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
An authentic South Indian dinner welcomes visitors in Chennai before touring Tamil Nadu's cultural sites and Kerala's backwaters. Notable stops include Mamallapuram's Shore Temple, French-influenced Puducherry, and Madurai's temples, ending in historic Kochi after 13 days.
Duration 13 days Destinations Chennai (Madras), Puducherry, Madurai, Thekkady, Periyar National Park, Munnar, Alleppey, Kochi (Cochin) Age Range 15 to 99 year olds Operator Intrepid Premium From $5,700
5% Off- NZ$5,415You save $285
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 $8,338
68% Off- NZ$2,668You save $5,670
Duration 20 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, Portuguese, French, Spanish, Dutch, Russian Operator Golden Triangle India Tours From $15,865
50% Off- NZ$7,933You save $7,933
Incredible South India Tour
5 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“We found the Indian people to be very friendly and always smiling. Quite a delight.”
Elizabeth, traveled in November
Marina Beach Chennai opens the tour, followed by Fort St. George and Mahabalipuram's Shore Temple. The 1,200km route through Tamil Nadu's temple cities and Kerala's backwaters ends in Bangalore, with comfortable AC transport throughout.
Duration 18 days Destinations Chennai (Madras), Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram, Puducherry, Chidambaram, Thanjavur, Trichy, Madurai, Munnar, Periyar National ParkSee all destinations Age Range 5 to 90 year olds Operated in English, German, Italian, Portuguese, French, Spanish, Dutch Operator World Travel Experiences From $6,784
65% Off- NZ$2,375You save $4,410
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, Portuguese, French, Spanish, Dutch Operator World Travel Experiences From $4,904
65% Off- NZ$1,716You save $3,187
Discover South India - Premium Adventure
5 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The hotels were very comfortable; the food was good; the travelling was not too hard; and the towns, while busy, were manageable.”
Kevin, traveled in January
Southern India's cultural highlights roll out from Chennai (Madras), featuring Mysore Palace and Wayanad tea estates. AC minibus transport averages 3-4 hours daily, plus a scenic train journey to Kochi, ending in Varkala.
Duration 14 days Destinations Chennai (Madras), Kanchipuram, Bangalore, Mysuru, Bandipur National Park, Ooty, Coonoor, Kochi (Cochin), Alleppey, Varkala Age Range 16 to 99 year olds Operator Exodus Adventure Travels From $6,927
8% Off- NZ$6,380You save $547
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
8% Off- NZ$2,894
Classic South India
52 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The temples in Chennai and Kanchipuram are full of fascinating details. The Madurai Meenakshi Temple was absolutely breathtaking.”
Flora, 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
8% Off- NZ$7,860
Duration 17 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, Portuguese, French, Spanish, Dutch, Russian Operator Golden Triangle India Tours From $14,724
50% Off- NZ$7,362You save $7,362
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 $6,507
68% Off- NZ$2,082You save $4,425
What people love about Southern India Tours from Chennai (Madras)
- Incredible South India Tour
Overall, we were very pleased with this tour. It provided a fine introduction to south India , showing us a wide vareity of landscapes and historical sites. The driver, Loukesh, was excellent. Throughout there was a problem with the poor quality of spoken English, in particular on the part of the local tourist guides. Most of the hotels were adequate but in two cases we found them uinsatisfactory. (Details can be provided.)
- Classic South India
It's a very good experience Deepak has great knowledge about the country and the culture and makes every day memorable. Yatra Exotic team absolutely amazing and I would absolutely go on another trip with. Highly recommend YatraExotic.
- 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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