Experience Overview
Step into a journey that stirs all your senses across Southern India, where ancient heritage, deep spirituality, fine craftsmanship, bold cuisine, and raw nature all come together in the most natural way. This richly layered 14-day experience takes you through the temple towns, colonial quarters, artisan villages, spice estates, wildlife-rich hills, and peaceful backwaters of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. From the lively streets of Chennai and Puducherry to the grand mansions of Chettinad, the sacred temples of Madurai, the green forests of Periyar, and the still lagoons of Kumarakom, every stop on this journey strikes a beautiful balance between culture, wellness, and warm, considered hospitality.
Included Amenities
Private Transfers
Luxury 5 Star Hotel
Breakfast
Lunch
Sightseeing
Dinner
Entrance Fees
Expedition Roadmap
Overview
Touch down in Chennai, the city that opens the door to everything South India has to offer. Head to your heritage hotel, take in the beautifully restored colonial architecture and refined interiors, and give yourself time to settle in properly. As the evening comes around, sit down to a welcome dinner at a well-loved local restaurant where the food gives you your first real taste of the region's rich and distinctive flavours.
Experiences on this day
Stay of the day
Taj Connemara
Airport
Railway
City Heart
Cuisine
Facilities
Overview
Spend the day tracing Chennai's colonial past and admiring its striking Indo-Saracenic architecture at every turn. Visit the serene San Thome Basilica, the vibrant Kapaleeshwarar Temple, and the impressive Government Museum, each telling a different chapter of the city's long story. Wander through the bustling lanes of George Town, picking up local street food as you go, and wrap up the day with a long, unhurried walk along Marina Beach as the sun dips below the horizon.
Experiences on this day
Stay of the day
Taj Connemara
Airport
Railway
City Heart
Cuisine
Facilities
Overview
Make your way to Mahabalipuram and spend time exploring its UNESCO-listed cave temples and the iconic Shore Temple, which has stood by the sea for well over a thousand years. Continue on to Puducherry, a town that still carries the charm and character of its French colonial past, and lose yourself in the quiet, bougainvillea-lined streets of the French Quarter before paying a visit to the peaceful Sri Aurobindo Ashram.
Experiences on this day
Stay of the day
Palais de Mahe
Airport
Railway
City Heart
Cuisine
Facilities
Overview
Head over to Auroville and spend time at the Matrimandir, taking in its remarkable presence and learning about the fascinating philosophy that this one-of-a-kind community was built around. Enjoy a relaxed lunch in Auroville before heading back to Puducherry for a Creole cooking class, where you get hands-on with traditional recipes and discover how local ingredients come together to create something truly special.
Experiences on this day
Stay of the day
Palais de Mahe
Airport
Railway
City Heart
Cuisine
Facilities
Overview
Make your way to Kumbakonam, a town deeply rooted in temple culture and Chola history. Take your time at the Mahamaham Tank and the beautifully carved Airavatesvara Temple, then step into a bronze-casting workshop to watch the ancient Lost Wax technique being practiced right in front of you. Before settling in for dinner at your heritage retreat, also take a moment to discover the intricate art of Pattu silk weaving, a craft that has been passed down through generations in this region.
Experiences on this day
Stay of the day
Mantra Koodam
Airport
Railway
City Heart
Cuisine
Facilities
Overview
Spend the morning at the Brihadeeswara Temple, one of the most awe-inspiring structures in all of South India, and take your time exploring the many cultural treasures that Thanjavur quietly holds. Then make your way to Chettinad, a region that surprises most visitors with its incredibly grand mansions and distinctive heritage architecture that speaks volumes about the wealth and taste of a bygone era.
Experiences on this day
Stay of the day
Visalam
Airport
Railway
City Heart
Cuisine
Facilities
Overview
Wander through Chettinad at your own pace, taking in the sheer scale of its palatial mansions and soaking up the energy of its colorful local markets. Drop into a few artisan workshops to see traditional crafts being made by hand, then head back to your hotel kitchen and roll up your sleeves to prepare a proper Chettinad dinner using the bold spices and flavors this region is so well known for.
Experiences on this day
Stay of the day
Visalam
Airport
Railway
City Heart
Cuisine
Facilities
Overview
Head to Madurai and make your way to the Meenakshi Amman Temple, a place so richly detailed and deeply alive that it genuinely stops you in your tracks. Explore the city the best way possible by hopping on a tuk tuk and weaving through its busy streets, then stay on into the evening to witness the temple ceremony, which is one of those rare experiences that feels both deeply moving and completely unforgettable.
Experiences on this day
Stay of the day
The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai
Airport
Railway
City Heart
Cuisine
Facilities
Overview
Stop by Batlagundu village and spend some time wandering through its lively local market before sitting down to a traditional meal served on a banana leaf, simple, satisfying, and full of flavor. Carry on from there to Periyar National Park and ease into your spice plantation retreat, where the air itself smells different and the surroundings instantly make you feel far away from the ordinary.
Experiences on this day
Stay of the day
CGH Spice Village
Airport
Railway
City Heart
Cuisine
Facilities
Overview
Set out on a guided nature walk through Periyar's forests and open grasslands, keeping your eyes open for whatever wildlife decides to show itself along the way. Later in the day, step into a working spice plantation and get a fascinating close-up look at how cardamom, cinnamon, and clove are grown and harvested, plants you have used all your life but perhaps never seen up close before.
Experiences on this day
Stay of the day
Spice plantation tour
Airport
Railway
City Heart
Cuisine
Facilities
Overview
Make the scenic drive to Kumarakom, beautifully situated along the banks of Vembanad Lake, and let the pace of life slow right down as soon as you arrive. Check into your luxury backwater resort and spend the rest of the afternoon doing absolutely nothing but soaking in the calm, the greenery, and the gentle sound of water all around you.
Experiences on this day
Stay of the day
Coconut Lagoon
Airport
Railway
City Heart
Cuisine
Facilities
Overview
Climb aboard a traditional houseboat and spend the day drifting through Kerala's legendary backwaters, gliding past quiet villages, stretching rice paddies, and narrow waterways where life moves at a wonderfully unhurried pace. Settle in for a freshly prepared local lunch on board and let the whole experience remind you that some of the best moments in travel are the ones where you are simply moving slowly through something beautiful.
Experiences on this day
Stay of the day
Coconut Lagoon
Airport
Railway
City Heart
Cuisine
Facilities
Overview
Start your morning with a deeply restorative Ayurvedic massage that leaves you feeling genuinely refreshed from the inside out. For the rest of the day, there is no agenda whatsoever, just the lake, the fresh air, and whatever the resort's wellness facilities inspire you to try next.
Experiences on this day
Stay of the day
Coconut Lagoon
Airport
Railway
City Heart
Cuisine
Facilities
Overview
Make your way to Kochi Airport and head off to your next destination, carrying with you the memories of an incredibly rich and deeply personal journey through the heart of Southern India.
Experiences on this day
Stay of the day
Airport
Railway
City Heart
Cuisine
Facilities
Starting from
$4,825
per personNeed customization?
Chat with a Luxury Expert
