Escorted Tours 2024 - 2025

Meenakshi Temple < Cochin Munnar       Madurai Tanjore Puducherry Thiruvannamalai Chennai < Coach Air Nights 2 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 Day 1: UK to Chennai Depart the UK on your overnight flight. Day 2: Chennai D On arrival, you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel. After settling in, enjoy a visit to Fort St. George Museum. Day 3: Chennai B/L/D Today, drive 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 Puducherry 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 Puducherry. Day 6: Puducherry B/L/D Today is at leisure to relax or explore Puducherry. Day 7: Puducherry B/L/D After breakfast take a rickshaw ride around Puducherry’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 8: Puducherry 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 Today, gaze upon the mirror-like waters of the lake created by the Mattupetty Dam, see the hills at Echo Point then visit a tea plantation. 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, or continue on to your chosen extension. Sacred South India What you’ll see ⚫ Explore the Pancha Bhuta Temples ⚫ Discover the ancient history behind Chennai ⚫ 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. What’s included ✔ Return flights Heathrow to India with Sri Lankan Airlines (via Colombo). See p132-133 for regional flights ✔ Where you’ll stay Chennai, 3 H The Residency Tirvuannamalai, 3 H Sparsa Resort Puducherry, 5 H The Residency Towers Tanjore, 3 H Sangam Hotel Madurai, 3 H JC Residency Munnar, 3 H Elysium Garden Hill Resorts Cochin, 5 H Le Meridien ✔ 35 meals ✔ 8 excursions ✔ Expert local tour guide Tour pace: Challenging Includes all meals Extend your tour Kerala beach stay, 3 nights, 3.5 H from £299 or 5 H from £599 Kerala houseboat stay, 1 night, 5 H in Cochin and 3 nights on a traditional houseboat in Alleppey from £479 Maldives beach stay, 4 nights, 4 H All-Inclusive from £1,199 No Single Supplement Rooms with no single supplement are available. Once sold, supplement starts from £429 Departures & from prices Mar 24 £1,829 Feb 25 £2,029 Apr 24 £1,729 Mar 25 £2,029 May 24 £1,529 Apr 25 £2,129 Sep 24 £2,029 May 25 £1,579 Oct 24 £2,129 Sep 25 £1,829 Nov 24 £2,129 Oct 25 £2,129 Jan 25 £2,029 Nov 25 £2,129 • Lead-in price based on 15 May 24 • Tipping paid locally £64 pp per tour Save £100 on selected departures with code TOUR100 P R I V A T E T O U R U P G R A D E S F R O M £399 17 Southern Asia Visit our website or call 0800 954 9329 to book or for further details