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Kerala & the Southern Highlights
Operated by Wendy Wu
Tripcode: IKS_AU
Overview
Destination:
India,
Duration:18 days
Type:Group tour (max 28)
Travel Period
October 2026 - December 2027
Southern India offers an intensely tropical and laid-back experience compared to the north. Travel from its stunning hill stations to the tranquil backwaters on this in-depth journey.
Tour highlights:
- Chennai, Explore the colonial buildings of this wondrous city
- Periyar, Discover South India’s extensive wildlife at the Periyar Wildlife Reserve
- Kerala, Take a cruise on the Kerala Backwaters on your private houseboat
- Ooty, Take a ride on the Ooty Toy Train
Tour experiences:
- Kumbalangi Village Life, Glimpse the traditional lifestyle of Kerala's fisher-folk with a visit to Kumbalangi, where you can see the villagers going about their day to day activities and discover traditional handicrafts.
- Kalaripayattu Martial Arts, Marvel at the strength and agility of Kalaripayattu practitioners at a performance of Kerala's traditional art form. This old martial art combines defensive steps and stances with weaponry such as daggers, spears, maces and bows and arrows.
- Kerala Cooking Demonstration, Hosted by a local family in their home, take part in a cooking demonstration of tasty, traditional treats, learning the skills and techniques needed to prepare delicious Keralan dishes.
Places visited:
- Chennai (1N+1N)
- Mahaballipuram(1N)
- Bangalore (1N)
- Mysore (1N)
- Ooty (2N)
- Coonoor
- Coimbatore (1N)
- Munnar (1N)
- Thekaddy (2N)
- Kochi (2N)
- Houseboat (1N)
- Kovalam (2N)
- Trivandrum
Price notes:
- Flight Inclusive rates only: These include airline fuel surcharge and taxes. Correct as of 1 June 2025. Please note supplements may apply if lead in economy rates are not available.
- Customary tipping amount of approximately US$100pp (AU$154pp) is paid locally in India.
- Depending on airline schedules, you may depart and/or arrive on Day 2. Extra nights' accommodation (pre or post tour) or stopovers may be required at an additional cost.
- Flight Inclusive rates only: Based on departures from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide & Perth. Departures from other cities and flight upgrades available on request.
Highlights:
Standard inclusions
- International flights and current taxes (excluded if a land only option is selected)
- All Meals (refer to itinerary)
- Domestic transportation
- Touring with guides and entrance fees
- 3 – 4 star accommodation
- Visa fees for Australian passport holders
Itinerary
Expand all 
Collapse all
Collapse allDay 1: Fly To Chennai
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.
Day 2: Discover Mamallapuram
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, enigmatically called 'Decscent of hte Ganges'.
Day 3: Chennai City
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.
Day 4: Train To Bangalore
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.
Day 5: Mysore
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.
Day 6: Ooty Hill Station
Today you will journey to the hill station of Ooty, one of three Nilgiri stations, that sits high above the southern plains. The road twists through hairpin bends, misty forests, and tea plantations and offers breathtaking views. You have the rest of the afternoon to relax and enjoy your surroundings.
Day 7: Narrow Gauge Railway
All aboard the miniature, narrow gauge 'Toy Train' to the 2nd hill station of Coonoor, where you will be surrounded with spectacular mountain views. Visit a botanical gardens, created in 1847 and is home to many tree species, including a 20-million-year-old fossilised tree.
Day 8: Travel To Coimbatore
Drive to Coimbatore and enjoy half a day of sightseeing including visits to the Sri Svetambra Vimalanthar Jain Temple, St. Michael Xavier Cathedral and Athar Jamid Mosque.
Day 9: Munnar
Travel to Munnar, a hill station enveloped by lush tea plantations. In the afternoon visit a tea plantation and the Tata Tea Museum.
Day 10: Travel To Thekkady
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.
Day 11: Periyar Wildlife Reserve
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.
Day 12: Drive To Kochi
Travel to the coastal town of Kochi. This evening enjoy an exuberant Kathakali dance performance.
Day 13: Explore Kochi
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 can get excellent views of more Chinese fishing nets. Finish by admiring the synagogue in the heart of the Jewish Quarter and a stroll around the nearby markets. Tonight, enjoy a traditional cooking demonstration hosted by a local family
Day 14: Backwaters Cruising
Travel to Alleppey where you’ll board your houseboat, stopping en route at Kumbalangi, a village created to highlight the lifestyle of fisher-folk in the area. Later board your houseboat a converted rice barge, known as a kettuvallam. Sit back and watch life on the water and the surrounding, untouched wilderness as you cruise unhurriedly along the canals. A delicious dinner of traditional cuisine will be served on board and you'll spend a comfortable night on the water.
Day 15: Discover Trivandrum
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.
Day 16: Relax In Kovalam
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.
Days 17-18: Fly To Australia
Transfer to Trivandrum and fly to Australia, arriving home the same or following day.
Days 17-18: Fly To Australia
Transfer to Trivandrum and fly to Australia, arriving home the same or following day.
Dates
Select a date or submit general enquiry
Operator
Wendy Wu
Wendy Wu Tours is Australia's leading touring specialist, offering extraordinary tours throughout Asia, Latin America, Eurasia, the Middle East – and most recently, Australasia. Since Wendy sent her very first tour to China in 1994, we've grown from strength to strength and are proud of the multiple awards we've won throughout the years and the unique travel experiences we offer to an expanding range of destinations.
Important Information
*Terms and conditions
Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.
For more information, please see Terms of Use
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17 nights
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