East to West Coast: Southern India

This eight-night escorted tour begins in Mamallapuram, where low tides reveal the stone-carved Shore Temple before time is given to roam local markets. Next is Thanjavur, home to the Brihadeshwara Temple, a towering example of Chola architecture where you can watch bronze casting artisans at work.

Madurai follows with its Meenakshi Temple complex, including the Thousand Pillared Hall, presenting a different scale and energy compared to earlier stops. The journey continues through the cardamom plantations of Thekkady before drifting on a traditional boat along the Kerala backwaters. Here, a homestay offers a chance to see daily life from a quieter perspective.

G Adventures leads this small group with a Chief Experience Officer and local guides, balancing included visits with free time to wander or relax. The mix of road, train and boat travel means the group moves at a steady pace, with moments for reflection amid the region’s often crowded and noisy environment. India’s unpredictability is part of the rhythm, and patience will be well rewarded.

New to India? Our India guide has the practical essentials: money, plugs, visas and when to go.

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These are the places the trip visits, in order. G Adventures publishes the day-by-day itinerary on its own site.