Premium South India
Tour Description
Day 1: Chennai
Swaying palm trees, rolling hills and calming backwaters make up southern India’s lush surface and on this 13-day Premium adventure, you’ll travel off the tourist trail. Head into the home of a local family and be immersed into their culture, head down the French-inspired streets of Puducherry and explore the maze of food stalls in Maduraito to sample some delicious local cuisine. Go into the wilderness of the Periyar National Park to look for local wildlife and tiger tracks, watch a live performance of kalarippayattu and visit tea plantations to learn how this popular beverage is grown and made. With heaps of local food, a night in a converted houseboat and a knowledgeable local leader to help you uncover local secrets – this will be a trip of a lifetime.
Itinerary
Day 1: Chennai
Namaste! Welcome to India. Your adventure begins in Chennai, India’s cultural heart and fourth-largest city. You’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel when you arrive. Meet your fellow travellers and experienced leader at a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive in early, you may like to visit the market stalls of the Georgetown Bazaar. After your meeting, join your group for a welcome dinner at Chennai’s first chain restaurant, serving up an iconic array of south Indian vegetarian dishes like idly, dosa and poori.
Day 2: Puducherry (Pondicherry)
This morning, you’ll leave the city behind and drive along the scenic East Coast Road to the fishing town of Mamallapuram. Visit the 8th-century Shore Temple and its mandapams (carved pillars) and watch locals pay their respects to the deity Shiva. Later in the afternoon, continue the drive to Puducherry. A French colony until 1954, the old parts of the town retain a distinctly European feel. Leafy boulevards are lined with European houses and boutiques. When you arrive, the rest of your evening is free to explore. Puducherry has a varied food scene with traditional Indian and classic French influences, so be sure to ask your leader for some tips on where to grab dinner.
Day 3: Puducherry (Pondicherry)
This morning is free, then you’ll head out for a walking tour with your leader to see local temples and the French Quarter. Stroll past mustard-coloured buildings draped with vibrant bougainvillea as your leader shares stories of the revolutionaries, generals and kings who once walked these streets. Stop by the pastel pink Church of Notre Dame – evidence of the French colonial period is everywhere, even in the police uniforms. Along the way, stop at a cafe in White Town to try some local snacks, then the evening is free to explore at your own pace.
Day 4: Madurai
Today, continue to the city of Madurai with plenty of chai stops along the way. Arrive in the late afternoon and head out on a short orientation walk to get acquainted with one of India’s oldest cities. When you’ve got your bearings, join your leader on a tour of the city’s Tamil cuisine. Madurai is bursting with street food stalls, family-owned restaurants and plenty of regional delicacies and your leader will show you the dishes that aren’t on the tourist menus. Have a taste of mutton dosa or some fish gravy as your leader regales you with stories of centuries-old recipes and the passionate people who make them. Round off the night with some Jigarthanda – Madurai’s most celebrated dessert is a delicious and refreshing blend of condensed milk, almond gum and ice cream.
Day 5: Madurai
Continue your exploration of Madurai today. Your leader will guide you through the Tailor’s Market, the local bazaars and the Sri Meenakshi Temple. Still in use today, this ancient temple is a maze of lamp-lit corridors leading to shrines where traditional rituals take place. Next is the National Gandhi Museum, dedicated to the life and achievements of the ‘Father of the Nation’ and the leader of India’s fight for independence. Stop by the extravagant Thirumalai Nayak Palace, built in the 17th-century by King Tirumala Nayaka. This evening you’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in Tamil culture when you join a local family for a traditional home cooked dinner. Chat with the family about their lives and try dishes like chettinad chicken, egg paratha and vegetable korma.
Day 6: Thekkady
Make your way to the countryside town of Thekkady today, driving past pineapple and rubber plantations on the way. Thekkady is the gateway to Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve, sitting high in the ranges of the Western Ghats. Stop off at a spice plantation where you’ll speak with a local expert and taste, smell and learn about the brilliant array of spices that colour and flavour India’s famed cuisine. Put your new knowledge to good use as you sit down to a flavoursome lunch made with spices from the plantation. The evening is yours to enjoy in Thekkady your own way. Maybe wander the shops selling fragrant spices and organic tea or relax in the palm fringed pool at your resort.
Day 7: Thekkady – Periyar National Park
This morning, take a guided nature walk in the acclaimed Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Your expert guide will help you look for tiger tracks, spotted deer, Indian elephants and gaur – the world’s largest species of buffalo. You’re most likely to encounter Bonnet macaques and the Malabar giant squirrel – a species native to India. After, the rest of your afternoon is free. You may want to unwind with an ayurvedic massage. In the evening, you’ll attend a demonstration of kalarippayattu at the Kadathanadan Kalari Centre. Originating in Kerala, kalarippayattu is believed to be the oldest surviving martial art in India and watching high-energy fighters leap several feet into the air is a thrilling sight.
