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South India Tour itineraries

The leitmotif of southern culture is its tapestry of magnificent temple architecture, the unaltered traditions of food, religion and lifestyle, handicrafts of sandalwood, silk, rosewood and brass and the grandeur of classical dance and music.
After all this is the land of temples!

But under such superficial, though attractive similarity, there runs the distinctive character of each state - Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala & Andhra Pradesh - and then there is Pondicherry and Lakshadweep.

India has a variety of accommodation that includes hotels, palaces, havelis, hunting lodges, forts and tents. To make your selection easy we have categorised our tours by the level of accommodation and this determines the price of the tour.
Standard: Moderate properties with private facilities. Broadly referred to as 3 star.
Superior: Good quality properties with a wider range of facilities. Broadly referred to as 4 star.
Deluxe: First class properties with excellent accommodation and a superior standard of service and facilities. Broadly referred to as 5 star.
Luxury: 5 star deluxe and above. These properties are exceptional and would offer an experience that is of the highest quality available.

Essence of the South - 13 nights/14 days If you were to look for a definition of South India, it would be found in the smells, sights and sounds; in its distinctive cuisine, people and temples – women in bright silk sarees, their hair threaded with white and orange flowers; the men in white dhoti-kurtas, foreheads smeared with vibhuti. The restaurants smell of curry leaves and coconut, temples of white mongra flowers and sandalwood incense; the rhythmic chanting of prayers reverberates in the atmosphere. Your journey begins on a beach resort at Varkala, followed by a fine wild life reserve in the hills of Kerala at Periyar. The tour includes a visit to the famed Meenakshi temple at Madurai. It goes through the tea gardens of Munnar to reach the port city of Kochi. The tour goes on to the North of Kerala at Calicut and famous home stay at Sultan Batthery. You get to enjoy the local hospitality. Visit the medieval towns of Mysore and Bangalore and the ancient temples at Somnathpur. A well rounded south Indian experience! Varkala(2)-Periyar(2)-Madurai(1)-Munnar(1)-Kochi(2)-Sultan Batthery(2)-Mysore(2)-Bangalore(1) price on application click here for Essence of the South itinerary	Traversing South India- 13nights/14days Traversing the Deccan to the ancient temples of Tamil Nadu, through hills and waterways of Kerala and through jungles and ancient ruins in Karnataka; this tour provides an assortment of experiences. You see the prized bronze collection at Chennai museum and visit the famous Shore temple at Mahabalipuram; take part in evening prayer ceremony at the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai. Some of the best wild life reserves of South are included in this tour and, even if the tiger proves elusive, wild elephants are less shy and as equally awe inspiring. This itinerary takes you through the vast variety that is encompassed by the South: Chennai, Madurai, Mysore, Kochi, Ooty, Bangalore, each city distinct in terms of heritage, people, culture, ambience; the ancient sites of Belur and Halebid, the ruins of which testify to a flourishing, sophisticated kingdom under Hoysala ruler. Cruising down the backwaters, it shows you glimpses of a more intimate Kerala; brings you music and dance and the variety that is South India. Chennai(2)-Madurai(1)-Periyar(1)-Kochi(2)-Ooty(1)-Bandipur National Park(2)-Mysore(2)-Hassan(1)-Bangalore(1) Price on application click here for Traversing South India itinerary
Classic Kerala - 7nights/8days Kerala, a vibrant and beautiful land with mile upon mile of silver beaches, stretched taut and inviting over a lace edged coast; silent, sleepy backwaters fringed by trailing fingers of green; verdant hillsides with their bounty of spices; gracious homes gleaming with the warmth of polished wood. The heart of the land is composed of intensely green paddy fields and a unique network of rivers and lagoons. Upland Kerala, relatively little visited, comprises hills thickly wooded with teak and rubber. It is here that Kerala's most precious spices are grown in carefully nurtured plantations - cardamom, pepper and nutmeg. Sun kissed beaches; exotic hill stations, suspended in