This 12 day itinerary exploring the South of India is a feast for the senses with rich colonial history, spectacular scenery, friendly people and fascinating cultures. Beginning on the east coast at the port city of Chennai, you will travel the width of the south, experiencing a variety of landscapes until reaching charming Cochin on the west.
Itinerary Highlights
Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Be amazed by intricately designed temples
Relax and enjoy the beautiful scenic tea plantations
Experience the serene Keralan backwaters on a houseboat
Enjoy an Indian cookery demonstration followed by a delicious dinner
What’s included
Private tours for most included activities
Meet & greet airport service
Luxury or boutique accommodation at your chosen level
Expert guides in each destination
flexibility
This is an example itinerary. It is fully flexible; you can add or detract days and include hotels at your chosen budget. It departs daily.
11
Nights
Price Guide
From $4,900 per person
Our quotes are bespoke for your customised trip. The prices displayed are indicative only, read more
Day 1
Fly to Chennai
Day 2
Exploring Chennai
Often described as the “Gateway to South India”, Chennai has a rich cultural heritage and historical significance. The city has grown from a small fishing village to a bustling metropolis. Start the day by visiting the Kapaleeshwarar Temple, a magnificent example of Dravidian architecture, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Located in the bustling neighborhood of Mylapore, this temple is believed to have been built in the 7th century CE by the Pallavas. The temple complex features a grand gopuram (gateway tower), intricately carved pillars, and a large tank. It is a vibrant center of worship and cultural activities. You will also visit the St. Thomas cathedral, originally built by the Portuguese in 1523 and rebuilt by the British in 1896, and where the remains of St. Thomas are said to be housed. Evening at leisure to explore the market and city at your own pace.
Day 3
Chennai to Pondicherry
Today take a three hour road journey to Pondicherry. En route you will stop at Mamallapuram to explore the UNESCO World Heritage listed Shore Temple. The Shore Temple, built in the 8th century AD by the Pallava dynasty, is one of the oldest structural stone temples in South India. Overlooking the Bay of Bengal in Tamil Nadu, it features three shrines, two dedicated to Shiva and one to Vishnu, with a 60-foot high pyramidal structure. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984, it served as a landmark for seafarers and is a testament to Tamil Nadu’s rich cultural heritage.
Day 4
Exploring Pondicherry
Explore the local bazaar to experience the start of the day as you stroll through the narrow lanes meeting fruit and vegetable vendors. Stroll past Tamil and colonial fusion architecture with your guide during the heritage walking tour and visit the Aurobindo Ashram.
Day 5
Pondicherry to Tanjore
Travel through the “rice bowl” of Tamil Nadu and on to Tanjore. The journey takes approximately four hours and you will be stopping at another UNESCO World Heritage site en route – the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and a living sample of the Great Living Chola temples.
Day 6
Tanjore to MAdurai
Travel by road for three hours from Tanjore to Madurai. This is one of the oldest cities in South Asia and known as the “Athens of the East”. Talk a walk through the heritage section of town and visit the flower and vegetable and the weaver’s markets. In the evening visit one of South India’s biggest pilgrimage sites, the Sri Meenakshi temple to witness the night ceremony.
Day 7
Madurai to Munnar
Travel approximately four hours up to the Western Ghats to Munnar. Look out for some wonderful waterfalls on your way up to the tea country. The Munnar region was initially settled by ten tribal communities and their villages and hamlets are still seen across the high ranges.
Day 8
Exploring munnar
A guided trek is a great way to experience the gorgeous tea gardens up close, understand how they work and meet the lovely people who work on the estates. If you like hiking, you’ll love Kolukumalai, one of the highest tea estates in India.
Day 9
Munnar To Alleppey
Travel four hours from Munnar to Alleppey to board your houseboat. A lovely amalgamation of mangroves, paddy fields, coconut clusters and a network of criss-cross canals, rivers and natural water bodies makes Alleppey a special place to visit. The vibrant community life on its banks, the flora and fauna, the indigenous methods of fishing, the handmade country boats which are works of art, the coir fibre production and finally the locally sourced, delicious cuisine adds to the uniqueness of Kerala’s backwaters.
Day 10
Alleppey to Cochin
Travel an hour and a half to Cochin. Spend the rest of the day at leisure exploring at your own pace and strolling along the waterfront to see the fishermen working the Chinese fishing nets. In the evening, enjoy a cooking demonstration with a local family followed by dinner.
