Discover South India’s cultural gems on an enriching South India tour through the mesmerizing landscapes of Coromandel and Malabar. Begin your journey in the bustling city of Chennai, venture to the historical wonders of Mahabalipuram and the serene ambiance of Pondicherry. Explore the cultural heritage in Tanjore and Madurai, then immerse yourself in the wildlife of Periyar. Sail through the serene backwaters, before concluding your odyssey in the captivating city of Kochi and relaxing on its tranquil beaches. This expedition promises a seamless blend of rich history, cultural diversity, and breathtaking natural beauty, offering an unforgettable South Indian experience.
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Itinerary
1 Night – Chennai
1 Night – Mahabalipuram
1 Night – Pondicherry
1 Night – Tanjore
1 Night – Madurai
1 Night – Periyar
1 Night – Kumarakom
1 Night – Alleppey
1 Night – Kochi (Optional Beach Extension)
✈️ UK to Chennai (1 nights): You’ll arrive in Chennai, formerly known as Madras, and greeted by your private transfer who will drive you to your hotel. Chennai is a bustling city with an abundance of energy that you’re sure to fall in love with. You’ll be shown around the city by a tour guide, allowing you to explore the main sights, markets and local food. Chennai served as one of the major British settlements in India in its 200-year rule, and much of its architecture is very ‘British’ with landmarks including St. Mary’s Church, the High Court, and St. Thomas Cathedral – all built in white limestone, making them a truly striking sight.
🚗 Chennai to Mahabalipuram (1 night): After breakfast, you’ll leave Chennai and take the 1 ½ hour drive to Mahabalipuram, a coastal town renowned for its UNESCO World Heritage-listed temples and ancient monuments. Explore the breath-taking Shore Temple, Arjun’s Penance, and the Temple with five chariots, each depicting Indian mythological stories. Aside from the sightseeing, Mahabalipuram’s laid-back atmosphere invites you to enjoy its lively beaches, water activities, and the delicious local street food.
🚗 Mahabalipuram to Puducherry (1 night): Puducherry is a fascinating coastal town with a dual personality, with its old-world French charm and Indian influence. This pretty town offers French-style buildings, houses covered in bougainvillea, and tidy streets – perfect for wandering around. Nearby, you can also visit Auroville, a community designed with a focus on human unity, spiritual development, and sustainable living. Established in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa, known as ‘The Mother’ it aims to transcend nationalities and bring together people from around the world in harmony.
🚗 Puducherry to Tanjore (2 nights): En route to Tanjore from Puducherry, you’ll get the chance to visit the stunning Chola Dynasty temples of Airatesvara and Gangaikondacholapuram. Here, you can admire statues of Lord Shiva and the beautifully detailed sculptures. On arrival in Tanjore, once you’ve checked into your hotel, your exploring can begin! Tanjore owes its charm to King Rajendra Chola’s love for art during the Chola Dynasty, and as you explore the city, you’ll discover this in its landmarks, particularly at the City Palace. City Palace showcases a wide range of architectural styles from different periods and dynasties and its main highlights include the grand Durbar Hall and the Royal Museum with its huge collection of artifacts. Tanjore is also great for shopping and here you’ll find spices, silk, and much more in the city’s busy, bustling streets. On your second day in Tanjore, you’ll take a day trip to nearby Trichy, known for its sacred rock and the iconic Srirangam Temple. This temple is the largest functioning temple in the world and offers a unique perspective into India’s religious history.
🚗 Tanjore to Madurai (1 night): You’ll continue your journey as you travel from Tanjore to Madurai, one of Tamil Nadu’s oldest cultural capitals. A must-visit is the Meenakshi Amman Temple which is dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi – and is a breath-taking architectural marvel. Other highlights include a visit to the Mughal-style Tirumala Nayaka Palace, the enchanting bed chamber ceremony at Sri Meenakshi Temple and the city’s lively markets.
🚗 Madurai to Periyar (1 night): The next leg of your adventure sees you travelling from Madurai to Periyar – a nature lover’s paradise. Also known as Thekkady, Periyar has lush landscapes, a beautiful lake, an animal reserve and diverse wildlife. A great way to take in the scenery is on a small boat cruise on Periyar Lake, where you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of animals including tigers, elephants, bison, and sambar.
🚗 Periyar to Kumarakom (1 night): Your next journey allows you to experience the serene beauty of Kerala en route to Kumarakom. Kumarakom, located by Vembanad Lake in Kerala, is a peaceful place to relax, offering calm waters, green scenery, and diverse birdlife. If you’d prefer a bit of adventure rather than a laid-back pitstop, the area offers great opportunities for rafting and canoeing.
