Premium South India

Intrepid Travel · 13 days
Premium South India
Premium South India
Premium South India
Premium South India
Premium South India
Premium South India
Premium South India
Premium South India
Premium South India
Premium South India
Premium South India
Premium South India
Premium South India
Premium South India
13 Days
From AUD $5330
Trip Type
Small Group
Activity Level
Light

Rating


(20 reviews)

Premium South India

Premium South India

Intrepid Travel · 13 days
Duration

13 days

Tour Type

Small Group

Accommodations

Unknown

Physical Rating

Light

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

Swaying palm trees, rolling hills and calm backwaters make up southern India's lush landscape and on this 13-day Premium adventure, you’ll travel off the tourist trail.

Includes

Meals: Breakfasts (12), Lunch (2), Dinner (4)
Accommodation: Hotel (9 nights), Houseboat Feature Stay (1 night), Kochi Feature Stay (2 nights)

Highlights

  • Find out what makes Indian cuisine so special during Exclusive Experiences like an off-the-beaten-path food tour in Madurai, a home-cooked meal with a local family and a fragrant lunch at a spice plantation.
  • Enjoy a high-energy Exclusive Experience with a live performance of kalarippayattu in Thekkady – believed to be the oldest surviving martial art in India.
  • Unwind with a traditional Ayurvedic massage in Kerala, learn the fundamentals of this ancient holistic healing method, and take part in an Ayurvedic cooking demo.
  • Experience a thousand shades of green as you tour a scenic tea plantation in Munnar and track footprints in search of wild elephants in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.
  • Spend a night in a converted houseboat on the Kerala backwaters – your Feature Stay for this adventure – and watch the world go by as you float along the river.
Premium South India

Trip Details

Duration

13 days

Transportation

Private vehicle, Ferry

Guide Language

English

Starts

Chennai, India

Finishes

Kochi, India

Accommodations

Unknown

Travel Style

Explorer, Budget

Physical Rating

Light

Itinerary

1
Day 1: Chennai
Namaste! Welcome to India! Your adventure begins in Chennai, India’s cultural heart and fourth-largest city. You’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel when you arrive. Meet your fellow travellers and experienced leader at a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, you may like to visit the market stalls of Georgetown Bazaar. After your meeting, join your group for a welcome dinner at Chennai’s first chain restaurant, serving an iconic array of south Indian vegetarian dishes like idly, dosa and poori.

Included Activities:

  • Complimentary Arrival Transfer
  • Chennai - Welcome dinner

Accommodation:

  • The Residency Towers or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
2
Day 2: Pondicherry
This morning, leave the city behind and drive along the scenic East Coast Road to the fishing town of Mamallapuram. Visit the 8th-century Shore Temple and its mandapams (carved pillars) and watch locals pay their respects to Shiva. Later, continue to Puducherry. A French colony until 1954, the old parts of town retain a distinctly European feel, with leafy boulevards lined with houses and boutiques. When you arrive, the evening is free to explore. Puducherry has a varied food scene with Indian and classic French influences, so ask your leader where to grab dinner.

Included Activities:

  • Mamallapuram - Shore Temples guided tour

Accommodation:

  • The Residency Towers or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
3
Day 3: Pondicherry
This morning is free, then head out for a walking tour with your leader to see local temples and the French Quarter. Stroll past mustard-coloured buildings draped with vibrant bougainvillea as your leader shares stories of the revolutionaries, generals and kings who once walked these streets. Stop by the pastel pink Church of Notre Dame, then at a cafe in White Town to try local snacks, then enjoy a free evening to explore at your own pace.

Included Activities:

  • Puducherry - Leader-led French Quarter walking tour
  • Puducherry - Sri Aurobindo Ashram
  • Puducherry - snack stop at local cafe

Accommodation:

  • The Residency Towers Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
4
Day 4: Madurai
Continue to Madurai today, with plenty of chai stops along the way. Arrive in the late afternoon and head out on a short orientation walk to get acquainted with one of India’s oldest cities. When you’ve got your bearings, join your leader on a tour of the city’s Tamil cuisine. Madurai is bursting with street food stalls, family-owned restaurants and regional delicacies, and your leader will show you dishes that aren’t on the tourist menus. Taste mutton dosa or fish gravy as your leader shares stories of centuries-old recipes, then round out the night with Jigarthanda, Madurai’s celebrated dessert.

