Itineraries: Southern India

Day 1: Arrival. Travel from Chennai to Mahabalipuram

Welcome to India, a new world! Our 28-day South India adventure begins at the Chennai International Airport. North Star Journeys will have arranged a meeting place and time in the airport where you will be greeted by your North American guide from North Star Journeys (NSJ) as well as your local Indian guides from North Star South India (NSSI). Following introductions, the group will make the 90-minute trip to the coastal town of Mahabalipuram. After registering at the guesthouse, you are free to recover from your long journey by resting in your room, taking a walk along the beach, or enjoying one of the many open air restaurants for an afternoon chai. The group will gather later for a brief meeting before officially beginning your introduction to Indian food in India! We recommend that you retire early in order to help adjust to the time change of your new continent.

Day 2: Exploration of Mahabalipuram

Following breakfast, you and your guides will head out to view some of the local ancient sculptural works. Later in the morning, the group will board a bus to the nearby town of Kanchipuram to visit temples. This will begin an ongoing presentation of the role of religion in Indian life and culture. Time today will also be made for your own investigation of the area, as well as the opportunity to meet as a group for questions and discussions before the group goes out to dinner.

Day 3: Mahabalipuram to Pondicherry

The group will meet over breakfast and discuss the particulars of the upcoming journey to Pondicherry before walking to the “bus station”. Following the two hour ride and arrival at the guest house, you will take autorickshaws to visit a local ashram and then tour some of the area paper mills. Both NSSI and NSJ guides will be available for group or one-on-one discussion.

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Day 4: Exploration of Pondicherry

Following a leisurely morning, you make the short trip to nearby Auroville for a visit to the Matri Mandir and the community. During an afternoon group meeting, we will discuss the following day’s travel. The evening is free for strolling through the Pondicherry town center, parks, or a walk along the sea wall.

Day 5: Pondicherry to Thanjavur

An early morning and you board a bus to Villupuram to catch a train for the four hour trip to Thanjavur. Having settled into the guest house you will pay a visit to the Brihadishwara Temple, a World Heritage site. The afternoon and evening may be spent visiting museums, art galleries, restaurants, or just resting at the guesthouse. Guides will be available for questions or discussions.

Day 6: Thanjavur to Trichy

The group will take a morning hour and a half train ride to Trichy. Apart from Chennai, this is the largest city so far in the tour. NSSI guides will make recommendations on points of interest. The day’s activities will include purchasing train tickets for tomorrow’s departure for Madurai.

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Day 7: Trichy to Madurai

After breakfast and a group review of the day’s plan, you leave for the station and board the train. Following the five hour journey, the group will check themselves into the designated guest house. NSSI local guides will make recommendations for dinner and both NSSI local guides and the NSJ guide will be available to discuss questions concerning the day.

Day Eleven represents the completion of the first quarter of your travels in India. The focus will have been on exposing you to and having you gain familiarity accessing: multiple forms of travel, lodging, bargaining, an introduction to Southern Indian cuisine, and the role of religions in Indian culture. As part of the Learning the Art of Travel Program, from this point forward you will be able to slowly take on more responsibility for yourselves as travelers and rely on the guides less.

Day 8: Exploration of Madurai

A morning group departure on local transportation to investigate the city, including the Meenakshi temple, known to be the largest in Southern India, and the Gandhi Museum. Group members are encouraged to use their developing knowledge base to access transport and food throughout the day. NSSI local guides will be available to review these choices. At the end of the day, there will be a group meeting to discuss the plan for the following day’s bus journey to Kumily.

Day 9: Madurai to Kumily

Based on the previous nights’ meeting, the group will be encouraged to make their own way to the bus station in time to purchase their tickets. The entire group will meet prior to departure to board together for the four hour bus ride to Kumily. After checking themselves into the guest house, the group will depart for a jeep tour of a local spice plantation before heading out to find dinner.

Day 10: Exploration of Thekkedy and Kumily

Following a brief mid-morning meeting, the group will depart with local transportation to explore the area, ending up at the docks of the Periyar wildlife sanctuary for the afternoon. Following this, the group will have the evening free.

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Day 11: Kumily to Varkala

A group meeting over breakfast prior to departure will set the plan for the day. Local transportation will take the group to the bus station for the six hour ride to Varkala. Group members will be encouraged to complete the remainder of the day’s trip to the guest house on their own. A brief group gathering before dinner will close the day and NSSI guides and the NSJ guide will be available to answer questions afterwards.

Days 12– 13: Relaxing in the beach town of Varkala

These two days will be spent in and around the seaside town of Varkala. Each day will have several activities which are optional and both the NSSI guides and the NSJ guide will be available for questions and discussions with the group members for the duration of the stay in Varkala.

In addition to providing the opportunity to relax, these two days mark the approaching close of the second quarter of the Indian portion of the trip. They also stand as a point of reference for the guides and each group member to evaluate their progression towards self sufficiency beneath the surface of normal tourism. Thus far, the focus has been on individual group members taking on more responsibility for themselves and relying on the guides less. Encouragement has been towards confidence on various modes of travel; determining locations for food; assessing accommodation; building a base of experience in dealing with local populations for use in future interactions. This trend towards self-sufficiency will progress with encouragement towards group members regarding the gathering of information and formulation of opinions on a range of topics important to travelers. These include health issues, safety issues, cultural interactions and the impact of tourism.

