Great Southern Getaway - 15 days Tour by On The Go Tours

15 daysDuration

Private TourPrivate experience, no group joining

2 peopleMinimum to book

18 - 80 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Easy

Light physical activity suitable for most people with average fitness levels.

Starts

Chennai, India

Ends

Kerala & Tamil Nadu, India

Highlights

Blue Mountain Railway - Travel this UNESCO World Heritage listed railway

Mudumalai National Park - Explore the home to the endangered Indian elephant and the Bengal Tiger

Mysore - Tour the palaces, gardens and old world charm

Srirangapatnam Island and Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary - Visit and explore this island and sanctuary

Somnathpur - See the home of the famous Keseva Temple

Coonoor Hill Station - Stroll around and enjoy the mountain scenery, coffee and tea plantations

Mahabalipuram – Discover the striking Shore Temple which sits on the beautiful Bay of Bengal

Nagarhole National Park - Explore tiger and elephant country

Guruvayur - Explore the famous Krishna Temple and Elephant Stables

Kochi - Visit the Parsi Synagogue, Dutch Palace and St Francis’ Church

Wayanad - Discover the Sultan Battery's Abandoned Jain Temple

Coastal Chennai - Visit the capital of Tamil Nadu

Coonoor Hill Station - Stroll around and enjoy the mountain scenery, coffee and tea plantations

Mahabalipuram – Discover the striking Shore Temple which sits on the beautiful Bay of Bengal

Nagarhole National Park - Explore tiger and elephant country

Guruvayur - Explore the famous Krishna Temple and Elephant Stables

Kochi - Visit the Parsi Synagogue, Dutch Palace and St Francis’ Church

Wayanad - Discover the Sultan Battery's Abandoned Jain Temple

Coastal Chennai - Visit the capital of Tamil Nadu

Itinerary

Embark on a 15-day odyssey across Southern India, starting in Chennai and ending in Kerala & Tamil Nadu. This private sightseeing tour immerses you in ornate temples, princely palaces, and charming hill stations. Glide through the backwaters of Kochi, spot elephants in Mudumalai and Nagarhole National Parks, and ride the scenic Blue Mountain Railway. Designed for experienced travelers and seniors, the itinerary balances relaxation with a sense of adventure. The tour’s unique appeal is its blend of cultural treasures and natural escapes, creating an all-encompassing southern journey.

day 1 - Chennai

Arrive Chennai airport and transfer to the seaside town of Mahabalipuram. Situated on the Bay of Bengal, Mahabalipuram offers long white sand beaches and some of the best archeological sites to be found in the state of Tamil Nadu.

OverNight:Mahabalipuram

day 2 - Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuram - Coonoor. Touring the town’s sites to the rhythm of chisels chipping granite provides evidence of the strong stone carving traditions that have endured since the 8th century - Pallava dynasty. Visiting the beautiful ancient stone carved Shore Temple, presiding over the long, flat beach we discover high wall friezes, intricately carved bas reliefs and shrines dedicated to both Siva and Vishnu. It is also of interest to inspect the east facing alter designed to catch the rising sun and the large stone pillar with mountings to hold a beacon for sailors at night out at sea. Later we return to Chennai in time to board the Nilgari Express bound for Mettupalayam.

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Train

day 3 - The scenic blue mountain railway

Upon arrival to Mettupalayam we board the narrow gauge Blue Mountain Railway toy train destined for Coonor. Operating since 1899, the Blue Mountain Railway with its blue and cream steam livery has chugged from Mettupalayam to Otty via Coonoor, negotiating 16 tunnels, 31 major bridges and climbing to 2193 metres. The charming 4 hour journey offers sweeping mountain views and breathtaking scenery. Upon arrival to Coonoor, transfer to hotel and afternoon at leisure.

OverNight:Coonoor

days 4-5 - Mudumalai

Coonor - Mudumalai - breakfast. Today we drive to the nearby Mudumalai National Park for a 2 night stay. Wake up each day with a foray of India’s great wildlife right at your doorstep. The 322 sq km predominantly deciduous forest is a sanctuary for Indian bison, Nilgiri langur, bonnet macaques (monkeys), peacock, jackel, hyena and a few tigers and leopards. The northern reaches of the park are home to one of the largest population of elephant in all of India. Over the following days enjoy morning and afternoon jeep safaris and in the evening retire to your jungle lodge equipped with all the mod-cons to make for an enjoyable and relaxing stay.

