| Day 1, MAMALLAPURAM: On arrival at Chennai Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Mamallapuram. Lying south of Chennai, this ancient seaport is now a coastal retreat with a long sandy beach.
Day 2, MAMALLAPURAM: Visit the fabulous rock-cut temples, giant frieze and Shore Temple, carved out of rock along the Coromandel coast. Afternoon at leisure. (B)
Day 3, PONDICHERRY: Drive from Mamallapuram to the former French colony of Pondicherry. Afternoon at leisure to stroll around the boulevard or to visit the community of Auroville, a unique experiment in international living. (B)
Day 4, THANJAVUR: Drive from Pondicherry to Thanjavur. Afternoon visit to the Sri Brihadeshwari Temple, a World Heritage monument. (B)
Day 5, MADURAI: Drive from Thanjavur to Madurai. Stop en route in Tiruchirappali to visit the Rock Fort Temple owering above the city, and the gigantic Srirangam Temple. (B)
Day 6, MADURAI: Madurai is full of colourful bazaars, street tailors, throngs of pilgrims and joyful religious processions. The main attraction is the famous temple dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi. (B)
Day 7, THEKKADY: Thekkady is the best place to stay for a visit to Periyar Wildlife Reserve, one of the largest in India. There are plenty of elephants, sambhar, wild pig, flying squirrel and over 260 species of birds. (B)
Day 8, HOUSEBOAT: On a houseboat cruising through Kerala’s backwaters and lagoons, you can relax and watch the world go by, enjoying the sheer peace of the palm-fringed waterways. We spend the night on board the houseboat. (BLD)
Day 9, KOCHI (COCHIN): Kochi is set on a cluster of islands and narrow peninsulas and has one of the best natural harbours in the world. It is one of the most unique and fascinating towns in South India. (B)
Day 10, KOCHI: Morning tour of Fort Cochin and a cruise through the harbour. In the evening we can watch a performance of Kathakali dancing. (B)
Day 11, OOTY: Originally a Toda tribal village, Ooty was established as a hill resort by the British in the 19th century. It has a lingering touch of the Raj in the English cottages, clubs, boarding schools and churches. (B)
Day 12, MYSORE: Drive to Mysore, a friendly and easy-going city of shady trees and buildings of faded grandeur. (B)
Day 13, MYSORE: Visit the Maharajah’s palace and Chamundi Hill. Mysore is also a crafts centre, and there are numerous shops selling a large range of sandalwood, rosewood and teak carvings, and furniture. (B)
Day 14, CHENNAI (MADRAS): We take the Shatabdi Express from Mysore to Chennai, formerly known as Madras. (B)
Day 15, CHENNAI: Tour finishes after breakfast. (B)
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