overview
Because our women’s trip through North India is so popular and many participants have asked for a “South India Edition”, the time has finally come in April and September 2025. Right in the Navatri festival period, a nine-day festival to honor the goddesses, we will personally guide you through the Hindu temple state of Tamil Nadu and through the natural paradise of Kerala.
I went on an exploratory tour to pick out the most beautiful highlights for you and create some very special encounters.
Together, Tamil Nadu and Kerala create the perfect balance of culture, religion, nature and relaxation.
We will dance ourselves at the famous Kalakshetra dance school, explore Auroville and Pondicherry by bicycle, practise yoga on the Bay of Bengal as well as on the Arabian Sea, celebrate the Navatri festival at a friend’s home, stay in an ashram, visit the famous Meenakshi temple in Madurai, pick tea together with women, hike through spice plantations, explore the canal system of the backwaters, be introduced to the secrets of South Indian cuisine and, above all, have lots of great encounters with wonderful Indian women.
Program
Day 1 Arrival Chennai
There are very good connections to Chennai with Etihad Airlines. We will be happy to make you a flight offer. Arrival at night and transfer to the hotel
Day 2 Day in Chennai with a visit to the Kalakshetra dance school, transfer to Mahabalipuram beach
The Kalakshetra School is famous throughout India for its training in classical Indian arts such as dance, singing, playing instruments, weaving, printing and painting.
After the morning prayer at the banyan tree, we are given an insight into the classrooms and can watch the students practicing. After lunch, we are allowed to try our hand at classical Bharatanatyam dance. We then relax at the beach resort in Mahabalipuram
Day 3 Visit Mahabalipuram and drive to Pondicherry
After a morning yoga session and a dip in the Bay of Bengal, we will visit the cultural highlights of the former port city of the Pallava dynasty. We will experience the four different types of Dravidian temple architecture.
In the afternoon we drive to Pondicherry, where we stroll through the small streets of the former French colony, stroll along the beach promenade and round off the evening with an Indian-French dinner.
Day 4 Morning bike tour of Pondicherry and exploration of rural Tamil Nadu
The lively Manisha shows us her Pondicherry by bike in the early hours of the morning. Highlights are the market and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram grounds.
After a late breakfast, we head out into the countryside – a trip through India would be incomplete without one!
We learn about the simple life of the farmers, try our hand at pottery and visit an interesting doll temple before enjoying a rustic lunch with our guide’s wife.
Day 5 Excursion to Auroville
Again by bike, we explore Auroville, an international urban community in India that was founded in 1968 to promote the unity of humanity, spiritual development and sustainable living. We try to get permission to meditate in the Matre Mandir temple.
Day 6 Drive to Tanjore with a stop in Chitambaram
On the way to Tanjore, we stop in Chitambaram to visit the only temple where Shiva is worshipped in his dancer form.
We continue to Tanjore, another impressive temple town. Here we visit a palm leaf library. There is a collection of writings on dried palm leaves, which contain personal life prophecies and were written according to an old tradition in India. In the evening we are invited to Rama’s house. The wonderful cook will introduce us to the secrets of South Indian cuisine in the form of a small cooking class.
Day 7 Drive to Trichy and Navatri festival
The best time to visit the Brihadeeswarar temple is at sunrise. Who would like to join a little meditation while the temple is lit up by the first rays of the sun? After breakfast, we stop by a family business where we are shown how bronze statues are made. Then we drive to the temple town of Trichy. Here we are invited to Usha for the Navatri festival – the festival of the goddesses. Later, we relax in the rural area of our homestay.
Day 8 Visit to Ranganathaswamy Temple and Amma Mandapam bathing ghat, transfer to Shivananda Ashram
Before breakfast, we are introduced to the art of Kollam painting – colored powder is used to draw auspicious ornaments in front of the doors. In Trichy, we visit the sacred Amma Mandapam Badeghat. Various sacred rituals take place here, such as hair-cutting ceremonies for children and women, blessings of elephants, fire ceremonies for the deceased and weddings. We visit the magnificent Vishnu temple Ranganathaswamy before driving on to the Shivananda Ashram near Madurai. Here we take a well-deserved break from sightseeing and devote ourselves to a contemplative daily routine consisting of yoga classes, ceremonies and delicious meals.
Day 9 Day at Shivananda Ashram
We enjoy the tranquillity of the ashram with meditation and yoga classes. If you like, you can book an Ayurveda massage.
