Day 1 : Chennai
You are welcomed at Chennai airport by a representative of our local agency or your French-speaking guide, who will greet you and arrange the transfer to the hotel we have reserved for you for the next two nights.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 : Chennai / Tirupati (133 km / 3h)
After breakfast, depart for Tirupati.
On the way, you stop at Sri Kalahasti to visit the center dedicated to the art of kalamkari. On pieces of cotton previously soaked in a mixture of resin and milk, patterns are applied, embellished with plants. These works were once intended for temples and the royal family.
You will also discover the temple dedicated to Vayu, the god of wind, before arriving in Tirupati, where you will check into the hotel upon arrival.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 : Tirupati
After breakfast, set out to explore Tirupati, the first stop of one of the most sacred pilgrimages in India.
You take a trip to the Tirumalai Temple, Venkateshwara, which receives several thousand pilgrims every day who offer their hair to the deities.
The entrance to the sacred shrine is reserved for Hindus only, but you visit the museum which houses a beautiful collection of sculptures and bronzes.
You then head to explore the Chandragiri Fort, whose main palace blends Hindu and Muslim styles.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 : Tirupati / Vijayawada (414 kms / 6h30)
After breakfast, depart for Vijayawada.
Located on the delta of the Krishna River, this bustling city, crisscrossed by canals and a hub of Andhra Pradesh culture, is also a popular resort destination.
You visit the Undavalli cave temples built in the 7th century, which house an astonishing statue of Vishnu.
Return to the hotel.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 5 : Vijayawada / Nagarjuna Sagar (203 km / 4h)
After breakfast, depart for Nagarjuna Sagar, where the remains of one of India's largest Buddhist centers are located.
Destined to be submerged by the waters of the dam, the monuments were relocated to an island in the lake. You will explore these exceptional historical relics by boat.
In the past, students from all over Asia came to join Nagarjuna University to deepen their knowledge of Buddhist teachings. It is also here that the oldest representations of the Buddha in human form were discovered.
You visit the Simala Vihara monastery and the Chamta Sri Griha temple.
At the Anupu site, you discover the grand theater where sacred dramas were held.
About ten kilometers from the city, you take a walk through beautiful landscapes to reach the Ethipothala waterfalls.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 6 : Nagarjuna Sagar / Hyderabad (275 km / 4h30)
After breakfast, you hit the road to Hyderabad.
Arrival and check-in at the hotel.
In the afternoon, you visit imposing Islamic monuments dating from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 7 : Hyderabad
After breakfast, set out to discover the legendary city of the Nizams and their fabulous treasures: the bazaar with the Char Minar, a majestic triumphal arch; the Mecca Masjid Mosque, one of the largest in the world (capable of accommodating 10,000 worshipers); and the modern Hindu temple of Birla Mandir.
Later, you visit one of the most astonishing Indian fortresses, Golconda, built during the Kakatiya dynasty as a defense along the walls of Fort Kondapalli.
Your day ends with exploring the Fath Darwaza, the Victory Gate, mausoleums, houses, and palaces.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 8 : Hyderabad / Bidar / Gulbarga (213 km / 4h15)
After breakfast, you depart for Gulbarga.
On the way, you visit the ancient fort of Bidar, known for Bidri craft, alloys inlaid with silver threads.
You continue your journey to reach Gulbarga.
Arrival and check-in at the hotel.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 9 : Gulbarga / Bijapur (166 km / 3h)
After breakfast, your day is dedicated to exploring Gulbarga, the former capital of the Bahmani Sultanate built in the 6th century.
Here, you discover the Jami Masjid Mosque, modeled after the one in Cordoba, and the tombs of the sovereigns.
You then proceed to Bijapur, nicknamed the Agra of the South.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 10 : Bijapur / Badami (122 km / 2h30)
After breakfast, you set out to explore the ancient citadel surrounded by walls and bastions, and the Gol Gumbaz, an imposing mausoleum and masterpiece of Deccan architecture, which houses a majestic hall of 1700 m2 topped with an immense dome.
Next, you visit the Ibrahim Roza mausoleum, one of India's most famous Islamic buildings known for the refinement of its sculptures, before concluding your day with a visit to the Jama Masjid Mosque.
In the afternoon, you head towards Badami, the former capital of the Chalukya kingdom.
Arrival and check-in at the hotel.
This city is home to a series of beautifully carved caves with walls adorned with splendid reliefs, created in honor of Vishnu among others.
One of the caves you visit is a Jain sanctuary, symbolizing the Chalukya's tolerance. This majestic site features caves excavated within a hilltop overlooking an artificial lake, the Bhutanatha Tank.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 11 : Badami / Pattadakal / Aihole / Hospet (127 km / 3h)
After breakfast, depart for Hospet.
On the way, visit the sites of Aihole and Pattadakal, the religious capital of the Chalukya dynasty. The temples, built between the 6th and 8th centuries, are renowned for their beauty and original purity. They feature new styles for the time, experimented with by builders and sculptors.
Arrive and check into the hotel in Hospet, located near the splendid site of Hampi, the former capital of the last Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagar and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 12 : Hospet / Hampi
After breakfast, set out to explore the site of Hampi.
Discover the Virupaksha Temple, dedicated to the god Shiva, and the Vittala Temple with its chariot and its mandapam, a dance hall with beautifully sculpted pillars.
In the royal enclosure, you will see the Lotus Palace, the Queen's Baths, and other architectural marvels. This city, which was once larger than Rome, fascinated European and Persian travelers who visited.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 13 : Hampi / Goa (304 km / 6h)
After breakfast, you depart for Goa.
In the afternoon, you arrive in Goa, a former Portuguese enclave and historical hub of the spice trade. Upon arrival, get a glimpse of Goa, a small state with an ideal climate. Here, you will find fabulous beaches, charming people, delicious food, hilltop fortresses, small whitewashed churches, and imposing cathedrals dating from the Portuguese era.
Check-in at the hotel, and you can relax and enjoy the beach for the rest of the day.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 14 : Goa
After breakfast, your morning is dedicated to exploring the old town and its churches.
The remainder of the day is free for relaxation on the beaches of Goa.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 15 : Goa / Flight back
After breakfast, you have free time until your departure to fully enjoy your last moments relaxing on the fabulous beaches.
You will be transferred to the airport according to your flight schedule.