15N / 16D

Family

Houseboat

South India Heritage and Nature Tour: Chennai to Cochin

Chennai(2N) → Pondicherry(2N) → Tanjore(2N) → Chettinad(1N) → Madurai(2N) → Thekkady(3N) → Alleppey(1N) → Kochi(2N)

4.8 (20 Reviews)

17 Agents for Chennai

$ 2,080

/person

Compare quotes from 3 agents and get best deals

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Chennai

Upon arrival in Chennai, transfer to your hotel.
Relax and acclimate to your surroundings.
Overnight stay in Chennai.

Day 2 Chennai Sightseeing

Explore Chennai’s rich colonial history with a half-day city tour.
Visit Fort St. George, St. Mary’s Church, and the Government Museum.
Stroll along Marina Beach.
Overnight stay in Chennai.

Day 3 Chennai to Pondicherry via Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram

Drive to Pondicherry, stopping at Mahabalipuram to see its famous cave temples and Shore Temple.
Continue to Kanchipuram, the city of a thousand temples.
Arrive in Pondicherry and check into your hotel.
Overnight stay in Pondicherry.

Day 4 Pondicherry Exploration

Visit the Pondicherry Museum and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram.
Explore Auroville, a unique township dedicated to peace and sustainable living.
Walk along the French Quarter and the Promenade.
Overnight stay in Pondicherry.

Day 5 Pondicherry to Tanjore

Depart for Tanjore, also known as Thanjavur.
On arrival, check into your hotel.
Spend the evening exploring the local area.
Overnight stay in Tanjore.

Day 6 Tanjore Sightseeing

Visit the magnificent Brihadeeswara Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Explore the Tanjore Palace and Art Gallery.
Overnight stay in Tanjore.

Day 7 Tanjore to Chettinad via Trichy

Drive to Trichy (Tiruchirapalli) to visit the Rock Fort Temple and Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple.
Continue to Chettinad, known for its palatial homes and unique cuisine.
Check into your hotel and explore the local area.
Overnight stay in Chettinad.

Day 8 Chettinad to Madurai

Depart for Madurai.
Check into your hotel and explore the city at your leisure.
Overnight stay in Madurai.

Day 9 Madurai Sightseeing

Take a half-day city tour including the renowned Sri Meenakshi Temple.
Explore Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace and Gandhi Museum.
Overnight stay in Madurai.

Day 10 Madurai to Periyar

Depart Madurai and drive to Periyar, located in the Western Ghats.
Check into your hotel and relax.
Overnight stay in Thekkady.

Day 11 Periyar Wildlife and Spice Plantation

Upon arrival at Cochin or Madurai Airport/Railway Station, our representative will greet you and assist with the transfer to Thekkady.
Arrive in Thekkady and check into your hotel.
Relax and unwind. Optional: explore the local market or take a nature walk.
Enjoy a delightful dinner at the hotel.
Stay at a comfortable hotel in Thekkady.

Day 12 Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and Spice Plantation Tour

Start your day with a hearty breakfast at the hotel.
Head to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Enjoy a boat ride on Periyar Lake, where you can spot elephants, deer, and various bird species.
Return to the hotel for lunch (on your own).
Visit a nearby spice plantation to learn about the different spices grown in the region.
Return to the hotel for dinner.
Stay at a comfortable hotel in Periyar.

Day 13 Thekkady to Alleppey

Depart Thekkady and drive to Alleppey.
Board your houseboat for an overnight cruise through the Kerala backwaters.
Enjoy authentic Kerala cuisine on the houseboat.
Overnight stay on the houseboat.

Day 14 Alleppey to Cochin

Disembark from the houseboat and drive to Cochin.
Enjoy a sunset harbour cruise in Cochin.
Overnight stay in Cochin.

Day 15 Cochin Sightseeing

Explore Cochin with a half-day city tour, visiting the Jewish Synagogue, Dutch Palace, St. Francis Church, and Chinese Fishing Nets.
In the evening, experience a traditional Kathakali dance show.
Overnight stay in Cochin.

Day 16 Departure from Cochin

Transfer to the airport for your onward journey.

Package Policies

Accommodation in well-reviewed hotels and houseboats.
Daily breakfast and dinner.
Private cab for all transfers and sightseeing.
Guided tours and entrance fees.
Welcome drink on arrival.
Kathakali dance show in Cochin.
Spice plantation visit and boat ride in Periyar.

Lunch and additional snacks or beverages.
Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, and tips.
Optional activities and excursions not mentioned in the itinerary.
Travel insurance.

Embark on a 16-day journey through South India, starting in Chennai and ending in Cochin. Explore colonial history, temple architecture, and French charm in Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Tanjore, and Chettinad. Experience the spiritual essence of Madurai, the wildlife and spice plantations of Periyar, and the serene beauty of Kerala’s backwaters on a houseboat. Conclude your trip with the cultural sights of Cochin.

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Chennai Tour Package Reviews

Agent: Travelhubin

Prabhakaran • 4 weeks ago

Beautiful trip thanks to travelhubin 🌸

Agent: Elite Itinerary

Anushka • a month ago

Everything was exactly as mentioned in the itinerary provided

Everything was pretty fine

Agent: Incredible Planners

Mano • a year ago

The booking and arrangements initially was excellent. Reeta was contacting me almost daily to assist me and finalise my itenerary. She also accommodated my pref (Read More)erred hotel requests. I then made payment ,on 7 October 2024. Since then Reeta has stopped communicating. She however did ask her office to send me internal travel arrangements (after I requested the details) and I have since only had communications from Nikhil from her office. I just feel that I should have been advised by Reeta, that after initial sale by her , I will be handed over to her office admin for ongoing communication. Then I would understand. Otherwise I just felt neglected. Hope it all starts and ends well. I only arrive in Mumbai on 11/11/2024. But still dont know who will meet me at airport. Regards Mano

Agent: World Travel Experiences

Ganesan • 2 years ago

The offer from WTE seems fit our requirements. They arrange accordingly our request.All the hotel are very nice to stay and enjoy the hotel facility mainly the (Read More) restaurant. The driver we get are very nice and responsible as driving almost non stop is not an easy task. Thanks again for making our visit/holiday a very memorable one.Special thanks to Mr Mukesh for the effort. Will consider WTE again in future. Thanks.

Agent: Namaste Boutique Travel

Varsha • 2 years ago

The vehicle & driver were perfect for our travel. The tour guide was great too. Thanks for an excellent service 👍🏼

Agent: Eastbound Travelscape DMC

Debora • 3 years ago