Day 01: Arrive Mumbai

Namaste – Welcome to India! Upon arrival, we are greeted the traditional Indian way with hands clapped together. We are then transferred to our hotel and have the balance of the day free to relax or enjoy vibrant Mumbai, India’s largest city and commercial centre.  The term “Mumbai” is an eponym that derived its name from the local Goddess, Mumbadevi. During the British Raj, Mumbai was known as Bombay. In November 1995, the name Mumbai was officially adopted.

Overnight: Fariyas Hotel, Mumbai (2 nights)

Day 02: Mumbai

We start our day with a visit to the Gateway of India, Mumbai's most famous monument. Here we embark on an excursion to the Elephanta Caves*, located on an island in the Sea of Oman. The caves contain a stunning collection of rock art linked to the cult of Shiva, with huge reliefs adorning the main cavern. Explore the Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai* and visiting the Prince of Wales Museum. Next, we explore Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus*, an outstanding example of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture. This building became the symbol of Bombay as the ‘Gothic City’, with its remarkable stone dome, turrets, pointed arches and eccentric ground plan. At Mani Bhawan museum where Gandhi stayed during the Freedom Struggle, we enjoy the Hanging Gardens, the Zoroastrian Towers of Silence and the bustling Crawford Market. We end our day at the Dhobi Ghat – the world’s largest outdoor laundry. Constructed in 1890, Dhobi Ghat garnered a Guinness Book of World Records in 2011 as the 'most people hand-washing clothes at a single location'. (B, D)

Day 03: Mumbai/Kochi (Flight)

Today we are transferred to the airport for our flight to Kochi, formerly known as Cochin. On arrival, we are transferred to our hotel, with the rest of the day free to sample the cultural delights of this bustling city. Kochi, formerly known as Cochin, is Kerala’s commercial capital and is home to one of the finest natural harbours in the world. Today we explore this waterfront gem, starting with a visit to St. Francis Church, the oldest European church in India. The remains of Vasco De Gama, the first European to find India by sea, were buried here before being taken back to Portugal.

Overnight: Le Meridien/Trident, Kochi (2 nights) (B, D)

Day 04: Kochi

We start our exploration of the capital city of Kerala – known also as “God’s Own Country”. We start with a visit of the Roman Catholic Santa Cruz Cathedral, built by the Portuguese in the 16th century. We continue to the Jewish Quarter with its Old Synagogue and the Dutch Palace, also built by the Portuguese. Later we take a boat cruise to visit Bolghatty Palace and observe one of the most photographed highlights of Kerala: the massive traditional Chinese fishing nets. In the evening, we enjoy a vibrant Kathakali dance performance. This dramatized presentation of a play usually based on the Hindu epics of Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas, is a unique combination of literature, music, painting, acting and dance. (B, D)

Day 05: Kochi/Thekkady (Drive)

Journey on to Thekkady, where we check in to our hotel. The area is famous for its colourful and fragrant spice plantations. In the afternoon, we will visit the breathtaking fields where cardamom, pepper, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, all spice, and tea are grown. We will also see traditional Ayurvedic medicinal plants and have the unique opportunity to buy garden-fresh spices. In the evening, we return to our hotel for dinner.

Overnight: The Elephant Court (2 nights) (B, D)

Day 06: Thekkady

Our day starts with a jungle walk at the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in the early morning. Home to India’s rare Bengal tigers, this sanctuary is one of the world’s most fascinating natural wildlife reserves. After a jungle walk to spy elephants and unique lion-tailed macaques, we return to our hotel for breakfast. In the afternoon, we enjoy a boat ride on Lake Periyar, watching animals in their natural habitat by the water's edge. Boars, sambar deer, wild dogs, langur monkeys and elephants are all part of the amazing game viewing here. The sanctuary is also a haven for water birds and we can see plenty of darters, grey herons, egrets and kingfishers. Our evening is free to explore the local bazaar in Thekkady and purchase some of the famous spices grown in this area. (B, D)

Day 07: Thekkady/Alleppey (Drive)

We continue our exploration of South India as we drive to Alleppey. Here we board our traditional houseboat and embark on a journey through the picturesque backwaters of Kerala, relaxing in tranquility as we take in the stunning scenery. Along the way, we see verdant vegetation, glassy lakes, and locals going about their traditional way of life.

Overnight: Deluxe Air-Conditioned Houseboat (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 08: Alleppey/Kovalam (Drive)

We enjoy breakfast on board, sail to Alleppey and disembark at the Puthenagady Jetty. A comfortable drive gets us to beautiful Kovalam Beach on the Malabar Coast near Trivandrum. The perfect opportunity to relax on the beach today and soak up Kovalam’s world-famous sun and sands. Sit back, relax and drink in the area’s endless white sands, calming blue waters and secluded coconut groves.

