Highlights
- Visit some of South India's most beautiful temples, like Brihadeeshwara Temple
- Go on a hike and rafting experience to search for wildlife in Periyar National Park
- Learn how villagers in Kumarakom utilize coconuts and coconut trees for goods
- Take a day cruise through the charming canals of Kerala while observing local life
Brief Itinerary
Day | Highlights | Overnight |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrive in Chennai, Half-Day City & Temple Tour | Chennai |
Day 2 | Transfer to Mahabalipuram, Temple Tour in Kanchipuram | Mahabalipuram |
Day 3 | Transfer to Pondicherry, Walking Tour of the French Quarter | Pondicherry |
Day 4 | Transfer to Thanjavur via Kumbakonam | Tanjore |
Day 5 | Transfer to Chettinad via Tiruchirappalli & Srirangam | Chettinad |
Day 6 | Transfer to Madurai, Sightseeing Tour & Food Tour | Madurai |
Day 7 | Transfer to Periyar, Spice Plantation Walk | Periyar |
Day 8 | Hike & Rafting Experience in Periyar National Park | Periyar |
Day 9 | Transfer to Kumarakom, Visit a Local Village | Kumarakom |
Day 10 | Day Cruise Aboard a Houseboat | Kumarakom |
Day 11 | Transfer to Cochin, Afternoon Sightseeing Tour | Cochin |
Day 12 | Guided Tour of Kumbalangi, Visit the Kerala Kathakali Centre | Cochin |
Day 13 | Depart Cochin |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Chennai, Half-Day City & Temple Tour
![](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/1b3fe403e886272579876a36bc508e6a469bf5d9/original-c22da6f1196f65ef59921aba02a7e120.jpg)
Welcome to Chennai, the state capital of Tamil Nadu and the gateway to South India. Meet your driver outside the airport and transfer to your hotel to check in and freshen up. Then, join your guide on a city tour, starting at Kapaleeshwar Temple, known for its towering gateways adorned with intricate statues and carvings. Enter the sanctum sanctorum to see the main deity, Lord Kapaleeshwarar, with Goddess Karpagambal by his side. Continue to Kālikāmbal Temple to admire the Dravidian-style architecture and graceful idol of Goddess Kālikāmbal, a form of Goddess Parvati.
Day 2: Transfer to Mahabalipuram, Temple Tour in Kanchipuram
![](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/2d15e205896f8ec00530b52229257ec25b5eccc9/original-969aa320dc86010fed0bd349117e69f9.jpg)
After a restful night in Chennai, hit the road on a 2-3-hour transfer inland to Kanchipuram, known as the "City of a Thousand Temples." When you arrive, you'll visit four of these iconic sites, starting at Ekambaranathar Temple, famous for its intricately carved stone pillars depicting mythological tales and celestial beings. Once you've explored the sprawling temple complex, go for a stroll in the surrounding gardens to discover the ancient mango tree that's believed to have miraculous properties. Continue to Kailasanathar Temple, one of the oldest temples in South India as it was built in the eighth century.
Day 3: Transfer to Pondicherry, Walking Tour of the French Quarter
![](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/331600c224061c8d2f78b4a3f9b9f750f8964542/original-6c4d111a5a0e7f8e03d7a5448bc1a129.jpg)
Continue your journey south along the coast to the former French colony of Pondicherry this morning. After the two-hour transfer, check in at your hotel and get ready for a tuk-tuk tour of the French Quarter. Ride past the colorful colonial-era buildings to get to the Sacred Heart Basilica, an imposing neo-Gothic-style church adorned with intricate stained glass windows depicting scenes from Jesus Christ's life. Zip to Muthialpet next, the Muslim quarter, where you can find a bustling market scene. Enjoy free time to shop for souvenirs and local delights at Goubert Market.
If you're not too tired, you can return to the French Quarter for a walking tour. Follow your guide down the cobblestone streets to Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall), which exemplifies the city's rich colonial past. Continue to Notre Dame des Agnes Church, known for its pink and yellow facade and elegant colonial architecture. Take a break from the sightseeing at Le Café, housed in a former French port office overlooking the Bay of Bengal. After refueling, head to École Française d'Extrême-Orient to discover the institute's campus.
