South India “Eastern wisdom in the heart of India’s Deep South”.

DAY 1 ǀ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2024 | MONTREAL – CHENNAI

Depart Montreal airport for a late afternoon flight to Chennai. Dinner and overnight on your plane.

DAY 2 ǀ SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, NOVEMBER 8 | CHENNAI

Breakfast, lunch and dinner on the plane. Arrive overnight in Chennai, transfer and overnight at your hotel The Residency Towers or similar.

DAY 3 ǀ SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2024 | CHENNAI

After breakfast, begin your discovery of Chennai: San Thome Basilica, also known as “Saint Thomas Mount”. Built in the 16th century by the Portuguese, then remodeled as a cathedral, it is said to house the saint’s relics in its crypt. The cathedral also boasts a 90 cm high statue of the Virgin Mary, brought from Portugal in 1543. And a visit to Fort St. George, built in 1654, where the British presence in southern India was gradually organized. Dinner included. Visit to the Hindu temple of Kapeeleswar. Overnight in Chennai at your hotel, The Residency Towers or similar.

DAY 4 ǀ MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2024 | CHENNAI – MAHABALIPURAM

After breakfast, drive to Mahabalipuram. And en route, visit Kanchipuram, Although its name means “city of gold”, Kanchipuram is the city of temples and one of India’s seven holy cities. It was the city of the Pallava kings, who ruled for between 6 and 8 centuries. The Pallavas made Kanchipuram a tolerant city where Buddhists and Jains could worship without restriction. Hence the multitude of temples here, testifying to 13 centuries of history. In the 7th century, during the reign of the Pallava dynasty, Mahâballipuram was probably an important port of communication with Srivijaya in Indonesia and the Kingdom of Champâ on the Indochinese peninsula. However, while no port facilities have been found to date, the tsunami resulting from the December 26, 2004 earthquake uncovered structures that could be linked to this activity. The site features a large number of Hindu monuments dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu, Krishna and the heroes of the Mahâbhârata. Overnight at the Radisson Temple Bay Hotel or similar.

DAY 5 ǀ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2024 | MAHABALIPURAM – PONDICHERRY

After breakfast, discover the city of Mahabalipuram. The breathtakingly beautiful pagodas or rathas are small temples carved from large boulders and shaped like chariots dedicated to the Pandava princes. But Mahäbalipuram’s masterpiece is the “Penance of Bhagirath”, the largest stone bas-relief in the world. Its dynamism gives the impression that the figures are alive. And a visit to Shore temple, watered by the waves for thirteen centuries. Then on to Pondicherry – the former French trading post. On arrival, check into your hotel. Overnight at The Residency Towers or similar.

DAY 6 ǀ WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2024 | PONDICHERRY – VOLUNTEER DAY

Breakfast. The whole day is available to interact with mentally handicapped women, where group members can assist them in their daily routines and pass on valuable life skills. We also plan to involve group members in creative activities such as paper bag making, paper carpet making and bag weaving. There could also be activities such as community service or assistance with local initiatives. Donations expected for these activities. Overnight in Pondicherry at The Residency Towers hotel or similar.

DAY 7 ǀ THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2024 | PONDICHERRY

After breakfast, departure for a stroll through Pondicherry’s French Quarter and observe the French influence on this city. Then visit the Pondicherry Museum and the Aurobindo Ashram, now an Integral Yoga center. The main building houses the marble samadhi where Aurobindo and his mother are laid to rest. Lunch with the group and the rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight at The Residency Towers hotel or similar.

DAY 8 ǀ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2024 | PONDICHERY – TANJORE

After breakfast, drive to Kumbakonam (approx. 02-03 hours’ drive). On the way, stop at Chidambaram to discover the superb Shiva Nataraja shrine, a true representation of Dravidian art. Inside, you’ll see numerous temples, dance halls and meeting places for Brahmins, whose role is to oversee the ritual. And a visit to the Darasuram. Then it’s on to the city of Tanjore. Former capital of the Cholas, Tanjore boasts the ancient Brihadeshvara temple, whose frescoes, filled with refined detail, are a jewel of Chola architecture. The Saraswati Mahal Palace, built in the 17th century, houses a superb collection of Chola bronzes. You can also visit the art gallery, which houses a fine collection of bronzes. On arrival, check into your hotel. Overnight at the Great Trails River views hotel or similar.

DAY 9 ǀ SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2024 | TANJORE – MADURAI

After breakfast, drive to Madurai. On arrival, check into hotel. Madurai, known as the Athens of the East, is a place of great historical and cultural significance. It is the oldest city in Tamil Nadu and lies on the banks of the Vaigai River. Then it’s on to Madurai, the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and a major Hindu center. Madurai has a lotus-shaped layout, the heart of which is the famous Meenakshi temple. It is one of India’s largest city temples. The 5 surrounding gopurams (pagodas) are famous for their stucco work. Dinner and overnight at your Courtyard by Marriott hotel or similar.

DAY 10 ǀ SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2024 | MADURAI – MUNNAR

After breakfast, departure on the winding road to Munnar. Munnar is a city in the Indian state of Kerala. Munnar is famous for its many tea plantations. Tea plantations as far as the eye can see, stretching for miles around. Then, a visit to the tea museum. Munnar holds a veritable heritage when it comes to the origins and evolution of tea plantations. Rest of the afternoon at leisure. Dinner on site. Overnight in Munnar at your hotel, the Ambady Estate or similar.

