Southern delights (13 days / 11 nights)
From the lush forests of Kerala to the fantastic landscapes of Tamil Nadu, South India offers countless rice paddies, palm trees, heavenly beaches and reserves of elephants and animals of all kinds. In this kingdom of colours and spices, you'll discover Madurai, the capital of Hindu pilgrimage and the oldest and holiest city in the South, with one of the country's most fascinating temples. A tour to discover the finest treasures of India's great peninsula.
Itinerary: Bangalore-Mysore-Calicut-Cochin-Periyar-Madurai-Trichy-Tanjore-Pondicherry-Kanchipuram-Mahabalipuram-Madras
Day 1 France / Bangalore
Flight from France to Bangalore. Arrival at Bangalore International Airport, traditional welcome with flower necklace and transfer to hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 Bangalore / Mysore
After breakfast, departure for Mysore. Lunch en route. Arrive in Mysore and check into your hotel. You will then discover one of the most extraordinary markets in South India and visit the palace of the Maharadja of Mysore, built in the early 20th century. Lunch during the visits. In the afternoon, excursion to Srigangapatnam: the fort, the temples and the summer palace of Sultan Tippu. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 Mysore / Calicut
After breakfast, departure for Calcut. Lunch en route. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. Then visit the city, which is characterised by its extremely strong link with the Muslim religion. You will discover the magnificent and very imposing Muchunea Mosque and Mashqual Pali Mosque. Return to the hotel at the end of the day. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 Calicut / Cochin
After breakfast, departure for Cochin. Lunch en route. Arrive in Cochin in the afternoon and check into your hotel. Free time for a first visit of the city. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 5 Cochin
After breakfast you will discover the historic city, the gateway to the West in South India, founded in the 16th century by Vasco da Gama, and long a hub of the spice trade. You will also visit the colonial quarters on the seafront, the fishermen's houses with their strange Chinese nets, and the San Francisco church. Lunch during the visits. In the evening, you will be treated to a performance of traditional Kerala Kathakali dances. Seafood dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 6 Cochin / Periyar (Backwaters)
After breakfast, you will cross the southernmost tip of the peninsula to reach Periyar. On the way you will pass through tea and rubber plantations. Embark at Kottayam for a riceboat cruise on the backwaters, in the heart of lakes and canals lined with villages and rice paddies where nature is luxuriant. Lunch on board and continuation to Periyar. Arrive in Periyar and check into your hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 7 Periyar / Madurai
After breakfast you will leave for Madurai, the religious capital of Tamil Nadu. Arrive in Madurai and check into your hotel. Lunch at your hotel. You will then discover the palace of Tirumalai Nayak and the baroque sumptuousness of the great temple dedicated to Meenakshi, where unparalleled fervour reigns. You will explore this labyrinth of sanctuaries, galleries and high towers teeming with life and colour. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 8 Madurai / Trichy
After breakfast, departure for Trichy through the Chettinad region, renowned for the quality of its cuisine and the nostalgic luxury of its small 19th-century palaces. Arrive in Trichy and check into your hotel. Lunch followed by an excursion to Trichy, where you can discover its extraordinary city temple built over the centuries on the island of Srirangam, whose narrow streets and fortified sanctuaries form a labyrinth of 7 enclosures dominated by 21 Gopuras, covering more than 2.5 km2. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 9 Trichy / Tanjore
After breakfast, departure for Tanjore. On the way, visit the magnificent Brihadishvara temple (10th century), whose balanced architecture and rich decoration represent the apogee of classical Chola art. Lunch on the way. Continuation to Tanjore. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. In the late afternoon, visit of the town and the most significant and interesting tourist sites. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 10 Tanjore / Pondicherry
After breakfast, departure through the green delta of the Kaveri River for the former French colony of Pondichery. Arrive in Pondichery and check into hotel. Lunch at the hotel. Then visit Pondichery: the white city and the black city separated by the river. You will discover the city's major tourist attractions as well as its quieter, more peaceful spots. You'll stroll through the old French Quarter. The tombs of Sri Aurobindo and Mother. You will also visit the Church of Our Lady of the Angels, the Indian quarter and its typical market. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 11 Pondicherry / Kanchipuram / Mahabalipuram
After breakfast, departure for Kanchipuram, one of the seven holy cities of Hinduism, where you will visit the temples of Kailashnatha and Ekambareshvara. You will also discover the art of silk weaving, Kanchipuram's great speciality. Lunch during the visits. Continuation to Mahabalipuram. Arrive and check into hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 12 Mahabilipuram / Madras
After breakfast, the morning will be devoted to discovering Mahabalipuram, ancient port and capital of the Pallava dynasty (8th century). You can admire the magnificent group of monolithic temples on the seafront and the famous bas-relief depicting the descent of the Ganges. Then lunch. Then on to Madras, also known as Madras. Also a major Indian city, Madras is a seaport with the longest beach in the world. Depending on your flight time, transfer to Madras airport for your international flight to France. End of our services.
Day 13 Madras / France
Arrival in France.