🚢 🚗 Kumarakom to Alleppey to Kochi (1 night): The next exciting stage on your journey is on a houseboat where you’ll be taken on the scenic backwaters between Kumarakom and Alleppey. On this journey, you’ll discover the beauty of Vembanad Lake, the largest lake in Kerala, with its stunning scenery of lush landscapes and swaying palm trees. On arrival in Allepey, you’ll disembark the houseboat and complete your trip by road to the city of Kochi. Kochi is a fascinating blend of Portuguese, Dutch, and British influences, which is evident in landmarks including the Dutch Palace and Chinese Fishing Nets, which are found along the seashores providing glimpse into the local fishing traditions. In Kochi, you can enjoy exploring the bustling markets, indulge in the local cuisine, and watch a Kathakali dance performance in the evening.
Optional beach extension: You can either choose to stay longer in Kochi or head to beach destination of your choice to extend your holiday.
✈️ Kochi to UK: Your wonderful journey concludes as you’re transferred to the airport for your onward flight back to the UK.
Why choose eShores?
One to One Service
Our experienced personal travel consultants will ensure you find the most suitable holiday, whilst taking care of every last detail. Everything from start to finish will be effortless.
100% Tailor Made
We can use any hotel, in any destination, so we will craft an itinerary to suit your exact needs. Also, as we can provide any itinerary, the only holiday we'll offer, is the one that's right for you.
Fully Protected
Our ATOL bonding provides you with the financial protection you need and as a member of the Travel Trust Association, you'll have 100% financial protection. Covering you for any eventuality.
Competitive Pricing
As a tour operator & travel agent, we'll search the market to ensure that we find you the best price. Also as an online business, we can ensure our prices are as competitive as possible.
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Anonymous
Matt really helped with our booking. Nothing was too much trouble. Every time we changed our mind (which was quite a few) he rearranged the plans and got back to us promptly. I will definitely use this company again.
Posted 3 hours ago -
Angela
Have just booked with eShores for the second time. Gavin planned a three week Caribbean Island hopping trip earlier this year which was fantastic and very well organised. We decided to do the same thing again and look forward to our next trip in January. Would definitely recommend this company and use them again.
Posted 2 days ago -
Paul
Absolutely a fab team ...Matt has been taking care of my holiday he is really so nice and helpful and responded to everything for me..
Posted 2 days ago -
TeresaFrancina
Eshore’s are an excellent company I can’t praise them enough, especially Adam who has been amazing. He was really patient as I’m indecisive and changed my mind several times. He persevered and found us a dream holiday and put together great itinerary covering every aspect of our journey . Unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances we had to cancel the trip and Adam went above and beyond to recoup as much as possible for us. It was a huge help & felt very personal as if he were a friend. We have rescheduled the holiday & will use Eshores for all future trips’
Posted 3 days ago -
DebbieAnn
Nick was helpful from start to finish, helped us with any concerns, would recommend( not been on the holiday yet but sure we won’t be disappointed)
Posted 4 days ago -
KarenBryant
Lynette has been very accommodating it meeting all of our requests and changes and also with her suggestions. Price was good too.
Posted 5 days ago -
Chuk
I had never heard of eshores till I decided to plan a multi-stop holiday in Turkey some weeks ago. The decision to use eshores was based on a quick internet search for any help I could get with this. So, i wasnt really expecting much. As the planning was at relatively short notice...and we had never travelled to Turkey, I was pleasantly surprised at the support I had from Rachel at eshores who listened to what I wanted and was patient to go back and forth with me till I had the exact holiday I wanted (Istanbul, Ankara and Antalya). I always had a response with every query(and I had quite a few!!). The travel itself worked like a dream...both international and domestic flights were straightforward, but even more surprising was how reliable the multiple taxis to and fro airports were, even when picking up at 0330!! Overall, the experience has been very positive and I would be very happy to use the service again
Posted 6 days ago -
carol
We have just booked a two centre holiday in the Caribbean through eshores. This was the first time we've used this company them and found them to be GREAT. Lynette helped us find the perfect holiday, she was extremely helpful, knowledgeable and efficient. Thank you.
Posted 1 week ago -
Stephen
To be honest, I had not used eShores before, however, after arranging our holiday plans with Michelle, I will certainly be back. Very helpful and knowledgeable and we are delighted with the advice received and all the travel arrangements, choice of hotels and flight times. Thank you so much.
Posted 1 week ago -
Michaela
Booking was great and easy with Rachael. She was polite and listened to our requirements. I am positive the experience will be a fantastic holiday in October !
Posted 1 week ago
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