The Tropical South
- Best price guaranteed
- No booking fees
- COVID-19protected
- Festivals and events
- Cultural, religious and historic sites
- Family
- Customizable
- 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
- 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
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.
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Day 1: Start Cochin; afternoon optional harbour cruise around Fort Cochin and explore historic spice port
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Day 2: Sightseeing around Cochin
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Day 3: To Munnar; afternoon visit to Srishi, a social service organisation for tea pickers
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Day 4: Morning trek through tea plantations and the Munnar hills
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Day 5: To Madurai; optional closing ceremony at the Sri Meenakshi Temple
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Day 6: Dawn city walk with Meenakshi Temple visit. Afternoon Palace, Gandhi Memorial Museum, and Flower Market Tour
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Day 7: To Thekkady; cooking demonstration in local family home
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Day 8: Explore Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary; morning jungle walk followed by an optional boat trip on the lake
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Day 9: To Erattupetta Planters Homestay
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Day 10: To Kumarakom; Shikara boat ride and Village Walk
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Day 11: Board houseboat for backwater cruise
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Day 12: Leave houseboat and drive to Kovalam
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Day 13: Free time to relax on the beach or join an optional trip to Kanyakumari
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Day 14: End Kovalam
- All accommodation
- All breakfasts, one lunch and three dinners included
- All transport within the main itinerary
- Tour leader throughout
- Travel insurance
- Visas and vaccinations
- Single supplement
- 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.
- Earn US$ 53+ in travel credits.
- Best price guaranteed.
- No credit card or booking fees.
- 100% financial protection.
- Carbon neutral tours.
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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.
PaymentFor 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 InsuranceThe 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.
VisaFor 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 MeasuresThis 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.