Southern India's Coastal Route: Tamil Nadu to Kerala

15 days - Escorted Tours

Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Kerala: Discover their remarkable cities, thought-provoking temples and astonishing natural wonders. Less familiar than the north, touring the south of India is an incredible journey of discovery: we’ll see amazing thousand-year-old rock-cut and granite temples, intricately carved, rising to over 200ft high, packed with pilgrims and devotees and remarkable forts, mansions and churches from British, French, Dutch and Portuguese colonial periods. We’ll sail on converted rice barges through the tranquil backwaters of Kerala and walk-through fragrant spice plantations and pristine tropical forests of the Western Ghats. Staying in colonial hotels, lakeside bungalows, thatched cottages and hundred-year-old original traders’ mansions and we’ll experience a cuisine and hospitality renowned throughout India. All blended together; this outstanding eclectic mix will ignite your imagination.

Highlights

Visit Chennai’s Fort St George, where Clive of India began his glittering career and tour elegant Pondicherry, a French colonial outpost until 1954.
See the breathtaking Meenakshi Amman Temple of Madurai - southern India’s greatest cultural icon - plus enjoy a tuk tuk ride and explore the bustling markets.
Cruise overnight the picturesque backwaters and canals of Kerala on a houseboat, visit to Periyar National Park and enjoy a nature walk through primeval virgin forest.
Witness the extraordinary World Heritage Site of Tanjore’s Brihadeeswara Temple, visit Cochin on the Malabar Coast - India’s first European colony.
Discover a 500-acre spice plantation high up in the stunning Western Ghats to learn how the most popular spices are grown, and explore the fascinating Chettinad region, visiting and staying in one of its extraordinary traders’ mansions.

Inclusions

The price of this holiday is per person, based on two people sharing a twin room. Single occupancy rooms are available at the relevant supplement. The price includes:
Return flights & transfers
13 nights' accommodation
Daily breakfast, 3 lunches and 5 dinners
All tours as mentioned
The services of a Riviera Travel tour manager

1

Departure

2

Arrival in Chennai

3

Chennai - This morning your immersion in one of the world’s oldest cultures commences with a tour through Chennai’s bustling streets. We’ll pass a number of Victorian-era buildings and the famous Marine Beach, see the incredible fish market and multi-coloured long wooden fishing boats drawn up on the sand, before arriving at the Dakshina Chitra Heritage Museum - a fascinating cross-cultural museum showcases the art, culture and craftsmanship of Southern India’s four states. Later, we’ll visit St Mary’s Church – not only is it the earliest Anglican church in India but it also claims to be the first east of Suez, built in 1680. In the afternoon, you’ll have time to relax and enjoy the hotel’s facilities or continue to explore Chennai alone with time at leisure. Signature experience (2026 only) - Enjoy a special dinner with signature dishes, prepared by famous chefs at a local restaurant in Chennai. Every curry is meticulously prepared, every grill is marinated for hours, every lentil is slow-cooked, every biryani rice is carefully layered, and every bread is handcrafted. This is authentic Indian cuisine at its finest.

4

Mahabalipuram & Pondicherry - This morning, we’ll make our way to Mahabalipuram a port which traded with Rome in ancient times. Its huge 7th century temples have been intricately carved from vast granite monoliths and are now UNESCO World Heritage sites. We’ll also enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Later, we’ll travel south to Pondicherry and enjoy a delicious dinner at our hotel.

5

Tanjore - Start the day with a walking tour of the beautiful old French colonial centre of ‘Pondy’. Both its architecture and ambience are very different from any other Indian town. There’s a sleepy, almost Mediterranean air here, with bougainvillea-clad walls and mustard-yellow-coloured neo-classical villas. We’ll see the impressive Governor’s residence, the former site of the French fort designed by the French military architect, Vauban – there is even a Hotel de Ville! We continue our journey south to Tanjore for a two-night stay. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the tranquil surroundings and palm-shaded pool. Lunch is included today.

6

Tanjore - Tanjore was the capital of the ancient Chola Empire and is mainly known for its extraordinary Brihadeeswara Temple, the template for all in southern India. Standing over 200ft tall, its main tower is covered with an intricately-carved ochre-coloured facade which glows in the morning light. A working temple for over a thousand years, surrounded by colonnaded halls and a fortified wall, it is a testament to the power and wealth of the Chola Empire which at sunset seems to give off a red hue. Tanjore is also noted for its fine metalwork and the nearby Royal Palace’s art gallery houses a fascinating array of bronze sculptures.