Included Activities:

  • Madurai - Leader-led street food tour

Accommodation:

  • Heritage Madurai or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
5
Day 5: Madurai
Continue your exploration of Madurai today. Your leader will guide you through the Tailor’s Market, local bazaars and Sri Meenakshi Temple. Still in use today, this ancient temple is a maze of lamp-lit corridors leading to shrines where traditional rituals take place. Next, visit the National Gandhi Museum, dedicated to the life and achievements of India’s independence leader, then stop by the 17th-century Thirumalai Nayak Palace. This evening, immerse yourself in Tamil culture during a visit to a local family for a traditional home-cooked dinner featuring dishes like chettinad chicken, egg paratha and vegetable korma.

Included Activities:

  • Madurai - Sri Meenakshi 1000 Pillar
  • Madurai - Sri Meenakshi Temple
  • Madurai - Gandhi Museum
  • Madurai - Leader-led walking tour
  • Madurai - Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace
  • Madurai - Local family visit and home-cooked Tamil dinner

Accommodation:

  • Heritage Madurai or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
6
Day 6: Periyar
Make your way to the countryside town of Thekkady today, driving past pineapple and rubber plantations. Thekkady is the gateway to Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve, sitting high in the Western Ghats. Stop at a spice plantation, where a local expert will help you taste, smell and learn about the spices that colour and flavour India’s cuisine. Put your new knowledge to good use during a flavoursome lunch made with spices from the plantation. The evening is yours to enjoy in Thekkady – maybe wander the spice and tea shops or relax by the palm-fringed pool at your resort.

Included Activities:

  • Thekkady - Expert-guided spice plantation visit and lunch

Accommodation:

  • The Elephant Court or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
7
Day 7: Periyar
This morning, take a guided nature walk in the acclaimed Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Your expert guide will help you look for tiger tracks, spotted deer, Indian elephants and gaur – the world’s largest buffalo species. You’re most likely to encounter bonnet macaques and the Malabar giant squirrel, a species native to India. You’ll have some free time before unwinding with a traditional Keralite Ayurvedic massage, learning the fundamentals of Ayurveda – this ancient holistic healing method restores harmony between mind and body through natural therapies and herbal oils. In the evening, attend a demonstration of kalarippayattu at the Kadathanadan Kalari Centre. Originating in Kerala, it’s believed to be India’s oldest surviving martial art and the high-energy fighters are a thrilling sight.

Included Activities:

  • Periyar - Kalaripayattu (Indian Martial Art) performance
  • Periyar - Guided nature walk
  • Periyar – Ayurvedic Treatment

Accommodation:

  • The Elephant Court or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
8
Day 8: Munnar
This morning, drive north to Munnar – an old British hill station sitting in the surrounding valley. At 1525 m (5003 ft) above sea level, there’s likely to be a dramatic drop in temperature. When you arrive, tour a tea plantation, where a resident expert will guide you through the tea-making process. Follow narrow pathways, see workers picking the best leaves, learn how the leaves become one of the world’s most popular beverages and sample different varieties. There may be an opportunity to visit the tea museum, though opening hours are irregular and cannot be guaranteed. This evening, relax at your mountain resort.

Included Activities:

  • Munnar - Tea plantation view point
  • Munnar - Tea Museum

Accommodation:

  • Fragrant Nature Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
9
Day 9: Munnar
This morning, take a guided walk around the lush hills of Munnar, often shrouded in clouds. Have your camera ready as the landscape unfolds in front of you. In the afternoon, journey to the scenic Mattupetty Dam, where you’ll find a man-made lake and spectacular views of the surrounding valleys. Here, you can take an optional motorboat ride around the lake. After some time to appreciate the scenery, return to Munnar for a free evening.

