Great Southern Getaway - 15 days

tourhub | On The Go Tours | Great Southern Getaway - 15 days | 694/GSG | Map

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~~$4495~~

$4281

Great Southern Getaway - 15 days

15 Days Starting in Chennai and ending in Kochi

Visiting: Chennai, Mahabalipuram, The scenic blue mountain railway, Mudumalai , Mysore, Nagerhole NP, Wayanad , Kozhikode, Kochi

Tour operator:

On The Go Tours

Tour code:

694/GSG

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

2 - 24

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

None, though not recommended for under 5yrs

Tour operated in:

English

Trip Styles:

Small Group

Interests:

Cultural

From: $4495 $4281 Travel Club discount: -$214

NB: Prices correct on 21-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

Tour Overview

PRIVATE TOUR: Discover exotic stone carved temples, princely palaces and colonial hill stations. Take a train journey on the scenic Blue Mountain Railway, cruise the backwaters of Kochi and spot elephant from your jungle hide-away at both Mudumalai and Nagarhole National Parks.

Highlights

Blue Mountain Railway - Travel this UNESCO World Heritage listed railway
Mudumalai National Park - Explore the home to the endangered Indian elephant and the Bengal Tiger
Mysore - Tour the palaces, gardens and old world charm
Srirangapatnam Island and Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary - Visit and explore this island and sanctuary
Somnathpur - See the home of the famous Keseva Temple
Coonoor Hill Station - Stroll around and enjoy the mountain scenery, coffee and tea plantations
Mahabalipuram – Discover the striking Shore Temple which sits on the beautiful Bay of Bengal
Nagarhole National Park - Explore tiger and elephant country
Guruvayur - Explore the famous Krishna Temple and Elephant Stables
Kochi - Visit the Parsi Synagogue, Dutch Palace and St Francis’ Church
Wayanad - Discover the Sultan Battery's Abandoned Jain Temple
Coastal Chennai - Visit the capital of Tamil Nadu

Show all

Itinerary

tourhub | On The Go Tours | Great Southern Getaway - 15 days | 694/GSG | Route Map

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Day 1: Chennai

Location: Chennai

Arrive Chennai airport and transfer to the seaside town of Mahabalipuram. Situated on the Bay of Bengal, Mahabalipuram offers long white sand beaches and some of the best archeological sites to be found in the state of Tamil Nadu.

Day 2: Mahabalipuram

Location: Mahabalipuram

Accommodation Name: Overnight: Train

Meals Included: Breakfast

Mahabalipuram - Coonoor. Touring the town’s sites to the rhythm of chisels chipping granite provides evidence of the strong stone carving traditions that have endured since the 8th century - Pallava dynasty. Visiting the beautiful ancient stone carved Shore Temple, presiding over the long, flat beach we discover high wall friezes, intricately carved bas reliefs and shrines dedicated to both Siva and Vishnu. It is also of interest to inspect the east facing alter designed to catch the rising sun and the large stone pillar with mountings to hold a beacon for sailors at night out at sea. Later we return to Chennai in time to board the Nilgari Express bound for Mettupalayam.

Day 3: The Scenic Blue Mountain Railway

Location: The scenic blue mountain railway

Upon arrival to Mettupalayam we board the narrow gauge Blue Mountain Railway toy train destined for Coonor. Operating since 1899, the Blue Mountain Railway with its blue and cream steam livery has chugged from Mettupalayam to Otty via Coonoor, negotiating 16 tunnels, 31 major bridges and climbing to 2193 metres. The charming 4 hour journey offers sweeping mountain views and breathtaking scenery. Upon arrival to Coonoor, transfer to hotel and afternoon at leisure.

Day 4-5: Mudumalai

Location: Mudumalai

Accommodation Name: Overnight: Mudumalai National Park

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Coonor - Mudumalai - breakfast. Today we drive to the nearby Mudumalai National Park for a 2 night stay. Wake up each day with a foray of India’s great wildlife right at your doorstep. The 322 sq km predominantly deciduous forest is a sanctuary for Indian bison, Nilgiri langur, bonnet macaques (monkeys), peacock, jackel, hyena and a few tigers and leopards. The northern reaches of the park are home to one of the largest population of elephant in all of India. Over the following days enjoy morning and afternoon jeep safaris and in the evening retire to your jungle lodge equipped with all the mod-cons to make for an enjoyable and relaxing stay.

Day 6-7: Mysore

Location: Mysore

Meals Included: Breakfast

Mudumalai NP - Mysore. This morning its goodbye to your jungle hideaway and onward travel to Mysore - the former capital of the princely state, ruled by Wodeyars dynasty royalty from 1399 - 1947. The city of former glory and grandeur, enchanted admirers with its quaint charm, rich heritage, magnificent palaces, beautifully laid-out gardens, imposing buildings, broad shady avenues and sacred temples. After exploration we continue to Somnathpur, visiting the only complete temple of the Hoysala empire in the region. The small but exquisite Keseva Temple, dates from the 11th century. Day 7 offers a city tour of Mysore and visits to the island of Srirangapatnam and the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary.

