South India Tour
Duration for South India Tour: 21days/20nights
Itinerary for South India Tour:
Kolkota – Puri – Mamallapuram – Pondicherry – Tanjore – Madurai – Periyar – Allepey – Cochin - Mangalore – Gokarna – Goa
Day 1: Arrive Kolkata (West Bengal)
Upon arrival in Kolkata you will be met by a representative of Mystical India and transferred to your hotel. If time permits you will then have time to freshen up and then depart for this afternoon’s city seeing which will include a city tour of Kolkata, visiting the Victoria Memorial, The Indian Museum and the Kalighat Temple. Overnight at the hotel, breakfast and lunch included.
Day 2 : Kolkata
This morning you will visit the Park Cemetery, Mullik Flower Market, Howrah Bridge and New Market. This afternoon is yours to enjoy at your leisure. This evening you will board the airplane to Bhubaneswar. Overnight in Bhubaneswar, breakfast and lunch included.
Day 3: Puri (Orissa)
After breakfast you will drive to Puri enroute you will visit the Konark Sun Temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and upon arrival into Puri you will check-in to your hotel, relax for some time until late afternoon when you will experience the local sites with a rickshaw tour of the city. Overnight in Puri, breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 4: Puri (Orissa)
After breakfast you will visit a local village for a demonstration of local dance (Traditional Orissa state dancing) and enjoy a local meal. After lunch visit a local painting village and then transfer back to Puri. After reaching Puri you will have the evening at leisure before the plane departure to Chennai. Overnight in Mamallapurum, breakfast and lunch included.
Day 5 : Mamallapurum (Tamil Nadu)
After breakfast you will visit The 5 Rathas, Shore Temple Arjuna’s Penance and other ancient rock carvings and local sites before you enjoy lunch in a local authentic fishing village where you will distribute gifts to the local village children before you finish back at your hotel. Late afternoon and evening at your leisure. Overnight in Mamallapurum, breakfast and lunch included.
Day 6 : Pondicherry (Union Territory)
After breakfast you will depart via private vehicle to the Union Territory of Pondicherry, this scenic drive will take approximately 3 hours and enroute you will visit Auroville where you will discover this city of the future. After returning to Pondicherry check-in to your hotel and freshen up. This evening you will enjoy dinner in a French restaurant after a heritage walk of the city of Pondicherry. Overnight in Pondicherry, breakfast and lunch included.
Day 8: Tanjore (Tamil Nadu)
After breakfast you will depart the hotel via private vehicle to Tanjore, the ancient capital of the Chola Kings. On the way to Tanjore you will visit Gangakondacholpuram, and Dharasuram Temples which are both designated UNESCO heritage sites. Upon arrival in Tanjore you will visit Brihadeshwar Temple, the bronze art gallery, Saraswati Mahal Library and a local cottage industry for bronze statue making. Overnight in Tanjore, breakfast & lunch included.
Day 9: Madurai (Tamil Nadu)
After breakfast you will depart the hotel via private vehicle to the city of Madurai. Upon arrival in Madurai you will check-in to your hotel and have time for a quick lunch before departing on your cycle rickshaw tour of the city featuring the Gandhi Memorial Museum, Tirumalai Nayak Palace, Madurai Markets and the famous Sri Meenakshi Temple. This evening will be at your leisure to enjoy this amazing city. Overnight in Madurai, breakfast and lunch included.
Day 10: Periyar (Kerala)
After breakfast you will depart your hotel for the scenic drive to “God’s Own Country”, the state of Kerala. Upon arrival in Periyar you will check-in to your hotel. This afternoon you will depart for a tour of the local spice plantation and enjoy an elephant ride. This evening you will be enchanted by the Kalarippayat, the ancient tradition of martial training and discipline.
Overnight in Periyar, breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 11: Periyar
Early morning departure for trekking inside the wildlife sanctuary where you just might get a glimpse of an elephant, surely you will interact with monkeys and sightseeing of other wild animals in their natural habitat. During the jungle walk you will have time to enjoy the breakfast provided. Upon returning to the hotel you will have a chance to freshen up, enjoy a massage or other Ayurvedic treatment. This evening you will have a local dinner provided in a private home including cooking demonstration. Overnight in Periyar, breakfast, lunch and dinnner included.
Day 12 & 13: Alleppey (Kerala)
After breakfast enjoy a leisurely drive to Alleppey where you will board your houseboat for an amazing 2 relaxing days on the Backwaters. The Backwaters are often referred to as the “Venice of the East”. The 900kms of backwaters are the undisputed main attraction for the state of Kerala. 2 nights on your private houseboat and all meals and drinks included
Day 14: Cochin (Kerala)
After breakfast you will depart your houseboat for the drive to Cochin. Upon arrival in Cochin you will check-in to your hotel and have the rest of the afternoon at leisure. This evening you will depart for the Kathakali program which is an art form invented around the time of Shakespeare it is the dramatized presentation of Hindu epics the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Overnight in Cochin, breakfast and lunch included.
Day 15 : Cochin
After breakfast depart the hotel for sightseeing of the area of Cochin which has been luring wanderers and traders for over 600 years and remains a living homage to its colonial past. During your tour you will visit the famous Chinese fishing nets, the synagogue, the Dutch Palace and churches of St. Francis and Santa Cruz Basilica. This evening is at your leisure before taking the plane to Mangalore. Overnight in Mangalore, breakfast and lunch included.
Day 16: Mangalore (Karnataka)
After breakfast you will begin your day tour where you will visit St. Aloysius College Chapel, Tagore Park and Kadri Manjunatha Temple. Upon returning to your hotel the evening is at your leisure. Overnight in Mangalore, breakfast & lunch included.
Day 17: Gokarna (Karnataka)
After breakfast depart the hotel and drive to the village of Gokarna (cows ear). Upon arrival this afternoon you will go to your hotel for check-in and the remainder of the day at your leisure. Overnight in Gokarna, breakfast and lunch included.
Day 18: Gokarna
After breakfast depart the hotel for a village walk where you will enjoy interacting with local Hindus enjoying all their daily life. Almost all village members are part of the Brahmin cast. Please note this village is known for its sun worshipping and although the Temples are beautiful and alluring only local Hindu’s are allowed entrance. Weather permitting once the walk is complete you will take a boat from Gokarna beach to Om beach or Kudle beach, have lunch and enjoy the sun. After returning to your hotel this evening is at your leisure.
Overnight in Gokarna, breakfast and lunch included.
Day 19 & 20 : Goa (Union Territory)
After breakfast you will enjoy a very beautiful scenic drive along the coast to the Union Territory and famous beach location of Goa where you will check into your hotel and have the next 2 days at your leisure to just relax and enjoy the beaches, go shopping or perhaps have your driver and guide take you on some local sightseeing tours, the choice is yours. 2 nights accommodation with breakfast included daily.
Day 21: Goa
Today is the last day of your South India Tour, you will depart Goa for your onward journey, breakfast included.
Included in the South India Tour:
- Airport meet and greet
- Airport transfers throughout the tour
- Deluxe Accommodations in each location
- Services of a professional tour guide either English speaking or your preferred language
- Private Airconditioned luxury vehicle throughout your tour at your discretion
- All domestic flights
- Meals daily as per the itinerary
- All entrance fees
- Elephant ride in Periyar
- Jungle walks
- Boat ride
- History walk
- Cycle rickshaw tours
- Spa services as per the itinerary
- Ayurveda treatments as per the itinerary
- Special welcome arrival at each hotel
Price of the South India Tour:
from $5799.00USD – Per Person based on twin sharing in deluxe accommodations
