South India Women-only Tour – January 2011

Sorry you missed the 2011 Women-only South India tour!

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Please see this and all tours at the new WanderTours site – featuring both women-only and co-ed tours!

Itinerary dates: January 14 – 30, 2011

Tour Leader – Beth Whitman

* Itinerary
* Packing list
* Itinerary PDF

This 17-day women-only tour focuses on South India’s highlights including spectacular temples, tea and spice plantations, pristine beaches and the waterways of Kerala. Take a yoga class, overnight on a houseboat, dive into a cooking class and experience the music, culture and cuisine for which South India is famous.

Read India FAQs and learn about what to expect in India.
See a sample list of hotels.
Watch this video of Varanasi.
View Beth’s photos of India.
See Beth’s recommended books on India.

Itinerary
January 14, 2011
Day 1 -  Chennai and Kanchipuram (L, D)
After a welcome breakfast, the group will take a tour of Chennai, including Fort St. George, St. Mary’s Church, Indo Saracenic High Court building, Kapaleeswarar Temple and San Thome Cathedral. After lunch, we’ll drive 1.5 hours to Kanchipuram, one of Hinduism’s 7 most sacred cities, where we will visit a few of the major temples.

We will then depart for Mahabalipuram, about 1.5 hours away, where will check in at our hotel. Overnight in Mahabalipuram.

HIGHLIGHT! Kanchipuram is famous for its silk saris. We’ll have an opportunity to visit a silk-weaving cooperative to discover just how special these are.

January 15, 2011
Day 2 – Mahabalipuram (B, L, D)
On this day, we will visit the temples of Mahabalipuram, built by the Pallava rulers in the 7th century. After lunch, we’ll drive about 2 hours to Pondicherry and check in to our hotel. Overnight in Pondicherry.

HIGHLIGHT! The spectacular complex at Mahabalipuram is a temple feast for the eyes with 14 cave-temples, nine monolithic rathas (chariots), three stone temples and two relief sculptured rock panels.

January 16, 2011
Day 3 – Pondicherry (B, L, D)
Pondicherry is a former French colony and, as such, is a unique destination in India. On this day, we’ll tour the area including Aurobindo Ashram and Museum and Auroville. Vive la croissant! Overnight in Pondicherry.

January 17, 2011
Day 4 – Chidambaram and Darasuram (B, L, D)
After breakfast, the group will drive about 2 hours to Chidambaram, one of Tamil Nadu’s most important holy towns. In the afternoon, we’ll visit the lovely temple of Darasuram before continuing on about 2.5 hours to Thanjavur where we’ll check in to our hotel. Overnight in Thanjavur.

HIGHLIGHT! The magnificent Chidambaram Temple covers 40 acres and has a roof covered with gold plates!

January 18, 2011
Day 5 – Thanjavur (B, L, D)
On this day, we’ll tour Thanjavur which includes the Brihadeeshwara Temple, the old town, the Raja Museum, the Art Gallery and Siva Ganga Garden. After lunch and tour, we’ll drive 1.5 hours to Trichy. Overnight in Trichy.

HIGHLIGHT! Thanjavur is one of the oldest cities in India and is an important center for South Indian art and architecture.

January 19, 2011
Day 6 – Trichy (B, L, D)
In the morning, we’ll tour Trichy, which is famous for its ancient temples including one dedicated to Lord Ganapati. We’ll also visit Sri Rangam, a massive temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, which contains a bazaar within its walls. After lunch, we’ll drive 2 hours to Chettinard and check in to our hotel. Overnight in Chettinard.

HIGHLIGHT! An astounding 434 steps were cut out in the rock side leading to the temple for Lord Ganapati and another flight of steps leads to the temple of the Lord Shiva!

January 20, 2011
Day 7 – Chettinad and Madurai (B, L, D)
On this day, we’ll tour the mansions of Chettinad then drive about 5 hours to Munnar, stopping half-way at Madurai for lunch and a visit of the Meenakshi Temple. The group will then continue to Munnar and check in to the hotel. Overnight in Munnar.

January 21, 2011
Day 8 – Munnar (B, L, D)
Munnar has some of the world’s highest tea-growing estates. In the morning, we’ll go for a hike of the area and stop for a tour at a tea plantation. Overnight in Munnar.

HIGHLIGHT! Beyond the tea estates are tropical forests that home to an assortment of wildlife such as langur monkeys, sambhar deer, gaur, elephant and lion-tailed macaques. There’s a chance of seeing some of this wildlife during our walk!

