Splendours of India's Deep South (21 days / 20 nights)
South India is totally different from North India, which is characterised by its deserts and mountains. The great peninsula of the south contains riches of a different kind, hidden in the heart of an incredible natural paradise. Thousands of beaches, fertile hills and enchanting rivers combine to form a priceless jewel. On this tour, you'll discover three South Indian states, each with its own treasures. Karnataka, a cultural and natural oasis, Tamil Nadu, where ancient civilisations developed, and Kerala, one of the most beautiful states in the country, with its lush nature and tranquillity.
Itinerary: Bangalore-Hospet-Hampi-Hassan-Mysore-Madras-Kanchipuram-Mahabalipuram-Pondichery-Tanjore-Trichy-Madurai-Periyar
Cochin-Kovalam Beach-Trivendrum
Day 1 France / Bangalore
Flight from France to Bangalore. Typical welcome with a flower necklace and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 Bangalore
After breakfast you will visit the city of Bangalore and its most interesting and characteristic tourist sites. You will also discover the great botanical garden of Lal Bagh. Lunch in a typical restaurant during the visits. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 Bangalore / Hospet
After breakfast departure for Hospet. Hospet is known as the gateway to the incredible site of Hampi, which you will explore the following day. During your journey you will be able to appreciate the extraordinary nature of the countryside and the daily life of its inhabitants. Lunch en route. Arrive in Hospet at the end of the day and check into your hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 Hospet / Hampi / Hospet
After breakfast, departure for Hampi, capital of the ancient Kingdom of Vijayanagar which dominated the whole of South India from the 14th to the 16th centuries. Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon devoted to visiting the sanctuaries: the Virupaksha temple dedicated to Shiva, the Tiruvengalanatha temple famous for its erotic sculptures and the Vitthala temple, dedicated to Vishnu. Return to Hospet in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 5 Hospet / Hassan: Belur y Halebid
After breakfast you will drive to Hassan. Lunch en route. Afternoon exploring Belur and Halebid. The former capital of the Hoysalas, Belur is a bustling market town. You will visit the Chennakeshava temple, built in the 12th century. Continue to Halebid to visit the Hoysaleshwara temple, which succeeded Belur as the capital of the Hoysalas before being razed to the ground by Muslim troops in the 14th century. Return to Hassan in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 6 Hassan / Mysore
After breakfast, we head for Mysore. On the way, stop at Sravanabelagola, a Jain pilgrimage town dominated by one of India's most spectacular monuments, the 18-metre-high statue of Gomeateshwara. Lunch en route. Continue to Mysore and check into your hotel at the end of the day. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 7 Mysore
After breakfast, the morning will be devoted to visiting Mysore. You will 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. Afternoon excursion to Srigangapatnam: the fort, temples and summer palace of Sultan Tippu. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 8 Mysore / Madras (Train)
After breakfast, and depending on the time of your train, transfer to Mysore station to catch your train to Madras. You will discover the Indian countryside and its scenes of daily life. Lunch on the train. Arrive in Madras at the end of the day. Welcome and transfer to your hotel. Picnic dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 9 Madras / 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 10 Mahabalipuram / Pondichery
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 Pondicherry, the former French trading post. Arrive in Pondicherry and check into your hotel. Orientation tour of the city: the white city with its villas, churches and colonial buildings, the black city with its picturesque market. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 11 Pondichery / Chidambaram / Tanjore
After breakfast, continue your tour of Pondicherry. Then departure for Tanjore. Lunch en route. Then a stop at Chidambaram, a major Brahmin training centre dedicated to Shiva. Visit to the Nataraja temple. Continuation to Tanjore. Arrive and check into hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 12 Tanjore / Trichy / Tanjore
After breakfast, departure for a tour of Tanjore, including the Brihadeshvara temple and the splendid collection of Chol bronzes in the Saraswati Mahal palace. Continue on to Trichy. Lunch en route. In the afternoon, visit the religious citadel of Ranganatha on the island of Srirangam. This is one of the largest and most accomplished religious complexes in South India. Return to Tanjore at the end of the day. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 13 Tanjore / Madurai
After breakfast departure for Maduraï. Arrive and check into hotel for lunch. In the afternoon, visit Madurai and the famous Minakshi-Sundareshvara temple, a veritable city within the city. Stroll through the bazaars. In the evening, return to the temple to attend the ceremony presiding over the setting of Shiva in the sanctuary. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 14 Madurai
After breakfast, visit Madurai and the famous Minakshi-Sundareshvara temple, a veritable city within the city. Stroll through the bazaars. Lunch in the city. In the evening, return to the temple to attend the ceremony presiding over the setting of Shiva in the sanctuary. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 15 Madurai / Thekkady (Lake Periyar)
After breakfast, head for Lake Periyar through mountains, forests and plantations. Here you are in the heart of the Periyar tropical jungle, at the gateway to the state of Kerala. Lunch en route. Check-in at your hotel. Afternoon walks, exploration of the spice gardens and boat safari on the lake (not included) to discover the local flora and fauna, with the chance of spotting elephants. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 16 Thekkady / Kumarakom / Allepey / Cochin
After breakfast, drive through the Cardamon Mountains and plantations of tea, spices, cocoa, pepper and cardamom. Lunch en route. At Kumarakom, board a traditional Kettuvalam for a superb trip along the canals of Kerala's famous Backwaters. Arrive in Cochin in the afternoon and check into your hotel. In the evening, traditional Kathakali dance performance. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 17 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 by the sea, the fishermen's houses with their strange Chinese nets, and the San Francisco church. In the evening, you will be treated to a performance of traditional Kerala Kathakali dances. Seafood dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 18 Cochin / Trivedrum (Kovalam Beach)
After breakfast, we head for Trivandrum and Kovalam beach. On the way you can discover the wonderful, lush countryside of Kerala. Lunch en route. Arrive in Kovalam and check into hotel. Afternoon at leisure to relax and enjoy the beach or Ayurvedic massages. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 19/20 Trivendrum (Kovalam Beach)
After breakfast, the day is free for you to relax after your journey. You can take advantage of the hotel's facilities and the surrounding area: beaches, swimming pool, spa, ayurvedic massages. Lunch, dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 21 Trivandrum (Kovalam Beach) / France
After breakfast, and depending on your flight time, transfer to Trivendrum airport for an international flight to France. End of our services. Arrival in France.
