Temples, Tea, Spices & Backwaters

After breakfast visit of Chennai. Visit of India’s largest beach Marina, Fort St George museum with paintings, coins, arms, porcelain and silverware. Also visit Kapaleeshwar Temple. Later drive to Chennai airport and board your flight to Trichy. On arrival at Trichy airport you will depart by car to Tanjore. Arrive and check into your hotel in Tanjore.
Your stay in luxury hotel: Mantra Koodam – CGH Earth or Svatma

After breakfast visit of the great living Chola temple in Tanjore built in 1010 AD. The great Cholas established a powerful monarchy in the 9th century at Thanjavur and in its surroundings. Chola dynasty who ruled in South India between 1070 to 1279 AD. You will visit the Brahadeeswarar or also called Big Temple. As you enter the main gate you will see a statue of Nandi, the sacred bull, has been carved out of a single stone. The statue weighs 20 tonnes and is 16ft in length and 13ft in height. Nestled in the sanctum in a linga soaring to a height of 29ft. The most astonishing part of this temple is a Kumbam’, a bulbous structure above the tower cut out of one rock that weighs almost 80 tonnes, is regarded as the showcase of the architectural excellence of the period.The temple walls are embellished with expansive and exquisite mural paintings. Later visit of a bronze casting center. The Master sculptors will demonstrate each of the process involved in bronze casting. They will show how a bronze sculpture from the initial wax-process is made. Drive back to your hotel in the evening.
Your stay in luxury hotel: Mantra Koodam – CGH Earth or Svatma

195 km
After breakfast drive to Madurai. Arrive and check into your hotel. Later visit of Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace. It was built in 1635 AD. It was residence for the king and designed by an Italian architect. Then you will go to visit world famous Meenakshi temple. It’s also one of India's most visited temples. You will see hall of thousands pillars which is believed to have bene built out of a single rock. There are 12 lofty Gopurams [towers]. Another interesting feature of this colourful temple is the presence of around 33000 sculptures in it. Return to hotel for overnight stay.
Your stay in luxury hotel: Heritage Madurai or The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai.

145 km
After breakfast drive to Periyar. Arrive and check into your hotel.
Rolling through the lush green meadows; enjoy a Jeep safari to nearby areas. You will also get a chance to visit to explore the village sceneries and interiors of Kerala through this safari. Return to hotel for overnight stay.
Your stay in luxury hotel: Spice Village CGH Earth or Niraamaya Retreats or Reen Resorts Aanavilasam Plantation Thekkady

In the morning enjoy Bamboo Rafting and trekking:
You will enjoy rafting and trekking programme through the pristine waters and the riches forest of Periyar Tiger Reserve. You can also get an opportunity to sight wildlife as close quarters. A maximum of 5 visitors can go in a single raft.

Late in the afternoon visit of Abraham’s spice garden. You will get a detailed information on how spices are grown. This spice garden is totally organic and is run by Abraham’s family. The family are using natural methods instead of pesticides. You can see some extraordinary spiders doing what spiders are meant to do – killing bugs. You can also see minute Asian honey Bees and numerous spices and fruits including many verities of banana. A comprehensive tour shall take 1 hours or even longer. You will get the information you want about the plants, living organisms, farming, and quality maintenances in 6 different languages
Mr. Abraham grows pepper, piper longum, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and mace, cloves, holy basil (tulsi), betel, tamarind, curry leaf plants, lemon grass, vanilla, cocoa, gherkins, green beans, chilies, tomatoes, squash, eggplants, limes, pineapple, papaya, coffee and six kinds of banana trees in this garden. Orchids and other exotic flower species grow in pots, cracks, crevices and every nook and cranny you care to look in as you walk around the property. Rest of the day is at leisure in your hotel. Overnight in Periyar.
Your stay in luxury hotel: Spice Village CGH Earth or Niraamaya Retreats or Reen Resorts Aanavilasam Plantation Thekkady

110 km
After breakfast drive from Munnar to Thekkady while enjoying the beautiful landscapes. In this drive, you also get to see a ton of excellent slopes, tea manors, tea production lines, cardamom homes and so on with few extraordinary small cascades all over. Your tour guide or driver will be happy to stop on the way to take few photos of breath-taking views and scenery. Arrive in Munnar and check into your hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure.
Your stay in luxury hotel: Fragrant Nature or Winderemere Estate