Your next stop is the tranquil Sri Aurobindo Ashram, a center for integral yoga and spiritual practice. Attend a meditation session, explore the art gallery and library, or simply enjoy the peaceful ambience. Then, visit the art gallery within Alliance Francaise, a French language school housed in a colonial-era building. Browse the sculptures, paintings, photographs, and installations from both local and international artists before ending the tour at the Pondicherry Museum. Peruse the galleries dedicated to archaeology, sculpture, and anthropology, then transfer back to your hotel.
Day 4: Transfer to Thanjavur via Kumbakonam
![](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/85f12ff1807bf4b215b6813681dfb9ac39e8350e/original-424563f9eecf847ba36bd30bc2e97114.jpg)
After breakfast, you'll set off on a road trip to Thanjavur, known as the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu. Break up the four-hour drive southwest with plenty of stops, starting at Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram, one of the holiest shrines for Shaivites (followers of Shaivism). Next up is the 11th-century Brihadeeshwara Temple in Gangaikonda Cholapuram. The highlight of this UNESCO site is the 200-foot-tall (60 m) vimana (temple tower) topped by a massive cupola carved from a single piece of granite.
Day 5: Transfer to Chettinad via Tiruchirappalli & Srirangam
![](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/e9480b01902d6188433d60f7a41785d65e92543f/original-106510be22112453adf53da3d99347c5.jpg)
Early this morning, you'll be back on the road heading southwest to Chettinad in the Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu. On the way, stop in Tiruchirappalli, a bustling city offering a mix of ancient temples and colonial architecture. You can find two of the city's most famous temples within Tiruchirappalli Rock Fort: the Ucchi Pillayar Temple, dedicated to Lord Ganesha, and the Thayumanavar Temple, devoted to Lord Shiva. This sprawling temple complex is perched on a 273-foot-high (72 m) rock, so you'll have to climb 437 steps to get to the top.
Next, visit the nearby Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam, one of the largest and most revered Hindu temples in the world. After exploring all three temples, complete the drive to Chettinad, where you can set off on a tour of two villages in the area, Karaikudi and Kanadukathan, famed for their opulent mansions that were once home to Chettiar merchants. Visit a weaving center to watch the artisans creating beautiful Chettinadu saris, then stop at a local school to meet the children. End your tour at a local market to shop for locally-grown produce, hand-spun fabrics, and palmyra leaf baskets
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 6: Transfer to Madurai, Sightseeing Tour & Food Tour
![](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/3c972081991725b2bf098e24a6248475eec0ceb0/original-04d817c3a56c3ab86368ebe73305a12b.jpg)
Your exploration of iconic Hindu temples continues in Madurai, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in India. After the three-hour transfer southwest, check into your hotel and freshen up for your city tour, starting at Meenakshi Amman Temple, a masterpiece of Dravidian architecture. The temple is renowned for its towering gateway towers, adorned with thousands of colorful sculptures depicting gods, goddesses, and mythical creatures.
Day 7: Transfer to Periyar, Spice Plantation Walk
![](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/055c8d317c61466cbbb4142415a77d38a96fc405/original-750ba43db9849faf3725fd77df52ef7b.jpg)
Say goodbye to Tamil Nadu this morning as you cross the state border into Kerala to get to Periyar, nestled in the picturesque Western Ghats. After the four-hour transfer southwest, check into your hotel and get ready for a spice plantation walk. Periyar is renowned for its rich biodiversity and fertile soil, making it an ideal region for cultivating spices such as cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, and cloves. Learn how these valuable spices are grown, harvested, processed, and used in cooking and medicine. When you're done touring the spice garden, wander around town to shop for spices and other local delights.