Day 8: Munnar
This morning, drive north to Munnar – an old British Hill Station sitting in the surrounding valley. At 1525 m above sea level, there’s likely to be dramatic drop in temperature here! When you arrive, take a tour of the tea plantation, where a resident expert will guide you through the steps of the tea making process. Follow narrow pathways and visit the workers picking the best tea leaves, learn how these leaves are transformed into the world’s most popular beverage, and sample some of the different varieties. There may be an opportunity to visit the tea museum, though opening hours are irregular so this cannot be guaranteed. This evening, relax at your mountain resort.
Day 9: Munnar
This morning, take a guided walk around the lush hills of Munnar, often shrouded in clouds. Be sure to have your camera ready as the landscape unfolds in front of you. In the afternoon, journey out to the scenic Mattupetty Dam where you’ll find a man-made lake and spectacular views of the surrounding valleys. Here, you can take an optional motorboat ride around the lake. After some time to appreciate the scenery, return to Munnar for a free evening.
Day 10: Kerala Backwaters
Drive to the backwaters of Kerala this morning and discover Alleppey’s palm-shaded waterways. Once a significant trading port, the town is now famed for the long ‘snake boat’ races that take place in August every year. Kerala’s backwaters were once busy with passing kettuvallams – large wooden boats used to transport rice and spices. Today, these traditional vessels have been transformed into houseboats, offering guests the opportunity to explore the lagoons in total comfort, as you will during your Feature Stay tonight. Conversions are made using traditional and natural materials – bamboo becomes roofing, coir mats are turned into flooring and beds are carefully crafted from the wood of coconut trees. These floating cottages share the comforts of a first-rate hotel, including western toilets, private bedrooms, a dining area and open deck where you can watch the world go by. Sit back for an evening floating through the dreamy waters of rural Kerala.
Day 11: Kochi
Enjoy a peaceful morning at the Kerala waters before driving to Kochi in the afternoon. Cochin, as it was formerly known, is spread over several islands and is a melting pot of Portuguese, Dutch, Chinese and British influences. Join your leader on an orientation walk to learn how these influences manifest in the city’s architecture, restaurants and daily life. In the afternoon, take some time out to enjoy the city – maybe head to Princess Street and kick back with a cup of coffee. Tonight, you’ll have the opportunity to watch a Kathakali dance performance. Kathakali is a classical Indian dance with roots in Kerala, combining symbolic storytelling with physical technique. It’s one of the most vibrant and extraordinary theatre forms in the world and proficiency requires incredible commitment and rigorous training.
Day 12: Kochi
Today, explore the antique shops and spice bazaars of Kochi – your leader will show you how to haggle with the best of them. Visit the Fort Kochi area and stop by the famous Chinese fishing nets – perhaps Kochi’s most photographed sight. Make a visit to the Mattancherry Palace, built in the 16th-century by the Portuguese and later claimed by the Dutch. Continue to the Paradesi Synagogue – the oldest existing Jewish synagogue in India. In the early evening, join a local chef for a masterclass in Keralan cuisine.
Day 13: Kochi
Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you’d like to extend your stay in India, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation or needed transfers.
Departure Dates
| Start Date | End Date | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 12, 2025 | Oct 24, 2025 | $4,560.00 | |
| Oct 16, 2025 | Oct 28, 2025 | $5,130.00 | |
| Oct 19, 2025 | Oct 31, 2025 | $5,895.00 | |
| Oct 24, 2025 | Nov 5, 2025 | $5,032.00 | |
| Oct 26, 2025 | Nov 7, 2025 | $6,760.00 | |
| Nov 2, 2025 | Nov 14, 2025 | $6,850.00 | |
| Nov 7, 2025 | Nov 19, 2025 | $6,850.00 | |
| Nov 14, 2025 | Nov 26, 2025 | $6,850.00 | |
