Soul of India: The Colorful South (2012)

Chennai • Mahabalipuram • Pondicherry • Tanjore • Madurai • Periyar • Cochin • Mysore • Bangalore
  • 16 days
  • from only:
  • $3295
  • $206 per day
    Land Tour Only
  • 17 days
  • from only:
  • $4095
  • $241 per dayIncludes international airfare and government taxes

Reserve a 2012 departure today, and enjoy our Lowest Price Guarantee

Extend Your Adventure:
  • In Mahabalipuram, you’ll discover Shore Temple, a seventh-century Dravidian masterpiece and UNESCO World Heritage site overlooking the Bay of Bengal.
  • A Cochin fisherman operates his elaborate Cheena vala, or Chinese fishing net, from the shore. These iconic nets can be seen all along Cochin’s docks.
  • A houseboat plies the gentle currents of Kerala’s backwater canals.
  • In Madurai, you can browse the markets for local treasures, like these lotus blossoms.
  • At night, Mysore Palace and its gardens are illuminated by thousands of twinkling lights.
  • Best Value for Solo Travelers
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Customize your trip

Learn how to customize your adventure, or view standard air routing and travel times. The choice is yours with our True Choice program.

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Customize your trip

With our True Choice Program, you can choose to stay longer before or after your trip on your own, or combine two adventures to maximize your value. Here are more ways to create the OAT adventure that’s right for you:

  • Choose our standard air routing, or work with us to select the airline and routing you prefer
  • Make your own international flight arrangements directly with the airline, applying frequent flyer miles if available
  • Stay overnight in a connecting city before or after your trip
  • Request to arrive a few days early to get a fresh start on your adventure
  • Choose to “break away” before or after your trip, spending additional days or weeks on your own
  • Extend your adventure with our optional pre- and post-trip extensions
  • Combine your choice of OAT adventures to maximize your value
  • Upgrade to business or premium economy class

The air options listed above will involve an additional fee of $100 per person for confirmed requests (as well as incremental airfare costs based on your specific choice). This service fee will be waived for Inner Circle/Sir Edmund Hillary Club members.

Or, when you make your reservation, you can choose our standard air routing, for which approximate travel times are shown below.

GATEWAY

TRAVEL TIME*

Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Portland, OR, San Francisco, Seattle

28hrs

Boston, Chicago, Washington, DC (Dulles)

26hrs

Dallas, Denver, Houston, Orlando, Minneapolis

30hrs

New York (JFK)

21hrs

Miami

31hrs

* Estimated total time, including connection and layover. Actual travel time may vary.

The information above reflects approximate flight times from the gateway cities listed to Chennai, India. Routing is based on availability and subject to change. You will receive your final air itinerary approximately 14 days prior to departure.

This was an almost spiritual trip. We visted many temples and our guide Murali showed us the infinite details and related them to life in Southern India.

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FREE Single Supplements—save $795

Learn about how OAT offers the best value for solo travelers, guaranteed, including FREE Single Supplements on this adventure.

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Traveling Solo to India

At OAT, we recognize the challenge solo travelers face from the additional cost of Single Supplements. That’s why we’re proud to offer FREE Single Supplements on this adventure and on all extensions.

Single Supplements:
Soul of India: The Colorful South: FREE
Sri Lanka (Ceylon): FREE
Goa & Mumbail: FREE

Click here to build and explore your travel options

Solo Traveler Challenge:

Compare our value for solo travelers with the competition, and you’ll find that you save $500-$5000 per person with OAT. And if you can find a lower solo traveler price on any comparable international trip for Americans, we’ll match that price and deduct $500 from the cost of your adventure.

Solo Friendly Travel:

From more single space and new solo savings on our 2012 adventures, to our FREE Travel Companions online community and Roommate Matching Service, see why OAT is the leader in Solo Friendly Travel.

REFER and EARN

Earn increasing rewards as a Vacation Ambassador

REFER and EARN as a Vacation Ambassador with
the BEST referral program in the industry

Inspiring new travelers to join the OAT family is a rewarding experience—both for you and your new travelers.

Share your love of travel with others and, for each referral who embarks on an OAT trip, you will earn $100 in CASH or credit. With your 4th referral departing on a 2012 departure, your reward increases to $200 in CASH or credit per person. And once you refer 8 travelers departing in either 2012 or 2013, you'll earn a FREE trip valued up to $4,500 per household—which will bring the total value of your earned rewards up to $5,600.

And you are also passing along savings to your new traveler: We'll instantly deduct $100 off the cost of their reservation when they mention your name and Customer Number while reserving.

To learn more about the benefits of our Vacation Ambassador Referral Program, please call us toll-free at 1-800-955-1925 or click here.

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Trip at a Glance


Small Groups: Never more than 10-16 travelers—guaranteed!

Travel to India and see its colorful southern region. From the rock-hewn temples that overlook the shimmering Bay of Bengal to the lush palm-fringed shores of the Arabian Sea, southern India is brimming with natural splendor and cultural diversity. Chennai, where Tamil music fills the air … Tanjore, where millennium-old Chola temples rise over ancient streets … rugged Kerala, where abundant wildlife roams free on the Cardamom Hills. Surrounded by a symphony of colors and languages, your OAT small group will revel in the guidance of an expert resident Trip Leader, who knows how to make the most of your travel experience, whether you’re exploring sacred temples or spice-filled markets. As you meet brick-makers, grape farmers, schoolchildren, and even join a family on their houseboat in the backwaters, you’ll come to know the people who truly are the vibrant Soul of India.

Call for information: 1-800-955-1925
Pre-Trip Option: Sri Lanka (Ceylon) 8 nights from only $1495
Post-Trip Option: Goa & Mumbai 5 nights from only $1295
Click here to learn about the Grand Circle Foundation-supported site visited on this trip. Grand Circle Foundation Visit