Southern India Tours from Chennai (Madras)
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10 best Southern India tours from Chennai (Madras)
Compiled by
MelissaChennai (Madras) travel expert at TourRadar
- Best of South India Tour
- Boutique South India Tour
- South India Temple Tour with Kerala (House Boat Experiences)
- Classical South India - All Inclusive
- South India Tour with Goa & Periyar WildLife Sanctuaries All inclusive
- Classic South India
- Temples & Spices
- Southern India Experience
- Treasures of Southern India
- South India Tour
The route spans 854km from Chennai's Marina Beach to Kochi. AC vehicles transport visitors to Mahabalipuram's Shore Temple, Madurai's temples, and Kerala's backwaters.
Duration 13 days Destinations Chennai (Madras), Mahabalipuram, Puducherry, Thanjavur, Trichy, Madurai, Periyar National Park, Thekkady, Kumarakom, AlleppeySee all destinations Age Range 1 to 90 year olds Operated in English, German, Italian, Portuguese, French, Spanish, Dutch, Russian Operator Golden Triangle India Tours From $4,618
60% Off- US$1,847You save $2,770
A 1,030km adventure from Chennai's Marina Beach and Fort St. George leads through Puducherry's French Quarter and Munnar's tea estates, concluding at Kochi's historic harbor. AC vehicles connect 6 major cities.
Duration 12 days Destinations Chennai (Madras), Puducherry, Thanjavur, Munnar, Mararikulam, Kochi (Cochin) Age Range 1 to 90 year olds Operated in English, German, Italian, Portuguese, French, Spanish, Dutch, Russian Operator Golden Triangle India Tours From $3,284
55% Off- US$1,478You save $1,806
South India Temple Tour with Kerala (House Boat Experiences)
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“From the breathtaking temples of Tamil Nadu, the tea plantations of Munnar, to the backwaters of Kerala, it had it all.”
Yassine, traveled in February
A 13-day trail leads from Chennai's Marina Beach and Fort St. George through Tamil Nadu's temple cities to Kerala's backwaters. Kochi marks the final stop, featuring spice markets and traditional Kathakali performances.
Duration 13 days Destinations Chennai (Madras), Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram, Puducherry, Chidambaram, Thanjavur, Trichy, Madurai, Munnar, Periyar National ParkSee all destinations Age Range 1 to 85 year olds Operated in English, German, Italian, French, Spanish Operator World Travel Experiences From $3,370
60% Off- US$1,348You save $2,022
Classical South India - All Inclusive
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“The accomodation was very good and so was the food. We felt we could have had more to do and see in Chennai.”
CAROLYN, traveled in January
The trail leads from Chennai's Kapaleeshwar Temple through Southern India's cultural heartland to Kochi. Covering 960km via air-conditioned vehicle, visitors see Pondicherry's French Quarter and Kerala's backwaters before reaching historic Fort Kochi.
Duration 11 days Destinations Chennai (Madras), Mahabalipuram, Puducherry, Thanjavur, Trichy, Madurai, Thekkady, Alleppey, Kochi (Cochin) Age Range 15 to 100 year olds Operator Amazing India Tours From
60% Off- US$1,752
South India Tour with Goa & Periyar WildLife Sanctuaries All inclusive
11 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Everything is excellent in this trip like Drive & Guide Both Very Intelligent Nature.”
Fesex, traveled in February
Chennai's Kapaleeshwar Temple marks the starting point, leading to Mahabalipuram's Shore Temple and Kerala's backwaters. A domestic flight from Cochin takes visitors to the final destination in Goa, covering 11 cities over 12 days.
Duration 12 days Destinations Chennai (Madras), Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram, Puducherry, Thanjavur, Trichy, Madurai, Periyar National Park, Alleppey, Kochi (Cochin)See all destinations Age Range up to 94 year olds Operator Real viaggi india From $3,000
40% Off- US$1,800You save $1,200
Classic South India
14 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The Meenakshi Temple being the perfect visit of the trip. The nature reserves in Periyar were peaceful and rejuvenating.”
