Day 1 Bangalore
Arriving in Bangalore, you will be transferred to your hotel.
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Day 2 Bangalore / Mysore
Travel to Mysore, passing through Srirangapattam Fort and Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace. Visit the grand Maharaja of Mysore’s Palace and in the afternoon, enjoy some free time to explore the colourful Devaraja Market. Sample and collect some of Mysore’s famous silk and sandalwood products. (B)
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Day 3 Mysore / Ooty / Coonoor
Travel to Ooty and enjoy a ride on the World Heritage mountain railway to Coonoor. Take photos as you enjoy panoramic views of the eastern and western ghats along with its ravines, valleys and waterfalls. (B)
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Day 4 Coonoor / Cochin
Take a morning walking tour of Coonoor’s tea plantation before travelling past the paddy fields of Palakkad and down the Nilgiri Hills to the spice trading port city of Cochin. (B)
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Day 5 Cochin
Go on a heritage walking tour of Fort Cochin and marvel at the Dutch Palace Museum, Saint Francis’ Church and Jewish Synagogue. See the iconic Chinese fishing nets on the harbour at sunset and enjoy a delicious Kerala dinner on banana leaves as part of your private tour. (B/D)
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Day 6 Backwater Cruise
Board a houseboat to cruise through canals, the backwater fringed with palm trees and past colourful villages and enjoy an overnight stay on the boat. (B/L/D)
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Day 7 Kumarakom / Periyar
Arriving in Kumarakon, you will enjoy a scenic drive seeing rubber plantations, cardmom, cocoa and green pepper, before arriving at the wildlife reserve at Periyar. (B)
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Day 8 Periyar Wildlife Park
In the morning, you will go on a cruise on the lake to see wild elephants and other animals in their natural habitat. Explore the Periyar Tiger Reserve to see the rich biodiversity of the 777 sq. km sanctuary and stay overnight in Periyar. (B)
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Day 9 Periyar / Madurai
Travel to Madurai, one of the great pilgrimage centres of south India. Visit Meenakshi Temple, a Dravidian architectural masterpiece which stands today as one of India’s greatest cultural and architectural landmarks. Observe a traditional night ceremony in Madurai in the evening. (B)
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Day 10 Madurai / Tanjore
See awe-inspiring rock architecture at Rockfort Temple and enjoy a stunning view of Trichy from the temple before arriving in Tanjore. Tanjore houses numerous historic temples and monuments that reflect the cultural and architectural pursuits of the past. Visit the serene 10th century Brihadeeshwara Temple, a World Heritage Monument. (B)
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Day 11 Tanjore / Pondicherry
Leaving Tanjore, you will get an opportunity to see the Darasuram Temple before arriving in Pondicherry. (B)
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Day 12 Pondicherry / Mahabalipuram
Visit the Eglise de Sacre Church and Sri Aurobindo before traveling to Mahabalipuram. See the Shore Temple which is renowned for its rock-cut carvings and listed as a World Heritage Site before going to a beach resort. (B)
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Day 13 Mahabalipuram / Chennai
Spend some time on the beach before transferring to Chennai airport for your flight back to Australia. (B)
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