South India from Coast to Coast
|
View our Coast to Coast Tour in a larger map |
|
Our other tours: |
|
|
The long golden beaches, extensive backwaters and rich history of Kerala, the temples of Tamil Nadu, modern cities and traditional village life, all combine to make this a destination not to be missed.
Journey from the beautiful palm-fringed beaches of India's south western coast through the lowland paddy fields and coconut groves; take a relaxing boat trip on the backwaters; continue up to the rubber, tea and coffee plantations of the Western Ghats with its rich spice gardens and abundance of wildlife; see traditional village life; visit the stunning temples of Tamil Nadu and, finally, relax on the pristine tropical beaches of the east coast. This is an experience of India which you will never forget.
The Itinerary
Tour A: South India from Coast to Coast
Duration: 17 nights
Arrive at Trivandrum airport. Our representative will meet you and take you to your hotel where you will receive a briefing on your planned tour. Overnight at Kanyakumari.
Relax and enjoy Kanyakumari beach where three oceans meet; explore this historic town with the impressive statue of Thiruvalluvar, Vivekananda Memorial island and the Gandhi Memorial or stroll amongst the fishermen mending their nets. Overnight Kanyakumari.
Drive to Suchindram temple to view its stunning architecture, visit the wooden palace at Padmanabhapuram Palace then continue your journey to Kovolam beach resort. Overnight at Kovolam.
Drive to Alleppey where you will board your rice boat. Enjoy the peace and serenity of a cruise along the tranquil backwaters. Overnight on the rice boat.
Disembark from your boat and drive to Cochin. Here you will take a guided tour of the city, including the Fort, Mattancherry Palace, the Jewish Synagogue, St Francis Church and the Chinese fishing nets. Overnight at Cochin.
Drive up to the wildlife reserve at Thekkady where you can see some of the wonderful variety of wildlife of the Western Ghats. Overnight Periyar.
Take advantage of the cooler air in the mountains to explore Thekkady. Your guide will be on hand to help you to arrange your choice of activity* if you'd like to try an elephant ride, visit a spice garden or take a trek in the forest. As you wander about the streets, your guide will be pleased to show you the best value shops in which to purchase your souvenirs. As the day draws to a close why not enjoy an evening performance at the Kathakali Theatre*? Overnight Periyar.
In the morning drive down to Madurai on the Tamil Nadu plain. In the afternoon take some free time for shopping before enjoying an evening light show at Tirumalai Nayat Palace. Overnight Madurai.
Enjoy a morning tour of the amazing Meenakshi temple before driving to Lakeside. Overnight at Lakeside.
Enjoy the tranquil setting and take the opportunity to relax. With a guesthouse fronting on to the Karamaraj Lake you can sit back and enjoy the stunning scenery and soothing walks along the shoreline. There is also an optional half day tour of local the village and crafts*. Overnight Lakeside.
Take another day to relax and recharge your batteries or take the optional day trip to Kodaikanal*. Overnight Lakeside.
Drive to Trichy where your guide will show you Robert Clive's house, the Rock Fort and the temples of Trichy. Overnight Trichy
Drive to Thanjavur and visit the beautiful Brihadesvara Temple before continuing your journey to Pondicherry. Overnight Pondicherry.
Enjoy a tour of Pondicherry including the Sri Manakula Vinayagar temple, Government Park and Botanical Gardens. Overnight Pondicherry.
Drive to Mamallapuram where you will see the amazing Shore Temples and Arjuna's Penance. Continue your journey to the MGM Beach Resort at Chennai. Overnight MGM Beach Resort. Your driver will leave you here to enjoy the last relaxing days of your holiday
This is an opportunity for some leisure time. Enjoy the stunning beach, or why not ask your hotel to arrange a trip to the nearby Crocodile bank and snake anti-venom facility*? Overnight MGM Beach Resort.
Finish your holiday gently by spending some time on the beach of this secluded resort, or ask your hotel to arrange a visit to Chennai or to the local Artist's Village*. Overnight MGM Beach Resort.
Sadly your tour has to end sometime. You can extend your stay with extra nights at Lakeside, Kanyakumari or Chennai. Please ask us for a quote.
Included in this tour:
- Bed and breakfast in comfortable approved accomodation
- Experienced Guide, vehicle and courier
- Entrance fees for sites listed in the itinerary
We make every effort to give you the holiday of a lifetime at an affordable price. Unfortunately some optional activites will incur an extra cost, these are clearly marked with an *. If you need any claritfications please don't hesitate to ask.
Tariffs
£1,230
Single occupancy supplement applies. Please contact us for further details
We regret that our hotels have a surcharge during a three week Christmas/New Year period. Please contact us for details of how this will affect your holiday pricing. Nights at Lakeside do not incur any surcharges
Price includes: accommodation in 3* hotels; breakfast at all hotels; entrance charges to sites listed on your itinerary; airport transfers; all transports listed on your itinerary; driver/guide. Transport is in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle, type dependent on size of party.