DAY 11 ǀ MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2024 | MUNNAR – PERIYAR

After breakfast, drive to Periyar (approx. 145 kms/04 hours drive), located on Lake Vembanad. On arrival, check into hotel. Periyar is a world of softness: landscapes colored in the soft green or golden yellow of rice paddies, hills with lush vegetation, a jungle still populated by wild elephants near the large estates of tea or spice planters. This part of Kerala is one of the great centers of spice production. The surrounding hills are covered with plantations of pepper, cardamom, cumin, coffee, cloves and more. Overnight at GreenWoods Resort or similar.

DAY 12 ǀ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2024 | PERIYAR

After breakfast at the hotel, departure to discover the spice plantations in the area. A must for anyone who cares about taste and flavor, a visit to a spice plantation gives you a better understanding of how the spices used in everyday cooking around the world are grown, harvested and processed before they reach your local supermarket. The tour also gives you a first-hand insight into the wonderful world of spices and their history, culture, medicinal and economic values, etc. In the afternoon, take a boat trip on the lake to visit the reserve. Overnight at Greenwoods Resort Hotel or similar.

DAY 13 ǀ WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2024 | PERIYAR – KUMARAKOM

After breakfast, drive to hotel (Kumarakom). On arrival, check-in at the hotel. The rest of the day is free. Kumarakom is popularly known as the rice bowl of Kerala. It’s a group of small islets on Lake Vembanad, a picturesque and unspoilt village. It’s a breathtaking landscape of mangrove forests, green rice paddies and coconut groves interspersed with fascinating waterways and canals. Overnight at Lakesong Resort Hotel or similar.

DAY 14 ǀ THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2024 | KUMARAKOM – COCHIN

After breakfast, drive to Alleppey for a traditional boat trip on the back waters, a network of canals south of Allepey. The intricate network of lagoons, lakes, rivers and canals lining the coast has given rise to an original lifestyle, and a boat trip on these back waters is the highlight of a visit to this region. Boats skirt coconut tree-lined lakes, where Chinese fishing nets are laid out. Coir (coconut fiber), copra and cashew nuts are transported by boat along these shady, narrow canals. Traditional lunch on board the houseboat. After the back-water trip, drive to Cochin (approx. 04 hrs.) On arrival, check-in at your hotel. Cochin, the “museum city” that lives to the rhythm of the water, was first a Portuguese and then a Dutch trading post. It’s a large port where it’s pleasant to stroll between the low-slung houses of the colonial quarters. The region’s Jewish community was first mentioned in the 10th century, and a synagogue was built in 1565. Overnight at Hotel Abad Dutch Bungalow or similar.

DAY 15 ǀ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2024 | COCHIN

After breakfast, visit to Fort Cochin, beautifully situated between the Arabian Sea and an estuary dotted with islets. The natural harbour is lined with graceful Chinese carrelets, large fishing nets held in place by long pieces of wood and operated by hand (which you’ll have the chance to visit in the morning). Then visit the Church of St. Francis, where Vasco da Gama’s remains were laid to rest on his death in 1524, before being repatriated to Portugal four years later. Visit the Jewish quarter, known as Jew Town, and its venerable synagogue, built in 1568 and the oldest in India. Nearby, in Mattancherry, visit the Dutch Palace. Dubbed the “Dutch Palace”, this residence was actually built by the Portuguese in 1658 for their governor, but the interior decoration was in fact provided by the Dutch. Afterwards, explore the spice markets and souvenir stores of the old bazaar, the Jewish Quarter and, in the evening, see a traditional dance performance in a local theater. Kathakali is more than a classical dance form. It is in fact a play (or epic) performed using words and gestures. The costumes and make-up are fabulous, requiring hours of preparation, and the preparation of the masks is just as interesting as the performance itself. Overnight at Hotel Abad Dutch Bungalow or similar.

DAY 16 ǀ SATURDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2024 | COCHIN

Transfer to Cochin airport for return flight.

START OF EXTENSION | DAY 16 ǀ SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2024 | COCHIN – KAIRALI

Breakfast. Continue to Kairali, a health retreat. Kairali Ayurvedic Group couldn’t have chosen a better location for its first residential treatment center than Kerala, known worldwide as the cradle of Ayurveda. After reaching Kairali, check in at the hotel and begin your Ayurvedic treatment package after consulting the doctor. Overnight in Kairali.

DAY 17 – 19 ǀ NOVEMBER 24 TO 26, 2024 | KAIRALI: AYURVEDA TREATMENTS

Enjoy breakfast. Follow an ayurvedic treatment after consulting the establishment’s doctors. All mojor meals included. Overnight stay in Kairali. Kairali – Ayurvedic Healing Village, Palakkad (Kerala) is a pure ayurvedic healing center accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH), a government body under the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, at KTAHV we provide preventive and curative treatments for all ailments through ayurvedic therapies.

DAY 20 | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2024 | KAIRALI – COCHIN – DEPARTURE FOR MONTREAL

Transfer to Cochin airport for return flight

AYURVEDA CENTER INCLUSIONS:

– Welcome drink on arrival – Accommodation in a uniquely designed, self-contained luxury villa in single/double occupancy, – All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner – vegetables only). Additional food items will be charged extra, – Unlimited daily supply of herbal water, – Two Ayurvedic therapies per day, prescribed by our doctors, – Juice or herbal tea after each therapy. – Group yoga session every morning; individual classes available for a fee – Group meditation session every evening; individual classes available for a fee – Ayurveda lectures (once a week)

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