Included Activities:

  • Munnar - Mattupetty Dam
  • Munnar - Leader-led town walking tour

Accommodation:

  • Fragrant Nature Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
10
Day 10: Alleppey
Drive to Kerala’s backwaters this morning and discover Alleppey’s palm-shaded waterways. Once a trading port, the town is now famed for its snake boat races. The backwaters were once busy with kettuvallams – wooden boats used to transport rice and spices. Today, these traditional vessels have been transformed into houseboats, allowing you to explore the lagoons in total comfort during your Feature Stay. Conversions use natural materials, with bamboo roofing, coir flooring and beds crafted from coconut-tree wood. These floating cottages include western toilets, private bedrooms, a dining area and an open deck where you can watch rural Kerala drift by.

Included Activities:

  • Kerala Backwaters – Houseboat cruise

Accommodation:

  • Spice Route Houseboat (Feature Stay) or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
11
Day 11: Kochi
Enjoy a peaceful morning on the Kerala waters before driving to Kochi in the afternoon. Cochin, as it was formerly known, is spread over several islands and is a melting pot of Portuguese, Dutch, Chinese and British influences. Join your leader on an orientation walk to see how these influences appear in the city’s architecture, restaurants and daily life. Later, take time to enjoy the city – maybe head to Princess Street for a coffee. Tonight, watch a Kathakali dance performance, a classical Indian dance from Kerala combining symbolic storytelling and physical technique.

Included Activities:

  • Kochi - Kathakali performance
  • Kerala Backwaters – Houseboat cruise

Accommodation:

  • Fragrant Nature or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
12
Day 12: Kochi
Today, take a tuk-tuk sightseeing tour of Fort Kochi. Wander antique shops and spice bazaars as your leader shows you how to haggle. Stop by the famous Chinese fishing nets, then visit Mattancherry Palace, built by the Portuguese and later claimed by the Dutch. Continue to the Paradesi Synagogue, India’s oldest existing Jewish synagogue, then try sweets at Shantilal S. Mithaiwala, open since 1953. In the early evening, meet an Ayurvedic doctor, learn about Satvik Bhojan – the Ayurvedic diet – and join a cooking demonstration followed by dinner using the methods and recipes discussed. Kerala is widely regarded as the heartland of Ayurveda, where this ancient healing tradition has been practised and preserved for centuries.

Included Activities:

  • Kochi - Jewish Synagogue
  • Kochi - Ferry to Mattancherry
  • Kochi - Dutch Palace
  • Kochi - Keralan cooking class
  • Kochi – Fort Kochi Tuk Tuk Tour

Accommodation:

  • Fragrant Nature or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
13
Day 13: Kochi
Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast. If you’d like to extend your stay in India, speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation or transfers.
Exclusions
  • Flights to and from origin and destinations
  • Airport transfers (unless otherwise stated)
  • Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
  • Recommended gratuities/tipping
  • Optional activities/tours
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.
Important Information
Meals

When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We will do our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.

Luggage

You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.

Mobility

Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.

Fitness Level

This tour requires an average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.

Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.

If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling.

Sightseeing

If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.

Visas

Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.

  • It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
  • Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
  • Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.
Departure Dates & Surcharges: See checkout for live dates and availability.
AUD $5,330
(Tour only)
Per Person Twin Share

Duration: 13 days

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Light

Swaying palm trees, rolling hills and calm backwaters make up southern India's lush landscape and on this 13-day Premium adventure, you’ll travel off the tourist trail.

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 04 Jan 2027

Customer Reviews

Overall Rating
Excellent
4.5
Guide
Excellent
4.5
Itinerary
Excellent
4.5
Accommodations
Excellent
4.5
Transportation
Excellent
4.5
Tour Operator
Excellent
4.5
Food
Excellent
4.5
4.5
Fiona
Traveled, March 2024

03/15/2024

Had a wonderful time on this trip, our guide Thilip was amazing, and absolutely made the trip. His love of this land is palpable and the insights he gave so generously added so much depth to the experience.

4.5
Gillian
Traveled, February 2024

03/01/2024

Southern India was so different from the North. The people, the food and the scenery. Less frenetic. The tea Plantations, Backwaters and beaches are stunning. So glad we have seen this part of India

Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.

In Business Since 1989