20 days Tour

Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram - Pondichéry - Tanjore  - Chettinad - Rameswaram - Kanyakumari - Kovalam -Thiruvananthapuram - Varkala - Munroe Island - Alleppey - Cochin

Tamil Nadu is filled with colors: beautiful saris, temples with flamboyant hues, flower garlands ...

It stretches from the Bay of Bengal in the east to the mountain range that separates it from Kerala in the west. Most of the region consists of huge plains.There is a constant contrast between the omnipresent modernity of the cities and the timeless villages.

Tamil Nadu is the true birthplace of the Dravidian civilization.
Its official language is Tamil, one of the most ancient languages in the world.
Visiting it is a journey through architecture and culture to the discovery of huge colorful temples designed a lot like the Sri Meenakshi temple in Madurai.

A Kerala trip is perfect to start discovering India !

This small state that is surrounded by water and subtropical mountains is often the travelers’ favorites. This can be explained by its gorgeous mountain landscapes, spice and tea plantations, the Periyar wildlife sanctuary, beautiful tropical beaches, and canoe rides on quiet backwaters canals. The cities are small, the gastronomy is fresh and tasty, the hospitality is kind and caring.

Day 1 : CHENNAI - KANCHIPURAM     80 km - 2 h 30

Your driver will welcome you at your arrival at Chennai airport and will drive you to your hotel in Kanchipuram. 

 Visit Kanchipuram's Temples.

Overnight in Kanchipuram .

Day 2 & 3 : KANCHIPURAM - MAHABALIPURAM    70 km - 2 h 15

Mahabalipuram,a  small village of sculptors and fishermen located on the Coromandel Coast, is absolutely charming.

You will discover its rock temples, classified by UNESCO. 

The beautiful fresco called Descent of the Ganges, or Arjuna’s Penance, is one of the biggest reliefs of the world.

You will visit the five Rathas and Shore temple at sunset, its impressive orange color gives a magic atmosphere view.

With its pleasant beach, fish restaurants, stone carvers, and the people’s kindness, Mahabalipuram has plenty to offer.

2 Overnights in Mahabalipuram.

DAY 4 & 5:  MAHABALIPURAM - PONDICHERY       95 km  - 2 h

Visit to Pondichery, a former French trading post, given back to India in 1954.

You will hear about the “white” neighborhood that is made of fancy large streets crossing at the right corners and still bearing French names.

You will have the possibility to visit Sri Aurobindo ashram, the Sacred Heart Church and the Pondicherry museum (closed on Monday and national holidays).

Located about ten km from Pondicherry, Auroville is a utopian city, founded in 1968, based on a dream of universal peace and harmony. It is a unique experience that you can discover in order to form your own idea of its philosophy and its way of life.

2 Overnights in Pondichery. 

DAY 6 :  PONDICHERY - TANJORE       190 km - 5 h 

PONDICHERY - CHIDAMBARAM - 65 km - 1 h 30

CHIDAMBARAM - GANGAIKONDACHOLAPURAM - 47 km - 1 h 30

GANGAIKONDACHOLAPURAM  -  DARASURAM   - 40 km - 1 H

DARASURAM - TANJORE     -     40 km - 1   h     

We will visit Chidambaram, one of the most sacred temples (Nataraja) in South India and dedicated to Shiva as a cosmic dancer. The jewels of Dravian architecture in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the temples where Shiva is represented with an anthropomorphic statue rather than the lingam classic.

The ancient city of Gangaikondacholapuram is one of those cities that you will be tempted to call mythical in view of its history and what it has left as vestiges.

Built around 1025, by King Rajendra the 1st, it is a former capital of the Chola Empire.  It is a city steeped in history.

Visit to Sri Pragadheswarar Temple in Gangaikondachimapuram and Darasuram Temple in Darasuram

Overnight in Tanjore.

DAY 7 : TANJORE  (Thanjavur) 

Visit to Brihadiswvara temple dedicated to Shiva and listed on the UNESCO world heritage. You will notice architecture from the Chola era.

Discover the art gallery of Nayak palace, an ancient palace of the sixteenth century that highlights the Chola bronze artworks.

Famous for its temple, Tanjore is a nice town with a very unique artistic style and amazing temples and palaces. Capital of the powerful Chola Empire from the ninth to the thirteenth century, this city has marked the cultural culmination of Dravidian civilization in Southern India.

Overnight in Tanjore.

DAY 8 : TANJORE - CHETTINAD (Karaikudi)       100 km - 2 h 

Depart for Chettinad, the land of the wealthy merchants of yesteryear - the Nattukottai Chettiars. They built marvelous little palaces which for the most part are abandoned. Some, however, have been restored and converted into charming residences  (Saratha Vilas). 

Chettinad is famous for its aromatic and spicy gastronomy. 

Overnight in Karaikudi.

DAY 9 :  CHETTINAD (Karaikudi)  - RAMESWARAM     150 km - 2 h 45

Rameswaram is located on an island connected to the mainland by two bridges: 

- The big Indira Gandhi road bridge. 

- A railway line. The train seems to fly over the sea, the tracks being just over the water. 

A pilgrimage city with a major sacred site of Hinduism, one of the Indian holy cities. Religious devotion is very important in Rameswaram, much like in Varanasi, the northern holy city where Hindus come to get purified in the Ganges, sacred river. Pilgrims go from well to well in order to receive holy water and get purified from their sins.