time amidst sprawling tea plantations; picture-book towns with winding lanes and an intriguing mix of cultures; wildlife reserves; trekking and cruising facilities; all combine to make this a most enjoyable itinerary. Cochin(2)-Houseboat(1)-Kumarakom(2)-Periyar(2)-Cochin May-Sep 09/Oct09-Apr10 Superior: AUD 1135 / AUD tba Deluxe: AUD 1225 / AUD tba Luxury: AUD 1595 / AUD tba click here for Classic Kerala itinerary	Classic South India - 16nights/17days Starting out at Chennai, India's fourth largest city and the site of the first settlement of the East India Company in 1639, the itinerary journeys through the three southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, to take you to some of the most well-known places. In Tanjore, marvel over the Brihadeshwara temple a World Heritage monument; at Madurai once the center of Tamil learning there is the Meenakshi temple with its towering gopuram. Stop at the artisans village in Mahabalipuram; visit Pondicherry and Auroville, that unusual combination of French culture and Indian traditions; the grand palace in Mysore capital of the Wodeyar dynasty which ruled the state of Karnataka for some 150 years. An exhilarating and unique ride on the Toy Train takes you through the natural beauty of the Nilgiris ‘blue mountains' from Ooty to Coonoor. There's more of nature's bounty amidst the scenic beauty of Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary that slumbers on the banks of the Vembanad Lake, with its majestic canals, streams and distributaries that weave an intricate and enchantingly beautiful web around. Cruise the backwaters in country boats, absorbing the beauty of Kerala villages. Pause at wildlife sanctuaries – at the Pariyar National Park, in the shadow of the Western Ghats, roam elephants, sambar, tigers, gaur, lion-tailed macaque and Nilgiri langurs. You can watch them frolic at the edge of the lake from the safety of a boat. Chennai(2)-Mysore(2)-Coonoor(1)-Kochi(2)-Kumarakom(1)-Periyar(2)-Madurai(1)-Tanjore(2)-Swamimalai(1)-Pondicherry(1)-Chennai(1) price on application click here for detailed itinerary - Classic South India
Kerala - The Malabar Coast - 6nights/7days A short tour of God's own country – the backwaters, wildlife and lush countryside of Kerala. Kochi, where the tour begins, is a cluster of islands, one of the finest natural harbors in the world. It used to be the major center of trade with the British, Arabs, Chinese, Portuguese and Dutch. Kumarakom slumbers on the banks of the famous Vembanad Lake with its numerous canals, streams and distributaries that weave an intricate and enchantingly beautiful web. Its undisturbed tranquility makes it a favourite with a vast number of migratory birds who are also attracted by the abundance of fish to be had. The Periyar Tiger Reserve around the man-made Periyar Lake is one of the sanctuaries that fall under Project Tiger. The extensive deciduous and evergreen forests as well as the grasslands that it include support a range of wildlife. The elephant population, in particular, has done well and is one of the biggest attractions. Kochi(2)-Houseboat (2)-Kumarakom(2)-Kochi May-Sep 09/Oct 09-Apr 10 Superior: AUD 1035 / AUD tba Deluxe: AUD 1095 / AUD tba Luxury: AUD 1275 / AUD tba click here for Kerala - the Malabar Coast itinerary	Lesser known gems of Kerala + Mumbai - 12nights/13 days Green, verdant Kerala, lush with paddy fields, coconut groves and spice plantations; mile upon miles of pristine beaches, the dazzling white of fine sand washed every now and then with frothy lace by the ocean: Step just a little bit away from the well-trodden path for an experience that will stay with you forever. From cosmopolitan Mumbai, where fishing boats are pulled upon beaches overlooked by relics of the Raj, which are themselves dwarfed by towering, futuristic high-rises, travel to the sweeping tranquility of spice plantations – cardamom, nutmeg, pepper – a rich harvest of nature's bounty. Villages linked by a network of backwater, canals, and lagoons that weave in, out and around the groves of swaying coconut palms, traversed by boats of all shapes and sizes. Ancient churches dot the countryside as you glide softly by. In the interior the Nilgiri loom, their dense wooded slopes hiding a teeming wealth of wildlife ranging from the tiger and elephant to the spectacular and endangered lion-tailed macaque. The Periyar Tiger Reserve is one of the many forests protected under Project Tiger as ranges of that magnificent best. Today its abundant grasslands support a thriving elephant population as well as the deer, antelope and lesser herbivores that the tiger stalks. Mumbai(2)-Vythri(2)-Kochi(2)-Mankota(1)-Murinjapuza(2)-Marari Beach(3) Price includes domestic flight Mumbai-Calicut/Kozikhode in economy class price on application click here for Lesser known Gems of Kerala + Mumbai itinerary