January 22-23, 2011
Days 9-10 – Periyar National Park (B, L, D)
We’ll drive 1.5 hours from Munnar to Periyar National Park along picturesque mountain roads. Periyar is set on an artificial lake where wild elephants, deer, black buck and even tigers come to the shores for a drink. We’ll take a boat ride during the first afternoon and on the second day we’ll take a morning jeep ride to view wildlife followed by a guided walk. The afternoon of the second day is free but in the evening we’ll enjoy a cooking demonstration! Overnight in Thekkady.

HIGHLIGHT! Time spent at Periyar will be a highlight of this tour as we enjoy the wildlife and peace and quite of this area.

January 24, 2011
Day 11 – Peermade and Kumarakom (B, L, D)
We’ll drive about 2.5 hours to Kumarakom, stopping in the small hillside town of Peermde. Along the way we’ll tour coffee and spice plantations. We’ll then continue on to Kumarakom, a beautiful backwater village on the shores of Vembanad Lake. We’ll check in to our hotel and then, in the afternoon, have a naturalist join us for a visit to the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. Overnight in Kumarakom.

HIGHLIGHT! The waterways of Kumarakom are home to a wide variety of flora and fauna and are criss-crossed with meandering waterways and ancient cottages.

January 25, 2011
Day 12 – Backwater Cruise (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we will board a traditional rice boat to sail through the picturesque backwaters and small lakes of Kerala. Meals will be served with freshly bought produce from the local markets and cooked on board. Overnight on board.

HIGHLIGHT! Nothing beats sleeping out on a houseboat, where we’ll experience the sound of lapping water and breath in the fresh night air.

January 26, 2011
Day 13 – Backwater Cruise to Kochi (B)
In the morning, we’ll disembark at the jetty in Alleppey then drive 1 hour to Kochi, where we’ll check in to our hotel. After lunch, we’ll spend the afternoon touring the sites of Kochi including the Dutch Palace, the Jewish Synagogue, the Church of St. Francis, the Bolghatty Palace and see the famous Chinese fishing nets along the boardwalk. During the evening, we’ll watch a Kathakali dance performance and makeup demonstration. Overnight in Kochi.

HIGHLIGHT! Kathakali is a 2,000 year-old style of dance, which tells stories through expressive eyes and more than 100 different mudras, or gestures, depicting deities, demons, heroes, heroines and kings.

January 27, 2011
Day 14 – Varkala (B, L, D)
On this day, we will leave later in the morning and drive 3 hours south to Varkala, a small seaside town in Kerala and a Hindu pilgrimage site since the 12th Century. Varkala is also blessed with a golden beach. We’ll check in to our hotel and, after lunch, visit the Portuguese church of Anjengo. Overnight in Varkala.

HIGHLIGHT! Varkala is perched on the side of a cliff and is a little-known destination with relatively few tourists. The fresh seafood and views are some of the best in all of India!

January 28 – 29, 2011
Days 15-16 – Free days in Varkala (B)
Enjoy yoga class in the mornings and spend the rest of the days free. This is a chance to relax and work on your tan before departing for home! Overnight in Varkala.

January 30, 2011
Day 17 – Departure (B)
Sadly, on this day, we’ll transfer to the Trivandrum airport for our flights home. Depending on your return flight, you may require a domestic flight back to Chennai or some other destination. Please allow for plenty of time between flights in case of delays. (Please contact Beth for questions.)

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Price includes: transportation, hotel, accommodation, meals (where noted) and travel insurance (including evacuation).

Price does not include: flights to/from India, some meals, souvenirs, personal purchases (such as books and snacks), beverages and tips for guides and drivers.

This trip is limited to 16 people and requires an $800 deposit accepted on a first come, first served basis.

Please make payable and send check to:

Beth Whitman
PO Box 16102
Seattle, WA 98116

Final payment is due November 15, 2010.

For questions, please contact Beth:
beth (at) wanderlustandlipstick (dot) com
206-937-6789

India Packing List (provided upon registration)


South India Tour for Women 2011 Itinerary (PDF)

About Beth
Your tour leader, Beth Whitman, has been traveling the world for more than twenty years and has a deep respect for cultures and the environment. She is the author of the Wanderlust and Lipstick series of guides including The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo, For Women Traveling to India and is the publisher of Traveling with Kids. She is also the publisher of www.WanderlustAndLipstick.com.

Related links:
North India Women-only Tour, Fall 2011
Beth’s India Photo Gallery
Varanasi Video

Photo Credit: Indian woman – Meanest Indian
Photo Credit: Carvings wall – Christian Lagat
Photo Credit: Chennai banana vendors – mckaysavage
Photo Credit: Chidambaram Temple – baronvonhorne
Photo Credit: Munnar tea fields – r.raman
Photo Credit: Kerala backwaters – jmbaud74