DAY 01 ARRIVE CHENNAI

Arrive Chennai today, with accommodation held from 12 noon (Taj Coromandel/Taj Connemara)

DAY 02 CHENNAI

Morning at leisure. Afternoon tour of India's fourth largest city visiting Fort St George, St Andrew's Kirk, Cathedral of San Thome, Government Museum & Art Gallery (closed Fridays/holidays)and the precinct of Mylapore (B)

DAY 03 CHENNAI

About an hour south of Chennai, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mahabalipuram. Lunch at Fisherman's Cove before visiting Dakshinachitra (closed Tuesdays), an architectural and cultural exposition on southern India (B)

DAY 04 CHENNAI / MADURAI

Late morning flight to Madurai. Afternoon tour of the iconic Meenakshi temple and the lively markets around it (Taj Garden Retreat) (B)

DAY 05 MADURAI / IDUKKI

A five hour drive into cool tea, coffee and spice growing higlands of the Wesern Ghats, stying two nights on a working spice plantation (Paradisa Plantation Prtreat) (B)

DAY 06 IDUKKI

Local tours include a spice plantation walk, and visits to an organice tea plantation and an ayurveda medicine making facility (B)

DAY 07 IDUKKI / KUMARAKOM

A two hour drive downhill into Kerala's coastal plain, and the rural backwaters. Afternoon at leisure (Coconut Lagoon) (B)

DAY 08 KUMARAKOM / COCHIN

Morning sighseeting cruise through the backwaters aboard a rice boat. Early afternoon, drive to Cochin, just over an hour away (Brunton Boatyard/Taj Malabar) (B)

DAY 09 COCHIN

Morning tour of Fort Cochin visiting St Francis Church and Tomb of Vasco da Gama, Dutch palace Museum (closed Fridays/Holidays), Bishop's House (closed Thursdays), the Pardesi Synagogue (closed Fridays / Saturdays), and the antique and spice markets. Late afternoon harbour cruise before attending a Kathakali dance performance (B)

DAY 10 DEPART COCHIN

Leave Cochin for onward destination (B)

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