Through South India

Arrival at the airport at least 2 hours in advance. Boarding formalities and departure on a flight to Chennai. Overnight on board.

Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.

Breakfast. Take the opportunity to discover the city on a guided tour, stopping off at the National Museum of Human History and Culture (closed on Fridays) and St. George's Fort, an authentic example of colonial architecture. You will also stroll along Marina Beach and Chennai University, one of the three oldest universities in India, with its beautiful Senate House and the Palace of the Nawab of Camatic. You will then visit the Basilica of St. Thomas, built by Portuguese explorers in the 16th century. Finally, you will visit the Kapaleeshwarar Temple, dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, which stands out for its thousands of colorful figures. Free afternoon. Accommodation.

Breakfast. Then a full-day sightseeing tour to the temples of Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram. Kanchipuram, popularly known as the "city of gold", was the capital of the Hindu dynasty and is considered one of the country's seven holy cities. Mahabalipuram is a coastal town with beautiful beaches stretching for miles and was once the main port of the Pallava kingdom. The most important monument is Arjuna's Penance, which stands out for its beautiful sculptures of Hindu myth. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.

Breakfast. Departure by road towards Thanjavur. On the way, we will visit Darasuram where we will see the Airavetesvara Temple, whose complex was built by Chola Raja II and features an image of Shiva carved in stone at the heart of the main enclosure. Continue to Thanjavur, whose region is known as the rice bowl of Tamil. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.

Breakfast. Then an excursion to Trichy (Tiruchirapali). This city has a history dominated by the Chola dynasty and is famous for its 434-step rock fortress, the stone sculpture leading to the top of the fortress. On the second floor there is a large hall, on the second level there is a hall of 100 columns, and on the next level there is the temple of the God Shiva and the top level is dedicated to Ganesha. From the top, you'll enjoy a breathtaking view of the sacred Kaveri River. Also visit Srirangam, which is less than 5 km from Trichy and is a walled city with a huge temple to the god Vishnu, called Sri Ranganathaswamy. Return to the hotel. Accommodation.

Breakfast. Departure for Madurai. Later, visit the Meenakshi temple, decorated with a multitude of bright colors. It is a temple dedicated to the god Shiva, with its 10 gopurams (towers) and more than 30,000 statues. Afterwards, you will also visit the Thirumalai Nayak palace, an Indo-Saracenic style building from the 17th century. In the afternoon, attend a Hindu puja, a ritual in which people make offerings to deities. Return to the hotel. Accommodation.

Breakfast. Departure for the Periyar Nature Sanctuary and Thekkady Nature Park. The park is located in a protected area of over 750 km2. In the middle of nature, you can spot wild animals such as deer, flying squirrels, mongooses, martens and a variety of birds. In the afternoon, we'll take a boat trip on Lake Periyar. Afterwards, a visit to a spice plantation for an experience and information on spices. Return to the hotel. Accommodation.

Breakfast. Departure by road to Alleppey. At a time to be arranged locally, board the traditional "House Boat". Lunch on board. Stroll along the canals observing the villages and palm trees on the banks. Dinner and accommodation.

Breakfast. Drive to Kochi. Arrive at the hotel and check in. In the afternoon, a tour of the city, which includes the Jewish quarter, a religion that arrived in Kochi in the 6th century BC, and we'll see the synagogue and the Mattancherry Palace. We then head to the pier area with its Chinese fishing nets. We continue to the Dutch Palace built by the Portuguese in 1510. We will also see the Church of St. Francis, the first Catholic church in India, built at the beginning of the 16th century and the final resting place of the explorer Vasco da Gama. At the end of the visit, return to the hotel. Accommodation.

Breakfast. Free day. Accommodation.

Breakfast. At a time to be arranged locally, transfer to the airport to board the return flight. Boarding formalities and departure for Portugal. Night on board.