Riviera Travel Southern India’s Coastal Route

• See the breathtaking Meenakshi Amman Temple
• Cruise along the backwaters and canals of Kerala
• Discover a 500-acre spice plantation
• Visit Cochin, the first European colony in India

• Return flights and transfers
• 13nts in 3-5* accommodation
• Selected meals: Daily breakfast, 3 lunches and 4 dinners
• 12 included experiences
• Expert tour manager
• Checked luggage

Day 1:Departure
Take your overnight flight to Chennai vis Muscat

Day 2: Arrival in Chennai
On arrival, transfer to the hotel

Day 3: Chennai
Begin your immersion in one of the world’s oldest cultures this morning in Chennai. Explore bustling streets, pass Victorian-era buildings, and visit the famous Marine Beach with its vibrant fish market and colourful wooden fishing boats on the shore. Arrive at the Dakshina Chitra Heritage Museum. Later visit St. Mary’s Church before having time at leisure.

Day 4: Mahabalipuram & Pondicherry
Following breakfast, you’ll travel to Mahabalipuram to see the intricate temples and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Later, travel south to Pondicherry and have dinner at the hotel.

Day 5: Tanjore
Start the day with a walking tour to the French colonial centre of the city. See the Governor’s residence, the former site of the French fort. Continue to Tanjore for a 2-night stay. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure.

Day 6: Tanjore
Tanjore, the former capital of the ancient Chola Empire, is renowned for its remarkable Brihadeeswara Temple, a prototype for all southern Indian temples. This temple, soaring over 200 feet in height, features an intricately-carved ochre-colored facade that radiates in the morning sunlight.

Day 7: Chettinad
Today, head to the nearby Chettinad region, a hidden gem that promises to captivate you. It offers an authentic glimpse of rural India with its small farming communities. Tonight, you’ll savor a dinner included in your experience, featuring the region’s distinctive cuisine served on a traditional banana leaf.

Day 8: Madurai
After breakfast, you’ll explore this hidden region, visiting impressive mansions, the local Maharaja’s palace, and experiencing local handicrafts. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit a delicately handmade tile workshop and witness the weaving of traditional saris on wooden handlooms.

In the afternoon, drive to Madurai for one of the tour’s highlights: the Meenakshi Amman Temple. This afternoon, use tuk-tuks to visit the temple at dusk, exploring its bustling traditional markets filled with heavily laden stalls and tailors diligently working on their vintage Singer sewing machines.

Day 9: Kumily
This morning, return to the temple to explore it in daylight. Afterward, tour the nearby Nayak Palace, featuring a vast throne-room and a ceremonial courtyard. Then, embark on a westward journey toward the distant Western Ghats, marking the border between Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

As you travel along winding roads through lush forests, you’ll catch fleeting glimpses of green valleys below. Upon crossing the border, reach Kumily, nestled amidst spice plantations and the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Day 10: Periyar Wildlife Reserve
Rise early to the sounds of a tropical dawn chorus and venture into the wildlife sanctuary for a guided nature walk amidst teak, bamboo, wild fig, and jacaranda trees. The reserve boasts diverse birdlife, including hornbills, parakeets, kingfishers, eagles, kites, and flycatchers. There’s also a chance to spot rarely seen tigers, as well as Malabar giant squirrels and lion-tailed macaques.

Following a late breakfast back at the hotel, the day offers free time until our afternoon excursion to a local spice plantation. Here, the guide enlightens you on the various uses, both medicinal and culinary, of spices such as pepper, cloves, curry leaves, cardamom, vanilla, turmeric, nutmeg, cinnamon, and more.

Day 11: Kerala Houseboat Overnight
This morning, descend from the hills of Periyar, passing picturesque tea plantations, en route to the captivating Keralan backwaters. Here, enjoy an overnight stay aboard a traditional Kerala Houseboat.

Departing from Alleppey, each houseboat accommodates six to eight guests and is crewed by three individuals who prepare delicious Keralan lunches and dinners onboard. As you cruise through the serene waterways, surrounded by paddy fields, coconut palms, and vibrant local houses, keep an eye out for the abundant birdlife, children commuting to school by rowboat, and locals going about their daily routines, including washing clothes, utensils, and themselves in the narrow canals.

Day 12: Drive to Kumarakom
After breakfast, disembark from the Kerala houseboat and proceed to Kumarakom. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure. In the early evening, we partake in a sunset boat cruise on Lake Vembanad, one of India’s largest lakes and a thriving wetland ecosystem teeming with diverse birdlife, wildlife, and plant species.

Day 13: Kumarakom
Early risers with a passion for bird watching can seize the opportunity to explore the avian wonders of the area and embark on a village walk. The remainder of the day is yours to relish the serenity and natural beauty of this exceptional location.

Day 14: Cochin
This morning, depart for a brief drive to Cochin, the historic port of the Malabar Coast, known for its pivotal role in shipping India’s prized spices to Europe. In the city’s oldest section, Fort Cochin, you’ll find a captivating labyrinth of narrow lanes and grand merchant residences. Nearby, the bustling Mattancherry district houses the Dutch Palace and the subcontinent’s oldest synagogue. A must-see attraction in Cochin is the iconic Chinese fishing nets, enormous cantilevered devices that remain operational to this day.

Day 15: Return home
Fly home to the UK

This Signature Tour includes everything from the Classic Tour as well as the following:

Day 3:
Enjoy a special dinner with signature dishes prepared by famous chefs in a local restaurant

Day 10:
After your day in the Wildlife Reserve, you’ll be welcomed back to the hotel with light refreshments and a talk by a knowledge local naturalist.

Day 13:
Take rickshaw to a near by jetty to board a boat cruise with a knowledgeable naturalist who will introduce you to the diverse birds species in the area.

Plus, enjoy the more exclusive atmosphere of travelling in a small group of 25 or fewer guests.

For dates and prices, please enquire or call 0800 707 6229

Fact File

• Currency: Indian Rupee
• Flight time: Approx.  11 hrs 50 mins (outboud) and 13 hrs 15 mins (inbound)
• Languages: Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu
• Time zone: GMT+5.5
• Country: India

*All transfer times listed here are approximate and dependent on traffic.