Mario, traveled in January
A 1,200km route from Chennai's Marina Beach winds through 15 cities to Thiruvananthapuram. Highlights include Kanchipuram's thousand temples, historic Pondicherry, and Kerala's backwaters via comfortable AC transport, with stays in 3-star hotels and traditional houseboats.
Duration 15 days Destinations Chennai (Madras), Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram, Puducherry, Tiruchirapalli, Madurai, Periyar National Park, Thekkady, Munnar, Eravikulam National ParkSee all destinations Age Range 1 to 90 year olds Operated in English, German, Italian, Portuguese, French, Spanish, Dutch, Russian Operator Panda Experiences From
40% Off- US$3,147
A circular route through Tamil Nadu connects 5 major cities from Chennai. The coastal path leads to Mahabalipuram (75km), Pondicherry (95km), inland to Tanjore and Madurai, before a 6-hour train returns to Chennai.
Duration 8 days Destinations Chennai (Madras), Mahabalipuram, Puducherry, Thanjavur, Madurai Age Range 12 to 85 year olds Operator Encounters Travel From
40% Off- US$1,325
The 780km route starts at Chennai's Marina Beach, visiting temple cities of Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram. Kumbakonam, Madurai's Meenakshi Temple, and Kochi's backwaters complete this Southern India circuit.
Duration 12 days Destinations Chennai (Madras), Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Trichy, Madurai, Periyar National Park, Thekkady, KumarakomSee all destinations Age Range 1 to 90 year olds Operated in English, German, Italian, Portuguese, French, Spanish, Dutch, Russian Operator Golden Triangle India Tours From $3,916
60% Off- US$1,566You save $2,349
Chennai's vibrant atmosphere opens the tour, followed by a 160km drive to Mahabalipuram's Shore Temple. The route winds through Tamil Nadu's temple towns to Kerala's backwaters, covering 12 cities before reaching Kochi's historic harbor, 48km from Kumarakom.
Duration 13 days Destinations Chennai (Madras), Mahabalipuram, Puducherry, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Trichy, Karaikudi, Madurai, Munnar, Eravikulam National ParkSee all destinations Age Range 1 to 90 year olds Operated in English, German, Italian, Portuguese, French, Spanish, Dutch, Russian Operator Golden Triangle India Tours From $3,002
50% Off- US$1,501You save $1,501
The 1,300km route from Chennai's Marina Beach passes through Kanchipuram (140km), Mahabalipuram, Puducherry (110km), and Madurai (354km). The final destination is Thiruvananthapuram, after touring Kerala's scenic backwaters.
Duration 15 days Destinations Chennai (Madras), Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram, Puducherry, Tiruchirapalli, Madurai, Periyar National Park, Thekkady, Munnar, Kochi (Cochin)See all destinations Age Range 1 to 90 year olds Operated in English, German, Italian, Portuguese, French, Spanish, Dutch, Russian Operator Golden Triangle India Tours From $4,347
55% Off- US$1,956You save $2,390
What people love about Southern India Tours from Chennai (Madras)
- South India Tour with Goa & Periyar WildLife Sanctuaries All inclusive
That Was Tour of South India Temples Tour with Kerala Total Spiritual All Inclusive. I have to say, it was an amazing experience! Our Guide Is Very intelligent Knowledgeable Person the name of Mr.Krishna Sharma. The itinerary was well planned and allowed us to see many beautiful temples. The guides were extremely knowledgeable and explained the history and significance of each temple in detail. The food was delicious, and the accommodations were comfortable and luxurious. I especially loved the all-inclusive nature of the tour. This ensured that we had everything we needed, without having to worry about costs or logistics. Overall, I highly recommend taking a South India Temples Tour with Kerala Total Spiritual All Inclusive. It is an unforgettable experience that you will never forget. We are very happy Mr.Krishna Hopefully Thanks
- Classic South India
The tour was great and Amit our tour contact person did an excellent job in organising/bookings and whilst on tour was regularly checking to see everything was ok. We felt reassuring and safe. Our driver Saji was a very good/safe driver. Very kind, polite with very good spoken English which made easier to communicate. All the local tour guides provided at each of the visited locations were good. I will definitely recommend the company to my friends and relations who may wish to tour India.
