South India rewards travellers who slow down. In one trip you can stand inside temples where worship hasn’t stopped in a thousand years, drift through Kerala’s backwaters on a rice barge and wake up among tea estates in the Western Ghats.
We’re a Chennai-based team of historians and guides, and we’ve led these routes more than 100 times. Below are the itineraries we recommend for one, two and three weeks, with the order we’d travel them in and where we’d stay.
Which South India itinerary is right for you?
| Trip length | Route | Best for | Run as a tour |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days | Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Thanjavur, Madurai | Temples, history, first taste | Private day tours |
| 10 days | Tamil Nadu’s great temples, Chennai to Madurai | Art, architecture, spiritual India | Temples of Tamil Nadu |
| 2 weeks | Chennai to Cochin via temples, tea country and backwaters | The classic first trip | Journey Through the South |
| 3 weeks | Chennai to Goa, adding tigers, Mysore and Badami | Seeing all of the South | The Great Grand Tour |
| 4 weeks | The 3-week route plus Sri Lanka | A once-in-a-lifetime trip | Sri Lanka tours |
Before you plan: six things to know
- Give it at least 10 days. Distances are long and roads wind through hills. Two weeks lets you see Tamil Nadu and Kerala without rushing.
- Go between October and March. It’s the driest, coolest stretch. Tamil Nadu gets its rains in November and early December, and Kerala’s monsoon runs June to September. See our South India weather by month guide.
- Fly into Chennai, out of Cochin or Goa. An open-jaw ticket saves a day of backtracking.
- Hire a car and driver. It’s the most comfortable way to travel. Budget roughly US$150 a day for a good car, driver and fuel.
- Sort your e-visa early. Most UK, US, Australian and NZ passport holders can apply online. See our Indian visa guide.
- Book good hotels ahead for December to February. The best heritage hotels fill up months in advance.
1 week in South India: temples and history
A week is enough for Tamil Nadu’s heartland: Pallava rock-cut temples, French Pondicherry and the great Chola and Nayak temples.
- Day 1, Chennai: Arrive and rest.
- Day 2, Chennai: Fort St George, the first British fort in India, San Thome Basilica and the Government Museum’s bronze gallery.
- Day 3, Mahabalipuram to Pondicherry: The UNESCO-listed Shore Temple and Arjuna’s Penance, then on to Pondicherry.
- Day 4, Pondicherry to Kumbakonam: A morning in the French Quarter, then through rice country to Kumbakonam.
- Day 5, Thanjavur and Kumbakonam: The Brihadeeswarar Temple and Darasuram, both UNESCO-listed Chola temples.
- Day 6, Madurai: The Meenakshi Temple and the evening ceremony where the god is carried to the goddess’s chamber.
- Day 7: Fly out of Madurai, or drive back to Chennai.
Short on time in Chennai? Our private Chennai tour and Mahabalipuram day tour cover the highlights with a historian.
10 days in South India: the great temples of Tamil Nadu
Ten days lets you add Kanchipuram, the city of a thousand temples, and Chidambaram, home of the dancing Shiva.
- Days 1–2, Chennai: Arrival, then the city’s colonial and sacred sites.
- Day 3, Kanchipuram: A day among the Pallava capital’s ancient temples.
- Day 4, Mahabalipuram: The rock-cut temples, then to Pondicherry.
- Day 5, Chidambaram: The Thillai Nataraja Temple, where Shiva is worshipped as the cosmic dancer.
- Days 6–8, Kumbakonam and Thanjavur: Three days in the Chola temple belt.
- Day 9, Madurai: The Meenakshi Temple and old bazaars.
- Day 10: Depart Madurai.
This is exactly the route of our Great Temples of Tamil Nadu tour, led by temple historians, from £1,749 / US$2,299 per person.
2 weeks in South India: temples, tea country and backwaters
The classic first trip. It crosses from Tamil Nadu’s temple towns into Kerala’s hills and backwaters, at a pace that leaves time to relax.
- Days 1–2, Chennai: Arrival and the city’s history.
- Day 3, Mahabalipuram to Pondicherry: Rock-cut temples on the way down the coast.
