The Tropical South

  • Best price guaranteed
  • No booking fees
4.5 Based on 34 Reviews
  • duration 14 days
  • tour type Small group Request as private
  • age requirement 16-95 yrs
  • max group size 16
  • guiding method Fully guided
  • Tour Code BM-7500
  • Footprint Carbonneutral CO2 emissions resulting from all trips on Bookmundi will be offset via investments in carbon reduction projects.
  • Operated in English
map
  • Starts Kochi, India
  • Ends Kovalam, India
HIGHLIGHTS Download trip notes
  • Explore the old spice town of Cochin
  • Marvel at the tea plantations in Munnar
  • Discover the Sri Meenakshi Temple of Madurai
  • Sample traditional home-cooked food in a family home
  • Cruise the Keralan backwaters on a traditional houseboat
Starting in Kochi and ending in Kovalam, the "The Tropical South" trip is a guided cultural, religious and historic sites tour that takes 14 days. You will travel through Erattupetta, Muhamma, Kochi and 7 other destinations in India. "The Tropical South" is a small group trip which includes accommodation, transport, meals and others.

The tropical south of India is a land of fertile forests, sweeping grasslands and tea plantations. We visit Kerala and Tamil Nadu, states with distinctive cultures and contrasting scenery. Kerala is a true tropical paradise with an idyllic coastline and lush mountains, which is evident as we travel between the old spice town of Cochin and the beautiful hill station of Munnar. A trip to the wildlife sanctuary at Periyar boasts an array of animals and an abundance of colourful birds, and dinner with a local family provides a unique insight into Keralan life. In Tamil Nadu, we explore Madurai, the most vibrant city in the state, and marvel at the intricately carved Sri Meenakshi Temple. The climax of the trip is a traditional houseboat cruise on the Kerala lagoons before we relax on the sweeping beaches of Kovalam and sample fresh seafood.
ITINERARY Expand All
  • Day 1: Start Cochin; afternoon optional harbour cruise around Fort Cochin and explore historic spice port
  • Day 2: Sightseeing around Cochin
  • Day 3: To Munnar; afternoon visit to Srishi, a social service organisation for tea pickers
  • Day 4: Morning trek through tea plantations and the Munnar hills
  • Day 5: To Madurai; optional closing ceremony at the Sri Meenakshi Temple
  • Day 6: Dawn city walk with Meenakshi Temple visit. Afternoon Palace, Gandhi Memorial Museum, and Flower Market Tour
  • Day 7: To Thekkady; cooking demonstration in local family home
  • Day 8: Explore Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary; morning jungle walk followed by an optional boat trip on the lake
  • Day 9: To Erattupetta Planters Homestay
  • Day 10: To Kumarakom; Shikara boat ride and Village Walk
  • Day 11: Board houseboat for backwater cruise
  • Day 12: Leave houseboat and drive to Kovalam
  • Day 13: Free time to relax on the beach or join an optional trip to Kanyakumari
  • Day 14: End Kovalam
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Accommodation
  • All accommodation
Meals
  • All breakfasts, one lunch and three dinners included
Transport
  • All transport within the main itinerary
Guide
  • Tour leader throughout
WHAT'S EXCLUDED
  • Travel insurance
  • Visas and vaccinations
  • Single supplement
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
4.5 - Excellent
Based on 34 reviews
  • Anonymous
  • On Mar 29 2020
5 - Excellent
Excellent Tour with superb Tour Guide
My first trip to India and with the tour operator, this certainly wont be my last. Everything ran smoothly and was so informative and magical due to the charismatic and thoughtful tour leader Sam G Benjamin.
  • Anonymous
  • On Mar 18 2020
5 - Excellent
A wonderful trip taking in a wide variety of locations and experiences.
This taster of the tropical south of India offers the traveler a wide variety of locations and experiences, and while some may be more appealing than others there is always something to appreciate and enjoy every day. There are... Read more
  • Anonymous
  • On Dec 07 2019
5 - Excellent
A beautiful trip
We had 15 people on our group tour. We were from various walks of life and occupations, we were made up of several single people; a couple, a mother and daughter, friends travelling together up to 3 people and a family, we were... Read more
  • Anonymous
  • On Mar 19 2019
5 - Excellent
A great and varied trip!
This was such a good trip! I've wanted to go to Kerela for a long time and I wasn't in the least bit disappointed when I finally got there. This trip had something for everyone in it: wonderful scenery, wildlife, food and... Read more
REQUEST A PRIVATE, CUSTOMIZABLE DEPARTURE By design, this is a group tour. You can however request a private, customized version of this tour for yourself or your private group of people. Private departures are usually more expensive, but come with these benefits:
  • Personal Itinerary can be tweaked and customized.
  • Protected Travel within your own bubble.
  • Professional Access our Travel Specialists' insider knowledge.
  • Privacy Enjoy a tour focused solely on you or your travel group.
Request a private and/or personalized departure To design a private tour, we'll ask you some more information in the following steps.
Why Book with Bookmundi
What are customers saying about Bookmundi
Excellent
4.65 Average 674 Reviews
GOOD TO KNOW Download trip notes
CANCELLATION

No additional cancellation fees apply for this The Tropical South tour. You can cancel the tour up to 93 days prior departure and avoid paying the full amount, but your deposit paid is non-refundable. No refund applies for cancellations within 92 days of departure.

Payment

For any tour departures within 29 June 2024, full payment is required. For tours that depart later than 29 June 2024, a deposit of 25% is required to confirm this tour, and the remaining balance will be charged 92 days before trip departure.

Travel Insurance

The Tropical South tour requires that you have adequate and valid travel insurance covering medical and personal accidents, including repatriation costs and emergency evacuation. World Nomads offers travel insurance for independent travelers and intrepid families.

Visa

For this The Tropical South tour getting the required visa(s) is the responsibility for each individual traveller, as visa requirements vary depending on your nationality. We recommend to check with your local embassies representing the countries that you are traveling to, as part of this itinerary.

COVID-19 Safety Measures

This trip incorporates the following COVID-19 measures:

  • This tour has received the World Travel and Tourism Council’s ‘Safe Travels’ stamp, which provides travellers with assurance that COVID-19 health and hygiene protocols have been adhered to.
  • Group sizes are kept small to maintain a low risk ‘small group bubble’, with an average of 10 guests in each group.
  • Hygiene safety measures and distancing will be followed in transportation, accommodation and meal venues.
  • Several COVID-19 distancing measures have been adopted on this package tour to keep travellers safe.
  • All travellers will be required to be fully vaccinated no less than two weeks prior to travel.
NEED HELP OR HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THIS TOUR?
If you have any question about this tour or need help with planning a trip, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. We're ready to help.
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