India: The Beautiful South

15 days
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4.1/5 Great
60 reviews  
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USTOA

Small Group Tour
This journey is a unique opportunity to travel with other international guests on a limited-edition itinerary operated by A&K Australia. Immerse yourself in India’s more spiritual side on this journey through the relaxed southern states of the subcontinent. Prized for millennia for its aromatic spices and natural beauty, the south remains a feast for ...
From$7,195
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

What's this trip about?

    This journey is a unique opportunity to travel with other international guests on a limited-edition itinerary operated by A&K Australia. Immerse yourself in India’s more spiritual side on this journey through the relaxed southern states of the subcontinent. Prized for millennia for its aromatic spices and natural beauty, the south remains a feast for the senses, with fragrant cuisines, friendly people and fascinating cultures. Bask in the color and movement of bustling, sophisticated cities, sleepy fishing villages, tropical coastlines and lush hinterlands. Observe the astonishing Pallava sculptures and towering Chola Temples of Tamil Nadu, the colonial charms of Puducherry and the tranquil backwaters of Kerala, in an India still largely undisturbed by tourism.

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 18 people
Age range6 years and up
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start City CHENNAI
End City KOCHI

Destinations

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 18

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: CHENNAI, INDIA

Arrive in Chennai (formerly Madras) and transfer to your hotel.

Day 2: Chennai

Discover colonial Madras through the buildings left behind by the British. Then, zigzag your way through the bustling bylanes of vibrant Georgetown as your guide points out the fresh produce, local everyday commodities and colorful market stalls, pausing along the way...

Day 3: Mahabalipuram

Travel south to the ancient Pallava capital of Mahabalipuram, site of the UNESCO-listed cave temples, bas-relief sculptures, pillared halls carved out of the rocky hillside and the delightful shore temple. After a lunch of southern Indian delicacies, head to Puducherry and your hotel in the French Quarter.

Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 to 5 : PUDUCHERRY

Explore “Pondy” on foot starting in the French Quarter, admiring the wide shady streets, colonial architecture and soft pastel colors. Pause at Sri Aurobindo Ashram, which influences much of the city. Founded by the Indian philosopher, yogi, guru, poet and nationalist...

Day 6: Thanjavur

Drive farther south to Thanjavur (formerly Tanjore), the ancient Chola capital, stopping on the way in Chidambaram to visit the vibrant Nataraja Temple, famed for its bronze dancing Shiva. Observe the daily Brahmin rituals at shrines throughout the 40-acre complex.

Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Thanjavur

Spend some time today admiring the 11th-century Brihadisvara Temple, one of India’s most spectacular. Seek out its elaborate stucco sculptures, shrines and statues, along with the exquisite Chola frescos. Later, stroll through the 14th-century Tanjore Palace — built f...

Day 8: Karaikudi

Journey on to the Chettinad region, home to a prosperous banking and business community and remarkable cuisine, among Tamil Nadu’s most famous. Take a bull cart to lunch, where you’ll savor the subtle and aromatic local flavors, followed by a visit to a tile factory a...

Day 9: Madurai

Step out into vibrant Madurai, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Famous for temples built in the Dravidian style, Madurai is also home to a maze of markets and museums. This afternoon, choose between three Design Your Day® activities. Visi...

Day 10: Munnar

Your journey continues into Kerala and the lush Western Ghats, where your old-world plantation retreat is located. Stroll around the estate with an expert naturalist, who identifies the local flora and fauna.

Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Munnar

Discover a world of tea today as you witness every step, from leaf plucking and processing to packaging and pouring. Visit the tea gardens, see the plantation workers and their villages, taste the various grades at the Lockhart Tea Factory established in 1879, and enj...

Day 12: Kochi

Drive through scenic forest into the countryside, where rubber trees grow and spices are cultivated. After lunch, continue the drive to Kochi (formerly Cochin). This evening, motor around the harbor and soak up the sunset.

Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch

Day 13: Kochi

Today, watch as the local fisherfolk set off to cast their nets. Get a peek into the massive seafood auction and witness the morning hustle as buyers haggle over the prized catch. Savor a cup of tea at a local chaikadda, after which you visit a Soviet-era Communist re...

Day 14: Kochi

Today, personalize your travel experience with a selection of Design Your Day® adventures. Meet a local cook and food consultant, Nimmy, who shares her Syrian-Christian heritage through home-cooked food. Tour the city with a local expert, who shares the heritage and...

Day 15: KOCHI

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

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Dates & Availability

Price From $7,195
Price per day$480
Last Updated: 11/8/2024

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Abercrombie & Kent.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Tour Operator

Abercrombie & Kent

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At Abercrombie & Kent, we strive at every turn to redefine your notion of what is possible on a vacation. Our approach combines singular service — such as a private passage by road and lake through the Andes, or a maximum group size of only 12 guests on each Galápagos shore excursion — with insider-access opportunities unlike any you have experienced before. A&K lets you discover Machu Picchu through the eyes of its former resident archaeologist, and introduces you to Mayan culture firsthand, through an exclusive meeting with a Mayan family.

In these and myriad other ways, Abercrombie & Kent consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty — and no A&K journey is complete without that extra, unexpected "and" that makes your experience unique and unforgettable.

Choose from a Luxury Small Group Journey, the finest group travel experience in the world; a Connections journey, which combines A&K’s renowned service with unbeatable value; A Marco Polo Club Invitational Journey to an exotic locale; a private Signature Series itinerary; or a custom independent journey created just for you. When it comes to discovering the world, the possibilities are endless.

Making these extraordinary journeys possible are the handpicked experts in our 50 offices worldwide, on call around the clock. Chief among them are our resident A&K Tour Directors and local guides. The Tour Director leads each group departure, providing unmatched on-the-ground expertise with A&K local guides contributing along the way.

With expertise in not only luxury but culture, wildlife and history as well, Abercrombie & Kent reveals your destination with an authenticity beyond the reach of any other travel company.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
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Meals Included
  • 13 Breakfast
  • 7 Lunch
  • 9 Dinner
Age Requirements
6 years and up
Additional Information
Trip ID
abercr-029bc674-80b6-46b0-9415-6a9f4213aca3

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