Day 8: Hike & Rafting Experience in Periyar National Park
![](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/7edb063eea511c9757d49884c064428ca0cdfe39/original-e5fe11567d303b1b8de8f9e72379c72a.jpg)
Enjoy a nourishing breakfast to prepare for today's active adventure: a jungle walk through Periyar National Park. Follow your guide into the dense forest in search of wildlife like elephants, gaur, and deer. This is also a bird lover's paradise, as you can spot plenty of endemic bird species, like the Malabar gray hornbill, racket-tailed drongo, and great hornbill. Stop at scenic viewpoints overlooking the park's mist-clad hills, dense forests, and the sparkling Periyar Lake. After the three-hour trek, enjoy a packed lunch, then continue to explore the park, this time aboard a bamboo raft.
Day 9: Transfer to Kumarakom, Visit a Local Village
![](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/5f2f34e67be7b13f1ff9e1c943fba0bac48198ee/original-4e6c1b64077db64bbc205f98d7c5ae46.jpg)
Bid farewell to Periyar this morning as you transfer three hours west to Kumarakom, a charming village nestled on the banks of Vembanad Lake, the largest lake in Kerala and famous for its picturesque backwaters. When you arrive, check into your hotel, then head to a local village to meet the residents and learn about their daily lives. Since coconut trees are abundant in Kerala, women spend their days creating handmade goods like ropes, mats, and brushes with coir (a natural fiber extracted from coconut husks), while some men become tappers to collect a sap known as toddy from coconut trees.
Day 10: Day Cruise Aboard a Houseboat
![](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/3a655f50739137c927f7e230364dc7e6834fc995/original-104900638dbdfabc66a842d8b8bf3aec.jpg)
Today's activity is sure to be a memorable one as you board a houseboat to discover the area's backwaters. These enchanting vessels, built of anjili wood and bamboo, were the traditional method of transporting goods for hundreds of years. Now, they've been transformed into comfortable cruise boats. Board the houseboat at midday and glide across the water, watching scenes of rural life unfold along the banks as villagers wash their clothes, children play in the water, and fishermen cast their nets.
Day 11: Transfer to Cochin, Afternoon Sightseeing Tour
![](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/7512d28d9cfa60fdbed7e598c696c644ab52209a/original-b9f6de4c39735ba802137facbddc1451.jpg)
Discover more of the Malabar Coast today as you transfer one hour north to Kochi, known as the "Queen of the Arabian Sea." Check into your hotel and relax until this afternoon's sightseeing tour. When it's time, head to Fort Kochi, a historic neighborhood known for its mix of Dutch, Portuguese, and British colonial architecture. Wander down the quaint streets lined with colonial-era buildings to get to Mattancherry Palace, built by the Portuguese as a gift for King Veera Kerala Verma of the Kochi dynasty in the 16th century.
Day 12: Guided Tour of Kumbalangi, Visit the Kerala Kathakali Centre
![](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/c9954777a52fcb0584918a50f68102b7dedb3bf9/original-1907f8b1a988c4f795786d4fb4811df0.jpg)
Start your day with a leisurely walk through Kumbalangi, a picturesque village renowned for its tranquil backwaters, lush greenery, and traditional fishing communities. Upon arrival, you'll be welcomed by the villagers, who will teach you about their daily lives, culture, and traditions. After touring the village on foot, jump on a canoe for a 20-minute ride along the winding waterways, where you can witness the traditional Chinese fishing nets in action. Sit down for a typical Keralan lunch paired with refreshing coconut water to drink before transferring back to your hotel.
Day 13: Depart Cochin
![](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/7381fe28ba46234e0c0d8454194cf122366c3cb4/original-eae1ad86a6e17e0b313066460bfbb16c.jpg)
Although it's your final day in India, you may have some time before your flight to continue exploring the area on your own. You could head to Cherai Beach to relax on the golden sands and go for a dip in the Arabian Sea. Or, if you need to pick up souvenirs still, head to Lulu Mall, one of the largest shopping malls in India. Just keep an eye on the clock so you can return to the hotel to grab your bags, meet your driver, and transfer to the airport in time for your flight home. Safe travels!
More Great India Itineraries
Looking for more inspiration for your trip to India? Check out these other India itineraries, explore different ways to spend 13 days in India, or discover the best time to visit India.