City, Culture, History
September - April
Choose your tier
Things to know
Eighteen days across the full arc of southern India, from Chennai to Kochi. The route moves deliberately: Tamil Nadu opens with Mahabalipuram's shore temples and Pondicherry's French quarter before entering the Chola temple belt at Kumbakonam and Thanjavur. Chettinad adds the merchant mansion layer that no other part of South India offers. Madurai closes Tamil Nadu with Meenakshi Temple and street food. The route then crosses into Kerala through Thekkady's spice and wildlife country, settles into the Kumarakom backwaters, and closes in Kochi with a half-day canal cruise before the final city nights. Long drives are realistic and managed. The circuit uses private vehicle throughout with one recommended internal flight from Madurai or Thekkady to Kochi to cut a long overland leg.
Trip Highlights
What’s Included
All guided sightseeing as listed. Half-day backwaters houseboat cruise included. Entrance tickets quoted separately.
Five-star hotels and heritage character stays across the full route. Twin-share by default.
Daily breakfast. Selected lunches and dinners as listed.
Private AC vehicle throughout. One recommended internal flight (Madurai or Thekkady to Kochi) to reduce long overland leg.
Farbound tour director throughout, with expert local guides where required.
Twin-share by default. Room preferences accepted on enquiry.
Why Farbound
Curated for You
Trips designed around your interests, pace, and preferences
Comfort, scaled to Fit
Trips designed around your interests, pace, and preferences
Connections, Not Crowd
Trips designed around your interests, pace, and preferences
From
$4,600 per person
Classic tier — indicative pricing
Age : 18–30
Age : 30–50
Age : 50–80
Day to Day Itineraries
Day 1 - Arrive Chennai
Arrival with private transfer and a light first day in the city.
- Meet your Farbound tour director and settle into Chennai at a deliberately calm pace.
- Mylapore walk through temple streets, local markets, and neighbourhood lanes.
- Fort St George Museum for colonial-era context and the city's layered history.
- Short walks throughout with private transport between stops.
- Evening at leisure with support for dinner planning.
Breakfast
ITC Grand Chola or similar
Day 2 - To Pondicherry via Mahabalipuram
Coastal drive south with UNESCO monument stops at Mahabalipuram, then into Pondicherry.
- Coastal drive south with comfortable pacing and buffers for traffic.
- Mahabalipuram Shore Temple and key monument clusters, sequenced for crowds and light.
- Continue into Pondicherry and check in before the evening heat.
- First Pondicherry evening kept open for the French Quarter at your own pace.
Breakfast,
Lunch
Villa Shanti or similar
Day 3 - Pondicherry Heritage
Sri Aurobindo Ashram, French Quarter heritage walk, and a slow day in the lanes.
- Sri Aurobindo Ashram visit, respecting local access rules and the meditative atmosphere.
- French Quarter heritage walk with a historical lens: colonial bungalows, tree-lined boulevards, and the seafront promenade.
- Optional beach downtime kept open unless you want more layers.
- Afternoon kept flexible for cafes, the covered market, or rest.
Breakfast
Villa Shanti or similar
Day 4 - Temples to Kumbakonam
Drive inland through the Chola temple belt with stops at Darasuram and Srirangam.
- Move inland with conservative timing and comfort breaks.
- Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram, planned for better light and fewer visitors.
- Adi Kumbeswarar Temple in Kumbakonam, paced for heat and crowds.
- Srirangam darshan layer if timing and access align.
Breakfast
Indeco Swamimalai or similar
Day 5 - Thanjavur Palace Quarter
Short transfer to Thanjavur with the Maratha Palace and a calm afternoon.
- Short transfer to Thanjavur with an unhurried arrival.
- Maratha Palace and Art Gallery visit for the royal collections and Chola-era artefacts.
- Lunch included, positioned for a calmer afternoon.
- Evening open for a short local walk or rest.
Breakfast,
Lunch
Ideal River View Resort or similar
Day 6 - Brihadeeswarar Temple
The great Chola temple at Thanjavur, the anchor monument of the Tamil Nadu temple circuit.
- Brihadeeswarar Temple visit, sequenced for crowd flow and the best light on the gopuram.
- Time held for slower observation rather than checklist touring.
- Lunch included with midday downtime protected after morning heat exposure.
- Afternoon at the hotel or an optional local market visit.
Breakfast,
Lunch
Ideal River View Resort or similar
Day 7 - Into Chettinad
Drive to Chettinad for merchant mansion visits and a slow afternoon in the estate.
- Drive to Chettinad with clean timing and minimal detours.
- Mansion interior visit planned around access and natural lighting in the courtyards.
- Lunch included, afternoon kept slow to match the setting.
- Evening is deliberately quiet for recovery and the atmosphere of the village.
Breakfast
Chidambara Vilas or similar
Day 8 - Madurai Temple City
Transfer to Madurai with Meenakshi Temple visit and a street food walk.
- Transfer to Madurai with buffers for city entry traffic.
- Meenakshi Temple visit paced around access windows and the crowd rhythm.
- Street food walk kept practical, comfort and quality-first.
- Lunch included with heat breaks built into the afternoon.
Breakfast,
Lunch
Courtyard by Marriott
Day 9 - Madurai Heritage Layers
A second Madurai day for the temple in depth and optional city layers.
