Stunning South

Or the traveler's paradise. You have got all that a visitor could look for: natural wonders, magnificent ancient temples, shopper's haven, traditional arts and spectacles.

Day 1: Receive at Thiruvananthapuram, Help and assist. Check in at hotel in Somatheeram. Day at leisure.

Day 2: Somatheeram, day long sightseeing tour.

Day 3: Somatheeram, day free to relax at the wonderful tropical beach, set out for fishing with local fishermen on traditional kattamaran or rejuvenate yourself with the much acclaimed Ayurveda treatment.

Day 4: Drive through the green coastal belt and cashew plantations and reach Alleppey, the central hub of the backwater network. Stay in a traditional Kerala house opening right over the Vembanad Lake and surrounded by banana plantations. Day free to relax with the option of an herbal oil massage. Also relish the wonderful Kerala cuisine in ethnic way.

Day 5: Alleppey, day will be used to closely watch backwaters lifestyle. Visit coir-making factory, a temple and bathe the elephants at the Elephant Rearing Center.

Day 6: Sail through the backwater canals and reach Kumarakom, an island with a beautiful bird-sanctuary and extremely serene atmosphere.

Day 7: Kumarakom, day free to relax and explore around.

Day 8: Drive through rubber plantations over forested mountains and finally reach Periyar National Park, one of the best jungles in India to see wild elephants. Day free to explore on your own.

Day 9: Visit the National Park on boat over Periyar Lake where several wild animals congregate at different times.

Day 10: Madurai, drive out of the Kerala hills and reach the Tamil Nadu plains, the Dravidian heartland. Visit the Thirumal Nayaka Palace and the Dravidian masterpiece Meenakshi Sundereshwar temple.

Day 11: Thanjavur, driving down to the fertile rice growing plains of Cauvery, reach Tiruchirapally. Nearby visit the enormous Srirangam temple and then continue to the Chola citadel of Tanjore. Visit the World heritage Brihadishvara temple.

Day 12: Reach the erstwhile French colony Pondicherry of beautiful boulevards, gothic structures and quiet beaches. Day free to relax and unwind.

Day13: Pondicherry, morning head out for boat trips to see dolphins. During the day visit Auroville (city of dawn), the famous center for spiritual learning and meditation named after Guru Sri Aurobindo Ghosh.

Day 14: Drive through the fertile Coromondal coastline and reach Mahabalipuram, famous for its shore temples and other monuments which are in a form of epic recreated on stone.

Day15: Morning walk over the seashore and explore the temples on own. Later drive towards Chennai and en route visit Dakshinchitra. Day free to move around in Chennai. Also visit one of the many famous auditoriums for live performance of Indian classical dances.

Day16: Chennai, sightseeing trip of the city. Also visit Kalakshetra, the world famous cultural center founded by Rukmini Devi Arundale and Theosophical Society with its huge Banyan tree.

Day 17: Chennai, assisted in check out for onward journey. Your package end on this day.