Kerala and the Southern Highlights
India tour information
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| Houseboat | Buddhist Site | Tigers | Beautiful Scenery | Temples & Palaces | UNESCO World Heritage | Cultural Show | Shopping | Beach | Elephants |
Experience the beautiful southern part of India
18 days from £2690
South India is vastly different from North India; both culturally and geographically. Starting in the colonial city of Chennai, the tour combines lush mountain scenery in Mysore and Coonoor with the sandy beaches of Kovalam. Also included are the tea and spice plantations in Munnar, nature spotting at the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and an unforgettable cruise along the tranquil backwaters in Kerala.
Days 1-2 : UK – Chennai
Fly overnight to Chennai.
Day 3 : Chennai
Enjoy a city tour of Chennai starting with a visit to Marina Beach, which is the second longest beach in the world. We also visit For St. George, St, Mary’s Church and the Shiva Kapaleeswarar Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Day 4 : Kanchipuram & Mamallapuram day tour
We travel to Kanchipuram and enjoy sightseeing as well as a visit to the Shreenivas Silk House. We then continue to Mamallapuram to see the rock carvings which date back to the 7th and 8th centuries and Varaha Cave before returning to Chennai.
Day 5 : Chennai – Bangalore
Travel by Shatabadi Express to the ‘Garden City’ of Bangalore and enjoy a city tour with a visit to Bull Temple, Tipu Sultan’s Palace who ruled most of southern India during the 18th century and Vidhana Soudha (Legislative Building).
Day 6 : Bangalore – Hassan
We travel to Hassan and visit Sravanabelagola, which is one of the most revered Jain pilgrimage sites in India and home to world’s tallest free-standing statue. We also visit the 12th century temples of Belur and Halebid. The temples of Halebid, like those of Belur, are a rich cultural heritage of Karnataka.
Day 7 : Hassan – Mysore
Travel south to Mysore visiting Srirangapatnam Fort en-route. Inside the fortress walls, visit a mosque and the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. Upon arrival in Mysore, explore the Maharaja’s Palace and then drive up to Chamundi Hill to see the 12th century Sri Chamundeshwari Temple, which offers a panoramic view of Mysore. On our way to the hotel we visit the Nadi Bull carved out of solid rock.
Day 8 : Mysore – Coonoor
We head to the hills and enjoy a scenic drive to the beautiful hill station of Coonoor. Enjoy a walk around this quaint town in the evening.
Day 9 : Ooty day tour
We board the ‘Toy Train’ to Ooty, also known as the ‘Queen of the Blue Mountain’. Upon arrival we visit the Botanical Gardens and take an optional 15 minute walk uphill to a small village, where we gain an insight into the lives of the local people. We also enjoy the amazing view over Ooty and the surrounding mountains before returning to Coonoor.
Day 10 : Coonoor – Munnar
We continue our descent from the highlands and enjoy a full day of driving to Munnar, which is the commercial centre for the area’s tea growing estates. Upon arrival, we check-in to our hotel which is located at the side of a mountain with breathtaking views over the valley and surrounding tea plantations.
Day 11 : Munnar – Thekkady (Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary)
Visit a local tea plantation and the Tata Tea Museum. Later, travel to Thekkady and visit Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, which is South India’s most popular wildlife sanctuary. The park is home to 62 species of mammals, 320 species of birds, 45 species of reptiles, 27 species of amphibians, 38 species of fish and 160 species of butterflies.
Day 12 : Thekkady (Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary)
Enjoy a walk through the park in search for the local wildlife such as elephants, tigers, wild dog, barking deer and mouse deer before visiting a local spice village and market. Enjoy a Kalaripayattu show (traditional martial arts) in the evening.
Day 13 : Thekkady – Nedumudy (Houseboat)
Travel to Nedumudy (near Kumarakom) where we board our houseboat, a converted rice barge known as a ‘kettuvallam’. Witness the village life around the backwaters of Kerala as we cruise to Alleppey. Lunch and dinner will be served on-board and we stay overnight on the houseboat.
Day 14 : Alleppey – Kochi
We disembark from out houseboat in Alleppey and travel to Kochi. En-route we visit a local market, a coir factory and Kokkothamangalam Church. Enjoy a Kathakali dance performance in the evening.
Day 15 : Kochi
Sightseeing today includes a visit to St. Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica, Fort Kochi and the Jewish Synagogue. We also see the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets and stroll through the nearby markets.
Day 16 : Kochi – Kovalam
Travel to Kovalam and enjoy the afternoon at leisure.
Day 17 : Kovalam – Trivandrum
Sightseeing today includes a visit to Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, the Zoological Gardens and Museums, Sri Chitra Art Gallery and Reptile House. We also see the Observatory, Kanakakunnu Palace and Sree Shastri Purthi Memorial.
Day 18 : Trivandrum – UK
Fly to the UK, arriving home later the same day.
Dates and Prices
| Depart UK | Arrive UK | Price pp from | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Oct 2012 | 20 Oct 2012 | £2,690 | |
| 7 Nov 2012 | 24 Nov 2012 | £2,690 | |
| 6 Feb 2013 | 23 Feb 2013 | £2,890 |
Tour departs Wednesday and returns Saturday
- Prices are fully inclusive from the UK and based on London Heathrow departures
- Regional departures available
- Flight upgrades available on request
- Land only from £2,290pp (Chennai - Trivandrum)
- Single supplement from £690 (no supplement if you are willing to share)
- Tipping payable locally US$90pp
- Medium Paced Tour
This document is designed to be read in conjunction with the other pre-departure information provided by Wendy Wu Tours including the tour itinerary as described in our brochure and/or website. It aims to provide a straightforward description of the physical activities involved in sightseeing or travelling during the tour.
If there are any particular challenges, from the length of time spent on your feet, the length of drives and flights, to the standard of remote accommodation for our more adventurous tours; they will be explained here.
All passengers must read this document to ensure the itinerary is suitable for their interests and physical capabilities. This is not your final itinerary and therefore does not mention all the sites visited. The order of sightseeing is subject to change.
| Kerala and the Southern Highlights |
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Call on 0844 499 3899 or for general tour enquiries click here
