From

US $3,749 per person

Divine Trails of South India — From Ancient Temples to Peaceful Backwaters

15 days

•

From Chennai (Madras) to Kochi (Cochin)

4.8

30 reviews

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From

US $3,749 per person

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Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

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1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

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Plan your adventure:

Operator: Taj Holidays
City & Culture: Immerse yourself in rich history and local traditions
Group Tour: Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
Low Intensity: Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
Group Size 1 - 10
All Ages Welcome

Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

Day 1
Chennai
Chennai
Day 2
Chennai - Kanchipuram
Chennai - Kanchipuram
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Marina Beach
- Guided tour of Kapaleeshwarar Temple
- Visit Fort St. George
- Guided tour of Government Museum
- Excursion to Kanchipuram
- Visit Ekambareswarar Temple
- Visit Kailasanathar Temple
- Visit Silk Weaving Center
Landmarks
Marina Beach
Kapaleeshwarar Temple
Fort St. George
Government Museum
Ekambareswarar Temple
Kailasanathar Temple
Day 3
Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry
Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mahabalipuram
- Visit Shore Temple
- Visit Arjuna's Penance
- Visit Five Rathas
- Evening exploration of Pondicherry
Landmarks
Shore Temple
Arjuna's Penance
Five Rathas
Day 4
Pondicherry
Pondicherry
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Aurobindo Ashram
- Explore French Quarter
- Visit Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Stroll along Promenade Beach
- Visit Auroville
Landmarks
Aurobindo Ashram
Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Promenade Beach
Auroville
Day 5
Pondicherry - Chidambaram - Thanjavur
Pondicherry - Chidambaram - Thanjavur
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram
- Visit Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple
- Visit Darasuram Temple
Landmarks
Nataraja Temple
Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple
Darasuram Temple
Day 6
Thanjavur
Thanjavur
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Brihadeeswarar Temple
- Visit Thanjavur Palace
- Visit Art Gallery
- Visit Saraswathi Mahal Library
Landmarks
Brihadeeswarar Temple
Thanjavur Palace
Saraswathi Mahal Library
Day 7
Thanjavur - Trichy - Chettinad
Thanjavur - Trichy - Chettinad
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Rockfort Temple in Trichy
Landmarks
Rockfort Temple
Day 8
Chettinad - Madurai
Chettinad - Madurai
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Morning sightseeing tour of Chettinad mansions
Day 9
Madurai - Thekkady
Madurai - Thekkady
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Meenakshi Amman Temple
- Witness evening prayer ceremony
- Traditional martial art show
- Kathakali dance show
Landmarks
Meenakshi Amman Temple
Day 10
Thekkady
Thekkady
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat safari on Periyar Lake
- Guided spice plantation tour
Landmarks
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Periyar Lake
Day 11
Thekkady - Alleppey
Thekkady - Alleppey
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch on houseboat), Dinner
Included Activities
- Backwater cruise on traditional houseboat
- Lunch on houseboat
Landmarks
Alleppey Backwaters
Day 12
Alleppey - Marari Beach
Alleppey - Marari Beach
Meals
Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Spa treatments
- Beach activities
Landmarks
Marari Beach
Day 13
Marari Beach
Marari Beach
Meals
Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Beach walks
- Village visits
- Poolside relaxation
- Beach activities
Landmarks
Marari Beach
Day 14
Marari Beach
Marari Beach
Meals
Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Beach activities
- Resort facilities
Landmarks
Marari Beach
Day 15
Marari Beach - Cochin
Marari Beach - Cochin
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- City tour of Cochin
- Visit Fort Kochi
- Visit St. Francis Church
- View Chinese Fishing Nets
- Visit Mattancherry Palace
Landmarks
Fort Kochi
St. Francis Church
Chinese Fishing Nets
Mattancherry Palace

Landmarks
Marina Beach
Kapaleeshwarar Temple
Fort St. George
Government Museum
Ekambareswarar Temple
Kailasanathar Temple

Landmarks
Shore Temple
Arjuna's Penance
Five Rathas

Landmarks
Aurobindo Ashram
Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Promenade Beach
Auroville

Landmarks
Nataraja Temple
Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple
Darasuram Temple

Landmarks
Brihadeeswarar Temple
Thanjavur Palace
Saraswathi Mahal Library

Landmarks
Rockfort Temple

Landmarks
Meenakshi Amman Temple

Landmarks
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Periyar Lake

Landmarks
Alleppey Backwaters

Landmarks
Marari Beach

Landmarks
Marari Beach

Landmarks
Marari Beach

Landmarks
Fort Kochi
St. Francis Church
Chinese Fishing Nets
Mattancherry Palace

What's Included

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Accommodation
Guide
Meals
Additional Services
Transport

What's Not Included

Flights
Insurance
Optional
Additional Services

Operated by

Taj Holidays

Rating: 4.8(30 reviews)
Response time: 2 hours
Response rate: 100%
Cancellation policy