Day 8-9: Nagerhole Np

Location: Nagerhole NP

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Mysore - Nagarhole NP. Today we drive west to Nagarhole National Park, once the Maharaja’s reserve forest turned national park in 1955. The park name, Nagarhole is derived from the Kannada word, naga meaning snake and hole meaning stream. True to its name Nagarhole is criss-crossed with serpentine streams. Covering gentle hills bordering Kerala, the area includes swampland, streams and tributaries, moist deciduous forest, stands of bamboo and valuable teak and rosewood trees. Spot Asian elephant, four horned antelope, flying squirrels and on occasion leopard and tiger. A jeep safari is offered on the afternoon of day 8. Day 9 - morning and afternoon safaris.

Day 10-11: Wayanad

Location: Wayanad

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Nagarhole NP – Wayanad. Wayanad, the green paradise is nestled among the mountains of the Western Ghats, forming the border world of the greener part of Kerala. Clean and pristine, enchanting and hypnotizing, this land is filled with history and culture. Located at a distance of 76 km from the seashores of Kozhikode, this verdant hill station is full of plantations, forests and wildlife. Wayanad hills are contiguous to Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu and Bandipur in Karnataka, thus forming a vast land mass for the wildlife to move about in their most natural abode.

Enjoy the days at leisure and consider optional activities available within your resort including nature walks and trails.

Day 12: Kozhikode

Location: Kozhikode

Meals Included: Breakfast

Wayanad – Kozhikode. Drive from Wayanad to Kozhikode (Approx 90 kms - 4 hours). Arrive and transfer to your hotel.

Kozhikode is a coastal city in the south Indian state of Kerala. It was a significant spice trade center and is close to Kappad Beach, where Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama landed in 1498. The rest of the day is spent at leisure. Consider visiting central Kozhikode Beach, which overlooks and old lighthouse and is a popular spot to watch the sunset.

Day 13-14: Kochi

Location: Kochi

Meals Included: Breakfast

Kozikode - Kochi. Today we drive to Kochi. Stops are made at Krishna Temple and the Punnathur Kotta Elephant Stables. Krishna Temple is one of the holiest sites in Kerala. The heaving Hindi pilgrimage centre is filled with stalls and thronged with devotees wanting to take darshan - a viewing with the deity. It is said to be one of the wealthiest temples in India, with a waiting list for the auspicious duty of lighting its oil lamps filled up until 2025. Afterwards, we arrive in Kochi and check in to the hotel.

Day 14, offers a guided sightseeing tour with visits to the Parsi Synagogue, Dutch Palace, St Francis’ Church and an evening Kathakali dance performance.

Day 15: Kochi

Location: Kochi

Meals Included: Breakfast

Kochi - breakfast. Arrangements conclude after breakfast and onward transfer to the airport.

What's Included

Accommodation
Our rating: Standard
12 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 6 dinners
13 nights 3-4 star hotels
Touring and excursions as per itinerary
Kathakali dance performance
Blue Mountain railway toy train journey
Visit to Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
3 game drives - Mudumalai National Park
3 game drives - Nagarhole National Park
Entrance fees for all included sightseeing
Services of English-speaking Indian specialist guides for all included sight-seeing
1 overnight sleeper train journey on the Nilgari Express, Chennai to Mettupalayam
An airport arrival transfer day 1 and a departure transfer day 15
All relevant transfer and transportation in private modern Chauffeur driven air-conditioned vehicles (excluding game drives)

What's Not Included

International flights and visa
Tipping - An entirely personal gesture

Age Policy

None, though not recommended for under 5yrs

Check out our Q&As

What is the tipping policy?

Tipping - An entirely personal gesture
What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?

Standard
Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

Yes
Are airport transfers included in this tour?

An airport arrival transfer day 1 and a departure transfer day 15
What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

Ensuring our footprint is light and that the benefits of travelling reach the local communities you visit is paramount to us. We’re proud to say that when travelling with us, the large majority of your holiday funds remain within the countries you visit, supporting local economies at a grass roots level.

How long has the tour company been trading?

Since 1998
Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

With English-speaking tours, it's not a huge surprise that most on our travellers are from English-speaking countries or have English as their second language. Our group tours cater for everyone from 18 years old to 70+
Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

Yes

Reviews of this operator

Nicola Hodgkinson (Google Reviewer)

Recently returned from Greece, a...

