Arrive at Chennai International Airport and met by India Ayurveda Tour representative. Transfer to your hotel by car and check-in. Begin your tour of this bustling city – formerly known as Madras and where the British East India Company established one of its seats of power - by visiting the National Museum, famous for its bronze statues. Chennai is also the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu. Continue your tour by visiting Fort St George, constructed around 1640, and one of the country’s oldest colonial buildings.

In the afternoon, visit Kapaleeshwar Temple, built around the 7th century. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and has numerous shrines. The façade of the temple is richly decorated. Continue your tour with a short walk along Marina beach, considered to be the longest beach in Asia.

Overnight in hotel.

After breakfast, depart for Mahabalipuram, stopping en route to visit Kanchipuram. The latter is famous for its temples and silk sarees. These are handwoven by artisans and come in a myriad of colours. Your visit includes a stop at Ekambaranthar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Continue your drive to Mahabalipuram. On arrival, visit the temples located right on the shore and overlooking the Bay of Bengal. Thought to have been built around the 7th century, the temples have acquired UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Take time to see the Panch Rathas (the Five Rathas), a set of monolithic rock temples and also the Panel of Arjuna, the world’s largest bas relief, depicting earthly and supernatural entities.

Check-in and overnight at hotel.

After breakfast, depart for Tiruvannamalai. On arrival, check-in at hotel and visit the Arunachaleswarar Temple in the afternoon. Parts of the temple date back to the 9th century and like most temples in this state, it has a very elaborate façade.

Dinner and overnight in hotel.

After breakfast, depart for Pondicherry, the capital city of the Indian union territory of Puducherry. This is a corner of India with a significant French heritage and this influence is notable in the customs and traditions that are still apparent today.

In the afternoon, visit Sri Aurbindo Ashram, a spiritual community located in the city. Continue to Auroville (about 10kms. outside of Pondicherry) to see the complex of settlements. Later, visit the Ganesh Temple and finally, take a walk near the Bay of Bengal.

Dinner and overnight at your hotel. .

After breakfast, drive to Tanjore. En route, visit the temples in Chidambaram, Darasuram and Gangakondacholapuram, famous for their shrines to Lord Shiva. The temples were built during the Cholas & Pallavas dynasties that ruled the south of India about a thousand years ago.

On arrival in Tanjore, check-in and overnight at hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Trichy, one of Tamil Nadu’s major cities. En route, visit the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This is one of the state’s biggest temples. Continue your visit to the Brihadeswara temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Madurai. Begin your visit in the afternoon at the Tirumalai Nayak Palace, an impressive 17th century palace constructed by King Thirumalai Nayak with the collaboration of an Italian architect. Parts of the Palace are well preserved and worth the visit. Continue your tour with a visit to Meenakshi Temple, dedicated to the goddess Parvati. This is a fabulously ornate temple with a colourful façade.

Madurai is famous for its bronze articles and Indian jasmine.

Dinner and overnight in hotel.

After breakfast, depart for Kovalam, stopping at Kanyakumari en route. Visit the Kumari Amman Temple, located on the shore of the southernmost tip of India. Enjoy the unique view from the temple, because this is where the Arabian Sea, the waters of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean meet. Continue your tour at Gandi Mandapam, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.

Time permitting, you might be able to fit in a visit to Vivekananda Rock Memorial, a structure built in the 1970s that juts out into the sea.

Continue your drive to Kovalam, where you check into the hotel for an overnight stay.

After breakfast, feel free to relax on the beach as the day has no formal trips or visits.

Overnight in hotel.

After breakfast, depart for Alleppy, visiting Thiruvantapruam, the capital of Kerala, on the way. Your visit includes the Padmanbhaswami Temple, dating from the 8th century and dedicated to Lord Vishu. The Napier Museum is an art and natural history museum with some beautiful gardens. The Kuthiramalika Palace (the Palace of horses) has interesting historical artifacts and is a popular attraction.

Continue your drive to Alleppy where you check in to the houseboat on arrival. Spend the rest of your day on the houseboat so you can see first-hand what the daily life of a fisherman entails.

Lunch and dinner will be provided on the houseboat. Overnight on board.

After breakfast, depart for Cochin. This was an important commercial port and was inhabited by the Portuguese for some time in the 16th century. While here, visit the tomb of Vasco da Gama, the church of St. Francis, thought to have built around 1503, and the market place.

Check in and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your trip home. End of our services.