Day 14: Varkala Beach to Allepey

A brief meeting after breakfast and the group will be released to make their own way on the local train to the Gowri Guest house in Allepey. We anticipate your arrival by early afternoon. (Group members will have the option, if they prefer, to travel with the guides.) Both NSSI local guides and the NSJ guide will be available to meet with those members who have traveled alone.

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Day 15: Exploration of Allepey

The group will meet mid morning and then set out together to explore Allepey on foot. Group members may separate from the group if they choose to take advantage of an Ayurvedic massage or short trip to the beach. Group members will be required to check in with either a NSSI or NSJ guide at the Gowri guest house in the evening. There are usually impromptu music performances on the Gowri patio at night, and travelers are always invited to participate.

Day 16: Houseboat backwater cruise

An easy morning and the group will meet to take local transportation to the waterfront to board the house boat(s). While cruising in style and comfort, group members will be able to relax and take in life on the river. NSSI guides and the NSJ guide will be available for questions and discussions throughout the voyage.

Day 17: Allepey waterfront to Fort Cochin

After a difficult goodbye to your floating home, the group will head to Ernakalum where you will learn to purchase advanced sleeper class tickets for an upcoming train trip. You will take the ferry from Ernakalum to Fort Cochin. A brief meeting, then the group is free to spend the afternoon and evening exploring on their own. NSSI guides will point out the beachfront restaurant they will be going to for the evening dinner and you are welcome to join them or find your own spot for a meal and the sunset.

Day 18: Exploration of Fort Cochin

One of the busier days, it will include group visits to a local synagogue, the Dutch palace and the Chinese fishing nets of Cochin. The evening will bring the group together again for a meeting and then watching a performance of a traditional (Kathkali) dance.

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Day 19: Fort Cochin to Mettupalayam

An early start will have the group taking local transportation to the train station at Ernakulam for the 8 hour journey, including the last hour by bus, to Mettupalayam. This journey will provide further opportunities to meet with NSSI guides and the NSJ guide.

Day 20: Mettupalayam to Ooty

A shorter day by comparison, the trip to Ooty takes five hours aboard a classic steam train. As the train makes its breathtaking way through the hills, the group will have an opportunity to set their plan for Ooty. Dinner will be taken together at a local restaurant.

Day 21: Exploration of Ooty

Group members will be free to explore Ooty as they wish; however, you will be expected to give a rough idea of your plans, and will be expected to check in with either a NSSI or the NSJ guide at tea time, and then you are free again for the evening. NSSI local guides will be available to give recommendations for activities, in addition to answer questions along with the NSJ guide. For those group members who are interested, more challenging activities can be assigned for the day. Day 25 marks the completion of ¾ of the South Indian itinerary. More emphasis has been put on group members taking responsibility for themselves in all areas. The remainder of the trip will continue this focus. Group members are encouraged to experiment with all aspects of the Learning the Art of Travel Program.

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Day 22: Ooty to Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary

Following a brief brunch and meeting, the group will head out in local transportation to Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary for part of the day, and then will go to check in to their guesthouse in Mudumalai itself. Group dinner tonight at the guesthouse.

Day 23: Exploration of Mudumalai

Up and out before dawn, the group will trek for three hours through the countryside around Mudumalai. The remainder of the day may be spent relaxing at the guesthouse or exploring the village. For the evening, the group will head out for a night tour of Mudumalai wildlife and the surrounding areas.

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Day 24: Mudumalai to Mysore

Breakfast and a two hour journey to Mysore. Group members will be encouraged to find their own lodgings in a designated section of Mysore and notify the NSSI guides at the predetermined location. Exploring Mysore will be at the group member’s discretion, with the only limit being an afternoon group tour of the Mysore Palace. Following the tour of the palace and prior to group members heading off to their respective guest houses, there will be a brief meeting to discuss tomorrow’s schedule.

Day 25: Exploration of Mysore

Group members are invited to explore Chamundi hills and several fruit, vegetable, and flower markets. This day can also be spent doing yoga at the internationally renowned Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute, or any of a number of smaller centers. NSSI guides will be available to answer questions and give recommendations. Dinner may be taken with the group or separately. Tonight you will spend a second night in the guesthouse of your choice.

Day 26: Mysore to Bangalore

After group members have eaten breakfast, they will rendezvous with NSSI guides to discuss individual plans for making the three hour trip to Bangalore. Five trains and several buses are available for travelers to choose from. The day may therefore either be spent in Mysore or in Bangalore. The group will meet at a predetermined location for a late dinner to discuss plans for the following day.

Day 27: Bangalore to Chennai

Breakfast and morning exploration of one of India’s most modern cities. This would be a good time to take care of any shopping that you wish to complete before leaving the country. The group will meet at an appointed time and place and then take an afternoon train to Chennai. We will check into the guesthouse together, enjoy a late dinner together, and reflect on the trip with one another. This will be our last night in India!

Day 28: Chennai. Departure onward

Flight times will dictate the schedule for the day. We will say goodbye to our new friends and head off on our next adventures knowing we have acquired a wealth of knowledge about India, its culture, religion, its people, and most importantly, about ourselves as travelers.