Day 01 – Chennai Arrival
On arrival at Chennai International Airport, you will be received to go for a panorama tour of Chennai to visit Kapaleeshwar Temple, Santhome Cathedral etc. Afternoon, check in at your hotel. Evening free for leisure. Dinner & Overnight at hotel.

Day 02 – Chennai – Mamallapuram (1 Hour) – Pondicherry (2 Hours)
Morning after an early breakfast, check out and drive to Mahabalipuram for a sightseeing covering Arjuna’s Penance, Rock cut cave temples, Shore Temple, and Five Rathas. Afternoon, drive to Pondicherry. Enroute visit Auroville, a space known for a spiritual silence, unity and equality. Later check into your hotel. Dinner & Overnight at Hotel.

Day 03 – Pondicherry
After breakfast, go for a guided tour of Pondicherry. Afternoon for free walks in the city side. Evening, you will go for a Promenade walk through the beach side near French Quarter. Dinner & Overnight at hotel.

Day 04 – Pondicherry-Gangaikondacholapuram-Tranquebar (4.5 Hours)
After an early breakfast, Gangaikondacholapuram (UNESCO Site) to visit the amazing architectural Marvel. Later drive to Tranquebar, the former Danish colony which has kept its colonial remnants still today in good condition, thanks to the Danish Board for Tranquebar. Check into your hotel. Afternoon, at leisure on the beach. Dinner & Overnight at Tranquebar.

Day 05 – Tranquebar
Full day to explore Tranquebar. You may visit Dansborg Archaeological Museum, Governor’s Bungalow, Masilamani Nathar Temple etc. If it’s a working day, we may visit a local school also. Dinner & Overnight at Tranquebar.

Day 06 – Darasuram-Kumbakonam (3 Hours)
After breakfast at the hotel,drive to Darasuram Iravadeeswarar Temple (UNESCO Site). Later,check in to your hotel in Kumbakonam. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner & Overnight stay at Kumbakonam.

Day 07 – Tanjore-Kumbakonam
Early morning, you shall visit the Wholesale Vegetable market at Darasuram which is said to be the second largest in Asia. After breakfast, and drive to Tanjore to visit the Big Temple (Brihadeeswara Temple) .Early evening, reach Thiruvayiru, a small Tamilian village to experience our Local Community project run by a local villager to showcase the Village Life Experience. Evening return to Kumbakonam. Dinner & Overnight stay at Kumbakonam.

Along the Kaveri: Village Life Experience (Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu)

The river Kaveri nurtures and nourishes everyone that lies on its path as it flows from the Western Ghats to the Bay of Bengal. The “Along the Kaveri” series tells the story of the river Kaveri and the many lives it has nourished over the centuries, and continues to do so.
Tiruvaiyaru in Thanjavur district is a small town along the Kaveri. Our hostess, a music teacher and scholar, like the Kaveri, has been affecting a cultural revival in her village. She shares with us the stories of Devadasis and Poet Saints who have made her village an iconic musical and spiritual destination. She also reflects on the river Kaveri and its immense influence on the village and its people. No visit to a Tamil household is complete without a cup of filter coffee, which is what will fortify us before we say our goodbyes.
Our Hostess runs an organization that works for the revival of long forgotten cultural traditions while also supporting less privileged children of the village. This tour aims to support her work.

Day 08 – Tanjore- Srirangam-Madurai (5.5 Hours Drive)
After breakfast, drive to visit Srirangam for a photo stop. Later continue drive to Madurai. Afternoon for sightseeing of Madurai. Dinner & Overnight at hotel.

Day 09 – Madurai-Munnar (5 Hour Drive)
After breakfast, drive to Munnar. On arrival, check into your hotel. Afternoon free for own activities or free walks. Dinner & Overnight at Hotel.

Day 10 – Munnar Tea Experience
After breakfast, you will be driven to a private tea plantation to familiarise the tea farming followed by a plantation lunch. Afternoon visit a tea museum/factory to understand the tea making process. Shopping for tea. Dinner & Overnight at hotel.

Day 11 – Munnar – Periyar (4 Hour Drive)
After an early breakfast, drive to Periyar. Enroute stop at a Spice farm for a familiarisation tour of Spices followed by a plantation Lunch at the farm. Later, check into your hotel. Evening watch a live martial arts show at a local theatre. Overnight at hotel.

Day 12 – Periyar
Today, you will enjoy a boating through the Periyar National Park and if you are lucky, this is a nice opportunity to sight wild elephants and wild boars etc. Rest of the day at leisure. Evening watch a live Kathakali show at a local theatre. Dinner & Overnight at the hotel.

Day 13 – Periyar-Alleppey Backwaters (4.5 Hours Drive)
After an early breakfast, drive to Alleppey to board your exclusive Houseboat for a cruise through the backwaters followed by overnight stay. Overnight on board Houseboat.

Day 14 – Alleppey-Cochin (1.5 Hours)
After breakfast on board, drive to Fort Cochin for sightseeing. Later, check into a city hotel. Evening, visit a local family for a cookery show followed by a dinner with the family. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 15 – Ramamangalam Village Temple Tour (1 Hour)
After an early breakfast, you will be taken to a Ramamangalam Village, a small and pristine village which still keeps its old traditions intact. You will be taken to a village temple where you will see the traditional Kerala Temple Architecture which you cant see anywhere in the world. Later you will visit Shatkala Govinda Marar Memorial Arts School to witness a cultural performance by the local village students. Later you will enjoy a traditional lunch on banana leaf prepared by the local caterer who does the catering for village festivals and weddings. Afternoon, return to Cochin. Rest of the day at leisure. Dinner & Overnight at Cochin hotel.

Day 16 – Cochin Departure (1 Hour )
Today, you will be transferred to Cochin Airport to connect your flight home. Or you may opt to extend your holidays with a beach or backwater stay.