14 Days South India Tour

(14 Days / 13 Nights)
(Mumbai-Chennai-Mahabalipuram-Chennai-Madurai-Periyar-Kumarakom-Alleppey-Cochin-Ooty-Mysore-Bangalore-Mumbai)

(to view the route of this tour on a Map please click here)

Day 01: Mumbai
Around Midnight arrive in Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay). The cosmopolitan City and capital of Maharashtra is the main gateway for the travellers to India. Upon arrival, you will be met by an Indo Vacations representative and transferred to the hotel.

Day 02: Mumbai - Chennai (by air) - Mahabalipuram (about 55 km / 1 hours 20 mins)
In the morning drive to the airport for the flight from Mumbai to Chennai. Upon arrival, you will be met by an Indo Vacations representative and drive to Mahabalipuram. In Mahabalipuram you will visit some of the 14 cave temples and 9 monolithic rathas (temple chariots). Pallavamala was the ruler who made the famous port in the 7th century and was largely responsible for building the temples. Overnight stay at the Beach resort.

Day 03: Mahabalipuram - Chennai (about 55 km / 1 hours 20 mins) - Madurai (by air)
In the morning after having breakfast, drive from Mahabalipuram to the Chennai airport for the flight to Madurai. Madurai is situated on the banks of river Vaigai and also referred as the Athens of the East. In the late afternoon arrive in Madurai and transfer to the hotel. In the evening you will visit the famous Meenakshi temple. Madurai has the most outstanding examples of Vijayanagar temple architecture in the Meenakshi Temple, a standing monument to the temple builders of the 16th and 17th century. You will spend enough time in Meenakshi Temple and afterwards have a walk through the bazaars of this 2500 years old town before driving back to the hotel.

Day 04: Madurai - Periyar (about 140 km / 3 hours)
Today you will visit the famous Tirumalai Nayaka Palace which was built in the 1636 and represent the Indo-Mughal style. A visit to Gandhi Museum is also included in the programme. In Gandhi Museum you will get the information about the life of Gandhi and freedom movement during the presence of British in India. In the afternoon you will drive from Madurai to Periyar. In the evening arrive in Periyar.

Day 05: Periyar
In the morning you will have a Boat ride on the Periyar lake. The lake of Periyar is the central point of the famous Periyar National Park. Periyar National Park covers an area of 780 square km and was designated a part of project Tiger in 1973. After the Boat ride we drive through the Park and observe the elephants, bison, sambar, wild oxen, wild boar and spotted deer which are common here.

Day 06: Periyar - Kumarakom (about 115 km / 3 hours)
Today you will drive through the mountains which are full of Cardamom and pass through the tea and coffee plantations and proceed to Kumarakom. Overnight stay in the hotel.

Day 07: Kumarakom - Alleppey - Cochin (about 100 km)
Today we enjoy a Boat ride through the narrow channels of famous backwaters of Kumarakom and arrive in Alleppey. After arrival in Alleppey, drive to Cochin. Cochin is the most interesting town in South India at Malabar Coast and is also known as Venice of south. In Cochin you will visit St. Francis church, the oldest European church in India, with the grave of famous sailor Vasco da Gama. After the visit of St. Francis Church we have a walk through the Jewish area of Mattancherry.

Day 08: Cochin - Ooty (about 280 km / 6 hours 30 mins)
Today you will drive from Cochin to Ooty. From the tropical coast of Kerala you will drive on the serpent road and pass through the tea plantations and eucalyptus forests of mountains of Nilgiri and arrive in the city Ooty (Udhagammandalam). Ooty was developed as hill station by British, and situated at an altitude of 2300 m. and still has British flair. Ooty (also known as the queen of the blue mountains) is famous for its rolling hills covered in pine and eucalyptus forests and also for its coffee and tea plantations.

Day 09: Ooty
Today you will have full day sightseeing in Ooty and visit the famous and most beautiful botanical Garden of Ooty. The botanical garden covers an area over 20 hectares and is planted with more than a thousand varieties of plants, shrubs and trees including orchids, fern and alpine.

Day 10: Ooty - Mysore (about 130 km / 3 hours)
In the morning you will drive from Ooty to Mysore. Mysore is world famous for silk and sandalwood. Mysore is also a centre of producing saris which is a common dress of woman in India.

Day 11: Mysore
In the morning after having breakfast you will visit the most impressive and one of the largest city palaces in India. The City Palace of Mysore "Ambar Vilas" is built in the Indo-Saracenic style. In Mysore we drive to Chamundi Hill to see a giant Nandi (buffalo god) and enjoy the view of the surroundings form the hilltop.

Day 12: Mysore - Bangalore (about 145 km / 3 hours)
Today you will drive to Bangalore. On the way to Bangalore you will stop at Sravanabelgola where you will visit the colossal monolithic statue, standing 18 meters high. This Jain sculpture represents the saintly prince Bahubali after he had gained enlightenment. After the visit of Sravanabelgola proceed for Bangalore. Bangalore is the capital city of the Indian state Karnataka. This former "Garden city" Bangalore is known today as "computer city" of India. In Bangalore we visit the monolithic Nandi, Shiva's Bull and famous Gowda Fort which was built by Tipu Sultan.

Day 13: Bangalore - Mumbai (by air)
In the afternoon transfer to the airport for the flight to Mumbai. Upon arrival, you will be met by an Indo Vacations representative and transferred to the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. After having dinner drive to the airport.

Day 14: Mumbai (Departure)
Around midnight flight to home destination.

Tour Reservation
To get more information or to book this tour please submit the Query Form or send                  us  an e-mail ! Your booking will be activated only after we get a reconfirmation from your side.

About Hotels:
We provide you the accommodation as per your budget mentioned above in the table of hotels category for any of the booked tour. Hotels provided by us are from budget to luxury class hotels. Luxury hotels are all five stars or of above standard. Deluxe would be a combination of 3 and 4 star Hotels and standard would be a combination of 2 and 3 star or similar hotels. The criteria for selecting hotels by us remains the best value of your money. We also provide you wherever possible accommodation in heritage hotels. Heritage Hotels are old Palaces, Forts and Grand mansions of Maharajas which have been later renovated and converted into Hotels. Rooms are decorated all individually. Rooms are comfortable, romantic and present the flair of olden Maharaja days.

Our Services Include:
      Accommodation in double rooms on twin sharing basis with bath and WC in the
         chosen category.
      Rooms on the departure day.
      American/continental Breakfast.
      Boat ride on the lake of Periyar.
      Services of qualified local guides (English speaking or languages of your choice)
         at every place of sightseeing.
      All Transfers and departures on arrival and departure by Indo Vacations
         representative.
       All Transfers and Sightseeing throughout the tour by an air-conditioned Car with
         driver. For groups an individual air-conditioned bus (Except Standard Hotels) will be
         provided.   

Exclusions:
      Any kind of Personal Expenses such as Tips, Laundry, Telephone Bills and Alcoholic
         beverages.
      Camera Fees (Still or Movie).
      Any Flight Charges.
      Monument Entrances.
      Unspecified Meals etc.

We always look forward for any changes in the itinerary as wished by you for your individual trip.

If you are willing to travel in a group - the Group Departure dates are available !

Check our Festival calendar to know about the dates of various festivals of South    India during your travel !

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If you are a group over 15 people please e-mail us with the number of participants    and the wished dates to enable us to workout the tour cost !

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