After breakfast visit of Munnar. Visit of Eravikulam National Park is one of the first national parks to be established in Kerala. Located in the Western Ghats range of mountains. It is a home of myriad exotic flora and fauna, including leopards, sambar deer, golden jackal, wild dog, stripe-necked mongoose, small clawed otter, and dusky palm squirrel along with a range of bird species like black-and-orange flycatcher and Nilgiri wood pigeon.
Then visit of a tea factory. One can observe the history and growth of tea estates in the area. We get to watch the transition from the rudimentary tea roller to the modern fully automated tea factory.
Your stay in luxury hotel: Fragrant Nature or Winderemere Estate

170 km
After breakfast drive to Alleppey. Arrive and check into your exclusive one bedroom houseboat. Lunch will be served on the houseboat. Beyond the paddy fields, the picturesque roads, houseboats that offer a luxurious stay, there are a few things that you can’t miss doing in Alappuzha [Alleppey].Cruising the Alleppey backwaters is one of the most popular ways to explore surrounding and nearby areas. Savour the beauty of God's Own Country in one of Kerala's unique 'marvels' - the traditional 'Kettuvallam', a boat now re-incarnated as your floating home, away from home.

A way to get intimate with the bewitching waterways of the Vembanad lake in the heartland of Kerala. The Houseboat will give you a taste of a unique way of life that was extant in these parts. You get to journey upon a 'Kettuvalam', a traditional houseboat, that was once used to carry cargoes of rice and spices up and down these same waterways for centuries. Soak in the sun on your own little sun deck…. tuck into delicious Kerala cuisine in your personal dinette and watch life go by….. and as the sun sinks in the horizon, turn in for the night in your spacious, well ventilated bedroom, complete with eco-friendly solar- energised fans and lights….. and let the gentle lap of water lull your senses to sleep. Dinner and overnight on the houseboat.
Your accommodation: Luxury 1 bedroom Houseboat.

15 km
After breakfast on the houseboat drive to Marari beach.
Take a break from the hectic pace of the city and experience the laidback life at Marari Beach Resort. Let the calm waves slowly caress your feet as you leave footprints in the sand. Enjoy the beautiful greenery of God’s Own Country. Curl up with your favourite book on a hammock under swaying coconut palm trees.
Your stay in luxury hotel: Marari Beach Resort CGH Earth or Xandari Pearl Beach Resort or Marari Villas.

Located 15 km away from the small town of Alleppey, this peaceful beach is a perfect excursion for travellers headed to the backwaters south of Cochin. With palm trees lining the spotless silvery sand, the beach is a sight for sore eyes. Named after the tiny fishing village of Mararikulam, its tranquil and pristine character makes it suitable for relaxation. Whole day at leisure. Overnight in your hotel at Marari beach.
Your stay in luxury hotel: Marari Beach Resort CGH Earth or Xandari Pearl Beach Resort or Marari Villas.

50 km
After breakfast drive to Cochin. Arrive and check into your hotel.
Cochin was the centre of Indian spice trade for many centuries, and was known to the Yavanas (Greeks and Romans) as well as Jews, Syrians, Arabs, and Chinese since ancient times. Visit Fort Kochi area. The area is an amalgamation of Dutch, Portuguese and British heritage buildings and an architectural delight. You will visit the Dutch Palace, Chinese fishing nets, St Francis Church, Jewish Synagogue [closed on Fridays, Saturdays and Jewish holidays]. Then enjoy a tuktuk ride in Mattanchery which is a bustling old market of the Kochi's spice trade. Scores of small stores huddle together in old, dilapidated buildings and the air is filled with the biting aromas of ginger, cardamom, cumin, turmeric and cloves. In the evening enjoy Kathakali dance show. Return to hotel for overnight stay.
Your stay in luxury hotel: Taj Malabar Resort and Spa or Brunton Boatyard CGH Earth or The Postcard Mandalay Hall.

As per your international flight schedule we will transfer you Cochin airport to fly back home.