14 days tour

Best Of Southern India

$ 1,549 .00 USD

Total price per person

Reserve with $1,549.00

Best Of Southern India

This tour includes:

Meals

1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Accommodation

Hotels (12 nts), homestay (1 nt, multi-share).

Hygieneprotocol

As of October 1, 2021 G Adventuresโ€™ Vaccinated Tours Policy applies:  All travelers must meet the G Adventures requirements for joining their tours.  The majority of tours require travelers to be fully vaccinated and the full/final COVID-19 vaccination must be at least 14 days before the first day of the tour.  There are some tours and departures that are only โ€˜Travel-Readyโ€™ which means all travelers must be fully vaccinated or have a negative COVID-19 test within 96 hours before the first day of the tour.  Please, double check with the G Adventures Support Team about the requirements of your tour and departure date. ** Updated Vaccine Mandate Changes as of 16 December 2022 below** Travel with Confidence & Vaccinated Tours As we continue to see vaccine mandates shifting and countries evolving COVID-19 policies, we have continued to monitor and adjust our policies in line. Based on this, we will be making some adjustments to our Vaccinated Tours and Travel with Confidence policy in 2023. Tours departing on or after March 31, 2023 we will no longer be requiring all travellers to be vaccinated to travel with G Adventures. However, we still strongly recommend that all travellers are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to travelling. As per our existing policy, it is the travellers responsibility to ensure they are aware of and adhere to the regulations of the country they are visiting. Please remember to ensure that your travellers have adequate travel insurance to protect them should their travel plans change, this should include trip disruption and COVID-19 coverage. Our National Geographic Journeys, National Geographic Family Journeys and G Expedition will remain fully vaccinated for all departures . You can read more about these policies here: https://www.gadventures.com/travel-with-confidence/  Leading up to March 31, 2023 our tours will continue to be Vaccinated Tours and you can look for the Vaccinated Tours icon to indicate which departures are vaccinated and which will not require a vaccination as we move forward with this change. You can find more information on our Travel with Confidence landing page https://www.gadventures.com/travel-with-confidence/  or as well as on Sherpa.  Thank you for your continued support as we navigate these updates. ** Updated Vaccine Mandate Changes as of 16 December 2022 above**

Transport

Train, private vehicle, cycle-rickshaw, auto-rickshaw, ferry.

Guide

CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.

Others

Your G for Good Moment: Lunch at Theruvarom Women Empowerment Project, Alleppey Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your Local Living Moment: Kerala Backwaters Homestay, Alleppey. Fort Kochi orientation walk. Kathakali dance show. Wayanad Tea Factory and Plantation Visit. Chaumundi Temple and Mysore Palace visit. Mamallapuram Shore Temple visit. Pondicherry orientation walk. Madurai cycle-rickshaw ride and Sri Meenakshi Temple visit. Cardamom Hills spice plantation tour. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.

Not included:

Insurance

Insurance is not included. Travel insurance is required for this tour. Please make sure you are adequately covered. If you require travel insurance, TourRadar has partnered up with World Nomads to provide a hassle-free experience. More information can be found here ( https://www.tourradar.com/travel-insurance ).

Flights

International flights not included.

Optional

Madurai - Meenakshi Temple Night Visit (50INR per person, 1000INR per group) Periyฤr Lake - Periyar Lake Boat Ride (500INR per group)

