Private 11 Days Tour of Tamil Nadu and Kerala Backwaters

Day 1: Chennai Arrival

As you land at the Chennai Airport, you will find our representative waiting to welcome you. With this, your Tamil Nadu and Kerala tour package from Chennai will start! As you board the AC car, you will be taken straight to your pre-booked hotel. Simply check in at the hotel and spend the rest of the day relaxing or spending it at your leisure. Overnight stay will be at the same hotel.

Day 2: Chennai—Mahabalipuram

After relishing a complimentary breakfast at the hotel, you will check out and join our driver and tour guide on a half day Chennai tour. First, we will head to the Government Museum complex. Being the second oldest museum in India, it houses a great collection of artifacts related to archaeology and numismatics. As we move ahead for the next attraction, you will catch a beautiful glimpse of the flower and fruit markets on your way.

Then we will reach the Fort Museum that displays a striking marble statue of Lord Cornwallis. The 3-storeyed building has 10 galleries with artifacts from the British era. Next, we will take you for a walk on the iconic Marina Beach—the 2nd largest urban beach in the world! For the last leg of the Chennai tour, we will head to the Santhome Cathedral Basilica. Built on the tomb of Saint Thomas, it has a museum and a small theater where you can view things related to the life of Saint Thomas.

In the afternoon, we will start our 2-hour long drive to Mahabalipuram. Upon reaching the city, you will check in at the hotel and then retire for the night.

Day 3: Mahabalipuram—Pondicherry

Your day will start with a palatable buffet breakfast at the hotel followed by a trip to Mahabalipuram. This small town houses a group of monuments from the 7th and 8th century that form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These clusters beautifully carved out of stone include 5 chariots, Shore Temple, Thirukadalmallai, and sculpture museum.

After this, you will join us on the trip to Pondicherry that will take about 2 hours. After checking in at the hotel, you can take a stroll through the local markets. Overnight stay will be at the same hotel.

Day 4: Pondicherry—Chidambaram—Thanjavur

After breakfast at the hotel, you will checkout and join us on the Pondicherry excursion. The tour will begin with a visit to the Aurobindo Ashram—a place with a high inflow of spiritual travelers. On our way to Thanjavur, we will stop at Chidambaram to visit the popular Nataraja Temple. Dedicated to Lord Shiva’s God of Dance (Nataraja) form, this 10th century temple displays Dravidian architecture in all its glory.

Later, we will drive to the Swaminatha Swamy Temple in Swamimalai. The temple features a 1.8 meter tall image of Swaminatha Swamy with a golden armor and crown and diamond lace. We will then continue the journey to Thanjavur. Upon arrival, you will check in at the hotel and take a good night’s sleep.

Day 5: Thanjavur—Trichy—Madurai

Post breakfast, you will be headed for a guided Thanjavur tour. Formally called Tanjore, the city is famous for housing one of the largest temples in India—the Brihadeeswara Temple. Built under the Chola Dynasty, the temple displays eye-catching artwork with frescoes, murals, and sculptures, and one of the largest Shiva Linga. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Next, we will take you to the Raja Rajan Art Gallery where you can see artifacts from the 9th to 16th century! We will then head towards Madurai but will make a small halt on the way to explore Trichy’s famous temple—the Ranganathaswamy Temple! Dedicated to a form of Vishnu, it is an architectural marvel with 50 shrines, 21 gopurams, 39 pavilions, 9 sacred pools, and a hall of 1000 pillars!

After resuming the journey to Madurai, you will reach your destination where you will check in at the hotel and rest for a while. In the evening, you will witness the daily ritualistic procession taking place at the Meenakshi Temple. Then, you will be transferred back to your hotel where you can enjoy a peaceful overnight stay.

Day 6: Madurai—Periyar

The day 6 of the Tamil Nadu tour will start as usual with breakfast at the hotel. After check out, you will be driven to the Meenakshi Temple—a temple dedicated to Goddess Parvati and her consort Shiva. The temple features a magnificent 1000-pillar hall, a gilded sanctum, 14 gopurams, a large shrine of Sundareswarar (a form of Shiva), and a lot more!

Next stop will be the Thirumalai Nayak Palace. Built by King Thirumalai of the Nayak Dynasty, the palace is testament to the brilliance of the Dravidian-Islamic architecture and is a major attraction. 

In the afternoon, we will head to the adjacent coastal state, Kerala, for the 2nd part of the exciting 11-day tour. After a drive of about 3 hours, you will reach Periyar. Check in at the hotel and enjoy the rest of the evening savoring the surrounding beauty, followed by a restful night at the hotel.

Day 7: Periyar Tour

On day 7, we will take you to the Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary after breakfast at the hotel. Explore the flourishing wildlife from the Periyar Lake for a thrilling experience. Then, we will take you to the plantations where you can also enjoy a 30-minute elephant ride.The rest of the day can be spent at your leisure, followed by a relaxing overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 8: Periyar—Kumarakom

Once you have had your breakfast, you will check out from the hotel and join us on the Kumarakom tour. After a 3.5-hour long journey, you will reach your hotel. After checking in and settling your luggage, you will get to explore the gorgeous backwater villages situated behind the largest lake of Kerala and the longest lake in India—Vembanad Lake. Enjoy the calming beauty of the scenic location before heading back to the hotel and enjoying a peaceful overnight stay.

Day 9: Kumarakom—Alleppey

After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, you will check out and visit the popular Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary that houses several indigenous and migratory bird species. Birdwatchers have a gala time spotting a wide variety of birds, including owl, waterfowl, cuckoo, cormorant, etc.

In the afternoon, you will check into a traditional Kerala houseboat in Alleppey for the most-awaited part of the Kerala tour—the backwater cruise! You will be served freshly cooked meals on board to make your trip even more special. Float on the scintillating waters while savoring the scenic beauty. After a delicious dinner, enjoy a calming sleep in the houseboat.

Day 10: Alleppey—Kochi

After a tasty meal for breakfast, you will check-out from the houseboat and join us on a 1 hour long drive to Kochi. Upon reaching your destination, you will check in at the hotel and spend the rest of the day as per your liking.

In the evening, we will take you to a Kathakali dance performance for a cultural tour. The striking costume, animated makeup, dramatic expressions, and magnificent footwork of the artists makes the performance memorable. After an entertaining time, you will return to the hotel and rest for the night.

Day 11: Kochi Tour and Departure

It may be the last day of the tour but there’s still more to unfold! After breakfast, you will check out from the hotel and head on a sightseeing tour of Kochi. Enjoy the beautiful mix of Portuguese, Dutch, and English influence by visiting some of the major attractions in the city like Fort Kochi, Mattancherry Palace, Paradesi Synagogue, Chinese Fishing Nets, and St. Francis Church.

After the tour, we will drop you at the airport and your fun 11-day tour of Tamil Nadu and Kerala will come to an end.