Pondicherry & Mahabalipuram women only group trip

Pondicherry & Mahabalipuram

Puducherry & Tamil Nadu

4 Days

Light Walk/Climb (1-3 km/day)

Starts in 11 weeks

START DATE

16 JUL, Thu

END DATE

19 JUL, Sun

₹ 34,500

₹34,000*

on double sharing

* 5% GST extra

❮

Pondicherry & Mahabalipuram

₹ 34,500

₹ 34,000 * 5% GST extra

START DATE

16 JUL, Thu

END DATE

19 JUL, Sun

₹ 34,500

₹ 34,000 * 5% GST extra

Our Pondicherry & Mahabalipuram women only group trip has so many layers to it. Consider Auroville, one of the best examples of community living anywhere in the world. Then, there are the French and Tamil quarters in town that present endless opportunities for exploration. Finally, the mangroves that no one told you about! While in the region, can Mahabalipuram’s rich heritage be left behind?

Come, join us on this short getaway and explore this part of our diverse country with F5 Escapes.

Highlights

Boat through the world’s second largest mangrove forest, Pichavaram

Take a heritage walk across the culture-rich White Town

Explore the beautiful campus of Auroville

Go for guided tour of the Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram

Important

The Pondicherry & Mahabalipuram all-women group trip is from Chennai. There will be some walking required. Please reconsider if otherwise and let us know in advance if you have knee issues.

Getting there

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Arrive by 9 AM on 16 JUL

Chennai Airport (MAA)

Tamil Nadu

Return after 2 PM on 19 JUL

Chennai Airport (MAA)

Tamil Nadu

Itinerary

25°C - 35°C | Humid, warm. Cool evenings.

Chance of rain: Low-Medium

Note: This is a prediction. The weather may change

Day 1 : Reach Chennai. Dakshinachitra. Reach White Town Pondicherry.

Arrivals

Drive: 2-3 hrs

Walk: 1-2 hrs

Reach Chennai in the morning. Start for Pondicherry before noon. On the way, visit Dakshina Chitra. Dakshin Chitra is an exciting cross-cultural living museum of art, architecture, lifestyles, crafts, and performing arts of South India. Reach the White Town area by evening. Relax. Overnight at Pondicherry.

There will be a little bit of walking everyday in this Pondicherry group trip. Please let us know well in advance if you have any knee issues.

Being the coastal region in Tamil Nadu, expect humid weather. Temperatures can range from 25 to 35 degrees Celsius. Expect pleasant mornings, humid and sunny afternoons, and cool evenings with the sea breeze kicking in.

FUN FACT!

The 18 original houses at the DakshinaChitra have unique stories to tell. The walls in the Chettinad houses for instance, have a mirror-like finish. Can you guess why? Well, it’s not because of modern paint, but a traditional plaster made of eggshells, mixed with jaggery and lime!

Day 2 : Pichavaram. White town heritage walk. Aurobindo Ashram.

Drive: 4-5 hrs

Boating

Heritage Walk: 1-2 hr

After an early breakfast, embark on a day trip to Pichavaram. Did you know that Pichavaram is the second-largest mangrove forest in the world? Boating through the crisscrossing mangrove channels, witnessing the beautiful bird life, is on the agenda. In the evening, take a heritage walk of the White town and also visit Aurobindo ashram and Manakkula Vinayagar temple. Overnight at Pondicherry.

There are several sights and walks included in this Pondicherry trip package which will require keeping time. Kindly cooperate with your lead to ensure a smooth experience for the group.

We have planned your meals at great restaurants/ homestays. Tamil Nadu is known for its authentic cuisines and Pondicherry, for its French influences on local culture. Expect a culinary treat!

FUN FACT!

Did you know? Though White Town is popular as the French Quarter, it was the Dutch who designed the actual 'grid' patterned city plan during their brief occupation of the area around the late 17th century.

Day 3 : Matri Mandir view point. Auroville. Mahabalipuram.

Drive: 3-4 hrs

Walk: 2-3 hrs

Local sightseeing

Explore Auroville today. It is one of the finest examples of community living in the country. Visit the Maitrimandir viewpoint and explore the beautiful campus of Auroville: a lovely village walk, and scrumptious lunch. After lunch, proceed to Mahabalipuram, famous for its Pallava dynasty sculptures, shore temple, and beach.In the evening enjoy your time around the beach area. Overnight at Mahabalipuram.

We will be visiting the Matrimandir viewpoint but we will not be able to gain entry to the inner chamber. It is not a tourist spot – it is a place for meditation and it cannot be pre-booked by travel agents or tour operators.

We are trying to be eco-friendly, avoid plastic bottles and minimize littering. Kindly help us in that regard by carrying your own bottles.

Shweta Raju

I recently returned from my trip to Pondi and Auroville, and I wanted to express my gratitude to F5 Escape Team. The entire journey went exactly as planned by them. Every detail, from the stay to the recommended places to visit, was incredibly helpful. (Custom tour)

Day 4 : Drop at Chennai airport. Fly out.

Guided tour

Drive: ~2 hrs

Return flights

Go for an early morning guided Shore temple & Five Rathas visit. Enjoy your breakfast. Later, leave for Chennai and get dropped at the airport. Trip Ends.

Please book your return tickets after 2 PM today.

FUN FACT!