- Return to Meenakshi Temple for deeper access: inner sanctums, gopuram climb, and the tank.
- Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace for Nayak-period architecture and a different scale.
- Afternoon kept open for rest, a textile market visit, or further temple exploration.
- Evening at your pace before the drive toward Kerala.
Breakfast
Courtyard by Marriott
Day 10 - Madurai to Thekkady
Overland transfer and local movements
- Drive from Madurai into the Cardamom Hills as the landscape shifts from plains to forest.
- Comfort stops planned along the route.
- Arrive in Thekkady and check in before a quiet first evening.
- Day kept light on arrival for rest and acclimatisation.
Breakfast
Spice Village CGH Earth or similar
Day 11 - Periyar Tiger Reserve
Periyar Tiger Reserve wildlife safari and Periyar lake boat excursion.
- Periyar Tiger Reserve wildlife safari: forest tracks, grassland zones, and the lake areas where wildlife concentrates.
- Periyar lake boat safari for wide water, forest edges, and a different ecosystem view.
- Lunch included with afternoon rest at the property.
- Spice country walk optional if energy allows.
Breakfast,
Lunch
Spice Village CGH Earth or similar
Day 12 - Thekkady to Kumarakom
Drive to the backwaters and a slow afternoon at Coconut Lagoon.
- Drive from Thekkady to Kumarakom as the landscape opens into the backwater delta.
- Arrive at Coconut Lagoon and settle into the waterside property.
- Afternoon at leisure: shaded paths, water views, and a calm property rhythm.
- Evening at the resort.
Breakfast,
Lunch
Coconut Lagoon CGH Earth or similar
Day 13 - Alleppey Backwaters
Half-day houseboat cruise through the Alleppey canals, then heritage check-in.
- Drive from Kumarakom to Alleppey and board a private houseboat for a half-day canal cruise.
- Move through the backwater network past rice paddies, toddy shops, village ghats, and fishing nets.
- Lunch on the houseboat as you move through the canals.
- Disembark in Alleppey and check in at a heritage property for the night.
Breakfast,
Lunch
Philip's Guesthouse or similar
Day 14 - Alleppey to Kochi
Drive to Kochi for the final city days on the waterfront.
- Drive from Alleppey to Kochi along the coastal belt.
- Check in at the waterfront hotel and settle in for the Kochi days.
- Optional first-layer Fort Kochi walk in the late afternoon if energy allows.
- Evening at leisure.
Breakfast
Taj Malabar Resort & Spa or similar
Day 15 - Kochi Heritage
Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, and the Dutch Palace heritage circuit.
- Mattancherry: Dutch Palace murals, Paradesi Synagogue, and the Jew Town trading quarter.
- Fort Kochi lanes for the Portuguese-era church, Chinese fishing nets, and colonial waterfront textures.
- Lunch at a curated Kochi table.
- Afternoon at leisure for galleries, cafes, or the waterfront.
Breakfast,
Lunch
Taj Malabar Resort & Spa or similar
Day 16 - Kochi at Leisure
A final open day in Kochi for rest, optional exploration, or a longer art gallery circuit.
- Morning at leisure at the hotel after a long circuit.
- Optional Kochi art gallery circuit for the Kochi-Muziris Biennale permanent spaces.
- Afternoon kept fully flexible for rest or final market visits.
- Evening at your own pace for a farewell dinner.
Breakfast
Taj Malabar Resort & Spa or similar
Day 17 - Departure
Private transfer to Cochin International Airport.
- Morning at leisure at the hotel.
- Private transfer to Cochin International Airport.
- Timing built around your departure flight.
Breakfast
FAQs
What is a Farbound tour director?
A tour director is a Farbound-appointed lead who are local experts, licensed by the ministry of tourism India, & responsible for coordination and issue resolution, either end-to-end or city-by-city.
Can I request a guide in a specific language?
Language-specific guides can be requested, subject to availability and routing.
Can I upgrade or downgrade hotels?
Yes, subject to availability and repricing.
Do you help with visas?
Visa guidance may be provided, but visa issuance remains the traveler’s responsibility.
Can I add nights or extensions?
Extensions can be added subject to availability and repricing.
Do you have minimum or maximum group sizes?
There is no fixed minimum or maximum. Group size depends on routing, vehicles, and accommodation.
How do internal transfers work across South India?
Transfers may include a mix of private drives and flights where explicitly stated. The final proposal confirms all included sectors.
Can we add beach or wellness downtime near the end?
Yes. Downtime extensions can be added subject to availability and routing.
Can you tailor this journey for food and local markets?
Yes. Food and market layers can be added where feasible without overloading the pace.
Travel with confidence
Private escorted travel, coordinated from first proposal to final departure.
Farbound Guarantee
Routes, stays, guides, and activities shaped around travellers’ interests.
Regional Teams
On-ground teams across India, Nepal, and Bhutan manage delivery in real time.
Dedicated Tour Director
A single lead overseeing your trip from arrival through departure.
South India Grand Tour: Chennai to Kochi - Classic
Suggested itineraries
Strong starting points for India, Nepal, and Bhutan—planned with local specialists.
South India Grand Tour: Chennai to Kochi - Classic
18 Days from
$4,600* per person
Based on double occupancy
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South India Grand Tour: Chennai to Kochi - Classic
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