South India Odyssey

On arrival in Chennai, meet with our company representative. Get assistance for transfer to hotel. Check-in at the hotel and relax for the day. Chennai is an interesting mix of modern metropolis with historic sites. Along the Bay of Bengal, the beach city is known for amazing sights, food, shopping, etc.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Start day 2 of the South India Odyssey tour with breakfast at the hotel, you will be embark on a Chennai sightseeing tour. The 'Gateway to the South’ is bejewelled with various attractions. The sights to visit are Kalakshetra – the art and cultural academy, the St. Mary's Church, Fort St. George - abode of the Secretariat and Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu, Sri Parthasarathy Temple – dedicated to Lord Krishna, Kapaliswara Temple, Mylapore, San Thomas Cathedral Basilica and the Theosophical Society.

Overnight stay at hotel. (B)

After breakfast at the hotel, hit the road to Kanchipuram in the morning. Kanchipuram is regarded as one of the seven revered cities of Hindus. The city has enjoyed the status of being the Chola capital in the 2nd century BC. Counted as one of the major seats of Tamil learning, it an important pilgrimage for the Buddhists, Jains and the Hindus. Apart from the number of temples, the city is also famed for silk weavers.

Thereafter, proceed towards Mahabalipuram. Upon arrival, complete the check-in formalities at the hotel. Overnight stay in Mahabalipuram. (B)

Start the day with a hearty breakfast. Post this, you will be moving towards the Pondicherry. Known as the French Riviera of the East, Pondy is one of the most mesmerizing and charming places to visit in South India. The old-world French charms beguile tourists. Upon reaching, check-in at the hotel and relax for a while. Subsequently, start exploring the town on your own. Marvel at the architecture or savour cuisines. Choice is yours!

Overnight stay at hotel. (B)

Post breakfast, enjoy sightseeing tour of Pondicherry on day 5. Marvel at the popular attractions of Pondicherry which include the Sacred Heart Church – a highly revered church in Pondicherry, the Raj Nivas – dwelling place of LG of Puducherry and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Auroville, located at a distance of 10 km from Pondicherry is one of the best attractions.

Wrap up the city tour with by an overnight stay at hotel. (B)

After hearty breakfast, drive towards Tanjore. En route visit Chidambaram, a highly revered temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in the form of Lord Nataraja. Sprawling over 40 acres, the temple is distinguished with gopurams, five sabhas or counts.

Upon reaching Tanjore, complete the check-in formalities at the hotel. Rest of the day is reserved for an exploratory tour. Get blessings at the Brihadeeswarar Temple, a part of the Great Living Chola Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Amongst the other popular tourist highlights to visit are- Tanjore Art Gallery and the Saraswathi Mahal Library.

Enjoy a good night sleep at the hotel. (B)

After your breakfast at the hotel, drive to Madurai. On the way pay a visit to Trichy. The historic city of Tamil Nadu has a number of interesting sights to its name. Relics of the bygone days, revered temples, forts and more. Pay a visit to the Rock Fort Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Later continue you drive to Madurai. Once you arrive, check in at the hotel.

Overnight stay at the hotel. (B)

The day is dedicated to morning sightseeing tour of Madurai also referred to as the Athens of the East. The city located on the banks of the River Vaigai is believed to be 2500 years old. You just can’t skip a visit to the magnificent Meenakshi-Sundareswara Temple. The temple features 12 gopurams. The southern gopuram is a brilliant architectural feat with over 1500 sculptures.

The night is to be spent at the hotel. (B)

Post breakfast, travel to Periyar. On arrival, check in at the resort. Enjoy the bliss of elephants, unending chains of hills, lush green trees, chirping birds, stunningly beautiful landscape and unending spice-scented plantations. The Periyar forest of Thekkady is one of the finest wildlife reserves in offering great opportunities for treks and mountain walks. Spend your evening in visit Kumily, popular spice market nearby.

Overnight stay at the Resort. (B)

Savour healthy breakfast in the morning. Afterwards, explore the Periyar wildlife sanctuary on a boat safari. The sanctuary features rich biodiversity and scenic beauty. The wildlife is a home to Tiger, bison, wild boar, sambar, monkeys, wild elephants, antelopes and a wide variety of birds. There are over 260 species of birds here; including Nilgiri Wood Pigeons, blue-winged Parakeets, white-bellied Tree Pies, laughing Thrushes and Fly Catchers. After wildlife safari, return to resort to check-out. Hit the road to Kumarakom.

Evening is at leisure with overnight stay at hotel. (B)

After breakfast, check out and move towards Alleppey. Upon arrival, embark on your traditionally decorated houseboat to start an overnight backwater cruise which will end on next day in the morning at Alleppey.

Overnight stay at Houseboat. (B, L, D)

De board the houseboat after breakfast and travel to Cochin. Upon reaching, check-in at the hotel. This is followed by sightseeing tour to the nearby peninsula. Discover the remains of Fort Cochin and pay homage to the St. Francis church, the oldest church in India. While returning, halt at the spice shops to buy cloves, cinnamon, cardamom and other spices.

End the day with Kathakali dance show – a famous classical dance drama of Kerala organized for you in the evening, in an auditorium.

Overnight stay at Cochin. (B)

Have your breakfast and enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city wherein you will visit the Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace), St. Francis Church and the Jewish Synagogue. Also visit the famous Vasco Da Gama Square. In the evening, you will get transferred to the airport to catch a flight. (B)