DAY 1: Depart UK.

DAY 2: Arrive Chennai.
On arrival you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel for two nights. This beautiful city on the Bay of Bengal, formerly known as Madras, has grown from a small fishing village into India's fourth largest metropolis.

DAY 3: Chennai.
This morning, enjoy a sightseeing tour, visiting its Fort St George, San Thome Cathedral, the National Art Gallery and Government Museum. Later, drive to Dakshinachitra - a unique heritage centre for the living traditions of art, craft and architecture of India. (B)

DAY 4: Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry.
Travel to Mahabalipuram, once the main port of the Pallava Kingdom, now a UNESCO World Heritage site which showcases some of India's finest rock-cut art and architecture. See the Five Rathas, a monolithic temple complex, each carved from a single piece of pink granite, and Arjuna's Penance - one of the largest open-air rock canvases in the world. Your visit to this remarkable site concludes with the Shore temple, comprising two Shiva temples and a carving of Anantasayana Vishnu. Continue your journey to Pondicherry, a former French colony known as 'the French Riviera of the East', for city sightseeing. The strong French influence in the city is especially noticeable in the old quarters, lined with Mediterranean style houses and bakeries. (B)

DAY 5: Pondicherry - Swamimalai - Kumbakonam.
Depart this morning for Swamimalai and visit its traditional Bronze Casting centre. Continue to Kumbakonam, a holy city, famous for its many temples, art, brassware and handloom saris. (B)

DAY 6: Kumbakonam - Tanjore - Kumbakonam.
Today, journey to Tanjore for a fascinating look at its sights including the iconic Brihadeshwara Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which houses exquisitely decorated shrine enclosed in two courtyards. You'll also visit the Tanjore Royal Palace and Museum with its fascinating collections of 19th century royal artefacts. This afternoon visit Darasuram, famous for its Temple of Airavateshvara, a UNESCO World Heritage site, dedicated to the Lord Shiva and a well preserved example of 12th century Chola architecture. (B)

DAY 7: Kumbakonam - Madurai.
This morning drive to Karaikudi for a visit to its renowned Antique Bazaar. Later, why not join our very special optional Chettinad cuisine lunch at the Bangala? This afternoon travel to Madurai, which at 2500 years old, is one of south India's oldest towns. This evening, visit the Flower and Temple Market before getting a glimpse of Madurai's devout religious culture on a visit to the Meenakshi Temple at prayer time. (B)

DAY 8: Madurai - Periyar National Park.
Drive to Periyar this morning, with the rest of the day at leisure. High in Kerala's Western Ghats this magnificent reserve boasts wooded hills, a picturesque lake and a cool climate, creating perfect conditions for exotic wildlife, including elephants, deer, boar, kingfishers and the elusive tiger, of which there are thought to be around 40 living in the park. (B)

DAY 9: Periyar National Park - Kumarakom. Backwater Houseboat cruise.
Head to Kumarakom this morning, visiting a spice garden on the way before boarding your houseboat for a cruise along the still backwaters. You'll pass a mosaic of palm plantations and local people swimming and washing their laundry on the riverbanks, giving you an enthralling insight into hidden Kerala. Overnight stay on Lake Vembanad. (B, L, D)

DAY 10: Backwater Houseboat cruise - Cochin.
Say goodbye to your houseboat this morning at Alleppey and drive to Cochin, a hugely important spice trading port since the 14th century, and now a cosmopolitan business centre. This afternoon, see the city's Portuguese-built Mattancherry Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue and St Francis Church, which holds the palm-leafed title deed that the Raja handed to the occupying Portuguese in 1503. Also, marvel at the intricate beauty and rhythm of Cochin's legendary Chinese Fishing Nets, unique to this part of Kerala. In the evening, enjoy a spectacular show of Keralan classic dance. (B)

DAY 11: Cochin - Ooty.
This morning we head to Ooty known as the 'Queen of Hill Stations'. Ooty nestles in the slopes of the picturesque Nilgiri mountains and is encircled by lush vegetation and sweeping valleys. (B)

DAY 12: Ooty.
Today, board a miniature, narrow gauge 'toy train' for a wonderfully evocative journey meandering through green hills to Coonnoor, returning by road. This afternoon, soak up the delights of Ooty's famous Botanical Gardens with their exotic flora and fauna, and the 20 million year old fossilised tree trunk. You will also visit Ooty Lake and Dodabetta Peak, which offers some of the best panoramas in the area. (B)

DAY 13: Ooty - Mysore.
This morning, drive to Mysore. Charming and peaceful, this historic town has hardly been touched by modernity and overflows with magnificent palaces, decorative gardens and sacred temples. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B)

DAY 14: Mysore.
Enjoy a full day's excursion to Sravenabelagola, one of the oldest and most important Jain Pilgrimage sites. Constructed sometime between 980-983AD, the town's Gommateshwara statue is reached by nearly 700 steps. Continue onto Srirangapatnam, a fortress built on a long island on the Cauvery River. Inside the fortress walls, visit the mosque and the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, the summer palace of Tipu Sultan, the legendary 18th century ruler. (B)

DAY 15: Mysore - Chennai.
This morning, enjoy a tour of Mysore including a panoramic drive past the city's colonial buildings and a visit to the magnificent Mysore Palace, a wonderful example of the Indo-Saracenic architectural style. From there, on to Chamundi Hill, the site of a summer palace complex housing an ancient temple and the Nandi, a giant depiction of a sacred bull carved from a single boulder. In the afternoon, transfer to Mysore's railway station to board the Shatabdi Express to Chennai for an overnight stay. (B)

DAY 16: Chennai - UK.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK. (B)