South India tour
The temple South and green Kerala, in one trip.
Pallava rock temples on the Coromandel coast, the thousand-year-old Chola temple at Thanjavur, Madurai’s towering gopurams, then the spice hills of Thekkady and a night afloat on the Kerala backwaters — one car, one driver, your own pace. We arrange it from our office in Himachal and stay your single point of contact; the window we recommend is mid-December to February.
- 12 days Chennai → Tamil Nadu → Kerala → Kochi
- Mid-Dec – Feb the window we recommend
- Private car one driver for the whole trip
- 20% deposit full refund within 48 h
What does a South India tour look like for a first-time visitor?
A classic South India tour takes 10–14 days in a private car with a driver: fly into Chennai, see the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram, French-era Puducherry, the Chola temples of Thanjavur and Madurai’s Meenakshi Temple, then cross into Kerala for Thekkady’s spice hills, a backwater houseboat night and Fort Kochi. Go mid-December to February. Suzu Travels arranges it with a US-dollar quote.
Talk to a real person: our team in Himachal answers 9 am–9 pm IST (UTC+5:30), usually within 2 hours. Message us on WhatsApp +91 70874 88961 or email info@suzutravels.com.
The route: east coast to west coast, temples first, water last
South India is two different trips joined by the Western Ghats: Tamil Nadu on the east coast, with temples that have been in worship for over a thousand years, and Kerala on the west, green and watery. This route crosses from one to the other once, so every drive moves you forward.
Chennai → Mahabalipuram → Puducherry → Thanjavur → Madurai → Thekkady → Alappuzha backwaters → Kochi. One open-jaw route: you fly into Chennai and out of Kochi, so you never drive back.
Twelve days in South India, day by day
A sample we build from. Add Munnar’s tea hills (two more nights), a beach, an Ayurveda stay or the Golden Triangle — the quote changes, the pace stays human.
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DAY 1Arrive Chennai → Mahabalipuram
Your driver meets you at Chennai airport (name, photo and car number shared with you before the trip). Rather than staying in the city, we drive south along the coast to Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) — quieter, and right by the sea.
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DAY 2Mahabalipuram: the Pallava coast
A UNESCO World Heritage Site carved out of rock by the Pallava kings in the 7th and 8th centuries: the rathas (temples shaped like chariots), cave shrines, the giant open-air relief known as the Descent of the Ganges or Arjuna’s Penance, and the Shore Temple above the waves. Go early, before the heat and the crowds.
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DAY 3Mahabalipuram → Puducherry
Further down the coast to Puducherry, 162 km (101 mi) south of Chennai. The old French quarter by the seafront promenade is a grid of straight, quiet streets lined with colonial buildings, some from the 18th century. An afternoon on foot, an evening by the sea.
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DAY 4Puducherry → Thanjavur
A long drive day inland to Thanjavur, the city of the Chola king Rajaraja I. Arrive in time for the Brihadisvara (Big) Temple in the late-afternoon light: begun by him around 1003–1004 and consecrated in 1009–1010, it is still a living temple more than a thousand years later.
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DAY 5Thanjavur and Darasuram
The Big Temple again in the morning, then the Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram with its 24 m (79 ft) tower and fine stone carving. Together with Gangaikondacholapuram (completed in 1035) they form UNESCO’s “Great Living Chola Temples” — Thanjavur was listed in 1987, the other two added in 2004.
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DAY 6Thanjavur → Madurai
South to Madurai, a city with references going back to the 3rd century BC and called “the city that never sleeps”. The Meenakshi Amman Temple has 14 gopuram towers of 45–50 m (148–164 ft) and a hall of a thousand sculpted pillars. Tamil Nadu Tourism lists opening hours of 6:00 am–12:30 pm and 4:00–9:00 pm — we check them on the day.
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DAY 7Madurai → Thekkady
Across the Western Ghats into Kerala: about 136 km (85 mi) from Madurai airport up to Thekkady, at 900–1,800 m (2,950–5,900 ft). The air cools, the slopes turn to cardamom, pepper, vanilla, cinnamon, tea and coffee. A spice-garden walk in the afternoon.
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DAY 8Thekkady: Periyar Tiger Reserve
The reserve covers 777 sq km (300 sq mi) of forest around a 26 sq km (10 sq mi) lake. A two-hour boat trip, run by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, is the classic way to watch elephants, gaur, sambar and otters from a safe distance. Tigers are rarely seen — we never promise one.