Day 10 Excursion to Madurai
Between yoga classes, we leave the ashram to explore the temple city of Madurai. We experience the bustling market and visit the impressive Meenakshi Temple – a temple in honor of the goddess Parvati.
Day 11 Drive to Munnar
Today we leave Tamil Nadu and drive across the Western Ghats into Kerala to the town of Munnar. On the way, we stop at a tea factory and let the tea pickers show us how to pick tea. We drive through a sea of tea to our beautiful accommodation in the middle of the tropical greenery of Kerala.
Day 12 Hike through tea and spices
Today we hike to a great viewpoint with a breakfast picnic and through Kerala’s spice and fruit gardens. Our knowledgeable guide will explain everything about pepper, cardamom, cocoa and co.
In the afternoon, Munnar invites you to visit the market.
Day 13 Drive to our beach resort
Today we head to the other coast of India on the Arabian Sea. Our beautiful resort is right on the beach.
Day 14 Beach day
We enjoy a day of yoga, Ayurveda, the sea, the pool and delicious food.
Day 15 Backwater exploration by kayak
Today we explore the canal system of the nearby backwaters by kayak. We paddle through the small canals, allowing us to experience the flora, fauna and human life on the water up close.
We will also have a delicious feast at a family’s home.
Day 16 Departure or extension at the beach resort
A transfer will take you to the airport, 2.5 hours away.
Services
- All accommodations
- complete transport
- German-speaking female tour guide
- all mentioned activities with local guides and entrance fees
- all meals mentioned
VisaInternational flightunmentioned meals
Highlights
Kerala Munnar 
Fisher 
Kajak durch die Backwaters 
Chinese fishing nets 
Munnar tea plantations 
vegetable shop 
Thali 
Chinese fishing nets 
Banana market in Madurai 
Pepper plants 
Cardamom plants 
Coffee plants 
Mysore market 
Munnar hike 
Munnar hike Picnic 
Backwaters 
Beach Resort 
Marari Beach 
Kalakshetra Center 
Mahabalipuram 
Temple 
Pondicherry bike tour 
Kolam painting 
Indian women 
Village Tour Puupen Temple 
Tamil village Shivananda Ashram 
Meals on the banana leaf 
Tamil Nadu 
Temple 
Rituals 
Arts and crafts Navrarti fixed 
hike 
Paddies 
Yoga 
Chitambaram Temple 
Pondicherry 
Pondicherry
Prices and dates
24.01.2026-07.02.2026
from 4 to 12 participants 2600 €
850 € single room supplement
itinerary information
Requirements
An intensive trip with a lot of program and impressive experiences. It is very warm in Tamil Nadu and Kerala with temperatures between 25°C and 35°C
additional Information
Accommodation
We have chosen very nice hotel and resort accommodation in the upper category. In between, we will also stay in a nice homestay and in an ashram.
Guide
The trip will be accompanied by Sarah or Meike.
About the regions of Tamil Nadu and Kerala
Tamil Nadu and Kerala, two neighboring states in the south of India, impress with their unique characteristics in topography, culture, religion, demography, climate and economy.
Topography
Tamil Nadu stretches from the hilly Nilgiri Mountains to the flat Coromandel Coast on the Bay of Bengal. Kerala, on the other hand, is characterized by its western Ghats, rolling hills and the famous backwaters. While Tamil Nadu is rather dry, Kerala is dominated by a green, tropical landscape.
Culture and religion
Tamil Nadu is known for its Dravidian culture, impressive temple architecture such as in Madurai and Tanjore as well as the classical dances Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music. Hinduism is the predominant religion, but Christians and Muslims also have a significant presence.
Kerala, often referred to as “God’s own country”, is culturally characterized by Kathakali dance, Ayurveda and literature such as Malayalam poetry. There is an extraordinary religious diversity here, with Hindus, Christians and Muslims in almost equal proportions.
Demographics
With over 72 million inhabitants, Tamil Nadu is more densely populated than Kerala, which has around 35 million people. At over 96%, the literacy rate in Kerala is one of the highest in India, which can be attributed to decades of education policy. Tamil Nadu is also above the national average.
Climate
Tamil Nadu’s climate is hot and dry, with monsoon rains between October and December. Kerala has a tropical monsoon climate with high humidity and two monsoon seasons.
Economy
Tamil Nadu is an industrial stronghold with a focus on automobile manufacturing, IT, textiles and agriculture. The region is a major producer of rice, sugarcane and cotton.
Kerala is more service-oriented and known for its thriving tourism, spice exports and the influence of the foreign community, especially through remittances from the Middle East.