According to the Hindu story of Ramayana, it is in Rameswaram that Rama has built a bridge to Lanka Island in order to save his wife Sita, who was captivated by the evil Ravana. After he went back to Ceylan, with his brother Lakshmana and his wife Sita, Rama built a worship space to honor Shiva and expiate the murder of King Ravana. To do this, he asked his loyal friend Hanuman to bring him two lingams from Mount Kailash. According to a later version of the legend, Sita, who could not wait Hanuman’s return, made herself a first lingam from sand near the shore, which would be one of the two lingams located in the temple sanctuary.

Ramanathaswamy temple is devoted to Shiva. But the city and its temple are considered pilgrimage sites by both Shaivits - Shiva’s worshippers - and Vaishnavits - Vishnu’s worshippers. 

We will take you to the end of the world, at Dhanushkodi Beach, located at the end of Rameswaram. It's on this beach that the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean meet.

Dhanushkodi was a large and lively town. The 1964 tsunami has destroyed everything on its path, leaving only ruins and a few dilapidated fishermen houses.

Overnight in Rameswaram.  

DAY 10 :  RAMESWARAM - KANYAKUMARI    300 km - 6 h

Kanyakumari, the most southern Indian city, is where three seas meet: Arabian sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean.

You will take a ferry to go to the memorial of Indian philosopher Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902). It is built on a stone, 500 meter off Kanyakumari. 

Right next to it, on another rock, is the huge terracotta statue of Thiruvalluvar, an important Tamil poet and philosopher. It is a 40.5 meters high tribute to his Thirukkuṟaḷ work.

Possibility to visit Bhagavathy Kumari temple or stroll along the shore to enjoy the view and street vendors. 

Overnight in Kanyakumari. 

DAY 11 :  KANYAKUMARI - KOVALAM   80 km - 2 h 30

Visit Padmanabhapuram Palace - beautiful Kerala architecture.

You will enjoy the beaches of Kovalam, a nice seaside resort of Kerala located at 17 km from Trivandrum. 

Overnight in Kovalam. 

DAY 12 :  KOVALAM  - TRIVANDRUM   20 km - 1/2 h

On the road, visit to the See Padmanabhaswany temple at Trivandrum, but non-Hindus are not allowed inside.

Local market Chalai Bazaar, located in front of See Padmanabhaswamy temple. This is one of the most ancient shopping streets in Kerala. This lively neighborhood deserves a visit; its streets are full of small stalls of all kinds. You can find fruits, vegetables, spices, kitchen utensils, clothes, cheap toys, and many other things. You can also eat cheap local specialties. 

Visit Napier Museum - collection of archaeological and historical objects 

Overnight in kovalam.

DAY 13 & 14 :  KOVALAM  - VARKALA   52  km - 1 h 30

Its beautiful beaches and bohemian atmosphere have made it famous.

This spectacular cliff, where many establishments stretch, is the postcard of Varkala. It is common to see dolphins from his restaurant table, seated in front of grilled fish and seafood from the catch of the day.

The beaches, Papanasam Beach to the south and Black Beach to the north, stretch all the way around the cliff. Papanasam Beach is more frequented by Indian tourists and families, while Black Beach, which takes its name from the black sand that composes it, attracts more foreign youth. Further north, about 7 km from the city, is the superb beach of Kappil.

Farniente Beach Day and Surf.

2  Overnights in Varkala.

DAY 15 :  VARKALA - MUNROE Island   50  km - 1 h 30

Munroe Island is a hidden pearl which consists of a group of 8 islands. Each of them is separated by small canals and lakes.

The island offers a unique and tranquil setting, far from the constant chaos of modern life.

Possibility to visit by bike or canoe.

Overnight in Munroe Island.

DAY 16 :  MUNROE Island - ALLEPPEY    85  km - 2 h 30

Discover the intertwined canals between sea and land. We offer you a night in a Houseboat, an unforgettable experience from 12 pm to 9am the next morning.

We can book this private boat for you. Possibility cooking class on the houseboat.

Overnight on the houseboat.

DAY 17 :  ALLEPPEY

End of the cruise at 9 am.

It is possible to go on several tours around the place.
Bhagavathy temple with its colorful sculptures in the small town of Cherthala.
Saint Andrew church of Arthunkal, built by the Portuguese in the 16th century.

Visit to a production factory settled  in a former British factory where the traditional methods of coconut fibers weaving are still used.

Overnight in Alleppey.

DAY 18 :  ALLEPPEY - COCHIN   52  km - 1 h 30

Visit the old neighborhoods, The Paradesi Synagogue,  The Church of Saint-Francis, The Folklore Museum in Ernakulam,  The Mattancherry Palace, The Dutch palace Paliam.
The Chinese fishing nets (Cheenavala) can be visited in the late afternoon before a meal by the seaside.
In the evening Kathakali spectacle.
Overnight in Fort Cochin. 

DAY 19 :  COCHIN

Departure for the village of Chendamangalam (35 km from  Cochin).

Visit Chennamangalam Synagogue and  Palais Hollandais Paliam 

Overnight in Fort Cochin.

DAY 20 :  COCHIN - Aéroport de COCHIN   40 km - 1 h 30 

Transfert Airport.