16 Days South India Temples & Culure Tour Package

Duration: 16 Days / 15 Nights
Priced From: $11,160 pp dbl. occ.
Dates: Contact: Travelwizard

 


Bombay, Aurangabad, Madras, Madurai, Periyar, Kumarakom, Cochin

This very deluxe trip allows travelers to take advantage of Southern India's cultural bounty while also enjoying the exquisite luxury of the region's finest hotels. Start in Bombay with a catamaran tour to see Elephanta Island's intriguing cave temples, then visit bazaars by cycle rickshaw and enjoy a dinner of tasty vegetarian Gujarati cuisine. Fly to Aurangabad to tour the Ajanta and Ellora caves for two days and then return to Bombay for a connecting flight to Madras, considered the capital of Tamil culture. In Madras, take a private tour of Kanchipuram and spend a day at Mahabalipuram, the famous collection of seafront temples. Next, fly a short distance to Madurai for a two-night stay; while here, visit the Tirumalai Nayakar Palace, the Meenakshi Sundareshwarar temple, and spend a full day exploring Rameshwaram, a sacred island that is now a major pilgrimage site. Drive to the spice plantations of Periyar and then transfer to Kumarakom for a sunset boat ride and evening Kathakali cultural performance. After a day at leisure to enjoy the surroundings, continue on to a deluxe houseboat for an overnight cruise through the region's famous waterways. Spend two full days in Cochin, taking a cooking class with a famed cookbook author, touring the area, and enjoying a dance performance. The trip concludes with a final night in Bombay, where a guide and driver are at your disposal for flexible touring as you wish.

Like all of our tours, this is simply a suggested itinerary, and can easily be customized to suit your schedule, budget, and interests.

Day 2: Day tour of Elephanta Island

Day 3: Fly to Aurangabad, tour Ajanta Caves

Day 4: Tour Ellora Caves

Day 5: Fly to Bombay, connect to Madras, tour Kanchipuram

Day 6: Tour villages

Day 7: Fly to Madurai, full day touring

Day 8: Rameshwaram excursion:

Day 9: Drive to Periyar, tour spice plantations

Day 10: Morning boat ride, transfer to Kumarakom, sunset boat ride

Day 11: At leisure

Day 12: Transfer to houseboat

Day 13: Transfer to Cochin, touring

Day 14: Full day touring, evening performance

Day 15: Fly to Bombay, touring

Day 16: Depart Bombay