Itinerary Map
Highlights
Sightseeing tour of Chennai, including a morning visit to a local market
Visit Kapaleeshwarar Temples
Visit the port city of Mahabalipuram, the place of ancient sculptural wonders
Sightseeing tour of Pondicherry, including a visit to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram
Visit to Aurobindo Hand Made Paper Factory
Visit to the Pondicherry Museum
Visit Auroville, a 'utopian' UNESCO township built by the flower power generation of the 1960's
Pottery making workshop
Local family cooking demonstration and market visit in Pondicherry
Sightseeing tour of Trichy, visiting the Rock Fort Temple and Ranganathswamy Temple
Explore the architectural city of Chettinad, known for its 18th-century palatial mansions
Enjoy a traditional Karakattam dance performance
Experience the vibrant Madurai Market
Sightseeing tour of Madurai, including a temple visit to the Meenakshi-Sundareswarar Temple
Visit Kokukkumalai, the world's highest tea plantation by 4WD
Overnight stay on a private Houseboat from Allepey to Marari
2 night stay at Marari Beach, allowing us to experience a traditional Kerala fishing village
Henna Art workshop in Cochin
Sightseeing tour of Cochin, including a visit to the Mattancherry (Dutch) Palace
Enriching visit to a local school
Enjoy a traditional Kathakali Dance performance
Friends for company
Inclusions
Fully escorted by a Sisterhood Womens Travel Tour Hostess who is on hand to assist with making your holiday a memorable one
Return economy airfares departing Melbourne ** (other departure cities available on request; Business Class upgrade available on request)
English-speaking specialist tour guide
All transportation as per itinerary
Meals as per itinerary (B, L, D) = Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Quality accommodation with private facilities
All sightseeing as per itinerary
Tipping for driver, guide and destination representatives
Willing to share option (subject to availability)
Zoom Meet and greet before departure
Estimated tipping (outside of included tipping above) is approximately USD30. This will be confirmed with our final documentation.
Notice
Moderate Fitness Rating - A moderate level of fitness will be required for these tours due to the length and/or overall physicality of our tour itinerary. You can expect to walk more than 10,000 steps daily on more challenging terrain and for longer periods. You must be capable of boarding and disembarking coaches, trains and boats unaided and at times, handle your luggage. For more details on our fit to travel criteria please CLICK HERE.
Australian Passport Holders will require a Tourist EVisa to enter India. For more details, please CLICK HERE. This information is current as of 13 March 2025 and is subject to change. Stay updated by visiting smartraveller.gov.au.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Thursday 25 September 2025
Melbourne - Chennai (Meals Inflight)
Welcome to Sisterhood Womens Travel. Meet your Sisterhood Hostess and fellow travellers at the Melbourne Airport. Sit back, relax and enjoy the inflight entertainment of our airlines as we head towards Chennai, India.
Day 2 - Friday 26 September 2025
Arrive Chennai (D)
Welcome to Chennai, India offering a vibrant mix of culture, history, and coastal charm, making it perfect for our group of Sisters. Warm hospitality, rich traditions, and stunning architecture are sure to create a memorable and enriching experience for us.
Upon our arrival, we'll be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel to settle in.
Dinner at our hotel tonight.
Overnight - Taj Connemara Heritage (or similar)
Day 3 - Saturday 27 September 2025
Chennai (B, D)
Today we'll enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Chennai including Fort St. George. The Fort was named after the patron saint of England, St. George. The Fort has a Museum and a St. Mary’s church. We'll also see Marina Beach the second largest beach in the world and one of the main tourist attractions of the city. Close to Marina beach, is the Aquarium and there are several attractive historical buildings nearby, including the University of Madras, Senate-House and Chepauk Palace.
This afternoon we'll visit Kapaleeshwarar Temple one of the imposing religious sites of Chennai City, majestically set in the Mylapore region of Chennai.
Later, we'll return to our hotel for dinner.
