Trees for Days
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Trees planted for this trip: 14
Best of Southern India
14 days, Kochi to Kochi
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The itinerary on this trip has been improved! View the new itinerary.
From calm Kerala backwaters and spice plantations to incredible temples, have your camera ready as you experience the highlights of Southern India. This two-week adventure offers a great balance of guided excursions and free time to explore on your own. Travelling by train, bus, rickshaw, and country boats will bring you closer to the locals and is a fascinating way to gain insight into the peaceful backwaters of Kerala and stunning temples of Tamilnadu.
This specific trip is no longer running.
Trip Code: AHBS
Is this tour for me?
Travel Style: Classic
All of the highlights, culture, access, and I-can’t-believe-we-did-that moments, all at a great price.
Service Level: Standard
Comfortable tourist-class accommodations with character; mix of public and private transport.
Physical Rating: 2 - Light
Light walking and hiking suitable for most fitness levels. Nothing too challenging.
Trip Type: Small Group
Small group experience; Max 15, avg 12
Age requirement: 12+
All travellers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
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View our Entry Requirements toolSee how your trip uplifts communities
In a number of impactful ways, your adventure directly benefits the local people and places we visit.
100
Ripple Score
Create ripples that change lives. The higher the Ripple Score percentage, the more money stays in the local communities you visit.
Ripple Score for this trip: 100
More from Best of Southern India
Itinerary
Day 1Kochi
Arrive at any time.
Day 2Kochi
Enjoy a morning orientation walk of Fort Kochi. After, take some free time to explore before an evening performance of kathakali, a form of traditional dancing from Kerala.
Day 3Kochi/Kalpetta
Take a morning train followed by a scenic drive to reach Kalpetta, in the Wayanad district.
Day 4Kalpetta
Walk the nature trails through the forested areas in Wayanad. Also take a wildlife drive in search of elephants and bison.
Day 5Kalpetta/Mysore
Settle in for the drive to the ancient city of Mysore.
Day 6Mysore
Explore the vibrant city of Mysore including visits to Chamundi Temple and Mysore Palace. After enjoy free time and opt to visit the Devaraja market or join a yoga class.
Day 7Mysore/Māmallapuram
Enjoy a full day of train travel to Chennai before a short bus ride to Mamallapuram.
Day 8Māmallapuram
Visit the Shore Temple. In the afternoon, enjoy free time to explore Mamallapuram.
Day 9Māmallapuram/Puducherry
Continue to Pondicherry (now known as Puducherry) and learn about Sri Aurobindo Ghose at the ashram.
Day 10Puducherry/Madurai
Travel inland to Madurai, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
Day 11Madurai
Hop on a cycle rickshaw for a tour of the city before visiting the famous Meenakshi Temple.
Day 12Madurai/Thekkady
Drive to Thekkady. Take a guided tour of spice plantations in the Cardamom Hills.
Meals included:
DinnerDay 13Thekkady/Kerala Backwaters
Travel to Alleppey for a local homestay. Experience local life and a guided walk along the lagoon.
Meals included:
Lunch | DinnerDay 14Kerala Backwaters/Kochi
Spend the morning enjoying last moments with your host family. Learn to cook some local food, watch the toddy tappers at work, or wander around the village exploring more of life on the backwaters. Travel to a Planeterra project for lunch before returning to Kochi in the early afternoon, where the trip ends.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchWhat's Included
- Your G for Good Moment: Lunch at Theruvarom Women Empowerment Project, Alleppey
- Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
- Your Local Living Moment: Kerala Backwaters Homestay, Alleppey
- Fort Kochi orientation walk
- Kathakali dance show
- Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary walk and safari
- Chaumundi Temple and Mysore Palace visit
- Mamallapuram Shore Temple visit
- Pondicherry orientation walk
- Madurai cycle-rickshaw ride and Sri Meenakshi Temple visit
- Cardamom Hills spice plantation tour
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodations
Hotels (12 nts), homestay (1 nt, multi-share).
Meals
1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 2 dinners
Allow USD295-385 for meals not included.
Transportation
Train, private vehicle, cycle-rickshaw, auto-rickshaw, ferry.
Staff & experts
CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.
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Departures
Make it a private tour
Book this tour as a private departure, with your own CEO and all the benefits of a G Adventures group tour.