Did you know? The Shore Temple was designed primarily as a nautical landmark. In the 8th century, during the Pallava reign, Mahabalipuram was a thriving port, and the temple was built on the shore so that its towers and lights could guide ships home.

Important

The Pondicherry & Mahabalipuram all-women group trip is from Chennai. There will be some walking required. Please reconsider if otherwise and let us know in advance if you have knee issues.

Add ons

Single Occupancy Supplement: INR 12,000 + 5% GST

Children (5 yrs to 10 yrs): INR 30,500 + 5% GST

Adolescents (11 yrs to 17 yrs): INR 34,500 + 5% GST

Inclusions & exclusions

Inclusions

We want to enable you to travel wallet free. That’s why, when you travel on our Pondicherry & Mahabalipuram women only trip, we take care of most of your travelling expenses. Our trip includes:

Accommodation for 3N/4D on double occupancy.

Local transport in A/c vehicles all through the trip, as per the itinerary.

Pichavaram entry and boating tickets.

All meals from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 4

Monuments entrance fees / Parking / Toll etc.

Heritage walk in Pondicherry.

Village walk and sound garden tour in Auroville.

Coordination and guidance of an F5 traveler.

Exclusions

Some expenses are excluded (especially those of personal preferences) and will have to be taken care of by the individual. Exclusions include:

Food, snacks and meals other than mentioned

Packaged water

Camera charges

Activity charges other than mentioned

Tips and personal expenses

Medication

Flights/Train from your city of residence to Chennai and return.

Any cost arising due to natural calamities, personal flight delays and aspects beyond our control. We will definitely facilitate an alternative and handle the contingency, the cost being yours.

5 % GST.

Policy

Terms & Conditions

REFUNDS/CANCELLATION:

15% of the trip cost if canceled 90 days or more in advance.

25% of the trip cost if canceled 89 – 60 days in advance.

50% of the trip cost if it is canceled 59 to 16 days in advance.

Last 15 days – no show – the entire amount will be forfeited.

DISCLAIMER

F5 Escapes is in no way responsible for any untoward incident happening due to the ignorance/negligence of the guests, natural/man-made calamities, accidents or any other events that are out of human control during the trip.

All our trips are well-researched, including identifying access to medical facilities. In case of a medical emergency, F5 will assist the traveler in getting medical attention.

F5 reserves the right to cancel the trip under certain conditions – in such a case, the amount will be refunded in full.

FAQs

What type of accommodation will be provided?

We select accommodation based on their uniqueness/character, location, cleanliness and comfort, hospitality, food quality, and more. Hence, we work with a variety of stays - boutique hotels, heritage properties, well appointed standard hotels, premium homestays etc. You can download the pdf itinerary for more details on the stays being used during the Pondicherry tour.

What type of food will be available during the Pondicherry group tours?

We have planned your meals at great restaurants, cafes and homestays. Tamil Nadu is known for its authentic cuisine, while Puducherry has a distinct French influence on its local cuisine. Expect a culinary treat.

What will the weather be like?

We are visiting several destinations. Being a coastal region, expect humid weather. This part of the country is usually warm/hot across the year, with temperatures ranging around 25 to 30 degree Celsius. Mornings as such will be pleasant, days will be warm and humid, while evenings can be cooler due to the sea breeze. This however is a prediction and can change during the actual time of travel.

Which places will be covered in the Pondicherry tour package?

Please have a look at the Mahabalipuram & Pondicherry trip itinerary. You will find all details on day wise activities, places to visit, and more. Some of the places we will be covering are White Town in Puducherry, Auroville, Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram, Pichavaram, and more. Also go through the Inclusions and Exclusions.

As a solo-female traveller, can I join the Puducherry group tour?

Absolutely! We design our women only tours to make it convenient, fun, and safe for women travellers. While solo female tours give you the autonomy to pace your trip, group travelling is hassle-free and without the mental load of planning and organising. You travel with a group of like-minded women, make new friends, and share experiences for a lifetime. Join our Pondicherry women trip to experience the joy of travelling with your tribe.

What are the company policies on smoking/drinking?

Note on Smoking and Alcohol policy: Everyone joining is an adult and we realise that we cannot dictate the behaviour on how you should enjoy the trip. All we ask is to drink responsibly. Hangover delays are going to cost a lot, and will not be tolerated at all. So please do not test your limits and enjoy in moderation. Also, do respect your roommate’s comfort levels with the alcohol smell and avoid drinking in the room if she is not comfortable. If you smoke, please do so outside the room, even if the rooms have ashtray.

How does F5 Escapes promote responsible and sustainable tourism?

When we travel, we visit somebody’s home, be it a city, village or a place of stay. We treat them with utmost respect. We encourage all our guests to leave no trace, only footprints. We recommend carrying one's own steel water bottles. Most places of stay we partner with provide clean drinking water and water is available for refill. Small shift, big impact. We are mindful about our group not littering the destination. We try choosing vendors who make a conscious effort to employ locals, thereby enabling us to give back to the local economy. We encourage local handicrafts and on several trips we visit local artisans. We try to reduce overcrowding by travelling in small groups of maximum 12 people. We support women-led enterprises and seek them out on our travels. We work with local organisations across India involved in conservation, culture preservation and employment generation.

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SHORT AND LONG TOURS

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Detailed and comfortable itinerary

F5 Escapes team also planned our Pondy and Hampi family trips. Their Itinerary is detailed and comfortable . Their Choice of accomodation is awesome.

- Poornima Krishnan