Private car round trip: Chennai – Mahabalipuram – Pondicherry – Tanjore – Trichy – Madurai – Thekaddy – Cochin – Alleppey (backwaters) – Kovalam – Trivandrum

1. Day: Arrival in India
Upon arrival in Chennai welcomed by one of our local staff and transfer to hotel.

2. Day: Explore Chennai! And Proceed to Mahabalipuram
Morning: Short sightseeing tour of Chennai.
Afternoon: Drive on to the south to Mahabalipuram, where you can look forward to a beach hotel. 60 km. Time to relax or swim. Two nights.

Chennai: Chennai, the capital of the Union State of Tamil Nadu and India's fourth largest city, has retained a traditional atmosphere despite its size. The city is the center of Tamil culture and Dravidian intellectual life. Stately buildings from the colonial era and the museum with its magnificent collection of South Indian bronze statues, Buddhist art and masterpieces await you.

3. Day: Temple on the beach
Morning: We make time for the more than 1300 years old art and architecture of Pallava: Between the monolithic "5 pagodas", the picturesque seaside temple (UNESCO Heritage Site), the largest stone carving in the world and the magnificent gods statues on the walls, which are chiseled into the granite caves, your guide will put you in the right mood for the art and culture of South India. The fact that Indian stone masons are still so art-witted is testified by today's workshops.

Evening: Stroll through the market to witness stone masons workshops and the daily life of the people.

4. Day: French colonial flair
Mornings: Have time to relax at the sea!
Forenoon: A short drive leads then to a well-paved road along the coast to Pondicherry. 140 km.
Evening: Stroll through the French stamped "Ville Blanche". The beautiful colonial mansions, Catholic churches or the wide beach promenade, just remind of the red hats of the policemen at the French colonial history in India. In the Ashram of Sri Aurobindo meet the age-old spiritual tradition of India and Western truth-seekers.

5. Day: The rice bowl of the South
Morning: Drive on to Tanjore. On the way visit temples at Chidambaram and Darasuram.
Evening: Arrival in Tanjore and transfer to hotel.

The holy temple of Chidambaram is considered by the Hindus as the center of the universe, as that place where Shiva first performed his cosmic dance. We drive past lush rice fields to Darasuram, where in Airavateshvara Temple, we admire magnificent reliefs, which illustrate the scenes from the dance textbook Natyashastra. 150 km. Two nights in Tanjore.

6. Day: Ancient capital of the Cholas
Morning: Sightseeingof Tanjore
Evening: Excursion to Trichy

In the morning we visit the magnificent Brihadeshwara temple (UNESCO Heritage Site), the most magnificent of Chola temples in India from the early 11th Century: Here God Shiva is worshipped. In the museum in the old palace then we see the beautiful sculptures and bronze statues. Afterward excursion to Trichy. One hour drive away situated the temple town of Srirangam on the island formed by river cauvery with the typical high temple towers, where like at one time the religious life pulsates. 80 km. Return back to Tanjore for overnight stay.

7. Day: The Palaces of Chettinad
Morning: Drive to Chettinad.
Afternoon: Proceed to Madurai. After arrival in Madurai, transfer to hotel.

Our today’s trip is somewhat diversified in the Chettinad region - home of the Chettiyar merchant class, who became wealthy during the colonial period in Burma. Their merchant palatial houses are a combination of colonial grandeur and traditional handicrafts. In the former clubhouse of the Chettiyar caste we learn about the famous food specialties of the region and become familiar during the conversation with our hosts with the interesting things about the daily life of Chettinad. In the afternoon we continue our drive to Madurai. 220 km. After arrival, transfer to hotel.

8. Day: Gods and Spices
Morning: Sightseeing tour of Madurai.
Evening: Drive on to Thekkaddy (Periyar Wildlife sanctuary)

In the Meenakshi temple, Shiva should have married once the "fish-eyed" goddess Meenakshi. Still today the temple attracts crowds of pilgrims through the long corridors of the sanctuary, and the holy halls smell of jasmine and butter. Finally, drive on in the mountains of Western Ghats to Thekkady, where again the extraneous aromas beguile the nose. Here grows as a commodity since ancient times in India recherché spices like pepper, cardamom or cinnamon! Ask a gardener in one of the spice plantations for the secrets of spices! 160 km.

9. Day: On your Boat Safari
Morning: Boat safari in Periyar National Park
Forenoon: Drive on to Kochi (Cochin). On the way visit spice plantation.

At about 1000 m altitude is the Periyar National Park round around of the same-named artificial lake. We will go on the boat safari to look out for wild elephants, bison, or Sambhar deers. On the beautiful drive to Kochi, we drive past the tea plantations of the mountains and finally reach the old trading town Kochi at the palm-fringed Malabar coast. 180 km. Two nights in Kochi.

10. Day: The ancient port city
Morning: Sightseeing tour of Cochin
Evening: Visit to Kathakali cultural program

Even Vasco da Gama in Kochi made lucrative commercial activities. In the St. Francis Church, he was buried. Later his remains were dug out and carried away to Lisbon. In addition, Portuguese and Dutchmen and Englishmen left their traces in the cosmopolitan port city. We stroll from the "Dutch Palace" over the Spice Bazaar to the old Jewish synagogue. In a beach stroll, we relax looking at the famous Chinese fishing nets, which were introduced by Chinese people in India in the 16th century. In evening, a venerable "Guru" let us in on the symbolism of Kathakali dance, and we marvel during a performance at the "Dexterity of the Dancers." Later, in the conversation with the artists, we learn a few things over the all day life in the south India.

11. Day: In the backwaters
Morning: Little relaxation in Kochi
Forenoon: Transfer to the motor boat on the backwaters of Kerala.

In the morning a little relaxation in Kochi. Then we chug by boat through the canals and lagoons off the coast, called the backwaters, and discover the tardiness. We gently glide past the coconut trees and rice fields, witnessing the everyday life of the people living along the backwaters. Overnight in a beautiful hotel in the heart of the Alleppey Backwaters.

12. Day: On the Malabar coast
Morning: Some more time at the hotel on the bank of the backwaters.
Forenoon: Drive on to Kovalam and transfer to beach resort

By forenoon we continue our drive to our beautiful hotel on the Malabar coast. Relax on the wide sandy beach, in one of the two pools or simply enjoy the beautiful view from the hotel! Our hotel resort specializes in ayurvedic treatments and massages! 150 km. Three nights in Kovalam.

13. Day: The Maharajah Palace
Morning: Excursion to Trivandrum
Evening: Relax at the beach hotel

After a leisurely breakfast our tour guide invites you to a tour of Trivandrum and a visit to one of the interesting museums in the city. We will be back in time for sundowners on the beach and enjoy the sunset on the Arabian Sea. 20 km.

14. Day: In the tropical paradise
Morning: Go for Ayurvedic massage or Spa
Evening: Transfer to trivandrum airport for flight back to home.

How would it be with an ayurvedic massage? In our beautiful beach hotel, you can let yourself pamper with massage by the gentle hands! Begin your day with spa or bath at the beach. At evening or midnight, its time for you to take leave of the tropics? Transfer to the airport of Trivandrum. 30 km.