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The Best Kept Secret of Kerala & Tamilnadu

Package price On Request

Product Code : AGORA712

The Best Kept Secret of Kerala and Tamilnadu private tour will begin with pick up from Cochin airport. Explore Kerala famous for its unique geography, tranquil backwaters, and mountains whose slopes support tea, coffee and spice plantations as well as wildlife. Further in Tamil Nadu you will visit many Dravidian-style Hindu temples, of which few are active large temples and few non active, including UNESCO WHS of the Great Living Chola Temples.

 

Day 1: Arrive Cochin

On arrival at Cochin airport assistance & transfer hotel, check in. In the evening enjoy Kathakali, a traditional dance form of Kerala with lavish costumes, exotic makeup, masks etc. O/n at hotel.

 

Day 2: Cochin - Alleppey (60kms)

Breakfast at hotel. Morning city tour visiting Fort Cochin St. Frances Church, Jewish Synagogue, Mattancherry Dutchs Palace & Chinese fishing nets. Later transfer to Alleppey boat jetty to board houseboat and sail through the tropical countryside enchanting backwaters. The Houseboats have generated electricity, sitting cum dining area, separate bedroom with attached English toilets, sun deck and fully loaded kitchen with a chef & driver. O/n in houseboat.

 

Day 3: Alleppey - Thekkady (160kms)

Breakfast at hotel. Disembark from houseboat and drive to Thekkady check in at hotel. Evening watch Martial Arts & Kathakali Dance show. O/n at hotel.

 

Day 4: Thekkady

Breakfast at hotel. Explore Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary on a boat. Sanctuary is home to tigers, elephant, rare lion-tailed macaques, sambar deer, leopards and Indian bison. Later spice plantation tour to see crops of cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, coffee etc. O/n at hotel.

 

Day 5: Thekkady - Munnar (100kms)

Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Munnar via Ramakkalmedu one of the windiest places in Asia and being so, one can find here a wind farm generating electricity. Visit Frog Rock, Turtle Rock and the highest twin-statue in Kerala called Kuravan & Kurathi. Continue drive to Munnar check in at hotel. O/n at hotel.

 

Day 6: Munnar

Breakfast at hotel. Visit Pothamedu, Mattupetty dam, Rajamala hill, Eravikulam National Park, Mattupedi Dairy Farm, Echo Point & Tea Museum. O/n at hotel.

 

Day 7: Munnar - Madurai (160kms)

Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Madurai check in at hotel. Later visit Meenakshi Temple, Thirumalai Nayakar Palace, Alagar Koil, Tiruparankundram Murugan Temple & Palamuthirsolai Murugan Temple. O/n at hotel.

 

Day 8: Madurai - Trichy - Thanjavur (190kms)

Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Thanjavur, via visiting Trichy Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Rock Fort Temple & Jambukeshwara temple. On arrival check in at hotel. Later visit Brihadeshwara Temple built by great Chola king in the 10th century. Also visit Thanjavur Palace & Museum. O/n at hotel.

 

Day 9: Thanjavur - Darasuram - Gangaikondacholapuram - Chidambaram - Pondicherry (180kms)

Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Pondicherry via visiting The Great Living Chola Temples at Darasuram, Airavateshwarar Temple a storehouse of art and architecture and Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple complex which includes Nandi Mandapa, Alankar Mandapa, Maha Mandapa, Mukha Mandapa and Ardha Mandapa. Also visit Chidambaram Nataraja Temple dedicated to the dancing posture of Lord Shiva. Arrive Pondicherry check in and o/n at hotel. 

 

Day 10: Pondicherry 

Breakfast at hotel. Visit Aurovil & Pondicherry Museum. Drive pass or walk through stunning French Quarters, charming mustard streets and colonial villas which include French consulate, Raj Nivas, Government Square, Churches & French schools. Rest time free and easy to rtelax on the beach. O/n at hotel.

 

Day 11: Pondicherry - Mahabalipuram - Kanchipuram - Chennai (240kms)

Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Chennai enroute visit Mahabalipuram Monolithic Temples, Five Rathas, Krishna Butterball, Cave Temples, Shore Temple & The Arjuna Penance. Next visit Kanchipuram Kailasanathar temple, Ekambareswarar temple, Varadharaja temple, Vaikundhaperumal temple & Kamakshiamman temple. Continue drive to Chennai check in  and o/n at hotel.

 

Day 12: Chennai - Departure (Flight)

Breakfast at hotel. City tour of Chennai visit Fort St. George, St Mary's Church inside the fortress, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Vadapalani Murugan Temple, Government Museum, Dakshinachitra Museum, Santhome Cathedral & Marina Beach.
Later as per flight schedule transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.

Assistance on arrival at airport.

11 Nights' accommodation in selected price category hotels.

Daily breakfast at hotels.

Private air-conditioned deluxe car for airport transfer, sightseeing and excursion as per program.

English speaking tour guide on sightseeing days (local guide in each city), as per program.

Monuments entrances and activities charges mentioned in the itinerary.

Bottled drinking water in car.

Government taxes.

 

Hotels used or similar for 11 nights' accommodation


Cochin x 1 night
3* - The Dune Hotel/ Abad Plaza
4* - Casino Hotel/ The Avenue Regent
5* - Xandari Harbour/ Le Meridien

Alleppey x 1 night
3* - Deluxe Houseboat (ATDC Houseboat/ Dream Boats)
4* - Premium Houseboat (Abad Premium Houseboats/ Rainbow Premium Houseboats)
5* - Luxury Houseboat (Xandari Riverscapes/ Lakes & Lagoons)

Pariyar (Thekkady) x 2 night
3* - Abad Green Forest/ Hotel Treetop
4* - The Elephant Court/ Cardamom County
5* - Spice village/ Cardamom County

Munnar x 2 nights
3* - Fort Munnar/ Abad Copper Castle
4* - Nature Zone Jungle Resort/ Fragrant Nature Munnar
5* - Chandys Windy Woods/ Tea County

Madurai x 1 night
3* - Astoria by Sparsa/ Madurai’s Residency
4* - GRT Regency/ Fortune Pandiyan Hotel
5* - Heritage Madurai/ The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai

Thanjavur x 1 night
3* - Grand Gardenia/ Oriental Towers 
4* - Le Pondy/ The Windflower Resort & Spa
5* - Svatma

Pondicherry x 2 night
3* - Shenbaga Hotel/ Annamalai International
4* - Le Pondy/ The Windflower Resort & Spa
5* - Palais De Mahe/ La Villa

Chennai x 1 night
3* - Raj Park/ MGM East Woods
4* - The  Raintree/ Accord Metropolitan
5* - ITC Grand Chola/ The Leela Palace

Any flight ticket

Camera charges at monuments.

Meals other than mentioned in inclusions.

Expenses of personal nature like liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, internet etc. 

Gratuities & optional activities.

Anything not mentioned in inclusions.