South India: Tea Plantations, Backwaters & Wildlife — 13 Days
From Chennai's temples and Puducherry's colonial streets to Periyar's wildlife sanctuary, tea estates, and a night aboard a converted houseboat in Kerala.
This 13-day journey moves through South India's layered geography — from the Coromandel Coast through inland hill stations to Kerala's waterways. The route includes Chennai's cultural landmarks, the French-influenced architecture of Puducherry, Madurai's temple complexes and street food scene, the Western Ghats' wildlife sanctuary at Periyar, the tea plantations of Munnar at 1,525 meters elevation, and a night aboard a traditional converted houseboat on the Kerala backwaters. Activities span guided wildlife tracking, temple visits, martial arts performances, spice plantation tours, tea-making demonstrations, ayurvedic cooking instruction, and village meals with local families. A local guide leads throughout; vegetarian options are available on all meals.
Highlights
- 8th-century Shore Temple at Mamallapuram with carved mandapas and views of Shiva worship sites
- Walking tour of Puducherry's French Quarter with colonial-era architecture and local cafe stops
- Food tour in Madurai's street stalls and family-owned restaurants, including regional specialties not on tourist menus
- Live kalarippayattu performance at Kadathanadan Kalari Centre — India's oldest surviving martial art form
- Guided nature walk in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary tracking tiger prints, spotted deer, Indian elephants, and gaur
- Tea plantation tour in Munnar (1,525 m elevation) with leaf-picking demonstrations and tea-making process
- Night aboard a converted traditional houseboat on the Kerala backwaters with bamboo roofing and coconut-wood beds
- Home-cooked dinner with a local Tamil family in Madurai
- Ayurvedic cooking demonstration and Satvik Bhojan (ayurvedic diet) instruction in Kochi
- Spice plantation visit in Thekkady with fragrant lunch prepared on-site
- Sri Meenakshi Temple in Madurai — active ritual site with lamp-lit corridors and shrine complexes
- Kathakali classical dance performance in Kochi
- Tuk-tuk tour of Fort Kochi including Chinese fishing nets, Mattancherry Palace (16th-century Portuguese), and Paradesi Synagogue
Day by day
1Arrival in ChennaiChennai · Georgetown Bazaar · Chennai restaurant
Arrival in Chennai, India's fourth-largest city and cultural center. Airport transfer to hotel; welcome meeting with local guide and fellow travelers at 6 p.m. The remainder of the day is unscheduled. Georgetown Bazaar remains accessible for independent exploration. Welcome dinner follows the meeting, featuring South Indian vegetarian dishes including idly, dosa, and poori at a Chennai restaurant.
2Mamallapuram & PuducherryMamallapuram · Puducherry · East Coast Road
Morning departure from Chennai along the East Coast Road toward Puducherry. Stop at Mamallapuram to visit the 8th-century Shore Temple, with its carved mandapas and active Shiva worship sites. Late-afternoon arrival in Puducherry, a former French colony until 1954. The old quarter retains European architecture — leafy boulevards, pastel buildings, and colonial-era structures. Evening is free to wander; the guide can recommend dining options reflecting both traditional Indian and French-influenced menus.
3Puducherry Walking Tour & French QuarterChurch of Notre Dame · White Town · Puducherry French Quarter
Morning at leisure; afternoon walking tour with guide through local temples and the French Quarter. The route passes mustard-colored buildings with bougainvillea and sites associated with historical figures from revolutionary, military, and royal periods. Stop at the Church of Notre Dame — evidence of French colonialism appears in architecture and police uniforms. Cafe stop in White Town for local snacks. Evening free to wander independently.
4Madurai & Its Storied Street FoodMadurai · Madurai's street food stalls, family-owned restaurants, and hidden corners
Drive to Madurai with chai stops along the route, arriving in the late afternoon. Begin with a short orientation walk through one of India's oldest cities, getting your bearings in its layered streets and bustling quarters. As evening settles, join your leader on a food tour through Madurai's most authentic spaces: street food stalls, family-owned restaurants, and hidden corners where regional delicacies live outside tourist menus. Your guide will guide you toward mutton dosa, fish gravy, and other dishes tied to centuries-old recipes passed down through generations of passionate cooks. Listen to their stories as you taste. End the night with Jigarthanda, Madurai's most celebrated dessert—a refreshing blend of condensed milk, almond gum, and ice cream that captures the city's culinary soul.
5Madurai: Temples, Markets & Family DinnerMadurai's markets and bazaars · Sri Meenakshi Temple · National Gandhi Museum · Thirumalai Nayak Palace · local Tamil family home
Guided exploration of Madurai's markets and bazaars, including the Tailor's Market and surrounding vendor areas. Visit Sri Meenakshi Temple, an active religious site with lamp-lit corridors and shrines where traditional rituals continue today. Visit the National Gandhi Museum, documenting the life and independence leadership of the 'Father of the Nation,' and the 17th-century Thirumalai Nayak Palace, built under King Tirumala Nayaka. Evening: dinner with a local Tamil family at their home, featuring traditional dishes such as chettinad chicken, egg paratha, and vegetable korma.
