber and pineapple plantations and Keralan villages
Optional Activities
- Keralan village activity learning about thatch roof weaving and coir rope making (coconut fiber rope making)
Landmarks Kumarakom - Day 11
Kumarakom to Alappuzha
Kumarakom to Alappuzha- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Houseboat - Kochi)
Included Activities
- Cycle toward houseboat embarkation point
- Pass fish auction at Vembanad Lake
- Journey by traditional houseboat converted rice barge through Kerala Backwaters
Landmarks Kerala Backwaters Vembanad Lake - Day 12
Alappuzha to Fort Kochi
Alappuzha to Fort Kochi- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Abad Old Court House)
Included Activities
- Coast road journey from Alappuzha to Marari Beach
- Cycle through Andhakaranazhi backwater-to-sea transition
- Cycle coastal and beach roads into Fort Kochi
- Cycle through Kanichukulangara Temple area and backwater fish-farming regions
Landmarks Marari Beach Fort Kochi Kanichukulangara Temple 
- Day 13
Fort Kochi
Fort Kochi- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Abad Old Court House)
Optional Activities
- Orientation walk of Fort Kochi with tour leader
Landmarks Fort Kochi - Day 14
Fort Kochi
Fort Kochi
