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South India Temples and Backwater

  

General information

DurationDestinationDeparture
15 days and 14 nights
India (Chennai, Pondicherry, Thanjavur (Tanjore), Chettinad, Madurai, Thekkady, Alleppey, Mararikulam)
India (Chennai)

Description

South India Temples and Backwater Tour will begin with pickup from Chennai airport, and include Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Chidambaram, Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Darasuram, Thanjore, Trichy, Chettinad, Madurai, Thekkady, Alleppey, Marari & Cochin in its itinerary. Visit all majour active & inactive temples, monuments & museums in Tamil Nadu. Then enter in Kerala, known for its coffee and spice plantations, network of canals backwaters & palm-lined beaches. Enjoy boat safari & learn about spice plantation in Thekkady, cruise along backwaters in Alleppey & unwind on the sun-kissed beaches of Marari. Tour will end with drop off at Cochin Airport

South India Temples and Backwater Tour will begin with pickup from Chennai airport, and include Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Chidambaram, Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Darasuram, Thanjore, Trichy, Chettinad, Madurai, Thekkady, Alleppey, Marari & Cochin in its itinerary. Visit all majour active & inactive temples, monuments & museums in Tamil Nadu. Then enter in Kerala, known for its coffee and spice plantations, network of canals backwaters & palm-lined beaches. Enjoy boat safari & learn about spice plantation in Thekkady, cruise along backwaters in Alleppey & unwind on the sun-kissed beaches of Marari. Tour will end with drop off at Cochin Airport
 

Category

 
3 Star Hotels (Private Tour)
Bed & Breakfast 3 Stars
en
 
4 star hotels (Private Tour)
Bed & Breakfast 4 Stars
en
 
5 star hotels (Private Tour)
Bed & Breakfast 5 Stars
en
 

Program

Day 1:
Arrive Chennai
On arrival at Chennai airport assistance & transfer to hotel. Rest time free to relax and personal activities. Overnight at hotel.

Day 2:
Chennai (B)
City tour visit Fort St. George, St Mary's Church inside the fortress, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Vadapalani Murugan Temple, Government Museum, Dakshinachitra Museum, Santhome Cathedral & Marina Beach. Overnight at hotel.

Day 3:
Chennai - Pondicherry (160kms) (B)
Drive to Pondicherry via visiting Kanchipuram an ancient city famous as city of thousands temple. And Mahabalipuram UNESCO WHS monuments Monolithic Temples, Krishnas Butterball, Cave Temples, Shore Temple & The Arjuna Penance. On arrival check in & Overnight at hotel.

Day 4:
Pondicherry (B)
Visit Aurovil & Pondicherry Museum. Drive pass through stunning French Quarters, which include French consulate, Raj Nivas, Government Square, Churches & French schools. Rest time to relax on the beach. Overnight at hotel.

Day 5:
Pondicherry - Thanjore (220kms) (B)
Drive to Thanjavur via visiting Chidambaram Nataraja Temple and The Great Living Chola Temples at Gangaikonda Cholapuram & Darasuram. Arrive Thanjavur check in & Overnight at hotel.

Day 6:
Thanjore (B)
Visit Brihadeshwara Temple & Palace Complex built by great Chola king in the 10th century. Rest time to explore the villages nearby. Overnight at hotel.

Day 7:
Thanjore - Trichy - Chettinad (145kms) (B)
Drive to Chettinad via visiting Trichy Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple the largest functional temple in the world, Jambukeswarar Temple & The Rock Fort the oldest rock in the world 230 crore years old.

Day 8:
Chettinad - Madurai (90kms) (B)
Visit few 19th-century mansions, whose wide courtyards and spacious rooms are embellished with marble & teak. Drive to Madurai check in & Overnight at hotel.

