Tamil Nadu & Kerala Tour 14 Day

Tamil Nadu & Kerala Tour - 14 Days available year round with car and driver

$3,100 - Oct to Mar, per person, land only

$2,850 - Apr to Sep, per person, land only

HIGHLIGHTS: Fort St. George, Chennai, Arjuna’s Penance, Five Rathas, Shore Temple, two oceans, Botanical Gardens, Tamil temple tour, Spice Hills, Menasha Temple, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, backwater houseboat cruise, sun, sea, sand and surf.

DAY 1 – CHENNAI: Arrive Chennai and transfer to hotel. After a relaxed morning, enjoy an afternoon city tour visiting Fort St. George, built by the East India Company in 1653 and St Mary's Church, the first English church in India. Orientation and airport arrivals. Overnight at Chennai.

DAY 2 – MAHABALIPURAM: Morning, drive to Mahabalipuram, a short 90 minutes down the coast road. Rest of the day, relax at the beach resort and catch up from the long journey.

DAY 3 – MAHABALIPURAM: Visit the World Heritage Site spread over the quaint village on the Bay of Bengal. Arjuna’s Penance, Five Rathas and Shore Temple. Overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 4 – PONDICHERY: Morning, drive to Pondicherry, the former French enclave in India. Good baguettes and wine here! Visit Raj Nivas, the former palace of Dupleix and now the residence of Pondicherry’s Lieutenant Governor, Botanical Gardens, Chunnambar Boat House, Bharathi Park, Museum, and Anglo-French textile mills. Overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 5 – TRICHY: Morning, drive to Trichy. Visit Srirangam Temple, the largest active temple in the state, and Also the rock fort that overlooks the entire city. Overnight stay in Trichy.

DAY 6 – TANJORE: Morning, drive to Tanjavore. This city was the capital of the mighty Cholas Empire for centuries. We visit the massive Brihadishwara Temple and City Palace. Overnight stay at the resort.

DAY 7 – MADURAI: Morning, drive to Madurai and visit Menasha Temple; this temple requires five hours to see the entire compound. Thousand pillared halls underground, elephants and multitudes of pilgrims throng the massive temple. Overnight stay at Madurai.

DAY 8 – PERIYAR: Morning, drive to Thekkady (Periyar), across the mountain range that brings you to the Spice Hills. Check into your hotel by noon. Walk around in the fresh air of Kumily, a trekker’s paradise. Overnight stay at Thekkady.

DAY 9 – PERIYAR: Morning, boating through Periyar Lake. Wildlife sanctuary, visiting spice villages. Overnight stay at Thekkady. Visit tea, coffee and cardamom plantations. Enjoy the fresh air before you head to the coast tomorrow.

DAY 10 – HOUSEBOAT: Morning, journey to Alleppey, and check into your houseboat. Backwater cruise through paddy fields, coconut lagoons, narrow canals and coir villages to Alleppey. Overnight stay on the a/c luxury houseboat.

DAY 11 – ALLAPPEY: Morning, drive to backwater resort (2 hours). Check into the beautiful backwater resort. Free day relax at the resort, or biking, fishing and walking the palm fringed lanes.

DAY 12 - VARKALA BEACH: Morning, drive to Varkala Beach. Rest of the day to relax at the resort.

DAY 13 - VARKALA BEACH: Varkala is a cliffside resort overlooking the beach, famous for laid-back ambience and yoga gatherings. It is a world away from busy beach resorts but has all the amenities for a great holiday, miles of empty beaches to walk, and is close to town to catch the Kerala feel if you want to discover this amazing country.

DAY 14 – DEPARTURE: Morning, it's time to bid farewell. Transfer to Trivandrum Airport.

Tour Includes:

v Airport Transfers

v Transportation in A/C vehicle

v Accommodation in hotels listed or similar

v Breakfast at all hotels

v All meals at Houseboat

v Boating at Periyar

Hotels:

v Chennai: Vijay Park

v Mamallapuram: Temple Bay

v Pondicherry: Annamalai Hotel