Puducherry, Pichavaram and Mahabalipuram’s coast

Meet your private vehicle and driver in Chennai. Follow the scenic coastal road to Puducherry. Check into your hotel and enjoy time to freshen up. In the evening, head out for a relaxed walk along Gandhi Beach on the pedestrian-friendly promenade, catching the cool sea breeze. Overnight in Puducherry.

Start early with a drive south into Tamil Nadu to reach Pichavaram. Board a boat to glide through the channels of the world's second largest mangrove forest. Continue to Chidambaram to visit the ancient Nataraja Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Please note the temple closes around midday, so visits must fit morning or evening opening hours. Return to Puducherry for the night.

Wake early for sunrise over the Bay of Bengal and a morning walk along Gandhi Beach and the promenade, followed by breakfast. Set out on a walking tour through the French Quarter (White Town), admiring the colonial architecture, tree-lined streets and quiet lanes. For lunch and refreshments, cafes like Le Club, Surguru, Cafe Xtasi and Baker Street offer great independent dining options at your own cost. They are optional dining suggestions rather than included meals. In the evening, stroll past the Gandhi Statue as the promenade lights come on. Overnight in Puducherry.

Travel to Chunnambar Boat House and take the return ferry across the backwaters to Paradise Beach, where you can unwind on the sands. Water sports, such as paragliding or parasailing, are optional at extra cost and depend on local availability and weather; they are not included by implication. After lunch, visit the Auroville Visitors Centre in Tamil Nadu to learn about the community, followed by a brief stop at Auroville Beach. No Matrimandir Inner Chamber entry is included. Overnight in Puducherry.

Check out and drive north towards Chennai, stopping en route at Mahabalipuram. Include visits to the monolithic Pancha Rathas, the bas-relief of Arjuna's Penance, and the historic Shore Temple by the sea. If your departure schedule allows enough time, you may make an optional stop at Chennai's Marina Beach before your final transfer to the airport or railway station. Agree a suitably late onward journey to accommodate all stops.