Splendours of South India – Cheap Family Holiday Packages to South India

Splendours of South India

Chennai – Pondichery – Swamimalai – Tanjore–Trichy – Madurai – Thekkady – Munnar – Cochin – Mararikulam

15 Nights / 16 Days from £1715 per person

This tour provides a comprehensive insight into the Dravidian history, culture and architecture. The combination of visit to magnificent temples, historical French town of Pondichery, game reserve of Periyar, Mangroves of Pitchavaram, considered among the healthiest mangrove occurrence in the world. Backwaters of Cochin, provide a fascination theme throughout the tour. The journey offers an experience to stay in Munnar, a hill resort in the midst of tea and cardamom plantation and a few nights stay at the fine Mararikulam beach.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 London to Chennai
Fly with Emirates Airline to Chennai via Dubai.
Day 2 Chennai
Arrive in Chennai early in the morning. Meet and assist on arrival and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the morning at leisure. Afternoon tour of the city. Located on the Coromandal cost, Chennai was the site of the first settlement of the East India Company and the town grew around Fort St George since 1640.
Day 3 Visit Mahabalipuram
Today drive to visit the ancient town of Mahabalipuram with its exquisite rock-cut monuments, monolithic structures and bas-reliefs.
Day 4 Chennai to Pondichery
Leave for seaside city of Pondicherry. Visit the Aurbindo Ashram and the French quarter. Overnight stay in Pondicherry.
Day 5 Pondichery to Swamimalai
After breakfast leave for Pitchavaram and take a boat ride to see Mangroves, considered among the healthiest mangrove occurrence in the world and Port Nova, a former Portuguese & Dutch port. Continue to Swamimalia visiting enroute Chidambaram. Overnight stay in Swamimalai. Day 6 Swamimalai to Trichy
Drive to Trichy visiting en route Tanjor, the cultural capital of the region, famous for Tajore School of painting. Visit the magnificent Brihadeeswara temple complex where you can also see 1000- year-old paintings. Stay in Trichy for two nights.
Day 7 Trichy
Trichy, the land of Three Headed Demon is a living example of a temple town. Today visit the magnificent Shrirangam island temple complex and the Rock fort temple.
Day 8 Trichy to Madurai
Drive to Madurai. Afternoon city tour visiting the Thirumalai Nayak Palace and magnificent Shree Meenakshi temple, an excellent example of Dravidian architecture. Also visit the colourful temple market. Overnight stay in Madurai.
Day 9 Madurai to Thekkady
Drive to Thekkady. Afternoon wildlife viewing by boat in the Periyar National Park, noted for its Elephant herds and a rich variety of bird life. Overnight stay in Thekkady.
Day 10 Thekkady to Munnar
Early in the morning wildlife viewing. Drive to Munnar, a hill resort in the midst of Cardamom and tea plantations. Munnar is a major centre for tea industry in Kerala. Afternoon explore the town. Overnight stay in Munnar. Day 11 Munnar to Cochin
Morning visit tea and spice plantations. Later drive to Cochin, known as the “Venice of the East’. In the evening see the Kathakkali dance performance. Stay in Cochin for two nights.
Day 12 Cochin
Morning tour of Cochin visiting the Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue, Fort Cochin and St France’ s Church. In the evening a Sunset harbour cruise to see the Bolgahtty Island and the Chinese fishing nets.
Day 13 Cochin to Mararikulam
Drive to Allepy and take a boat to Kottayam. The cruise takes over 3 hours passing along most picturesque narrow canals and waterways. Drive to Mararikulam on the Malabar Coast. Stay for Three nights at the Marari Beach Resort with cottages built in traditional style. Days 14 & 15 Mararikulam
At leisure by the beach. Ayurveda facilities are available at the resort. At your leisure you may like to explore the nearby fishing village.
Day 16 Mararikulam to London
Drive to Cochin and take an early morning flight to London via Dubai.
Suggested Tour Extensions Hotels On This Tour

Price Includes:

International Flights: Return economy class International flights from London Heathrow airport. Supplement may apply from regional airports.
Domestic Flights: Economy class domestic flights within India.
Assisted Transfers: All Airport and train transfers as specified by a chauffeur driven car inclusive of representative assistance.Where courtesy transfers are provided by the hotel representative assistance may not be available in some places.
Accommodation: Room with attached private facilities.
Meal Plan: Bed & Breakfast at all the places.
Jungle Safari: As per individual parks regulations. By Jeep sharing with other tourist, seating up to five, or a large open vehicle, seating up to eighteen. Safaris are accompanied by a naturalist. For booking exclusive jeeps a higher charge may apply. Due to the limited number of vehicles allowed inside a park in a day, exclusive jeep is subject to availability.
Train: Air conditioned sleeper.
Services of Local Agent &Tour Guide: Services of a local agent in all major cities and an English speaking guide during sightseeing as specified inclusive of entry fee to the monuments.
Taxes: All applicable taxes and service charges.

Price Excludes:

Travel insurance: We recommend you take a comprehensive travel insurance to cover your holiday at the time of booking the tour.
Visa: UK citizens require entry visas for India. We can obtain visa on your behalf for a nominal fee.
Personal Expenses: Such as laundry, telephones calls, hard & soft drinks, meals other then specified, beverages and mineral water etc
Camera fee: Still and video camera fee at monuments and game parks.
Tips anywhere: To drivers, porters, bellboys, guides & waiters etc.
Free Days: Any car arrangements on free days / days at leisure.
Any items not mentioned in the itinerary and inclusions.

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All prices inclusive of pre payable taxes and charges.
Subject to Availability.