Escorted Tours 2023-24 1st Edition

Day 1: UK to Chennai Depart the UK on your overnight flight, via Colombo. Day 2: Chennai D On arrival, you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel. Day 3: Chennai B/L/D Today, visit Fort St. George, before driving along the elegant promenade by the world-famous Marina Beach taking you to Mylapore. Look inside the San Thome Basilica, the resting place of “Doubting Thomas”. Day 4: Chennai to Thiruvannamalai B/L/D Start in Mahabalipuram to explore its monolithic shrines and temples. Visit the Shore Temple, the cluster of temples known as the Five Rathas and the ‘Arjuna’s Presence’ bas-relief carving. From here continue to Thiruvannamalai. Day 5: Thiruvannamalai to Pondicherry B/L/D Visit the Arunachaleswara Temple, lying at the foot of the mountain of Arunachala. Pass the sanctum sanctorum which houses the ancient Agni Linga. Whilst exploring the Arunachala mountain, see the Virupaksha cave, before continuing on to Pondicherry. Day 6: Pondicherry B/L/D After breakfast take a rickshaw ride around Pondicherry’s French Quarter. Visit the Notre Dame des Anges and Sri Aurobindo Ashram. See how the New-Age philosophy was extended in the 1960s at nearby Auroville. Day 7: Pondicherry B/L/D Today is at leisure to relax or explore Pondicherry. Day 8: Pondicherry to Tanjore B/L/D Set off for Tanjore, via Chidambaram to visit the Nataraja Temple. Continue to Tanjore to enjoy a relaxing evening with dinner at your hotel. Day 9: Tanjore B/L/D This morning see the Brihadeeswarar Temple and Royal Palace before an afternoon at leisure and an evening cooking demonstration of Indian cuisine. Day 10: Tanjore to Madurai B/L/D Following breakfast, transfer to Madurai. After lunch visit “Potters Village” of Vilacheri. In the evening pay a visit to the Meenakshi Temple. Day 11: Madurai to Munnar B/L/D Travel to Munnar and enjoy a day at leisure. Day 12: Munnar B/L/D Gaze upon the lake created by the Mattupetty Dam and see the hills at Echo Point. Visit a tea plantation and on your way back, see the Honey Bee Tree. Return to the hotel for dinner. Day 13: Munnar to Cochin B/L/D In the morning, drive to Cochin, then enjoy an afternoon walking tour of Fort Cochin. Witness the St. Francis Church, the Santa Cruz Basilica, Mattancherry Palace and the Paradesi Synagogue. Marvel at a Kathakali dance performance at a cultural centre, before dinner at your hotel. Day 14: Cochin to the UK B After breakfast, transfer for your return flight, via Colombo, or continue on to your chosen extension. Sacred South India Tour highlights ✔ Visit Arunachaleswara Temple and the Pancha Bhuta Temples ✔ Discover the ancient history behind the modern facade of Chennai, formerly Madras ✔ Marvel at the mythical red Mountain of Arunachala ✔ Witness the evening ceremony at Meenakshi Temple A magical tour through the spiritual riches and culture of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Marvel at the magnificent Shiva temples and admire the fusion of European and Asian architectural styles in Pondicherry and Cochin. Meenakshi Amman Hindu Temple Meal plan: All meals daily Accommodation: Chennai, 3 H The Residency Tirvuannamalai, 3 H Sparsa Resort Pondicherry, 4 H Shenbaga Hotel Tanjore, 3 H Hotel Parisutham Madurai, 3 H JC Residency Munnar, 3 H Elysium Garden Hill Resorts Cochin, 5 H Le Meridien Flights: London Heathrow to India with Sri Lankan Airlines (via Colombo). Regional flights available, please see page 168-169 Tour pace: Challenging < Cochin Munnar       Madurai Tanjore Pondicherry Thiruvannamalai Chennai < Coach Air Nights 2 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 P R I V A T E T O U R U P G R A D E S F R O M £349 Extend your tour Kerala beach stay, 3 nights, 5 H Full Board from £629 Kerala houseboat stay, 1 night, 5 H and 3 nights on a traditional houseboat from £449 No Single Supplement Rooms available with no single supplement. Once sold, single supplement starts from £359 Departures & from prices 31 May 23 £1,399 6 Mar 24 £1,799 6 Sep 23 £1,599 17 Apr 24 £1,699 13 & 20 Sep 23 £1,849 15 May 24 £1,499 4 & 18 Oct 23 £1,899 29 May 24 £1,599 15 Nov 23 £1,899 4 & 11 Sep 24 £1,969 10 Jan 24 £1,949 18 Sep 24 £1,989 24 Jan 24 £1,949 2 & 16 Oct 24 £1,999 21 Feb 24 £1,849 13 Nov 24 £1,999 • Tipping paid locally £64 pp per tour 25 Southern Asia Hundreds of escorted tours are available on our website www.mercuryholidays.co.uk