The Vijaynagar Empire Trail-14nights/15days from AUD 2230 per person twinshare Delve deeper into the mystique of India! Start your journey in Hyderabad, a vibrant city of minarets and modern high-rise buildings. History has been kind to this region. Each successive dynasty has added to the vast store of material heritage. The small towns of Gulbarga, Bijapur, erstwhile capitals of empires, contain some outstanding architectural gems. Marvel over the second largest dome in the world, the Gol Gumbad and the delicate beauty of mosques, palaces and tombs; several temples, some of them rock-cut, from the 6th and 7th centuries, that crowd the site at Badami, Pattadakal and the better known Aihole; the most famous site, of course, is the one at Hampi. From the man-made to the natural – ride the white waters of the river Kali as it rushes down the Western Ghats, before you proceed to Goa to laze on the beach with a bottle of feni. Hyderabad(2)-Gulbarga(1)-Bijapur(1)-Badami(1)-Hospet(2)-Dandeli(2)-Goa(3)-Mumbai(2) price on application click here for detailed itinerary - The Vijayanagar Empire Trail + Goa	Goa, the Konkan coast & Dandeli + Mumbai - 11nights/12days Traveling down the Konkan coast offers ample scope for diverse experiences. The tour begins at Mumbai, the commercial heart of modern India: vibrant, cosmopolitan; the dreams of her tightly-packed population reflected in the bill boards and hoardings that overlook their homes; full of ancient temples dwarfed by glittering high- rises, swarming slums, the rich ornamentation of Indo Saracenic heritage buildings. This is not a city to get to know, or judge, in a hurry. A short distance away is Goa - laid back, coconut fringed Goa, with golden beaches laced by gentle waves and a distinctly Portuguese flavour – an idyllic holiday resort. The Kali River as it rages down the craggy face of Western Ghats offers some thrilling white waters to negotiate. The locals ride calmer waters on saucer-shaped coracles made of bamboo and tanned buffalo hide. In the dense forests that line the banks, roam the tiger, gaur, boar, deer and other creatures of the wild. The ruins of ancient cities and temples await at Hampi, which is a World Heritage Site, Aihole, Pattadakal and Badami. Pricing includes Mumbai-Goa-Mumbai flights in economy class. Mumbai(2)-Dandeli(2)-Hospet(1)-Badami(2)-Goa(3)-Mumbai(1) price on application Click here for Goa, the Konkan Coast & Dandeli + Mumbai itinerary
The Nilgiri Hills & Tea Gardens - 8 days/7 nights Silhouetted against the sky the blue mountains, or the Nilgiris, are an evocative sight. Their rolling slopes seem to dance to the rustle of eucalyptus trees that call out from valley to valley in joyous abandon. The towns were established by the British as summer getaways from the stifling heat of the lowlands and remain, suspended in time, reminders of a different era. As many as 18 tribal people make their homes in these mountains, including the distinctive pastoral community of Toda, from whom the British purchased what is Ooty today. The Nilgiris form the junction of the Eastern and Western Ghats: To the west prowl the dense tropical forests of Kerala, enclosing the man protected plantations spices, tea and rubber. To the east the landscape is dryer, harsher, the soil volcanic much as it is the greater part of the Deccan Plateau. This itinerary takes you from Bangalore, capital of the state of Karnataka, a bustling metropolis and IT hub of South Asia, to Ootacamund, popularly known as Ooty the ‘Queen of Hill Stations' in South India. A short distance away, surrounded by tea and coffee plantations is Coonoor, another outstandingly scenic town. The tour has an overall relaxed pace. Hotels used are comfortable mix of modern and heritage, while the journey up the blue mountains on a century-old train is a treat in itself. Bangalore/Mysore(2)-Ooty(2)-Coonoor(2)-Bangalore May-Sep 09/Oct 09-Apr 10 Superior: AUD 1120/ AUD tba Deluxe: AUD 1265/ AUD tba Luxury: AUD 1495/ AUD tba click here for detailed The Nilgiri Hills & Tea Gardens itinerary