7

Chettinad - We drive to the nearby Chettinad region, which you are sure to love. Undiscovered, it’s a revelation, the real rural India of small farming communities. Dinner is included this evening sampling some of the region’s unique cuisine, served on a banana leaf.

8

Madurai - After breakfast we’ll explore this undiscovered region, visiting other remarkable mansions, seeing the local Maharaja’s palace, plus local handicrafts. A fascinating visit is to a tile workshop, where each piece is delicately handmade and decorated, whilst saris are still woven to age-old local designs on traditional wooden handlooms. In the afternoon we drive to Madurai for one of the tour’s real highlights: the Meenakshi Amman Temple. This is the southern India’s Taj Mahal, a complex shrine of courtyards, vast pillared halls, a sacred lake and no less than fourteen gateway towers completely covered with thousands of brightly painted stucco carvings. Madurai was already an ancient city well before Chennai was even founded, trading spices with the ancient Romans. It is considered to be Tamil Nadu’s spiritual and cultural heart. This afternoon we take tuk-tuks to visit the temple at dusk, exploring its busy traditional markets full of impossibly laden stalls and tailors rattling away at their ancient Singer sewing machines!

9

Kumily - This morning we re-visit the temple in daylight plus tour the nearby Nayak Palace, with its vast throne-room and ceremonial courtyard. Then drive west towards the distant outlines of the Western Ghats, the mountain range and border between Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The road zig-zags through lush forest with fleeting glimpses of verdant valleys below then crossing the border, we arrive at Kumily, surrounded by spice plantations and the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.

10

Periyar wildlife reserve - Rising early, with a tropical dawn chorus ringing in our ears we enter the wildlife sanctuary for a guided nature walk through the tall stands of teak, bamboo, wild fig and beautiful jacaranda trees. The reserve has a small population of rarely seen tigers, however, as the reserve’s core surrounds a large lake, the birdlife is absolutely excellent, with over 260 species recorded, including hornbills, parakeets, kingfishers, eagles, kites and flycatchers. You may also be lucky enough to spot a Malabar giant squirrel or a lion-tailed macaque. After returning to the hotel for a late breakfast, the day is at leisure until our afternoon visit to one of the numerous local spice plantations where our guide explains the uses, medicinal and culinary, of pepper, cloves, curry leaves, cardamom, vanilla, turmeric, nutmeg, cinnamon and a host of others. Signature experience (2026 only) - After your day in Periyar Wildlife Reserve, you will be welcomed back to the hotel with some light refreshments and an enriching talk by a knowledgeable local naturalist. They will talk about how the park protects the local wildlife from hunting and poaching and the steps taken to prevent some of the animals from extinction. They will also talk about some of the flora and fauna of the region, bringing to life the enchanting sights you may have encountered during your exploration of the park earlier in the day.

11

Kerala houseboat overnight - This morning we leave the hills of Periyar behind us descending towards the Kerlan coast, passing the almost carpet-like tea plantations en route to discover the enchanting Keralan backwaters. We experience an overnight stay on a Kerala Houseboat. Leaving from nearby Alleppey, each houseboat accommodates six to eight guests plus three crew who prepare a delightful and typical Keralan lunch and dinner on board. It’s a wonderful way to travel, passing paddy fields, coconut palms and colourful local houses – watch out for the plentiful birdlife, children walking (or rowing!) back from school, people washing their clothes, pots and pans and even themselves in the narrow waterways.

12

Drive to Kumarakom - After a dawn awakening, mesmerised by the stillness with the sights and sounds of the backwater, after breakfast we depart the Kerala houseboat and drive to to Kumarakom. The rest of the day is at leisure and early evening we enjoy a sunset boat cruise on Lake Vembanad, one of India’s largest lakes and wetland eco systems home to an array of birds, animal and plant life.

13

Kumarakom - For early morning bird enthusiasts there is the opportunity to go bird watching and take a village walk. The rest of the day is free to enjoy the tranquillity and beauty of this unique location. Signature experience (2026 only) - We'll begin our day in the wetlands of Kumarkom, surrounded by an abundance of bird and plant life. Travelling by rickshaw to a nearby jetty, we'll embark on a leisurely boat cruise accompanied by a knowledgeable naturalist, who will introduce us to the diverse bird species - like herons, owls, cormorants, and egrets - dwelling along the river and in the nearby rice paddies. As we observe the serene natural surroundings, we'll also have the chance to witness the daily rhythms of local life along the river.

