Two weeks across the south of India, travelling with a small group. This tour is for travellers who want the great temples of Tamil Nadu and the green hills and backwaters of Kerala, with the company and shared costs of a group trip.
The first week is temples and heritage. From Chennai we head down the coast to the rock-cut monuments of Mahabalipuram and the French quarter of Pondicherry, then inland to Thanjavur’s Brihadeeswarar Temple and two nights in Madurai, home of the Meenakshi Temple.
The second week climbs into Kerala. From Madurai the road rises to the tea estates of Munnar, then on to Periyar for spice gardens and wildlife, before the trip slows down on the backwaters of Alleppey. We finish in Cochin for your flight home.
Drives are planned with stops along the way, and the longest day (Pondicherry to Thanjavur, 5 to 6 hours) is broken up with breaks.
Where the Group Goes on This 13 Nights / 14 Days Tour?
Chennai
Two nights to start. After a day to rest from your flight, the group visits Fort St. George, San Thome Cathedral, Marina Beach, Kapaleeshwarar Temple and the Kalakshetra Cultural Centre.
Mahabalipuram
A stop on the drive to Pondicherry for the Shore Temple, the Five Rathas, Arjuna’s Penance and Krishna Mandapam, carved by the Pallava kings by the sea.
Pondicherry
Two nights in the French quarter. A full day for Auroville, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Promenade Beach and an evening walk through the French Colony.
Thanjavur
On the way here the group stops at the temples of Chidambaram and Kumbakonam. Next morning, the Brihadeeswarar Temple and Thanjavur Palace.
Madurai
Two nights, with a full morning at the Meenakshi Amman Temple, and Thirumalai Nayak Palace and the Gandhi Museum if time allows.
Munnar
Two nights in Kerala’s tea hills. Waterfalls on the drive up, a Kathakali dance show in the evening, then the Tea Museum, Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point and Top Station.
Periyar
Two nights in Thekkady. A spice plantation visit, then an optional boat ride on Periyar Lake to look for elephants, deer and birds, with jeep safari or bamboo rafting at extra cost.
Alleppey
A night on a traditional houseboat with all meals on board, cruising past coconut groves and villages from noon to 5 pm.
Cochin
The last stop: the Chinese fishing nets, Dutch Palace, St. Francis Church, Jew Town and the Jewish Synagogue, before your flight home next morning.
How This Tour Differs from Our Other South India Tours?
This is our South India group tour, with fixed departure dates and shared costs. Spiritual Tamil Nadu with Incredible Kerala covers a similar route over 14 days and adds Trichy and Chettinad. If you only have a week, Amazing Tour to Kerala (6 days) focuses on Kerala alone.
Best Time for This Group Tour
Our group departures run from November to March, the best months for this route. The weather is warm and dry in Tamil Nadu, cool in the Munnar hills, and ideal for the houseboat night in Alleppey. April and May are very hot on the plains, and from June to September the monsoon brings heavy rain to Kerala.
Contact us to get a free quote!
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