| Nov 16, 2025 | Nov 28, 2025 | $6,760.00 | |
| Nov 21, 2025 | Dec 3, 2025 | $6,760.00 | |
| Nov 23, 2025 | Dec 5, 2025 | $6,495.00 | |
| Dec 15, 2025 | Dec 27, 2025 | $6,060.00 | |
| Dec 21, 2025 | Jan 2, 2026 | $6,590.00 | |
| Dec 28, 2025 | Jan 9, 2026 | $5,990.00 | |
| Jan 5, 2026 | Jan 17, 2026 | $5,755.00 | |
| Jan 11, 2026 | Jan 23, 2026 | $5,585.00 | |
| Jan 18, 2026 | Jan 30, 2026 | $6,035.00 | |
| Jan 22, 2026 | Feb 3, 2026 | $6,735.00 | |
| Jan 25, 2026 | Feb 6, 2026 | $5,750.00 | |
| Feb 1, 2026 | Feb 13, 2026 | $6,010.00 | |
| Feb 8, 2026 | Feb 20, 2026 | $6,095.00 | |
| Feb 15, 2026 | Feb 27, 2026 | $6,095.00 | |
| Feb 19, 2026 | Mar 3, 2026 | $6,460.00 | |
| Feb 22, 2026 | Mar 6, 2026 | $5,920.00 | |
| Mar 8, 2026 | Mar 20, 2026 | $5,920.00 | |
| Mar 22, 2026 | Apr 3, 2026 | $5,750.00 | |
| Mar 29, 2026 | Apr 10, 2026 | $5,750.00 | |
| Apr 5, 2026 | Apr 17, 2026 | $5,585.00 | |
| Apr 12, 2026 | Apr 24, 2026 | $5,305.00 | |
| Sep 13, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | $5,585.00 | |
| Sep 27, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | $5,585.00 | |
| Oct 4, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | $5,585.00 | |
| Oct 11, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | $5,585.00 | |
| Oct 18, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | $5,585.00 | |
| Oct 22, 2026 | Nov 3, 2026 | $5,750.00 | |
| Oct 25, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | $5,750.00 | |
| Oct 29, 2026 | Nov 10, 2026 | $5,920.00 | |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | $6,030.00 | |
| Nov 5, 2026 | Nov 17, 2026 | $6,030.00 | |
| Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | $6,030.00 | |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Nov 27, 2026 | $6,030.00 | |
| Nov 19, 2026 | Dec 1, 2026 | $6,030.00 | |
| Nov 22, 2026 | Dec 4, 2026 | $6,030.00 | |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Dec 8, 2026 | $6,030.00 | |
| Nov 29, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | $6,030.00 | |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Dec 18, 2026 | $6,030.00 | |
| Dec 13, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | $5,920.00 | |
| Dec 20, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | $5,920.00 | |
| Dec 27, 2026 | Jan 8, 2027 | $5,920.00 | |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Jan 12, 2027 | $5,920.00 | |
| Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 16, 2027 | $5,865.00 | |
| Jan 10, 2027 | Jan 22, 2027 | $5,865.00 | |
| Jan 17, 2027 | Jan 29, 2027 | $5,865.00 | |
| Jan 21, 2027 | Feb 2, 2027 | $6,035.00 | |
| Jan 24, 2027 | Feb 5, 2027 | $6,035.00 | |
| Jan 31, 2027 | Feb 12, 2027 | $6,035.00 | |
| Feb 7, 2027 | Feb 19, 2027 | $6,035.00 | |
| Feb 14, 2027 | Feb 26, 2027 | $6,035.00 | |
| Feb 18, 2027 | Mar 2, 2027 | $6,035.00 | |
| Feb 21, 2027 | Mar 5, 2027 | $6,035.00 | |
| Feb 28, 2027 | Mar 12, 2027 | $6,035.00 | |
| Mar 7, 2027 | Mar 19, 2027 | $5,865.00 | |
| Mar 14, 2027 | Mar 26, 2027 | $5,865.00 | |
| Mar 21, 2027 | Apr 2, 2027 | $5,865.00 | |
| Mar 28, 2027 | Apr 9, 2027 | $5,865.00 | |
| Apr 4, 2027 | Apr 16, 2027 | $5,865.00 | |
| Apr 11, 2027 | Apr 23, 2027 | $5,865.00 | |
| Sep 12, 2027 | Sep 24, 2027 | $5,865.00 | |
| Sep 26, 2027 | Oct 8, 2027 | $6,035.00 | |
| Oct 3, 2027 | Oct 15, 2027 | $6,035.00 | |
| Oct 10, 2027 | Oct 22, 2027 | $6,215.00 | |
| Oct 17, 2027 | Oct 29, 2027 | $6,215.00 | |
| Oct 21, 2027 | Nov 2, 2027 | $6,215.00 | |
| Oct 24, 2027 | Nov 5, 2027 | $6,215.00 | |
| Oct 28, 2027 | Nov 9, 2027 | $6,215.00 | |
| Oct 31, 2027 | Nov 12, 2027 | $6,215.00 | |
| Nov 4, 2027 | Nov 16, 2027 | $6,330.00 | |
| Nov 11, 2027 | Nov 23, 2027 | $6,330.00 | |
| Nov 14, 2027 | Nov 26, 2027 | $6,330.00 | |
| Nov 18, 2027 | Nov 30, 2027 | $6,330.00 | |
| Nov 21, 2027 | Dec 3, 2027 | $6,330.00 | |
| Nov 25, 2027 | Dec 7, 2027 | $6,330.00 | |
| Nov 28, 2027 | Dec 10, 2027 | $6,330.00 | |
| Dec 5, 2027 | Dec 17, 2027 | $6,330.00 | |
| Dec 12, 2027 | Dec 24, 2027 | $6,330.00 | |
| Dec 19, 2027 | Dec 31, 2027 | $6,215.00 | |
| Dec 23, 2027 | Jan 4, 2028 | $6,215.00 | |
| Dec 26, 2027 | Jan 7, 2028 | $6,215.00 | |
| Dec 30, 2027 | Jan 11, 2028 | $6,215.00 |