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DAY 9Thekkady → the backwaters, houseboat night
125 km (78 mi) west, about 3 hours, to Alappuzha. Board a kettuvallam, a traditional rice barge rebuilt as a houseboat with bedrooms, a living deck and a kitchen; the crew cooks lunch, dinner and breakfast on board. The boat moors for the night on a network of canals, rivers and lakes stretching over 900 km (560 mi).
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DAY 10Backwaters → Fort Kochi
Breakfast on the water, then about an hour north (62 km / 39 mi) to Kochi. Fort Kochi, 10 km (6 mi) from Ernakulam town, is the place to slow down: the Chinese fishing nets, standing for over five centuries, at sunset.
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DAY 11Fort Kochi and Mattancherry
On foot and by car: St. Francis Church — India’s oldest European church — Santa Cruz Basilica, Mattancherry Palace and the Jewish Synagogue. In the evening, a Kathakali performance; arrive early to watch the make-up.
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DAY 12Fly out of Kochi
To Cochin International Airport, 82.8 km (51 mi) and about 2 hours from Alappuzha, less from Fort Kochi. Flying on to Delhi for the Golden Triangle, or home? We time the drive around your flight, with a margin.
Take this plan with you: 12-day itinerary (PDF). Day by day, what is included and what is not, prices and how booking works — 2 pages. No email or sign-up needed; print it or share it with whoever you travel with.
When to go: two coasts, two monsoons
This is the part most South India itineraries skip. Tamil Nadu and Kerala get their rain at different times of year, so a trip that joins them has a best window of its own.
Mid-December – February: go
Both coasts are at their best. Tamil Nadu Tourism recommends December to February for Madurai; Kerala Tourism names November–February as its peak season with pleasant weather, and the best months for houseboats and the hills.
October – December: Tamil Nadu's monsoon
The India Meteorological Department calls the north-east monsoon, October to December, Tamil Nadu’s chief rainy season — it brings 48% of the state’s annual rain, and the season also matters for cyclones on the coast. Possible, but we build late-autumn trips with a flexible day.
June – September: Kerala's big monsoon
The south-west monsoon brings most of Kerala’s rain. Green and dramatic, but the UK Foreign Office warns of flash flooding and landslides that can occur with limited warning during the monsoon.
March – May: hot
The plains of Tamil Nadu and the Kerala coast are hot and humid. The hills stay cooler, and it is the best season for wildlife at the Periyar lake — but long temple days in the heat are hard work.
What's included — and what isn't
Included
Private air-conditioned car and the same English-speaking driver for all 12 days, fuel, tolls, parking and state taxes; 10 hotel nights with breakfast in the tier you choose; 1 houseboat night with all meals on board; airport pick-up in Chennai and drop at Kochi.
Not included
International and domestic flights, the India e-Visa, entry tickets (monuments, the Periyar boat, Kathakali), lunches and dinners off the boat, tips. We can pre-book tickets and local guides at the big temples in the same quote.
Cars
Sedan for 2–3 travellers, SUV for 4–6, a minibus for groups. The ghat road up to Thekkady is narrow and winding — we use SUVs there for families.
How South India is run
Our team runs North India from Himachal; in Tamil Nadu and Kerala we arrange the car, hotels and houseboat with local operators we have worked with, and stay your single point of contact from the first message to the airport drop. Your driver’s name, photo and car number are shared with you before the trip.
Practical notes for South India
Visa
Apply yourself for the India e-Visa at the official site indianvisaonline.gov.in — beware look-alike sites that charge extra. We are not a visa agency; our e-Visa guide walks you through it.
Safety, from the UK Foreign Office
Avoid travelling at night. Be cautious in tourist areas, where scammers, pickpockets and ticket touts target foreign nationals. Women travelling alone: avoid isolated areas, including beaches, at any time of day. On the coast there are strong currents and most beaches have no flags or lifeguards. Daytime drives, your driver and our office WhatsApp number are how we plan around this.
Temples
Many South Indian temples are living places of worship: dress modestly, leave your shoes at the entrance and follow the rules posted at each temple — access to inner areas and photography rules vary. Your driver or guide will tell you before you go in.
Health
Consult your doctor or an official travel-health site (CDC, NHS Fit for Travel) before you go. Carry water, sunscreen and insect repellent; the plains are warm even in January.
Shorter, longer, or with the North
Less time? With 8 days, choose one half: our Kerala tour covers Fort Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady and a houseboat night in more depth. More time? Add two nights in Munnar’s tea hills, a beach, or an Ayurveda stay in Kerala. Karnataka can be added too — ask us.
With the North: many first-time visitors start with a Golden Triangle tour — Delhi, Agra and Jaipur in 4–6 days — and fly south for the second week. If you prefer one car for North India instead, see how our private car with driver works.