Others

1. CULTURE India is a country which is very different to anything you will have experienced before. Although this means it is not the easiest place to travel, this is also what makes it so special. Pollution, poverty and the crowds can result in initial culture shock but should be seen as an exciting new challenge. During our time here we have come to love this large and wonderfully different country but we know that we should always expect to encounter some difficulties along the way. In India there are very different attitudes to time keeping, public cleanliness, privacy and service. Trains will sometimes be late, plumbing can sometimes be temperamental and power will often just vanish. Optimistic menus turn out to have only one dish available and everyone, just everyone, will want to know your name. If you are able to travel with a lot of patience and a healthy sense of humour, then we know that you - like all of us - will be captivated by what India has to offer. 2. COMBO TRIP Please note that this tour combines with other G Adventures tours. As such, the staff and some travel companions on your tour may have previously been traveling together with G Adventures, prior to Day 1 of your tour. Likewise, some staff and travel companions may be continuing together on another G Adventures tour, after your trip concludes. 3. ACCOMMODATION NOTE: Please be aware that properties we stay in with only two stories may not have elevators installed and climbing the stairs with your luggage will be necessary.Madurai - Meenakshi Temple Night Visit (50INR per person) Periyฤr Lake - Periyar Lake Boat Ride (1050INR per person)

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Best Of Southern India

  • Day 1 Day 1: Kochi
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 1: Kochi

      Arrive at any time.
      There are no planned activities before the evening welcome meeting, so check into the hotel and enjoy the city.

      After the welcome meeting, visit the harbour to enjoy sunset over the Chinese fishing nets followed by an optional group dinner.

      Included Activities:
      - Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
  • Day 2 Day 2: Kochi/Sultan Bathery
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 2: Kochi/Sultan Bathery

      Take a morning train followed by a scenic drive to reach Sultan Bathery, in the Wayanad district.


      Transport:
      - Train 04:00 Hr(s)
      - Private Vehicle 03:00 - 03:30 Hr(s)
  • Day 3 Day 3: Sultan Bathery
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 3: Sultan Bathery

      Walk the nature trails through the farm area in Wayanad. Also take a tour of a tea factory and plantation to learn about tea production in the area from a guide.
      Wayanad region of the western Ghats in Kerala is renowned for its sprawling tea plantations and is known to produce some of the finest teas.

      Included Activities:
      - Wayanad Nature Walk
      - Wayanad Tea Factory Visit
  • Day 4 Day 4: Sultan Bathery/Mysore
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 4: Sultan Bathery/Mysore

      Settle in for the drive to the ancient city of Mysore.
      Travel to Mysore (formally Mysuru) located in the foothills of the Chamundi Hills, which was the capital of the Kingdom of Mysore from 1399 to 1947.

      Transport:
      - Private Vehicle 04:00 - 05:00 Hr(s)
  • Day 5 Day 5: Mysore
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 5: Mysore

      Explore the vibrant city of Mysore including visits to Chamundi Temple and Mysore Palace. After enjoy free time and opt to visit the Devaraja market or join a yoga class.
      Imagine life as a Maharaja on a guided tour of the Mysore Palace. Later, join the throngs of pilgrims at Chamundi Hills, with its temple on top, and Nandi the Bull (ridden by the Hindu god Shiva) a short walk below.

      In your free time, visit the Devaraja fruit and vegetable market or join a yoga class at one of the many local institutes.

      Opt to drive to Somnathpur, home to one of the most famous Hoysala Temples in India.

      Included Activities:
      - Chamundi Temple Visit
      - Mysore Palace Visit
  • Day 6 Day 6: Mysore/Mฤmallapuram
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 6: Mysore/Mฤmallapuram

      Enjoy a full day of train travel to Chennai before a short bus ride to Mamallapuram.
      Arrive by train to Chennai before continuing south for a short ride to the small village of Mamallapuram.

      Transport:
      - Train 08:00 Hr(s)
      - Private Vehicle 01:00 - 01:30 Hr(s)
  • Day 7 Day 7: Mฤmallapuram
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 7: Mฤmallapuram

      Visit the Shore Temple. In the afternoon, enjoy free time to explore Mamallapuram.
      In the morning, visit the 7th century Shore Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

      Included Activities:
      - Shore Temple Visit
  • Day 8 Day 8: Mฤmallapuram/Puducherry
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 8: Mฤmallapuram/Puducherry

      Continue to Pondicherry (now known as Puducherry) and learn about Sri Aurobindo Ghose at the ashram.
      In the morning, drive to Pondicherry (now known as Puducherry), formerly the the largest French Colony in India and an important trading town. There is a strong French influence in the cityโ€™s layout, with wide boulevards and French-style houses, but the city is undoubtedly Indian.