Meals:2 Breakfast, 2 Lunch, 2 Dinner

OverNight:Mudumalai National Park

days 6-7 - Mysore

Mudumalai NP - Mysore. This morning its goodbye to your jungle hideaway and onward travel to Mysore - the former capital of the princely state, ruled by Wodeyars dynasty royalty from 1399 - 1947. The city of former glory and grandeur, enchanted admirers with its quaint charm, rich heritage, magnificent palaces, beautifully laid-out gardens, imposing buildings, broad shady avenues and sacred temples. After exploration we continue to Somnathpur, visiting the only complete temple of the Hoysala empire in the region. The small but exquisite Keseva Temple, dates from the 11th century. Day 7 offers a city tour of Mysore and visits to the island of Srirangapatnam and the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary.

Meals:2 Breakfast

OverNight:Mysore

days 8-9 - Nagerhole NP

Mysore - Nagarhole NP. Today we drive west to Nagarhole National Park, once the Maharaja’s reserve forest turned national park in 1955. The park name, Nagarhole is derived from the Kannada word, naga meaning snake and hole meaning stream. True to its name Nagarhole is criss-crossed with serpentine streams. Covering gentle hills bordering Kerala, the area includes swampland, streams and tributaries, moist deciduous forest, stands of bamboo and valuable teak and rosewood trees. Spot Asian elephant, four horned antelope, flying squirrels and on occasion leopard and tiger. A jeep safari is offered on the afternoon of day 8. Day 9 - morning and afternoon safaris.

Meals:2 Breakfast, 2 Lunch, 2 Dinner

OverNight:Nagarhole National Park

days 10-11 - Wayanad

Nagarhole NP – Wayanad. Wayanad, the green paradise is nestled among the mountains of the Western Ghats, forming the border world of the greener part of Kerala. Clean and pristine, enchanting and hypnotizing, this land is filled with history and culture. Located at a distance of 76 km from the seashores of Kozhikode, this verdant hill station is full of plantations, forests and wildlife. Wayanad hills are contiguous to Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu and Bandipur in Karnataka, thus forming a vast land mass for the wildlife to move about in their most natural abode.

Enjoy the days at leisure and consider optional activities available within your resort including nature walks and trails.

Meals:2 Breakfast, 2 Lunch, 2 Dinner

OverNight:Wayanad

day 12 - Kozhikode

Wayanad – Kozhikode. Drive from Wayanad to Kozhikode (Approx 90 kms - 4 hours). Arrive and transfer to your hotel.

Kozhikode is a coastal city in the south Indian state of Kerala. It was a significant spice trade center and is close to Kappad Beach, where Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama landed in 1498. The rest of the day is spent at leisure. Consider visiting central Kozhikode Beach, which overlooks and old lighthouse and is a popular spot to watch the sunset.

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Kozhikode

days 13-14 - Kochi

Kozikode - Kochi. Today we drive to Kochi. Stops are made at Krishna Temple and the Punnathur Kotta Elephant Stables. Krishna Temple is one of the holiest sites in Kerala. The heaving Hindi pilgrimage centre is filled with stalls and thronged with devotees wanting to take darshan - a viewing with the deity. It is said to be one of the wealthiest temples in India, with a waiting list for the auspicious duty of lighting its oil lamps filled up until 2025. Afterwards, we arrive in Kochi and check in to the hotel.

Day 14, offers a guided sightseeing tour with visits to the Parsi Synagogue, Dutch Palace, St Francis’ Church and an evening Kathakali dance performance.

Meals:2 Breakfast

OverNight:Kochi

day 15 - Kochi

Kochi - breakfast. Arrangements conclude after breakfast and onward transfer to the airport.

Meals:1 Breakfast

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What's Included

Accommodation

13 nights 3-4 star hotels

Meals

12 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 6 dinners

Transport

An airport arrival transfer day 1 and a departure transfer day 15All relevant transfer and transportation in private modern Chauffeur driven air-conditioned vehicles (excluding game drives)

Others

Touring and excursions as per itineraryKathakali dance performanceBlue Mountain railway toy train journeyVisit to Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary3 game drives - Mudumalai National Park3 game drives - Nagarhole National ParkServices of English-speaking Indian specialist guides for all included sight-seeing1 overnight sleeper train journey on the Nilgari Express, Chennai to Mettupalayam

Entrance

Entrance fees for all included sightseeing

What's Excluded

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