14

Cochin - This morning we take a short drive to Cochin, the Malabar Coast’s most historic port, traditionally from where India’s invaluable spices were shipped to Europe. The city’s oldest quarter is Fort Cochin, a fascinating maze of narrow alleyways and large merchants’ houses, whilst the nearby bazaar district of Mattancherry has the Dutch Palace and the subcontinent’s oldest synagogue. The iconic sight in Cochin is the famed Chinese fishing nets, vast cantilevered contraptions that still work to this day.

15

Return home

Atithi Hotel

The four-star superior Atithi Hotel boasts a rooftop pool with panoramic views and an adjacent roof bar & grill restaurant. There’s also a main restaurant serving buffet breakfast and dinner, a lounge bar, plus a small spa and fitness room. All the 60 air-conditioned rooms have twin or double beds, shower, hairdryer, safe, minibar, TV, tea/coffee maker and free Wi-Fi.

Great Trails River View Resort Thanjavur By Grt

This tranquil hotel offers a charming restaurant with a spacious terrace overlooking the river, as well as a large pool and plenty of hammocks strung out between the palm trees. The 42 rooms are simply furnished and have air-conditioning, bath/shower, safe, TV, and either balcony or terrace with river or garden views.

Kerala Houseboat

The perfect charming floating home, all unique and traditional in their own homely individual style. Fully air-conditioned, each houseboat can accommodate up to six to eight, with a décor of an array of various colours, natural wood flooring, with single pane windows offering stunning views of as the boats glide through the backwaters. Equipped with modern amenities including an attached bathroom.

Chidambara Vilas

Once an original Chettinar Palace back in 1884, the Chidambara Vilas has been sympathetically restored to ensure an authentic experience during our stay here. The food served in the restaurant here is mainly local cuisine and offers something for every palette. The 25 rooms are spacious and have a heritage feel given the detail of the furnishings and handpicked paintings of a bygone era. All the rooms have TV, tea/coffee, air conditioning and safe.

Trident Hotel Cochin

The four-star The Fern Kochi features a main restaurant which serves Keralan specialities as well as continental cuisine, whilst the seafood grill next to the pool is an ideal location for an al fresco dinner. The Traders bar is convivial place to meet in the evenings and there’s also fitness room and Ayurveda spa centre. The 85 air-conditioned rooms are all pleasantly furnished and overlook the lush, landscaped gardens or pool. All have a shower, hairdryer, minibar (local charges apply), safe, TV, tea/coffee-maker and complimentary Wi-Fi.

Spice Village

The four-star Spice Village consists of low-rise buildings which are are thatched in elephant grass and blend in beautifully with the surrounding landscape. There is a small pool overlooked by the open-air dining area, as well as a cosy bar full of old memorabilia and a large billiard table. Dinner is also available from the grill on the lawn outside the bar. The library holds numerous fascinating photographs, books, periodicals and videos about the flora and fauna of Periyar National Park. There are over 100 different plants in the grounds, plenty of opportunities for bird-watching and cookery demonstrations every afternoon. The 53 single-storey bungalows all have their own covered patio and the since the property is at an altitude of around 2,500ft, no air-conditioning is provided or necessary. The spacious rooms have ceiling fans, shower, hairdryer, minibar, safe and tea/coffee-maker, but no TVs.

Taj Connemara

Originally built in 1854, the Taj Connemara is the city's only heritage hotel. It's been carefully restored to reflect its historic status with influences inspired by the past and present. Throughout, there are thoughtful touches that pay homage to the local area, including the South Indian stonework that embellishes the wooden staircase and the centuries-old brass statues of Shiva and Parvati. During time at leisure, take advantage of the hotel spa with signature treatments and experiences to help even the weariest traveller unwind. There's also an outdoor swimming pool, a bar and lounge, and two on-site restaurants that each offer different styles of cuisine, from South Indian to multi-cuisine. Your spacious, air-conditioned room offers 24-hour room service, tea and coffee-making facilities, a TV, a safe, a hairdryer and complimentary Wi-Fi.

Kamer 1

Kamer 2

Kamer 3

Vanaf € 2.944,89

Reis op uw eigen manier

Neem contact met ons op