Modules in South India and the Maldives

If you're eager for the exotic, tropical South India is the answer. It has beaches, backwaters, tea hills, temples, spice plantations, palaces, wildlife and plenty of sunshine. The food is as hot as the weather, with local dishes including incredible seafood curries and fish tandoori. If you're looking for a few days of luxury, you can head to the emerald backwaters of Kerala to be wined and dined on your very own houseboat. Tamil Nadu, a region scattered with temples, is perfect for the culture-keen, or if you want to get away from it all, try some meditation in the plush hills of the Western Ghats or a cycling trip through the Keralan tea hills.

Finally, if you're tempted by the idea of a picture-perfect beach, why not head for the Maldives? Only a short flight from the south of India, the Maldives will give you the very essence of an island escape.

Magical Hampi

Duration:	4 days, 3 nights
Price:	from £282 per person - based on 2 people sharing
Departure:	Daily from Goa
Route:	Goa - Hampi - Goa (or southwards)

It is 110% worth dragging yourself away from the beaches in Goa for a trip to the spellbinding village of Hampi. Driving inland from the coast, you'll pass through thick jungle and vivid banana plantations before reaching magical Hampi, sure to give you a truly exceptional Indian experience. This otherworldly little village is surrounded by ruins and huge round stones - a strange world filled with crumbling temples. Here, you can soak up the mystical atmosphere and wander wide-eyed through the ruins at your own gentle pace.
Click here for the daily itinerary of this India Travel Plan module.

Kerala silk tour

Duration:	5 days, 4 nights
Price:	from £475 per person - based on 2 people sharing
Departure:	Daily from Bangalore
Route:	Bangalore - Mysore - Mudumalai - Calicut - Cochin

Follow in the footsteps of ancient textile traders as you take this trip through some of the most stunning parts of South India. In the states of Karnataka and Kerala, you can find wonderful silks of top notch quality, so prepare for some serious retail therapy. But shopping is only one tiny feature of this fantastic module, which will take you to a few of the classic highlights of these southern states. You'll visit the beautiful palaces of elegant Mysore, meet some wild elephants in Mudumalai National Park, and treat yourself to some Ayurvedic therapy in the tropical Keralan backwaters. Throughout the trip, you'll stay in authentic accommodation, comfortable and packed with local colour. However, you can also choose to upgrade to our heritage accommodation and give yourselves a bit of a treat.
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Cycling in the spice hills

Duration:	4 days, 3 nights
Price:	£518 per person - based on 2 people sharing
Departure:	Daily from Munnar
Route:	Munnar - Vandanmedu - Thekkady - Munnar

Fancy exploring the natural beauty of Kerala in an active way? If so, this 4 day cycle tour through the Keralan spice hills should be right up your street. You'll cycle through tea plantations, forests, spice gardens, and you'll also get a chance to spot elephants in one of India's most exciting National Parks. After all the exercise, you can rest and relax in your comfortable cottages, enjoying the mountain sunshine and tasting some local dishes made with the spices growing all around you. Click here for the daily itinerary of this India Travel Plan module.

Backwaters and sandy beaches

Duration:	6 days, 5 nights
Price:	from £341 per person - based on 2 people sharing
Departure:	Daily from Cochin
Route:	Cochin - Periyar - Alleppey - Backwaters - Kovalam

This module has a little bit of everything, giving you a great taste of South India in under a week. You'll take heart-thumping safaris through Periyar National Park, famous for its population of incredible Indian elephants and then glide through the exotic backwaters of Kerala on an authentic houseboat. Finally, you'll spend a couple of days stretched out on the tropical beach at Kovalam, maybe even treating yourself to an Ayurvedic massage. All of the accommodation is interesting and unusual, ranging from a cosy homestay to a fantastic houseboat to a laid back beach resort.
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Living temples of the south

Duration:	6 days, 5 nights
Price:	from £387 per person - based on 2 people sharing
Departure:	Daily from Chennai
Route:	Chennai - Mamallapuram - Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai

Tamil Nadu is mystic and unforgettable. Its collection of magnificent temples, colourful statues and ancient ruins scattered on tropical beaches, are simply beyond compare. The module begins in Chennai, takes you to the classic treasures of enchanting Tamil Nadu and ends in the spectacular temple town of Madurai. During the trip, you can try the local cuisine, some of the most fiery in India, and get to know the laid back locals.
Click here for the daily itinerary of this India Travel Plan module.

Hidden coral islands of the Maldives

Duration:	5 days, 4 nights
Price:	from £437 per person - based on 2 people sharing
Departure:	Daily from Malé
Route:	from Malé to a tropical island and back

Imagine that you have travelled across India and experienced some amazing, often shocking, things along the way. Now you need somewhere to let it all sink in - somewhere peaceful and beautiful. Well.... how about an atoll somewhere in the Indian Ocean, with bright turquoise waters and stunning marine life? We have selected a couple of undiscovered gems from the hundreds of islands that make up the the Maldives. These tiny paradises have a small-scale and intimate island feeling, charming accommodation and superb diving spots. You can fly by seaplane or cruise by speedboat from Malé, capital of the island group, to your tropical island. The flight from Trivandrum to Malé will be organized separately, and takes only a couple of hours. A blissful way to end an eye-opening trip.
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