      Transport:
      - Private Vehicle 02:00 - 02:30 Hr(s)

      Included Activities:
      - Orientation With CEO
  • Day 9 Day 9: Puducherry/Madurai
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 9: Puducherry/Madurai

      Travel inland to Madurai, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.


      Transport:
      - Private Vehicle 06:00 - 07:00 Hr(s)
  • Day 10 Day 10: Madurai
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 10: Madurai

      Hop on a cycle rickshaw for a tour of the city before visiting the famous Meenakshi Temple.
      After visiting the temple complex, opt to visit the handicraft shops or duck into the cool shade of the covered, stone tailorโ€™s market where, for a few rupees, rows of expert tailors will whip you up a custom shirt in minutes, all done on antique foot-pump sewing machines. In the late evening, opt to visit the Meenakshi Temple again for a glimpse of the nighttime rituals.

      Included Activities:
      - Cycle-Rickshaw Tour
      - Meenakshi Temple Visit
  • Day 11 Day 11: Madurai/Thekkady (1D)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 11: Madurai/Thekkady (1D)

      Drive to Thekkady. Take a guided tour of spice plantations in the Cardamom Hills.
      Thekkady, adjacent to Periyar National Park, is the spice capital of India. On arrival, enjoy a guided tour of the spice plantations and a tea factory.

      Opt for a boat ride on the Periyar Lake.

      Meals Included:
      - Dinner

      Transport:
      - Private Vehicle 04:00 Hr(s)

      Included Activities:
      - Cardamom Hills Spice Plantation Tour
  • Day 12 Day 12: Thekkady/Kerala Backwaters (1L, 1D)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 12: Thekkady/Kerala Backwaters (1L, 1D)

      Travel to Alleppey for a local homestay. Experience local life and a guided walk along the lagoon.
      Travel down to the backwaters from Thekkady to catch a private boat for the short journey to the village homestay.

      In the afternoon, explore the island with a local person to observe the different facets of local life โ€” itโ€™s a great opportunity to meet and talk with the people who live in this unique location.

      Just before sunset, hop on a small country boat and journey along with the locals to enjoy sunset on the winding backwaters.

      Meals Included:
      - Lunch
      - Dinner

      Transport:
      - Private Vehicle 04:00 - 05:30 Hr(s)
      - Boat: Alleppey to Kerala Backwaters 00:15 Hr(s)

      Included Activities:
      - Kerala Backwaters Homestay

      Additional Notes: For this homestay, you will only need to take a small overnight bag. Your main bags will be transferred directly to the hotel in Kochi.
  • Day 13 Day 13: Kerala Backwaters/Kochi (1B, 1L)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 13: Kerala Backwaters/Kochi (1B, 1L)

      Spend the morning enjoying last moments with your host family. Learn to cook some local food, watch the toddy tappers at work, or wander around the village. Travel to a Planeterra project for lunch before returning to Kochi. Head out for an orientation walk, then enjoy an evening performance of kathakali, a form of traditional dancing from Kerala.


      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast
      - Lunch

      Transport:
      - Boat: Kerala Backwaters to Alleppey 01:30 Hr(s)
      - Private Vehicle 02:00 Hr(s)

      Included Activities:
      - Lunch at Theruvarom Women Empowerment Project
      - Orientation Walk
      - Kathakali Dance
  • Day 14 Day 14: Kochi
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 14: Kochi

      Depart at any time.


      Included Activities:
      - Departure Day
+11
Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but youโ€™re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Small Group

Youโ€™ll be accompanied by a small group of travelers just like you.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Basic

Almost everyone is fit for these activities. Every hike or physical exercise last less than 30 minutes, such as paragliding and horseback riding. Please ask about specific conditions.

Age range

Age range

Min: 12 / Max: 90

Age range allowed for this experience.

Select a country to define if the visa is required