Arrive in Chennai and meet your guide before driving to Mahabalipuram, a town famous for its rock carvings and sculptures. Check into the Intercontinental. Welcome dinner at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Explore the traditional rural village of Mahabalipuram by auto-rickshaw and by foot before heading to the Shore temples, some of the oldest in South India. There you can see the world's largest bas relief carving and five unique monolithic temples called the Five Rathas. In the afternoon visit Dakshina Chitra, a living museum of Southern Indian arts, architecture, crafts, and performing arts.

After breakfast, drive to Pondicherry, a former French colony that still retains a lot of French influence. Visit Auroville, founded in 1968 by followers of the local spiritual guru Sri Aurobindo.

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After arriving in Pondicherry, take an afternoon walking tour and rickshaw ride through the city.

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Kumbakonam, once the capital of the Cholas dynasty in the 7th century. Visit the Temple of Gangaikonda Cholapuram before checking into your hotel where you can do various activities on site. In the evening participate in an aarti ceremony with a Hindu priest before enjoying dinner and a cultural dance performance.

After breakfast, take a bullock cart ride through the village of Kumbakonam to see the daily life of Indian villagers. You will also see artisans working with brass, something that Kumbakonam is famous for.

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Drive to Tanjore and spend the afternoon visiting Thanjavur Palace, with its many hand-painted dolls. In the evening, head to Brihadeshwara Temple to see an aarti ceremony.

Breakfast at the hotel. Head to Madurai, stopping along the way in Trichy to visit the Rock Fort Temple complex. Visitors must climb 400 steps to reach the top.

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Dinner at your hotel in Madurai.

Breakfast at the hotel. Walk through the flower and vegetable markets of the city before visiting the Gandhi Museum, which features his artwork along with his writing. From there, head to Tirumalai Nayak Palace and Meenakshi Temple. Then visit a local orphanage. Return to your hotel for dinner.

After breakfast, drive to Periyar, the spice capital of Kerala. Take a tour of a spice plantation to see how many are grown in India. In the evening see a Kalaripayattu martial arts performance. Kalaripayattu is one of the world's oldest martial arts and is known as the mother of all martial arts.

Breakfast at the hotel. Take a wildlife viewing cruise on Periyar Lake in the Periyar Wildlife Reserve to see Indian elephants and other animals native to India. If you're very lucky, you might spot one of the very elusive tigers. After lunch, return to the Wildlife Reserve for a walk through the jungle with a naturalist guide, allowing you to see rare species of flora and fauna up close.

After breakfast, drive to Kumarakom, a coastal town in the backwaters of Kerala. Visit Philipkutty's Farm, a 50-acre farming estate. Here, you will get a unique opportunity to interact with a local family and take a cooking class. Enjoy lunch with the family before heading back to your hotel for an afternoon of relaxation.

Breakfast at the hotel. Board a traditional houseboat and take a day cruise through the backwaters of Kerala, which consists of a complex network of lagoons, lakes, and canals. Enjoy lunch on board and return to the hotel for a relaxing afternoon.

After breakfast, visit the Kumarakom bird sanctuary on the banks of Vembanad Lake. From there, drive to Kochi, the largest city in Kerala, which was once a trading point for the Dutch, the Portuguese, and the British. Take a tour of the Pardesi Synagogue, which was built in 1568, a symbol of the mix of cultures that came to Kerala during its mercantile heyday.

Breakfast at the hotel. Take a guided walking tour through Old Kochi and visit Fort Kochi, the St. Francis Church, and historic Chinese fishing nets that are still used by local fishermen.

Afternoon is free to explore Kochi.

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In the evening, see a spectacular Kathakali performance, one of the oldest theater forms in India with vibrant characters dressed in elaborate costumes. Dinner included with the performance.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for your flight home.