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Tour
Coast to Coast – Journey to South IndiaTour Led by Pamela Draycott 30th July – 13th August 2025
I warmly invite you to join a small group to explore and experience a Coast to Coast tour across southern India.
We will be visiting many significant religious and cultural sites, experiencing the devotions of different faith communities, passing through spectacular scenery, seeing a wide range of wildlife, maybe even tigers in the wild and also having great fun; all at the same time.
It really is a spectacular itinerary with unforgettable experiences and delights. This Tour is a mix of the Holy and Holiday with time for reflection and also time for fun and relaxation, exploring and shopping. I do hope you will come along and be part of this fascinating Pilgrimage.
The Itinerary
Chennai – Mahabalipuram – Pondicherry – Trichy – Dindigul – Madurai – Munnar – Kumarakom – Cochin
Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu
Overnight on flight
(Chennai is an old port that retains a distinct atmosphere that combines Tamil traditions with a long and still visible British legacy. Chennai grew to become a key commercial city of colonial days, generously endowed with striking Indo-Saracenic public buildings. It is the gateway to the sunny south and is the seat of ancient Civilization where one can still enjoy the Old-World charm. Splendid strains of classical music and India's living traditions are savoured from Madras).
Overnight in The Accord Metropolitan Hotel, Chennai BD
Overnight in Accord Metropolitan, Chennai BD
After lunch we continue south on the coastal road down to the French colonial seaside town of Pondicherry. There will be an opportunity to take an evening stroll along the famous beachfront promenade.
(Pondicherry is an interesting coastal city and a former French colony. The town has a grid layout, split north-south by a canal that once divided the French quarter (edging the sea) from the Indian quarter inland. The French quarter has interesting historic buildings including ornate Catholic churches. For the philosophically or spiritually inclined, there is the Sri Aurobindo Ashram where the inmates practice an integral Yoga. Also nearby is the beautifully landscaped international township of Auroville).
Overnight in Hotel Le Pondy Hotel, Pondicherry BD
Punducherry
Overnight in Le Pondy Hotel, Pondicherry BD
At Trichy we check into the Hotel Breeze Residency. Rest of the day at leisure.
(Trichy, short for Tiruchirappalli, is a bustling city in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Known for its vibrant culture, rich history, and strategic location, Trichy holds a significant place in the region. The city is renowned for its iconic landmarks, including the Rock Fort Temple, perched atop a massive rock formation, offering panoramic views of the cityscape. Trichy's historical significance dates back centuries, with influences from various dynasties like the Cholas, Nayaks, and Marathas evident in its architecture and culture.)
Overnight in Hotel Breeze Residency, Tiruchchirappali BD
(Dindigul, nestled in the foothills of the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu, is renowned for its craftsmanship and scenic beauty. Famous for its high-quality locks, the city is affectionately known as the "Lock City of India." Its crowning jewel, the ancient Dindigul Fort, stands as a testament to its rich historical legacy. Dindigul's bustling markets, delicious cuisine, and warm hospitality make it a delightful destination for travelers seeking to immerse themselves in Tamil Nadu's rural charm.)
Overnight in Hotel Vivera Grande, Dindigul BD
Trichy, Tamil Nadu
Overnight in Vivera Grande, Dindigul BD
Just a mile down the road, we also stop to visit the impressive 17th century king’s palace of Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal. The afternoon is at leisure.
(Madurai is one of the oldest cities of south India and had originally been designed in a lotus motif. It is an extremely sacred city and here lies the renowned Meenakshi Temple. The vast walled complex of the temple with its shadowy chambers, tank, carved columns, shrines and courtyards built between twelve towering gopurams is considered south India’s finest example of Dravidian architecture).
Overnight in Hotel Heritage, Madurai BD
(Munnar is a breathtakingly beautiful, picture-postcard hill station lying at an altitude of 1600 m above the sea level. This pristine hill station, untouched by commercialization and rapid urbanization, still retains its old-world charms in the most pristine states. The first sight that greets a visitor in Munnar is the vast expanse of endless tea gardens, flower gardens brimming with vibrant hues, grasslands, towering trees, wild brooks and verdant mist-clad rolling hills. Munnar gets its name from being at the confluence of the three mountain streams videlicet Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. Munnar also has the highest peak down south of the Himalayas – Anamudi, towering to a height of 2695 m above sea level. Munnar is an ideal haven for - a romantic getaway, family vacation, adventure tour or a place for salubrious living away from the heat and clamour of the plains).
Overnight in Fragrant Nature, Munnar BD
Munnar, Kerala
Overnight in Fragrant Nature, Munnar BD
(The village of Kumarakom is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake, and is part of the Kuttanad region. The bird sanctuary here, which is spread across 14 acres is a favourite haunt of migratory birds and an ornithologist's paradise. Egrets, Darters, Herons, Teals, Waterfowls, Cuckoo, Wild Duck and migratory birds like the Siberian Stork visit here in flocks and fascinate all visitors.)
Overnight in Cocobay, Kumarakom BD
(Cochin has a history stretching back to the time of King Solomon, when it was known as ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea. Arabian, Phoenician, and Chinese traders all stopped here in search of spices, silks, and sandalwood. Marco Polo and Vasco da Gama followed, as did the Dutch East India Company and later the British. Today, Christians, Jews, Muslims and Hindus still live side by side, and Chinese fishing nets, introduced by merchants from the court of Kublai Khan, continue to haul in fish.)
Overnight in Fragrant Nature, Cochin BD
Cochin, Kerala
We also make a visit to the Mattancherry palace with its Keralan style murals depicting Hindu temple art, portraits and exhibitions of the Rajas of Kochi. In the evening we will witness traditional Keralan dances before returning to the hotel for dinner and a well-deserved overnight rest.
Overnight in Fragrant Nature, Cochin BD
- Please send us an e-mail at enquiries@soulofindia.com or call us at 020 8901 7630. We will send you a booking form to complete. You can also complete a booking form on our website for this tour.
- It is essential to have adequate travel insurance in place before your departure.
- This should be appropriate for your age, health and destination you are visiting.
- Return International flights on Emirates Airlines flight in economy class
- Accommodation as per the itinerary in sharing double /twin room (Check-in is 1400 hrs. and checkout 12 noon. Early check-in and late checkout are subject to availability).
- Services of our English-speaking representative for all arrival and departure transfers to assist you at the airports.
- All transfers and sightseeing by a chauffeur driven Coach.
- Services of English-speaking guide during sightseeing as specified in the itinerary.
- Entrance fees to all monuments during sightseeing as specified in your itinerary.
- Services of Pamela as trip leader
- Complimentary mineral water whilst driving.
- 100% protection of your payment by our ATOL & ABTA Licenses.
- India visa fee. E-tourist visa is now available for citizens of most countries. On confirmation of booking, we will send you a step-by-step guide how to apply for the visa.
- Any expenses of a personal nature like laundry, telephone calls, beverages etc.
- Tips and gratuities
- Camera fees at monuments and other places of interest.
- Travel Insurance: It is essential to have adequate travel insurance in place before your departure. This should be appropriate for your age, health and destination you are visiting.