Day 9:
Madurai - Thekkady (160kms) (B)
Visit Meenakshi Temple, Thirumalai Nayakar Palace, Alagar Koil, Tiruparankundram Murugan Temple & Palamuthirsolai Murugan Temple. Drive to Thekkady via Ramakkalmedu the windiest places in Asia. On arrival check in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 10:
Thekkady (B)
Explore Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary on a boat. Sanctuary is home to tigers, elephant, rare lion-tailed macaques, sambar deer, leopards and Indian bison. Later spice plantation tour to see crops of cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, coffee etc. Overnight at hotel.

Day 11:
Thekkady - Alleppey (140kms) (B)
Transfer to Alleppey boat jetty to board houseboat and sail through the tropical countryside enchanting backwaters. The Houseboats have generated electricity, sitting cum dining area, separate bedroom with attached English toilets, sun deck and fully loaded kitchen with a chef & driver. O/n in houseboat.

Day 12:
Alleppey - Marari (20kms) (B)
Disembark from houseboat and transfer to Marari beach, check in at hotel. Rest day free and easy to relax on the beach. Overnight at hotel.

Day 13:
Marari (B)
Day free and easy to relax on the beach. Overnight at hotel. (transport not included)

Day 14:
Marari (B)
Day free and easy to relax on the beach. Overnight at hotel. (transport not included)

Day 15:
Marari - Cochin/ Departure (Flight) (B)
Drive to Cochin, meet your guide and 3/4 hours city tour. Fort Cochin, St. Frances Church, Jewish Synagogue, Mattancherry Palace & Chinese fishing nets. Later in the evening transfer to Cochin airport to board flight for onward destination.

Price includes

 Assistance on arrival at airport.
 14 Nights accommodation in selected price category hotels.
 Daily breakfast at hotels.
 Private air conditioned deluxe car for airport transfer, sightseeing and excursion as per program.
 English speaking tour guide on sightseeing days (local guide in each city), as per program.
 Monuments entrances and activities charges mentioned in the itinerary.
 Bottled drinking water in car.
 Government taxes.

Price does not include

 Any flight tickets.
 Camera charges at monuments.
 Meals other than mentioned in day plan.
 Expenses of personal nature like liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, internet etc.
 Gratuities & optional activities.
 Anything not mentioned in inclusions.

Itinerary

Day Overnight Itinerary highlights
1 Chennai   Chennai - Chennai Airport
2 Chennai
3 Pondicherry
4 Pondicherry
5 Thanjavur
6 Thanjavur
7 Chettinad
8 Madurai
9 Thekkady
10 Thekkady
11 Alleppey
12 Mararikulam
13 Mararikulam
14 Mararikulam
15   Kochi - Cochin Airport

Accommodations provided in each place

Place3 Star Hotels4 star hotels5 star hotels
ChennaiRaj Park/ MGM East Woods or similarThe Raintree/ Accord Metropolitan or similarITC Grand Chola/ The Leela Palace or similar
PondicherryShenbaga Hotel/ Annamalai International or similarLe Pondy/ The Windflower Resort & Spa or similarPalais De Mahe/ La Villa or similar
ThanjavurGrand Gardenia/ Oriental Towers or similarSangam Hotels/ Ideal River View Resort or similarSvatma or similar
ChettinadChidambara Vilas/ Chettinadu Mansion or similarVisalam Cgh Earth or similar
MaduraiAstoria by Sparsa/ Madurai’s Residency or similarGRT Regency/ Fortune Pandiyan Hotel or similarCourtyard by Marriott/ The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai or similar
ThekkadyAbad Green Forest/ Hotel Treetop or similarThe Elephant Court/ Cardamom County or similarSpice Village/ Carmelia Haven Resort or similar
AlleppeyDeluxe Houseboat (ATDC Houseboat/ Dream Boats) or similarPreminum Houseboat (Abad Premium Houseboats/ Rainbow Premium Houseboats) or similarLuxury Houseboat (Xandari Riverscapes/ Lakes & Lagoons) or similar
MararikulamEL Oceano Beach Villas/ La Plage Marari or similarAbad Turtle Beach Resort/ Marari Sands Beach Resort or similarXandari Pearl/ Marari Beach Resort or similar