South India's temples & backwaters

Today, your Indian adventure starts with a tour of Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, you will see the many influences that have shaped the city, the government project to restore homeowners' properties, and a paper factory run by a local ashram dependent on whether you are there when it is open.

This morning you will drive further south to the former French enclave of Pondicherry. Along the way, you will pass many salt flats; if you wish to stop, please ask your driver.

Today you will enjoy a private guided tour of the colonial quarter. You will find that hotels, shops and cafés all have a French influence, and you'll find that many locals still speak French.

Continue to Tanjore today, stopping to enjoy various temples and their sacred art en route. The history is fascinating — local guides can be arranged if you would like a detailed tour or you can explore independently.

Today you will drive to Chettinad, visiting Trichy along the way. Trichy is located in the heart of Tamil Nadu and has been an important religious site since the 3rd century BC. A local guide is on hand to show you around the temples and explain the rituals which locals may be performing. You'll also be able to climb to the Rock Temple for views across the town.

Enjoy the drive to Madurai today. When you reach there, you will be able to enjoy some leisure time before joining hundreds of pilgrims this evening in the Sri Meenakshi Temple to witness the ceremony which puts the holy book to bed.

Enjoy your rickshaw tour of Madurai today. It begins with a visit on foot to the Meenakshi temple to allow you to take it in at your own pace. From here you can enjoy your rickshaw ride, taking in the markets, Vaigai River and Thirumalai Palace.

Cross the Western Ghats today, a beautifully scenic drive of about six hours which will take you into the state of Kerala. You might like to stop and visit one of the villages along the way — many serve spiced tea (chai), which we can strongly recommend. This afternoon you can relax or take a stroll to explore the local tea and coffee plantations.

Your journey in Kerala continues today as you head to the iconic Backwaters. This two-hour drive passes some particularly lush areas which are good for birdwatching — your driver will be happy to stop for you to enjoy the views. Stay in a family-run homestay this evening and enjoy the laid-back lifestyle of this part of India.

After breakfast this morning, you will disembark the boat and travel by road north to Cochin. When you arrive, simply enjoy exploring this relaxed city, which is easily done on foot.

Today you will meet a local guide who will give you a guided tour of the city. A blend of Dutch, Portuguese and British colonial influences, there is a range of unusual architecture to explore. As well as seeing the key sites such as the fort and Jewish Synagogue, our guides are keen to show you some of the less explored areas of the city. Finish your tour with views of the Chinese fishing nets — hopefully, you can catch the fishermen in action.

This morning drive to Cochin Airport by private transfer to catch your onward flight.