Day 11
Exploring Cochin
Discover the different colonial influences on the area during a tour of Fort Cochin; visit Mattancherry Palace, Jew Town and the Synagogue. This charming area has been a melting pot of cultures for centuries, influenced by Portuguese, Dutch, British, Chinese, Jewish, and Arab traders. The blend of colonial architecture and vibrant local culture makes Fort Cochin a unique and captivating destination.
Day 12
Depart Cochin
A note on price
The prices outlined above are a rough guide to give you an idea of costs and enable you to budget for your trip.
Guide prices are generally for private arrangements based on twin share, in well located, good quality accommodation (excluding international flights).
Please note costs are indicative and may vary due to a number of factors such as; travel date, hotel choice, room category, number of people travelling and prevailing exchange rates.
Price Guide $4900 per person
When to travel
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India is such a vast country that climatic conditions in the far north have little relation to those of the extreme south. India’s climate is dominated by the great wind system known as the Asiatic monsoon which reverses direction at certain times of the year, for some months it will blow steadily from the southwest; for other months, from the northeast. Generally speaking, the country has a three-season year – the hot, the wet and the cool, with variations from region to region.
The coolest, driest time over most of the country is from December to February, when light northerly winds bring clear skies and very little rain. From March to May the climate becomes hotter and hotter with the southwest monsoon arriving in southern India around June time, heading north about a month or so later and continuing till October
North and Central India experiences an extreme range of temperatures with the mercury pushing 40 degrees on some summer days during April-June but winter nights from November to March can be almost freezing! The monsoon rains occur from May to September with heavy rain usually occurring in the morning or late afternoon.
Southern and Western India does not have a “cool season” as such, the summer is hot and humid with the rains coming in June and continuing through till September. The region also experiences winter rains from November onwards, although they are not as heavy as the monsoonal rains. From October onwards, the weather becomes pleasant with highs around 30 degrees Celsius and lows of around 25 degrees with minimal humidity making it an ideal time to travel.
India is an all year round destination; however, peak times to travel would be October through to April when the weather is generally cooler and dry. The abundance of spectacular colourful festivals in February and March makes this a great time to visit Rajasthan where as November and December is a great time for bird watchers with the return of the migratory birds.
The weather is dry and sunny in most parts of India, with average temperatures ranging from 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. This is a popular time to visit the hill stations, such as Shimla and Darjeeling, where the temperatures are cooler.
The weather is similar to January, but it can be a bit warmer in the southern states. This is a good time to visit Rajasthan, as the desert heat has not yet set in.
The weather starts to warm up in March, with average temperatures reaching 30 degrees Celsius in the north and 35 degrees Celsius in the south. This is a good time to visit the beaches of Goa and Kerala.
The weather is hot and humid in April, with average temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius in the north and 40 degrees Celsius in the south. This is not the best time to visit India, but if you do, be sure to drink plenty of fluids and avoid strenuous activity during the day.
The weather is the hottest in May, with average temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in the north and 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in the south. It is also the driest month of the year, so there is little relief from the heat.
The monsoon season begins in June, and it rains heavily in most parts of India. The rains bring relief from the heat, but they can also cause flooding in some areas.
The monsoon rains continue in July, and it is still hot and humid. The beaches are closed due to the rains, but the hill stations are popular destinations.
The monsoon rains are at their heaviest in August, and it is the wettest month of the year. The rains can be disruptive, but they also bring lush greenery to the landscape.
The monsoon rains start to taper off in September, and the weather becomes drier. This is a good time to visit the beaches of Goa and Kerala.
The weather is pleasant in October, with average temperatures ranging from 25 to 30 degrees Celsius. This is a good time to visit the hill stations and the beaches.
The weather is similar to October, but it can be a bit cooler in the northern states. This is a good time to visit the Taj Mahal, as the crowds are smaller and the weather is more comfortable.
The weather is generally dry and sunny in December, with average temperatures ranging from 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. This is a popular time to visit India, as the weather is pleasant and the crowds are smaller.
Add on’s
If you are wishing to extend your time in India, you could combine this Southern India itinerary with the Golden Triangle in the north of the country. Alternatively a few days relaxing on the beach south of Cochin at Marari Beach Resort would make a relaxing ending to the trip. Another possibility is to look at reversing the itinerary and flying from Chennai over to Port Blair to visit the Andaman islands.
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