Departure from Paris on a scheduled flight.

Arrival in Chennai, transfer and check-in at the hotel***.

Around 10am, departure for an exceptional tour of the city by auto-rikshaw, a plus Human Trip.
Your drivers are disadvantaged women, trained by the Speed Trust association to drive these small three-wheeled taxis.
You will visit the temple of the Ramakrishna monastic order, the San Tome Basilica which houses the relics of the Apostle Thomas, the Nochikuppam fish market, the lighthouse overlooking the vast Madras beach and Fabindia, where you can buy local clothing in a fair trade spirit.
After lunch at Karaikkudi, you will be taken to the Speed Trust organisation, and then at around 5pm, you will attend a Bharathanatyam class, the sacred South Indian dance codified by the God Shiva.

Lunch included, dinner on your own, rickshaw ride included.

Departure for Mahabalipuram (60 km). On the way stop at Dakshinachitra, a village-museum created by a private foundation and which presents the traditional houses of the Dravidian states, according to regions, professions and castes.
Arrival in Mahabalipuram and check-in at the hotel***. In the afternoon, visit of the monuments of the city inscribed on the World Heritage List: Mandapams and bas-relief of the descent of the Ganges, the Five Rathas and the Shore Temple.
In the evening, Palani, a local fisherman, affected by the Tsunami, will prepare an unforgettable fish dinner at his home. A Human Trip exclusive. Breakfast and dinner included. The rest to be paid on the spot.

Early morning departure for Pondicherry. Early morning departure for Pondicherry (100km - 2h00). Check-in at the hotel. You will visit the old city, witness of the French presence during three centuries: the Ashram of Sri Aurobindo, Our Lady of the Angels, the seaside, the Ayi Mandapa and the church of the Sacred Heart.
In the afternoon, visit the picturesque city market, followed by free time on the lively Nehru Street.

Overnight in Pondi.

Second day in Pondicherry. You will visit the Rajiv Gandhi Home for Handicapped where you will share lunch with the residents and discover the production of incense and the sublime embroidery work done by the women.
In the afternoon you will visit the TAS organisation and its Kalamkari workshop.

Lunch is included. Breakfast and dinner are to be paid for on site. Overnight stay in Pondi.

Departure for Tanjore and the Chola Country (180 km - 4h00).
En route, you will visit the temples of Gangakondacholapuram and Darasuram before reaching Tanjore. Afterwards, check-in at the hotel***.

Free meals.

After breakfast, early morning departure in the low light to visit the impressive Chola temple the Brihadiswara. Then visit the Maharaja's Palace and the Bronzes Museum, which houses a unique collection of statues cast using the "lost wax" technique.

Overnight at the hotel***.

After breakfast, departure for Trichy to visit the Rock Fort Temple, which dominates the town. Then transfer to Amoor, a beautiful name given to this ecotourism village, a project of the SEVAI organisation (70km - 1h30). You will discover rural life and activities and spend the night in the village where cottages are installed. A good way to support a humanitarian project, a plus of Human Trip.

Dinner included in the village.

Transfer to Madurai via Karaikkudi and Chettiar Country (180 km - 3h30), the cultural cradle of Tamil Nadu. On the way, you will visit the Avyanar horse lines, the little-known Vishnu temple of Thirumayam and the fort on top of it. Stop at Kanadukkathan, an extraordinary village of palaces built by the Chettiar community when they traded teak with Malaysia and Burma. Typical lunch (included) at the Chettinad Mansion and visit the makers of Athangudi ceramics, the ones that adorn the palaces and furniture of the Chettinad.

Check-in at the hotel***.

After breakfast, visit Madurai: the Meenakshi Temple, the Nayak Dynasty Palace and the Gandhi Museum. In the evening, excursion to the Meenakshi Temple to attend the Sundareswar sunset ceremony with Maanakshi, the incarnations of Shiva and Parvathi respectively.

Early morning departure after breakfast for Thekkady in Kerala (140 km - 3h00). Check-in at the hotel***.

In the afternoon, visit the Periyar Reserve by jeep and elephant ride.
In the evening performance of Kalaripayat, the traditional Indian martial art, which gave birth to the Chinese and Japanese martial arts.

Free meals.

After breakfast, return to the Periyar wildlife sanctuary for a canoe trip on the lake.

Around 10.00 am, departure for Allepey (140 km - 3.00 am) and accommodation in a family guesthouse where you will spend the night.

Then breakfast. Around 11.00 am, you will board a houseboat to cruise the backwaters, the famous canals typical of this region.

Day, meal and overnight on board.

Return to Allepey and transfer to Fort Cochin (70km - 1h30), check-in at the hotel***.
A day devoted to visiting the city of Fort Cochin, which was landed in the 16th century by Portuguese navigators. You'll see India's oldest church, which for a long time housed the relics of Vasco da Gama, Chinese fishing nets bearing witness to India's trade with the Far East, and the cathedral.

Second day in Fort Cochin to discover the Mattancherry Palace, the Jewish town and its synagogue, and the spice market. In the evening you will attend a Kathakali show, the traditional theatre of Kerala, performed exclusively by men.

Breakfast, then transfer to the airport.