Overnight: Travancore Heritage, Kovalam (2 nights) (B, D)

Day 09: Kovalam

A unique chance to relax as we enjoy a soothing one-hour rejuvenation massage. The rest of our day is free to sample Kovalam’s pristine sands and jewel-toned waters. (B, D)

Day 10: Kovalam/Kanyakumari/Madurai (Drive)

After breakfast, leave for Madurai. En route, visit Kanyakumari, the “Lands’ End" of India. Kanyakumari is the southernmost tip of peninsular India, where the waters of the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea meet. We visit the Temple of Goddess Kumari, the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in the sea where Swami Vivekananda meditated. After lunch, we continue our journey to Madurai. On arrival, we check in to our hotel.

Overnight: Heritage Madurai, Madurai (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 11: Madurai

Today we explore Madurai, the second largest city in Tamil Nadu. At the heart of this 2,500-year-old city is Meenakshi Amman Temple, a Dravidian-style complex that includes 14 gopurams (gateway towers) and two shining golden shrines. Each aspect of the temple is intricately carved, and the entire complex boasts an estimated 33,000 sculptures. The temple is a significant symbol of the Tamil people, and though the current reconstruction was built in the 1600s, references to the temple can be found in Tamil literature that is thousands of years old. In the evening, we take in the enchanting night closing ceremony of the temple. (B, D)

Day 12: Madurai/Tanjore (Drive)

After breakfast, we drive to Thanjavur and check in at our hotel. Thanjavur is popularly known as Tanjore.  In the afternoon, we explore the Brihadisvara Temple, one of the Great Living Chola Temples*. This stunning temple is more than 1000 years old and one of the largest in India. Set among its vibrant decorations are the names of dancers, musicians and poets, reminding us of the significant role the monument played in 11th century Indian art. We end our tour of Tanjore with a visit to the Tanjore Palace & Museum, which has an eclectic collection of regal memorabilia mostly dating from the early 19th century.

Overnight: Hotel Sangam, Tanjore (1 night) (B, D)

Day 13: Thanjavur/Pondicherry (Drive)

After breakfast, we drive to Pondicherry. This former French Colonial city in Tamil Nadu didn’t come under Indian rule until 1954. Its main attraction, the ashram at Auroville, is actually outside of town. This colony is an experiment in human unity and hosts people from more than 50 nationalities in its cash-free settlement. In Auroville’s International Town, we will visit the Matrimandir, a famous monument representing a lotus flower that took almost 40 years to build, only being completed in 2008. We will also explore the 400-year old Manakula Vinayagar Temple, which has several frescos telling the life story of a half human and half animal lord.

Overnight: The Promenade / Le Pondy, Pondicherry  (1 night) (B, D)

Day 14: Pondicherry/Mahabalipuram/Chennai (Drive)

An exciting visit today to Mahabalipuram*. Carved out of the coast in the 7th and 8th centuries, this group of ancient archaeological wonders is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is known for its stunning rathas, temples in the form of chariots, and mandapas, intricately decorated cave sanctuaries. A highlight is Rivage temple, which contains thousands of sculptures celebrating Shiva.  After that, we continue our journey to Chennai. We check in to our hotel upon arrival with the rest of the day free.

Overnight: Taj Club House, Chennai (2 nights) (B, D)

Day 15: Chennai

Chennai, was called Madras when it was the trading port of the East India Company. on the Bay of Bengal in eastern India, is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu. The city is home to Fort St. George, built in 1644 and now a museum showcasing the city’s roots as a British military garrison. In 1996, the State Government renamed Madras to Chennai. We tour Chennai, visiting the National Art Gallery & Museum, which contains some of the best collections of bronzes in the country, including the famous icon of Natraja. We continue to India's oldest surviving British church, St. Mary's Church, built in 1680. Topping off our tour is a visit to People’s Park, the beautiful Marina Beach and the clock towers. (B, D)

Day 16: Depart Chennai

Today, enjoy the vibrant artistic and cultural traditions of Chennai. Sample some of the city’s top museums and temples, wander through the chaotic streets or savour authentic South Indian cuisine. Hotel check out time is 12:00 noon. In the evening, we enjoy our farewell dinner at a well-known local restaurant. After an incredible tour of the Best of South India, we are transferred to the international terminal for our flight home. We bid farewell to India after what will have been a memorable journey into history, culture, art and architecture, having made new friends and lots of memories. Or extend our adventure with tours to other regions of incredible India. (B, D)

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

Departure Dates & Prices

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Notes

Inclusions

Participants

This tour operates on a minimum of 02 and a maximum of 15 participants

Customised Itinerary

If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you.

Contact Info
You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call 1-604-264-7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1-800-663-0844.

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