Overnight - Taj Connemara Heritage (or similar)
Day 4 - Sunday 28 September 2025
Chennai - Pondicherry (B, D)
Today we drive to Pondicherry en-route visiting Mahabalipuram a port city of the Pallavas, who mastered the art of construction without using bricks or mortar, just carving out exquisite sculptors from rocks. The extravagant shore temples are the most famous spots in Mahabalipuram for photography in the country. This city is a place of ancient sculptural wonders. The best samples of their art are the five pillared chariots, the pride of Mahabalipuram. The various carving on the walls portrays scenes from Hindu mythology and stories from Panchtantra.
After our visit we continue our drive to Pondicherry a city that enchants with its French colonial charm, vibrant bougainvillea-lined streets, and serene beaches. The blend of European elegance and Indian culture creates a unique atmosphere. Its rich history, spiritual retreats, and coastal beauty make it truly captivating.
Dinner at our hotel tonight.
Overnight - Palais De Mahe (or similar)
Day 5 - Monday 29 September 2025
Pondicherry (B, D)
After a relaxing breakfast, we'll be picked up from our hotel to enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Pondicherry including visits to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram - The Ashram is not a quiet place of retreat secluded from the world but a vibrant centre of life in an urban setting and Aurobindo Hand Made Paper Factory - With the paper produced here being exported to other countries, Aurobindo Hand Made Paper factory is one of the most successful commercial enterprises of the Ashram. We'll be able to see the process of developing quality handmade papers, as we visit the factory and the Pondicherry Museum which is famous for various stone statues and a fossilized tree trunk. We finish our tour at Auroville and international 'township' on the outskirts of the city dedicated to peace, harmony and sustainable living. Envisioned as a type of utopia and hand built by the flower-power generation of the 1960's, this unique and fascinating township is now protected by UNESCO.
We'll then enjoy a pottery-making workshop close to Auroville where we'll learn from skilled local artisans how to create a small souvenir.
Early evening, we'll enjoy a vibrant visit to a local bustling market where we'll discover a kaleidoscope of fresh produce, fragrant spices and exotic ingredients. We'll take our ingredients back to a local home to prepare a delicious traditional meal featuring authentic Pondicherry dishes.
Overnight - Palais De Mahe (or similar)
Day 6 - Tuesday 30 September 2025
Pondicherry - Chettinad (B,D)
After breakfast, today we drive to Chettinad via Trichy for some intersting sightseeing.
We'll enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Trichy including the Rock Fort Temple and the Ranganathswamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu and comprising of a series of walled courts with 21 towers.
Dinner tonight at our hotel.
Overnight - Visalam (or similar)
Day 7 - Wednesday 1 October 2025
Chettinad - Madurai (B, D)
After breakfast, we'll enjoy a short tour to explore Chettinad Architecture with our guide. Chettinad is the home to the Chettiars, a prosperous mercantile community. This town is also known for its fiery cuisine and their 18th century palatial mansions.
We then drive to Madurai, checking in to our hotel upon our arrival.
This evening we'll experience Bharatanatyam/Karakattam (with colourful pot on their head) folkdancing and local martial arts performances. A wonderful glimpse into the cultural heritage of the region.
Dinner at our hotel tonight.
Overnight - The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai (or similar)
Day 8 - Thursday 2 October 2025
Madurai Sightseeing (B, D)
We'll start our day with an immersion in a vibrant Madurai market. Wander through stalls overflowing with vibrant vegetables, fragrant spices and juicy fruits. Bargain with friendly locals, sample local delicacies and witness the daily rhythm of life. Our breakfast today will be a traditional South Indian treat including idli, dosa or pongal all prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. This authentic experience will give us a real tast of Madurai's culinary heart.
After breakfast, we'll enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Madurai including temple and palace visits including the Meenakshi-Sundareswarar Temple, Tirumalai Nayakar Mahal constructed in 1523, the old city palace that has been dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, Thirupparankundram one of the six dwelling places of Lord Subramanya and the Ancient Koodal Azhagar Shrine well known for its sculptures of Vishnu in sitting, standing and reclining positions placed one above the other.
Dinner at our hotel tonight.
Overnight - The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai (or similar)
Day 9 - Friday 3 October 2025
Madurai - Munnar (B, D)
Today, after breakfast, we'll drive to Munnar from Madurai, checking in to our accommodation upon our arrival with the rest of the day to relax and enjoy our surrounds.