Prices
The 12-day South India tour is quoted on request: it depends on the hotel tier, the houseboat category, the car and the month. You receive a day-by-day plan with a US-dollar total and what it covers before you pay anything.
| Option | From | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| South India — 12 days / 11 nights (this itinerary) | on request | Private car and driver throughout, 10 hotel nights with breakfast, 1 houseboat night with meals, airport pick-up in Chennai and drop at Kochi; tickets and guides on request |
| Golden Triangle — 4 days (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur) | from US$299 | Per person, two sharing: private air-conditioned car and driver, hotels with breakfast, airport pick-up and drop, local guides at the main monuments |
Prices are per person in US dollars, indicative for the season shown, and confirmed on your quote. Taxes included; international flights excluded.
Booking terms (20% deposit, 48-hour refund window) are stated once, under Plan it with a local.
Questions travellers ask
How many days do you need for a South India tour?
Ten to fourteen. Twelve days lets you see the Tamil Nadu temples — Mahabalipuram, Thanjavur, Madurai — and Kerala’s Thekkady, backwaters and Fort Kochi without rushing. With 8 days or fewer, pick one state: Kerala alone, or the temple towns of Tamil Nadu.
What is the best time to visit South India?
Mid-December to February for a trip that joins Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Tamil Nadu’s chief rainy season is the north-east monsoon, October to December (India Meteorological Department); Kerala’s big monsoon is June to September. Tamil Nadu Tourism recommends December to February for Madurai, and Kerala Tourism calls November to February its peak season.
Tamil Nadu or Kerala — which one if I have less time?
Tamil Nadu if you love architecture and temple life: the Pallava rock temples of Mahabalipuram, the Chola temples of Thanjavur and Madurai’s Meenakshi Temple. Kerala if you want slower days: spice hills, wildlife boats at Periyar, a houseboat night and Fort Kochi. Twelve days gives you both.
Which airport do I fly into and out of?
This route flies into Chennai and out of Cochin International Airport (Kochi), so you never drive back the way you came. It works the other way round too. If you start with the Golden Triangle, you fly from Delhi to Chennai.
Can I combine South India with the Golden Triangle?
Yes — it is a classic two-week India. Spend 4–6 days on Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, then fly south to Chennai and follow this route. We quote both halves together, with one point of contact for the whole trip.
What should I wear in South Indian temples?
Dress modestly, take off your shoes at the entrance and follow the rules posted at each temple — access to inner areas and photography rules vary from temple to temple; your driver or guide will tell you before you go in.
Is South India safe for foreign tourists?
The UK Foreign Office advises avoiding travel at night, being careful of scammers and touts in tourist areas, and — for women alone — avoiding isolated areas, including beaches. Many beaches have strong currents and no lifeguards. We plan daytime drives and you have our office WhatsApp number throughout.
How much does a South India tour cost and how do I pay from abroad?
It is quoted on request because the hotel tier, houseboat and month change the price; you get a day-by-day plan and a US-dollar total first. 20% deposit locks your dates and price; full refund if cancelled within 48 hours of paying; balance before the trip; pay by card via Razorpay (international cards accepted) or PayPal.
Tell us your month — we'll plan South India around it
Your dates, how many of you, the hotel tier you like and whether you want to add the Golden Triangle, Munnar or a beach. You get a day-by-day plan and a US-dollar quote, then decide.
We usually reply within 2 hours, 9 am–9 pm IST (UTC+5:30). Email info@suzutravels.com if you don’t use WhatsApp.
Booking: A 20% deposit locks your dates and price. Full refund if you cancel within 48 hours of paying. Pay by card (Razorpay, international cards accepted) or PayPal; the balance is due before the trip.
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Keep exploring
Sources
- UNESCO — Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
- UNESCO — Great Living Chola Temples (Thanjavur, Gangaikondacholapuram, Darasuram)
- Tamil Nadu Tourism — Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai
- Tamil Nadu Tourism — Madurai
- Government of Puducherry — Tourism
- India Meteorological Department, Chennai — Report on the Northeast Monsoon 2025
- Kerala Tourism — Thekkady and the Periyar Tiger Reserve
- Kerala Tourism — Thekkady getting there (Madurai airport 136 km)
- Kerala Tourism — the kettuvallam houseboat
- Kerala Tourism — Fort Kochi
- Alappuzha District Administration — how to reach (road distances)
- UK FCDO — India travel advice: safety and security
- India e-Visa — the only official site
Written by the Suzu Travels team in Himachal Pradesh, India. Facts checked 11 Nov 2026. Prices, visa rules and road conditions change — we re-check this page regularly; ask us before you book.
