Day 1, 21.11.2025: Sofia – Doha - Chennai

Meeting at 10:30 hrs at Sofia Airport with the group leader. Flight at 12:30 hrs for Doha with Qatar Airways. Landing in Doha at 18:10. Short layover at the airport. Connecting flight to Chennai at 19:20 hrs.

Day 2, 22.11.2025: CHENNAI / MAHABALIPURAM (62 KMS/01 HR)

Arrival in Chennai at 01:50 hrs. Welcome, transfer, and check-in at Hotel The Residency or similar. Time to rest. Breakfast.

Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu - One of India's four metropolises, a city with a population of 9 million, has a distinct colonial heritage dating back to the 17th century... Known as the "Detroit of India"... Here, Dravidian culture reached its zenith...

Later, city sightseeing: visit the Government Museum and Art Gallery, Bronze Gallery (closed Fridays & holidays), and Fort St. George... St. Mary's Church (oldest Anglican church in India)...

Visit the famous 16th-century Kapaleeshwarar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva...

Drive past Marina Beach...

After sightseeing, depart for Mahabalipuram. Check-in upon arrival. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 3, 23.11.2025: MAHABALIPURAM

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning visit to Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) - the ancient stone city of South India... Famous for its unique stone temples, rock carvings, and ancient Dravidian architecture... Part of the Pallava kingdom... Group of Monuments from the 7th-8th century (rathas, mandapas)... Shore Temple (UNESCO site)...

Afternoon free for independent activities. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 4, 24.11.2025: MAHABALIPURAM / PONDICHERRY (Approx. 140 km, 3 hrs)

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for Pondicherry. Check-in upon arrival.

Pondicherry, now Puducherry, often called the "French Riviera of the East," offers a unique experience with French influence, beautiful avenues, and scenic beaches... Compares to Goa... Walk through the French Quarter, relax on sandy shores, or explore Auroville...

Later visit the Ashram in Auroville... A haven for spiritual retreat... Founded by Sri Aurobindo...

Enjoy a rickshaw ride during sightseeing. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 5, 25.11.2025: PONDICHERRY / KUMBAKONAM (SWAMIMALAI) (135 km / 03 hrs)

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning departure towards Thanjavur. En route, visit Chidambaram and Darasuram.

Chidambaram... Nataraja Temple complex - dancing Shiva... Temple architecture symbolizing the link between arts and spirituality... 108 karanas of Natya Shastra...

Visit Darasuram town, with the Airavatesvara Temple... Built like a chariot... Rich carvings... Part of UNESCO's Great Living Chola Temples...

Check-in upon arrival. In the evening, participate in a cooking demonstration of traditional Indian dishes and mixing local spices, followed by dinner. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6, 26.11.2025: KUMBAKONAM (SWAMIMALAI)

Breakfast at the hotel. Trichinopoly, also known as Tiruchy or Trichy... Considered the best city to live in and cleanest in Tamil Nadu...

Visit the Rockfort Ganapathi Temple (Uchi Pillaiyar Temple)... Unique construction on an ancient rock... Climb 344 steps... Thayumanaswamy (Shiva) and Pillayar (Ganesha) shrines...

Visit the Srirangam Temple, the most important of Vishnu's eight self-manifested shrines... Spans 156 acres, 21 towers, Rajagopuram is the tallest temple tower in South India (72m)...

For adventurers, an ox-cart ride to a Tamil Nadu village. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 7, 27.11.2025: KUMBAKONAM / MADURAI (APPROX. 230 km, 04-05 hrs)

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning departure for Madurai, visiting Thanjavur en route.

Thanjavur, also known as Tanjore... Famous for Brihadeeswarar Temple (Big Temple), Tanjore Palace, Tanjore paintings, and dancing dolls...

Brihadeeswarar Temple - A great wonder of the Chola dynasty... Built in the 11th century... UNESCO site... Huge stone Lingam (20 tons)... Intriguing lack of shadow... Tanjore Palace - parts occupied by former royals, now mainly an art gallery...