6Thekkady & Spice Plantationcountryside dotted with pineapple and rubber plantations · a spice plantation
Drive toward Thekkady through countryside dotted with pineapple and rubber plantations. Thekkady is the gateway to Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve in the Western Ghats. Visit a spice plantation where a local expert explains the cultivation and use of the spices central to Indian cuisine. Taste and learn about the range of spices available. A lunch prepared on-site using plantation spices follows. The evening remains free; the town offers spice shops, organic tea retailers, and resort facilities including a palm-fringed pool.
7Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary & KalarippayattuPeriyar Wildlife Sanctuary · the resort · Kadathanadan Kalari Centre
Morning guided nature walk in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. The expert guide leads searches for tiger tracks, spotted deer, Indian elephants, gaur (the world's largest buffalo species), Bonnet macaques, and the Malabar giant squirrel — a species native to Kerala. Afternoon remains free; optional ayurvedic massage is available at the resort. Evening: live kalarippayattu performance at Kadathanadan Kalari Centre. Originating in Kerala, kalarippayattu is recognized as India's oldest surviving martial art form; the performance features high-energy fighters executing aerial leaps and combat techniques.
8Munnar Tea PlantationMunnar · tea plantation · tea museum
Morning drive northward to Munnar, a former British Hill Station situated in surrounding valleys at 1,525 meters elevation. Temperature drops noticeably at this altitude. Arrival includes a guided tour of the tea plantation where a resident expert explains the steps of tea production — from narrow pathways to leaf-picking fields to the transformation of leaves into finished tea. Sample different tea varieties. A visit to the tea museum may be possible depending on irregular opening hours. Evening at the mountain resort.
9Munnar Hills & Mattupetty DamMattupetty Dam · Munnar's lush hills · Mattupetty Dam lake
Begin with a guided walk through Munnar's lush hills, often shrouded in clouds—bring your camera as the landscape gradually reveals itself. In the afternoon, travel to Mattupetty Dam, where a man-made lake sits beneath spectacular valley views. An optional motorboat ride around the lake lets you take in the scenery at a slower pace. Return to Munnar for a free evening.
10Kerala Backwaters & Houseboat StayKerala's backwaters · Alleppey · a converted kettuvallam houseboat
Drive to Kerala's backwaters, arriving at Alleppey — a former significant trading port now known for annual 'snake boat' races held in August. The backwaters were historically busy with kettuvallams, large wooden boats that transported rice and spices. Today, these traditional vessels have been converted into houseboats using traditional and natural materials: bamboo for roofing, coir mats for flooring, coconut-tree wood for beds. Conversions maintain hotel-standard comforts including western toilets, private bedrooms, dining areas, and open decks. The night is spent aboard one of these floating cottages, drifting through the lagoons and rural waterways of southern Kerala.
11Kochi: Multicultural Architecture & KathakaliKochi · backwaters · Princess Street
Peaceful morning on the backwaters; afternoon drive to Kochi, spread across several islands. The city is a convergence of Portuguese, Dutch, Chinese, and British influences visible in architecture, restaurants, and daily life. Orientation walk with guide reveals how these historical layers manifest in the urban landscape. Afternoon free to wander at own pace — Princess Street offers cafes and local atmosphere. Evening: Kathakali classical dance performance. Kathakali is a Kerala-rooted classical form combining symbolic storytelling with rigorous physical technique, requiring intensive training and proficiency.
12Fort Kochi: Markets, Synagogue & Ayurvedic CookingFort Kochi · Chinese fishing nets · Mattancherry Palace · Paradesi Synagogue · Shantilal S. Mithaiwala · ayurvedic doctor's practice
Tuk-tuk sightseeing tour of Fort Kochi. Route includes antique shops and spice bazaars; the guide demonstrates haggling techniques. Visit the Chinese fishing nets — a frequently photographed landmark. See the Mattancherry Palace, built in the 16th century by the Portuguese and later claimed by the Dutch, and the Paradesi Synagogue, India's oldest existing Jewish synagogue. Lunch at Shantilal S. Mithaiwala, a cafe and sweet shop operating since 1953, featuring the establishment's traditional sweets. Early evening: meeting with an ayurvedic doctor who practices ancient holistic techniques to balance body and mind for overall health. Learn about Satvik Bhojan (ayurvedic diet principles), participate in a cooking demonstration, and dine using the methods and recipes discussed.
13Departure from KochiKochi
Tour concludes after breakfast. Return transfers and extensions can be arranged through the booking agent if additional time in India is desired.
Included
- What's Included
- Accommodation
- Hotel (9 nights), Houseboat Feature Stay (1 night), Kochi Feature Stay (2 nights)
- Meals
- Breakfasts: 12, Lunches: 2, Dinners: 4
- Vegetarian options are available on all meals throughout the adventure.
- Vegetarian options available
- Local Guide
- Guided
- This adventure is led by a local guide throughout. The main language of this adventure is English. Please contact us for other languages available.
- Airport Transfers
- Arrival Only
- An airport transfer to the start of the tour is included. Please contact our team if you require a quote for a return transfer.
- Wifi
- Wifi is available during the adventure. In some areas and / or accommodation / transport Wifi may be free.