Dinner tonight at our hotel.
Overnight - Munnar Spice Tree (or similar)
Day 10 - Saturday 4 October 2025
Munnar Sightseeing (B, D))
Today we'll embark on an exhilarating drive in a 4WD jeep up steep, rough tracks to Kolukkumalai, the highest tea estate in the world. We have the option to go by jeep all the way up to the top of Kolukkumalai or alternatively we can enjoy a moderate trek (1.5 – 2hrs) on one of the trails leading up to the tea factory. Once we reach the summit we’ll be given a tour of the fascinating working tea factory where we’ll learn about the production of this important crop.
After the tour we'll have some free time to explore the surrounding countryside before driving back down to Munnar, arriving mid-afternoon.
Dinner tonight at our hotel.
Overnight - Munnar Spice Tree (or similar)
Day 12 - Sunday 5 October 2025
Houseboat Overnight Stay (B,L,D)
After a relaxing breakfast at our resort, we'll drive to Allepey to board our private Houseboat for an overnight stay.
House Boat - One of the highlights of our holiday, will be the night spent onboard the Houseboat. These rice barges or “Kettuvallams” sail alongside the shallow palm-edged lakes and narrow canals. The House Boat takes us through the villages constructed on narrow spits of land, where we can stop at the local markets, or see the wonder of the craftsmen engaged in centuries-old boat-making tradition. The Houseboats serve authentic Keralan cuisine. The overnight stay on the Houseboat is an extraordinary experience.
Overnight on-board Houseboat
Day 13 - Monday 6 October 2025
Marari Beach (B, D)
After breakfast, we drive to Marari. Upon arrival, we'll check in to our resort.
Marari Beach is an endless vista of sand and surf. In addition, it gives an authentic experience of the world of Kerala's traditional fishing villages, and a re-creation of an ancient, harmonious way of life.
Dinner at our hotel tonight.
Overnight - Marari Beach Resort (or similar)
Day 14 - Tuesday 7 October 2025
Marari (B, D)
Today, we have a day at leisure! Enjoy, relax and enjoy the facilities of our beachside resort.
Dinner at our hotel tonight.
Overnight - Marari Beach Resort (or similar)
Day 15 - Wednesday 8 October 2025
Marari - Cochin (B, D)
Today, we drive to Cochin and upon arrival, we'll check in to our hotel with the remainder of the day at leisure.
This evening, we'll enjoy a Henna workshop by local artists. Henna art, a temporary tattoo applied by Indian women on festive occasions, involving intricate designs created with henna paste.
Dinner at our hotel tonight.
Overnight - Cochin Malabar House (or similar)
Day 16 - Thursday 9 October 2025
Cochin Sightseeing (B,D)
After a relaxing breakfast we'll enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Cochin including visits to the Dutch Palace (Mattancherry Palace), Cochin Harbour, St Francis Church dating back to 1503. Fort Kochi Beach is an ideal location to visit in a peaceful and relaxing way. The market in the Jewish town gives us a great shopping opportunity. This market is famous for its antique shops -- the shops in the Jewish Town are full of carved wooden furniture, handicrafts, mirrors, wall hangings, paintings Jewellery and crockery.
Later this evening, we'll enjoy a farewell dinner before enjoying a Kathakali Dance Performance at a local theatre. Kathakali is a classical dance form, portraying Indian epics (Ramayana and Mahabharata). Dancers with painted faces depict the various characters of the ancient epics. The Kathakali dancers portray a lot of facial expressions and articulate body movements.
A great end to our Southern Indian adventure.
Overnight - Overnight - Cochin Malabar House (or similar)
Day 17 - Friday 10 October 2025
Cochin (Meals Inflight)
Today we'll have the day at leisure before an early evening transfer to the airport for our flight home. Farewell India as we sit back, relax and enjoy the inflight entertainment of our airlines as we head towards Melbourne.
Day 18 - Saturday 11 October 2025
Welcome Home to Melbourne
Welcome home. Thank you for joining Sisterhood Womens Travel for your latest adventure and we look forward to welcoming you back for your next adventure.