Check-in upon arrival in Madurai. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 8, 28.11.2025: MADURAI

Breakfast at the hotel. Madurai, the second largest city in Tamil Nadu... Located on the banks of the Vaigai River... One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities... Famous monuments: Koodal Azhagar Temple, Meenakshi Temple, Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal...

Morning visit to the Madurai Temple (Meenakshi Temple), believed to have 33 million sculptures... Dedicated to Parvati (Meenakshi) and Shiva... Four corner gopurams... Meenakshi Nayakkar mandapam (hall with 110 pillars)... Visit Thirumalai Nayak Palace... Mariammam Teppakulam tank...

Afternoon free for independent activities. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 9, 29.11.2025: MADURAI / PERIYAR (148 km, 03 hrs)

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning departure for Periyar. Check-in upon arrival.

Afternoon visit to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary by boat. Enjoy a 1.5-hour boat ride on Periyar Lake... Spot elephants, sambar deer, gaur, wild boars... Observe birdlife like darters, egrets, kingfishers... High chance of seeing smooth-coated Indian otters...

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 10, 30.11.2025: PERIYAR / KUMARAKOM (APPROX. 125 km, 03 hrs)

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for Kumarakom, passing through vast, beautiful tea plantations, known as "God's Own Country."

Check-in upon arrival. Kumarakom, a picturesque village on the banks of Vembanad Lake... Famous for tranquil backwaters, rich flora and fauna, traditional culture...

Kerala Backwaters - network of canals, rivers, lakes...

Main attractions in Kumarakom: Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary (14 acres, migratory birds), Traditional boat cruises, Ayurveda and wellness centers, Cultural experiences (temples, local cuisine, toddy palm wine)...

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 11, 01.12.2025: KUMARAKOM / ALLEPPEY

After breakfast, board a houseboat (Kettuvallom).

Kettuvallams - traditional rice barges... Made without nails, using jackfruit wood and coir ropes... Modern houseboats have bedrooms, modern toilets, living rooms, kitchens, balconies... Glide through serene backwaters, witness traditional Kerala life...

Lunch, dinner, and overnight on board the houseboat.

Day 12, 02.12.2025: ALLEPPEY / KOVALAM (APPROX. 190 km/04 hrs)

After breakfast, disembark from the houseboat and transfer to Kovalam.

Check-in upon arrival. Enjoy a complimentary foot and head massage (20-30 minutes) upon arrival at the hotel.

Kovalam, a coastal town near Trivandrum... Means "grove of coconut trees"... Main beaches: Lighthouse Beach, Hawa Beach (Eve's Beach), Samudra Beach... Famous for Ayurvedic centers offering traditional therapies...

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 13, 03.12.2025: KOVALAM

Breakfast at the hotel. Full day at leisure for independent activities, beach relaxation, or Ayurveda massages. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 14, 04.12.2025: KOVALAM / TRIVANDRUM (18 km / 30 min)

Early morning transfer to the airport for Qatar Airways flight (QR 507) at 03:50 hrs. Landing in Doha at 06:20 hrs, quick connection at 07:20 hrs. Landing in Sofia at 11:25 hrs.

END OF PROGRAM

Travel Period	Booking Date	Per Person in Double Room	Single Room Supplement
21.11 – 04.12.2025	Until 15.05.2025	2165 EUR / 4234 BGN	2760 EUR / 5398 BGN
21.11 – 04.12.2025	From 16.05.2025	2265 EUR / 4430 BGN	2860 EUR / 5593 BGN