- Day 4, Pondicherry: The French Quarter, then on to Kumbakonam.
- Days 5–6, Thanjavur and Kumbakonam: Chola temples and rituals practised since the classical age.
- Day 7, Madurai: The Meenakshi Temple.
- Day 8, Thekkady: A boat safari on Periyar Lake, a home cooking lesson and a kalaripayattu performance.
- Day 9, Munnar: Tea estates, spice gardens and mountain walks.
- Days 10–11, Kumarakom: A houseboat on Vembanad Lake and birdwatching in the backwaters.
- Days 12–13, Cochin: Fort Kochi, the Jewish Quarter and Mattancherry Palace.
- Day 14: Fly out of Cochin.
Where to stay
Taj Club House in Chennai, Maison Perumal in Pondicherry, Mantra Koodam in Kumbakonam, The Heritage in Madurai, Spice Village in Thekkady, Elephant Passage in Munnar, Coconut Lagoon in Kumarakom and Eighth Bastion in Fort Kochi.
Travel it with us on Journey Through the South, a small-group or private 14-day tour, from £2,599 / US$3,449 per person.
3 weeks in South India: all the highlights
Three weeks covers the whole South, from the east coast to Goa, with a tiger reserve and the ancient cave temples of Badami.
- Days 1–7: Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur and Madurai, as above.
- Days 8–9, Munnar: Two nights in tea country.
- Days 10–11, Kumarakom and Alleppey: Backwaters by houseboat, then a beach day at Alleppey.
- Day 12, Cochin: Portuguese and Dutch Kochi.
- Days 13–14, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve: Morning birdwatching and a safari for tigers, leopards and elephants.
- Day 15, Mysore: The Maharaja’s Palace and the sandalwood and silk markets.
- Day 16, Hassan and Chikmagalur: The intricate Hoysala temples, then the coffee hills.
- Days 17–18, Badami and Aihole: Early cave temples, the template for South Indian temple design.
- Days 19–20, Goa: Old churches, Portuguese heritage and the beach.
- Day 21: Fly out of Goa.
This is our Great Grand Tour, 21 days with an expert guide throughout, from £3,699 per person.
4 weeks or a month: add Sri Lanka
With a month, follow the three-week route and finish with 10 days in Sri Lanka, an hour’s flight from Chennai or Cochin. Our Wild & Wonderful Sri Lanka tour adds Yala leopard safaris, whale watching and quiet southern beaches. For more culture, Secrets of the Spice Island takes 15 days through Sigiriya, Kandy and the Ella hill railway.
Getting there from the UK, US and Australia
Book an open-jaw ticket: into Chennai, home from Cochin (2-week route) or Goa (3-week route).
- From the UK: Chennai, Bengaluru and Kochi all connect well from London, most with one stop in the Gulf. India is 4.5–5.5 hours ahead, so a day’s rest is usually enough.
- From the US: most routes connect through Europe or the Gulf, about 20–24 hours door to door. Plan two easy days in Chennai to recover from the larger time difference.
- From Australia: the shortest way in is usually via Singapore or Kuala Lumpur to Chennai, around 12–15 hours from the east coast. The time difference is small, so jet lag is mild.
Tips for travelling South India
- Dress for temples: cover shoulders and knees, and expect to leave shoes at the gate (socks are fine).
- Pace yourself: build in rest afternoons. The heat and the richness of the sites are tiring.
- Drink bottled or filtered water and carry a refillable bottle.
- Take a guide at the big temples. Their stories and rituals are hard to read alone.
Frequently asked questions
Is two weeks enough for South India? Yes. Two weeks covers Tamil Nadu’s temple towns and Kerala’s hills and backwaters without rushing. Add a third week for Karnataka and Goa.
What is the best month to visit South India? January and February are the most reliable: dry, warm and cool at night in the hills. October, March and late December are also good.
Can I travel these routes privately? Yes. All our tours run as small groups of up to 10 travellers or as private trips for your own party. Contact us for a private quote.
Is South India suitable for older travellers? Very. Roads are good, the pace above is relaxed and the hotels are excellent. Many of our guests are over 60.