Reviews from other tours by Taj Holidays

Tour Operator
4.8

Timothy
September 2nd, 2025
The overall tour was very good. Vishwanath was our driver the entire trip and from meeting us at the airport to...
The overall tour was very good. Vishwanath was our driver the entire trip and from meeting us at the airport to dropping us off on the last day, he did a fantastic job and made sure that we were taken care of, providing water before tours and taking us to places on the journey. All of the tour guides spoke English very well and provided a lot of information about each sight. They all also did a great job of taking photos at each place and making sure that there were as few people as possible in them. Our trip was August 20th through the 27th and due to heavy rains the road to Ranthombore was closed, so we did spend an extra day in Jaipur and did a leopard safari there. Communication with the tour operator was good and we would look at them for tours if we return to India. In Delhi, we stayed at the Suncourt Hotel Yatri for two nights, if you would like to see reviews online. The second day we started around 9 and spent most of the day out. The India Gate and Red Fort were both drive-bys, and the Lotus Temple was just on the outside. Overall, the day was good, not too long and we didn’t feel that we spent too much time driving. I would recommend that you make sure you have some small bills/coins, as Jama Masjid and the ride through Old Delhi will require some tips (person watching shoes, the rickshaw driver). The second day we left Delhi right after breakfast. In Agra we stayed at the Hotel Maple Grand. This was better than the stay in Delhi, the room felt cleaner. After arriving in Agra, we met our guide, checked into the hotel, and departed for Fort Agra. The Fort was nice to visit, however make sure you bring water and something for the sun (Vishwanath let us borrow his umbrella to help with the sun). After the Fort, we had the rest of the day to ourselves and met early for Taj Mahal the next morning. Our guide gave us a great tour of both and helped us get great pictures at both without having too many people in them or waiting too long. After Taj Mahal, we had breakfast and started the trip to Bharatpur. On the road to Bharatpur, we stopped in Fatehpur and Sikri for a 90 minute tour. The area was nice, just be sure to bring some small denominations of rupees with you as once again you will be having someone watch shoes. Wearing socks might also help, as the rocks do get pretty hot there. In Bharatpur we stayed at Regenta Resort. The hotel was fine and the restaurant in the hotel was ok. After check-in, we had the rest of the night to ourselves. The next morning we went to Kaleodeo National Park and spent the morning with a guide pointing out birds. This was a nice change of pace, since it was out of the city and quiet. Afterwards, we ate breakfast and checked out, making our way to Jaipur (the tour would usually go to Ranthombore, however due to rains we were unable to go). In Jaipur we stayed at the Rime Vesta. This was the cleanest of the hotels we stayed at and the location was alright. The first day in Jaipur we only did the Leopard Safari (did not see any, hope you have better luck if you go). The second day was a tour of the city, with scenic stops throughout including the Lake Palace. We did also go to Elejungle to see the elephants and one of the highlights of the whole trip was feeding them (7500 INR for rides for 2 people, 2000 INR to feed per person, the feeding is the better option). I appreciated that the tour had a different guide in each area, as it felt they had expanded knowledge of the sights in their area (even though most travel) as it was mainly close to their homes. Be prepared for lots of tips though, as each day you will have a different guide. We did get a lot of great pictures without having to spend too much time ourselves finding spots, as the guides all knew good areas. The drives were sometimes long and Vishwanath did a great job of planning stops along the way. I would recommend this tour if you would like a private tour that is not too rushed with decent hotels (I think you can upgrade to 5-star throughout and my partner said she would do that if we did it again).Show more

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From

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Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select Date

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:

Good to Know

Tour ID: 341126

Currency
₹
Indian Rupee
India
Plugs & Adapters
Vaccines
- These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
- Typhoid - Recommended for India. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
- Hepatitis A - Recommended for India. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
- Cholera - Recommended for India. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
- Tuberculosis - Recommended for India. Ideally 3 months before travel.
- Hepatitis B - Recommended for India. Ideally 2 months before travel.
- Yellow fever - Certificate of vaccination required if arriving from an area with a risk of yellow fever transmission for India. Ideally 10 days before travel.
- Japanese B encephalitis - Recommended for India. Ideally 1 month before travel.
Visa
- Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
- Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
Payment information
- For any tour departing before August 17th, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after August 17th, 2026, a minimum payment of 20% is required to confirm your booking with Taj Holidays. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 35 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
- Some departure dates and prices may vary and Taj Holidays will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
- The following cards are accepted for "Taj Holidays" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
Cancellation Policy
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- TourRadar is an authorized Agent of Taj Holidays. Please familiarize yourself with the Taj Holidays payment, cancellation and refund conditions.
Accessibility
Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.
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Divine Trails of South India — From Ancient Temples to Peaceful Backwaters

Itinerary

Chennai

Chennai - Kanchipuram

Included Activities

Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry

Included Activities

Pondicherry

Included Activities

Pondicherry - Chidambaram - Thanjavur

Included Activities

Thanjavur

Included Activities

Thanjavur - Trichy - Chettinad

Included Activities

Chettinad - Madurai

Included Activities

Madurai - Thekkady

Included Activities

Thekkady

Included Activities

Thekkady - Alleppey

Included Activities

Alleppey - Marari Beach

Optional Activities

Marari Beach

Optional Activities

Marari Beach

Optional Activities

Marari Beach - Cochin

Included Activities

Want to read it later?

What's Included

What's Not Included

Reviews from other tours by Taj Holidays

Dates & Availability

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Good to Know

Keep Exploring India

Divine Trails of South India — From Ancient Temples to Peaceful Backwaters

Itinerary

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Optional Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Want to read it later?

What's Included

What's Not Included

Reviews from other tours by Taj Holidays

Dates & Availability

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Keep Exploring India

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