07-May-2024

Recently returned from Greece, a 5 day tour with OTG. Unfortunately, I had a negative experience on day 2 where I needed local support to get me out of a tricky situation. Thank you to Alexandra Z from Hetco Tours in Athens for helping me continue on with the trip, to the Hotel Zafolia staffing team and to Danielle and team here in the UK for supporting me with the aftermath. Your kindness will not be forgotten and I will pay it forward. I've now booked 3 trips with yourselves and will continue to go back. Thank you all. Honestly, I am SO grateful. Blessings to you all. Nicola

Calvin

Wonderful experience

05-Jan-2023

Jamal is our tour guide. Right from the start, he created a group chat in whatsapp and if any issues to make sure we contact him. He was on the ball with every issue thrown at him. Luggage being left behind, stragglers wondered off in a different path, hotel room etc. He explains the various site along our route to give us a better understanding of the local cultures. We had a great time, thanks to Jamal.

Trustpilot

Norma Sullivan

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10-Sep-2021

The Land of Northern Lights tour was a triumph! My tour of Southern Iceland was absolutely wonderful. The venues chosen, the timing allotted at each venue and the variety of things to experience was nearly perfect. Our guide, "Thor", was smart, amusing, full of history and anecdotal stories as well as being incredibly hospitable and helpful. This small group experience was my first, but not my last thanks to On the Go.

Trawls (Google Reviewer)

On The Go Tours Sri...

05-Feb-2024

On The Go Tours Sri Lanka was an incredible experience that was made even better by our tour guide Akthar. He was incredibly knowledgeable about his country and he loved sharing it with us. The tour covers a wide range of activities so you can truly experience what Sri Lanka is all about. The beautiful 4-5 star hotels at the end of every day was an absolute bonus. Thanks for a great trip OTGT I’m sure this won’t be my last

Xtreme Floor Care (Google Reviewer)

Traveled through Egypt with On...

30-Nov-2023

Traveled through Egypt with On the Go Tours, professional service, very informative and helpful tour guides. The choice of hotels was excellent... Definitely recommend this company

Gavin Harrigan

King Tutankhamun 10 day tour of Egypt

16-Sep-2021

I have just returned from my tour with On The Go and it was an amazing trip! From arriving at the airport and meeting the OTG representative, everything was well organised and hassle free. Our tour guide was Amir. He is awesome!! From the beginning he was so friendly and enthusiastic about showing us around Egypt, giving us loads of information at each place and time to explore ourselves. Learnt so much from him about this fascinating place, and he was always happy to answer more questions. The trip itself was amazing. There's lots of travelling on this trip, but it's really not too bad, and the sights you see when you get to where you are going are worth it. I'm not a big fan of boats, but the Felluca ride across the Nile was pretty fun too. On the first day I also did the optional tour of Cairo with Ahmed Helal - another excellent guide from OTG. It's worth doing this add on as you don't spend much time in Cairo, and you go to three very different places. I'm so glad that I decided to do this trip. It was just ace. If you're thinking about it too, you should probably just book it. And hopefully you get Amir as your guide.

Paul Kelly (Google Reviewer)

TOTALLY MOROCCO We booked a 9...

26-Feb-2023

TOTALLY MOROCCO We booked a 9 day tour of Morocco visiting many main cities and places of interest. The coach was very comfortable and we felt safe with the driver Suliman. The guide was Hicham Touraouine and he was fantastic. He spoke perfect English as well as French, Arabic and Berber. He was so kind and considerate and made a good tour great. We particularly enjoyed ‘glamming in the Sahara Desert. So much to see and do and great food and company. We would definitely use On The Go Tours again, especially if Hicham was the guide. Paul & Penny

Joyce Heitler (Google Reviewer)

I would give this tour...

09-May-2024

I would give this tour group no stars if possible. The tour was not guaranteed but they did not inform me when I booked and they did not have enough people. Way after I booked they said I needed a doctors letter because I was over 70. Also way after booking I was informed I needed travel insurance. They knew my age when I booked. They would not refund my tour even though it was 4 months away.

Sarah Paterson (Google Reviewer)

Terrible tour of India. For...

27-Dec-2023

Terrible tour of India. For some reason On the Go hadn't realised that my room mate had booked her own room for the first night of tour. So the hotel in Delhi had tried to put me in her room after midnight, by wheeling in an extra bed. She went Crazy!! I then had to sit in hotel reception for hours. While the tour guide said he couldn't find me a room. Throughout the tour the guide consistently ask me and my room mate for money for my room, causing more friction between us. Don't book with this company had the worst experience ever. Go with Intrepid or G Adventure

brandy hoffman (Google Reviewer)

I had used them once...

09-Aug-2023

I had used them once before and loved them. I decided to try them again for a Baltic tour not knowing that they put me on another Tour group- Baltic vision. Loved that tour but was not impressed they marked up the cost for me over 100%. I understand taking some for yourself because of paperwork, but over double the cost everyone else paid on the tour. Just double check before you book with them that you’re not over paying.

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Nov 24, 2024 - Dec 08, 2024

~~$4495~~ $4281