Kerala & the Southern Highlights

Fly to the city of Chennai and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.

After breakfast and a tour introduction, you will travel to Mamallapuram. On arrival you will explore this coastal temple town, seeing the fascinating 7th and 8th-century rock carvings including the magnificent Shore Temple and the impressive Varaha Cave.

Return to Chennai, formerly known as Madras. This city was developed as a British trading post and is home to a number of colonial sights. A city tour begins at the 13-kilometre Marina Beach before a stop at Fort St. George and the British-built St. Mary's Church. The final stop is the colourful Shiva Kapaleeswarar Temple.

Rise early to catch the Shatabdi Express to the garden city of Bangalore, where you will enjoy an afternoon city tour to see the Bull Temple, Tipu Sultan's Palace and Vidhana Soudha.

Head to Mysore, stopping at Srirangapatna Fort en route. Visit the magnificent Maharaja's Palace and drive to Chamundi Hill to admire the 12th-century Sri Chamundeshwari Temple and Nandi Bull. Tonight, enjoy a traditional cooking demonstration hosted by a local family.

Journey up into the cool climes of the Western Ghats to the beautiful hill station of Ooty. Relax and appreciate the peace and natural splendour of this quaint town. Visit Botanical gardens, taking an uphill walk to visit a small village, gaining an insight into the lives of the local people.

All aboard the miniature, narrow gauge 'Toy Train' to the 2nd hill station of Coonoor. Spend time walking around and appreciating the beauty of this quieter, less famous hill station before returning to Ooty.

Drive to Coimbatore and enjoy half a day of sightseeing including visits to the Sri Svetambra Vimalanthar Jain Temple, St. Michael Xavier Church at big Bazaar and Athar Jamid Mosque at Oppamalara Street.

Travel to Munnar, a hill station enveloped by lush tea plantations. In the afternoon visit a tea plantation and the Tata Tea Museum.

Today explore Eravikulam National Park and have the opportunity to spot the local wildlife (closed Feb-Apr, when an alternative light trek will be available). Continue your journey to Thekkady, home of Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary.

Though designated as a Tiger Reserve in 1978, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is best known for its elephants. Take a walk through the reserve, keeping an eye out for its resident elephant population, as well as wild dogs, barking deer, mouse deer and the elusive Bengal tiger. Visit a spice village before enjoying a traditional kalaripayattu (martial art) show this evening.

Travel to the coastal town of Kochi. This evening enjoy an exuberant Kathakali dance performance.

Take a full day tour of Kochi. Start at St. Francis Church, the first European church built in India, before a visit to Santa Cruz Basilica, where you will have excellent views of Chinese fishing nets. Finish the day by admiring the synagogue in the heart of the Jewish Quarter.

Travel to Kumarakom, stopping en route at Kumbalangi, a village created to highlight the lifestyle of fisher-folk in the area. Later board a houseboat, a converted rice barge known as a kettuvallam. Sit back and watch life on the water and the surrounding, untouched wilderness while cruising unhurriedly along the canals. A delicious dinner of traditional cuisine will be served on board and spend a comfortable night on the water.

Have breakfast onboard before disembarking and heading for the beach town of Kovalam. Stop on the way in Kerala's capital Trivandrum to see the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, the Observatory and Sri Chitra Art Gallery.

This morning take a walking tour of the town and visit the lighthouse. The rest of the day is yours to relax or head to the beach, before a farewell dinner this evening.

Transfer to Trivandrum and fly to Australia, arriving home the same or following day.