SOUTH INDIA LUXURY PACKAGE TOUR

14 Nights / 15 Days

Visit some of the most popular tourist attractions of South India on this all-encompassing tour of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. Start off in the high tech modern city of Bangalore and travel south into the hills of Mysore and Ooty. Spend a day in the heritage harbor town of Cochin on the Arabian Seacoast and head inland to the beautiful backwaters on Lake Vembanad. Climb the Cardamom Hlls to Periyar and descend into the plains of Tamil Nadu enroute to the shores of the Bay of Bengal in the quiet beach town of Mamallapuram - a long-time tourist favorite.

Bangalore – Mysore – Ooty – Cochin – Kumarakom – Periyar – Madurai – Mamallapuram – Chennai

TOUR ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive Bangalore

A Tour Packages India Representative will meet you upon arrival and escort you to your hotel in The Garden City of Bangalore. A beautiful city with a cool climate with tree-lined streets, abundance of gardens, and a great mix of old and new architecture make it an enjoyable way to start of this tour. Spend the evening as you like.

Day 2: Bangalore to Mysore (140 km / 3 hour drive)

After check-out take a little time to do some sightseeing or shopping in Bangalore. Later, drive down to Mysore - the capital city of Karnataka - and check-in to your hotel. Spend the evening as you like.

Day 3: Mysore

Spend the day taking in the sights. Visit Chamundi Hill - home to the famous giant black granite Nandi Bull. Explore the marble marvels of the varying architectural styles of Mysore Palace. It's well worth a visit to the Tipu Sultan's Palace Art Gallery. In the evening, take in the music and light show at the Brindavan Gardens and Musical Fountain.

Day 4: Mysore to Ooty (127 km / 3 hour drive)

Depart from Mysore in the morning and take the scenic drive into the Niligiri Hills up to Ooty - a quaint hill station. Spend the remainder of the day strolling around the lake and sightseeing. Spend the night.

Day 5: Ooty to Cochin (290 km / 7 hour drive)

On the drive to Cochin, stop off in Coonoor - a nearby hill station famous for its beautiful and fragrant tea estates. Enjoy lunch and sample the local teas before descending the hills en route to Cochin where you'll spend the next two nights. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Kathakali Dance overlooking the Cochin Harbor.

Day 6: Cochin

Spend the day sightseeing. Jaipur has many points of interest. Check out the Amber Fort, City Palace, Jai Mahal Lake Palace, Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds), Jantar Mantar, Monkey Temple, Tiger Fort, The Entrance of City Walls, and Ramgagh Palace.

Day 7: Cochin to Kumarakom

Drive to the backwaters of Kumarkom - the Rice Bowl of Kerala. Kumarkom rests along the shores of Lake Vembanad, the largest freshwater lake in Kerala. Abundant in fish and fowl, coconut and palm groves and rice paddies, it's a virtual feast for the eyes. Relax and take it all in under nature's canopy.

Day 8: Kumarakom

Rent a canoe or enjoy a day's tour on a houseboat, cruising the lakes, canals, lagoons and waterways.Pay a visit to the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary - home to migratory flocks as far away as Siberia - an ornithologist's dream. Relax over a fresh fish dinner prepared Kerala style.

Day 9: Kumarakom to Periyar

Drive up into the Cardamom Hills to Periyar. Visit the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve. Spend the evening exploring nearby Kumily where every spice grown in Kerala is sold - you'll know you've arrived by the aromatic atmosphere.

Day 10: Periyar to Madurai

Descend from the hills of Kerala into the plains of Tamil Nadu to the temple town of Madurai where you'll spend the next two nights. Catch the evening Sound and Light Show at the Thirumalai Nayak Palace.

Day 11: Madurai

Spend the day touring the city. Don't miss the Meenakshi Temple, the Koodal Alagar Temple, Thiruparankundram, Gandhi Museum, and the Kazimar Big Mosque and Maqbara.

Day 12: Madurai to Chennai (via Flight) to Mamallapuram

Hop on a the short flight to Chennai and drive down the coastal road to the beach town of Mamallapuram. A long-time tourist favorite on the East Coast of India, you'll find plenty to keep yourself busy...or you can hang out at the beach splurging on fresh caught seafood and enjoying the sand and surf.

Day 13 & 14: Mamallapuram

Spend your days sightseeing. By far and away, the most popular tourist attraction is Arjuna's Penance - one of the largest bas relief works of art in existence - carved out of the hillside rock, it never fails to impress. Mamallapuram is famous as a pilgrimage town as well as being the seat of stone carving in South India and you'll see evidence of this especially on the way to the Five Rathas. Don't miss the Shore Temple, a rare item as it's the only monument in Mamallapuram "constructed" as opposed to being carved out of the rocky terrain of the town.

Day 15: Chennai Departure

Transfer to Chennai to your point of departure.

Extend or Customize Your Tour: We would be happy to assist with additional travel and hotel arrangements. Changes to this tour can be added as an inclusive part of the package.

DELUXE AND LUXURY ACCOMMODATIONS