- Classical South India - Tamilnadu And Kerala !
The guide in CHENNAI was speaking so fast I could not understand his English. If not he tried to show me so many things and I thank him for that The guide in Mahabalipuram was ok but he was not so knowledgeable The guide in Pondhichery was better and very pleasant Raja was the guide Thanjavur. He was not so good and his knowledge of the Museum was not accurate. Govind was our guide in Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple and at the river Cauvery. The importance of the rituals in the Cauvery river was not well explained. His presentation was very confused. Raja was our guide in Madurai. The visit of the MEENAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE in Madurai was very important for me and the presentation was not good for my taste. confusing is my overall rating Thomas Kuttuvayalil was our guide in the Spices Plantation. He was perfect, knowledgeable and he loves nature. Jayan was our guide in the TEA TRAIL - Connemara plantation. Very good knowledge, clear presentation and a lot of humor. In the backwaters, we had a great team / Suresh the captain and Bindu the cook. They were wonderful and what a great lunch. Thank you to both of them Georges was our guide in Kochi. His knowledge was ok but his presentation was limited to simple facts. he could have done better.
What our customers ask about Southern India Tours from Chennai (Madras)
What are the most common first destinations after Chennai (Madras)?
From Chennai travelers typically head to Mahabalipuram (75 km) or Kanchipuram (65 km). Both towns are known for their ancient temples and UNESCO World Heritage sites including the Shore Temple and Pancha Rathas in Mahabalipuram. Accommodation options range from mid-range stays like the Mamalla Heritage Resort in Mahabalipuram to city hotels such as Raj Park Hotel in Chennai. A TourRadar review notes: "I particularly enjoyed visiting Madurai and Kanchipuram right after Chennai the temples were absolutely magnificent."
What's the best time of year to start a tour from Chennai (Madras)?
The most comfortable time to visit Chennai is between November and March when temperatures stay between 20-30°C with lower humidity. Tour operators run most of their departures during this period. The summer months from April to June bring intense heat with temperatures up to 40°C making sightseeing more challenging. A TourRadar traveler confirms: "We went in January and the weather was perfect for sightseeing in Chennai and throughout Tamil Nadu."
What are the main cultural highlights I can expect to see when starting a tour from Chennai (Madras)?
Chennai's key attractions include the historic Kapaleeshwar Temple Fort St. George Marina Beach (the world's second-longest) and the Kalakshetra cultural center. Most tours spend 2-3 days exploring the city before moving to nearby sites like Mahabalipuram's UNESCO Heritage temples including the Shore Temple and Arjuna's Penance. A TourRadar traveler shares: "The temples and cultural sites were absolutely breathtaking especially the ancient Shore Temple complex in Mahabalipuram."
What kind of transportation is provided for tours starting in Chennai (Madras)?
Tours provide air-conditioned private vehicles with professional drivers for all transfers and sightseeing. Small groups of 1-2 travelers usually ride in Toyota Etios while groups of 3-4 use Toyota Innova vehicles. Larger groups travel in mini-vans. As noted by a TourRadar traveler: "The transport was very comfortable with an excellent driver who knew all the routes well and kept us safe throughout the journey from Chennai."
What accommodation options are available for tours starting in Chennai (Madras)?
Accommodation ranges from 3-star to 5-star properties. Chennai's popular choices include the luxury ITC Grand Chola the 4-star The Raintree and the 3-star Raj Park. All hotels typically include breakfast and standard amenities. A TourRadar traveler notes: "The hotels were comfortable and the guides were very knowledgeable. I especially loved the 4-star accommodations in Chennai at The Raintree with its excellent service."
How many destinations are typically covered in tours starting from Chennai?
Most Chennai-based tours visit between 8-11 major locations including Mahabalipuram Pondicherry Thanjavur Madurai and Kerala's backwaters. Tours generally conclude in either Cochin or Bangalore. Tour operator data shows that depending on trip duration itineraries cover between 8-13 cities.
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