• Round-trip flight ticket Sofia – Doha – Chennai – Trivandrum - Doha – Sofia with Qatar Airways, including cabin baggage up to 8 kg and checked baggage up to 23 kg;
• Airport meet & greet and transfers airport – hotel – airport;
• 13 nights accommodation with breakfast and dinner (1 night on the houseboat includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner);
  • 1 night BB in Chennai
  • 2 nights HB in Mahabalipuram
  • 1 night HB in Pondicherry
  • 2 nights HB in Swamimalai
  • 2 nights HB in Madurai
  • 1 night HB in Periyar
  • 1 night HB in Kumarakom
  • 1 night FB on Deluxe Houseboat/Alleppey
  • 2 nights HB in Kovalam
• All excursions and bus transfers included in the program;
• Entrance fees for all tourist sites visited according to the program;
• Experienced tour leader from Bulgaria during the trip, assisting with organization and Bulgarian translation;
• Medical insurance "Travel Assistance" with the required coverage for the visited country during the travel period.

• Indian tourist visa – 40 USD and form completion... (see documents section);
• Tips for local guides and drivers /mandatory minimum tip/– 70 EUR per person for the entire program, payable locally;
• Tips for porters, rickshaw/jeep drivers, and other local staff serving the group – estimated tip around 200 INR per service received (approx. 2 EUR) - paid locally by each tourist when using the respective services;
• Optional activities;
• Personal expenses;
• Food, drinks, and services not mentioned in the program;
• Cancellation Insurance, concluded at the client's request... (details in Cancellation section).

Date	Departs	Departure Time	Arrives	Arrival Time
21.11.2025	SOFIA	12:30	DOHA	18:10
21.11.2025	DOHA	19:20	CHENNAI	01:55 (+1 day)
04.12.2025	TRIVANDRUM	03:50	DOHA	06:20
04.12.2025	DOHA	07:20	SOFIA	11:25

Flight schedule is in local time.

• International passport with min. validity of 6 months after the return date;
• 1 current photo in electronic format 2” x 2” (600x600 pixels);
• For issuing the electronic approval for an Indian tourist visa, scanned color copies of the passport and photo, and a completed form provided by the tour operator are required at least one month before departure. Scan requirements: passport scan in PDF format (min 10 KB, max 300 KB) and 1 current color passport-sized photo scan in JPEG (min 10 KB, max 1 MB).
• For children under 18 traveling with one or no parent: notarized authorization from one or both parents!

City	Hotels	Nights
CHENNAI	THE RESIDENCY	01
MAHABALIPURAM	IDEAL BEACH RESORT / FOUR POINT BY SHERATON	02
PONDICHERRY	SHENBAGA	01
SWAMIMALAI	INDECO (Heritage Villa)	02
MADURAI	GRT REGENCY	02
PERIYAR	ELEPHANT COURT (Patio)	01
KUMARAKOM	LAKESONGH (Punnamada)	01
ALLEPPEY	DELUXE HOUSEBOAT	01
KOVALAM	TRAVANCORE HERITAGE (Heritage Home)	02

The tour operator reserves the right to change the listed hotels with similar ones of the same category.

• A deposit of 1000 BGN per person is required upon booking; full payment is due 45 days before departure.
• The offer is valid with a minimum of 14 tourists.
• Notification deadline for not meeting minimum: 30 days before departure.
• No medical requirements for immunizations for the trip.
• The tour operator reserves the right to change the listed 5* hotels in the program with other 5* hotels of identical quality;
• The tour operator reserves the right to change the sequence of events in the program.
• Travelers have the right to unilaterally terminate the contract at any time before the start of the package tour, after paying the relevant amounts according to the cancellation terms and penalties.

Cancellation Deadlines and Penalties:

• more than 60 days before departure date – no penalty withheld;
• between the 60th and 45th day before departure date – the amount of the deposit required by the airline is withheld as a penalty for the cancelled flight ticket;
• between the 45th and 20th day – 70% of the TP value is withheld;
• less than 20 days – 100% of the excursion value is withheld.

Travel for Persons with Reduced Mobility: The trip as a whole is NOT suitable for persons with reduced mobility.

The tour operator has concluded "Tour Operator Liability" insurance according to Art. 97 of the Tourism Act, with policy №: 1329230126000001 of GENERALI INSURANCE AD.