Looking for the perfect South Indian getaway? If yes then our 13 days Kerala itinerary is an excellent choice. Tamil Nadu and Kerala are two of South India’s most amazing states. Tamil Nadu is known for its ancient temples, colorful festivals, vibrant culture and historic towns like Madurai, Chennai and Tanjore. Kerala is popular for its green hills, calm backwaters, quiet beaches and houseboats. Together, they give you the perfect blend of history, nature and culture.
Our 13 days Kerala tour along with Tamil Nadu is designed to give travelers a perfect mix of local experiences, sightseeing and relaxation. The journey starts in Chennai which is the lively capital of Tamil Nadu. Here you will explore temples, beaches and colonial landmarks. Then visit Kanchipuram which is famous for its temples and silk sarees, Mahabalipuram with its UNESCO-listed rock-cut temples, Pondicherry with its French charm, Chidamabaram’s Nataraja Temple, Tanjor’s grand Brihadeeswara Temple and Madurai, which is the vibrant temple city.
In Kerala, enjoy the tea plantations of Munnar, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and the peaceful backwaters of Kumarakom and Alleppey on a houseboat. Our tour ends in Cochin which is a city blending history, culture and scenic beauty. With comfortable travel, knowledgeable guides and carefully planned stops, this journey is relaxing and enjoyable.
Here are the popular destinations covered in our Tamil Nadu and Kerala tour itinerary 13 days:
Begin in Chennai which is a vibrant city full of history, culture and energy. Visit Marine Beach, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, St. Mary’s Church, Fort St. George and National Art Gallery. Chennai combines modern life with South Indian tradition. It offers bustling markets, colonial architecture and spiritual sites. Chennai is the perfect starting point for this South India adventure.
Kanchipuram is the city of a thousand temples and famous for its ancient temples & silk sarees. Explore Kailasanathar and Ekambareswarar Temples. This city reflects South India art, architecture and spirituality. Shopping for silk sarees here is a cultural experience which makes Kanchipuram a must-visit destination in Tamil Nadu.
Mahabalipuram is known for its rock-cut temples and sculptures. The highlights of this town include Shore Temple, Krishna’s Butter Ball and Arjuna’s Penance which showcases South Indian art and architecture. Its historic monuments set by the sea are UNESCO World Heritage sites and offer an essential cultural experience for travelers exploring Tamil Nadu.
Pondicherry delights with French-style streets, calm beaches and a relaxed vibe. Visit Aurobindo Ashram and Pondicherry Museum. Stroll along promenades and enjoy cafes & colonial architecture. This serene city is perfect for slowing down, enjoying French and Indian culture.
Chidambaram is famous for the Nataraja Temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple is known for its detailed carvings and spiritual energy. It offers insight into South India temple traditions. The serene ambiance and cultural significance of this town make it a must-visit spot of any South India tour.
Tanjore is home to the magnificent Brihadeeswara Temple which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. You will visit Thanjavur Palace, Sivaganga Fort and art gallery. This city is known for classical arts, traditional music and Tanjore paintings. Visiting Tanjore lets you experience the historical legacy, cultural richness and architecture brilliance of South India.
Trichy is a historic city in Tamil Nadu which is known for its temples, forts and rich culture. Explore the Ranganathaswamy Temple, Rock Fort Temple and Jambukeswarar Temple. With lively markets, ancient architecture and local traditions, Trichy gives a wonderful glimpse of history, spirituality and daily life of South India.
Madurai, the temple city, is famous for the Meenakshi Amman Temple. Visit Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple and Palamuthirsolai Murugan Temple. Its lively streets, colorful markets and historic sites reflect traditional South Indian life. Exploring Madurai offers a mix of history, culture, spirituality and vibrant city life.
Munnar is a beautiful hill station in Kerala which is surrounded by tea plantations and misty hills. Explore the world’s highest tea plantations and Eravikulam National Park where you can spot Nilgiri Tahr. Munnar is perfect for relaxing, taking photographs and enjoying scenic landscapes.
Periyar is famous for its wildlife sanctuary and Periyar Lake. Take a boat ride to spot elephants, tigers and other wildlife in their natural habitat. Periyar is surrounded by Western Ghats and ideal for nature lovers and thrill seekers. Enjoy spice plantations tour and Kathakali Dance Show in Thekkady.
Kumarakom is known for its peaceful backwaters and lush surroundings. Staying on a houseboat lets you drift through canals lined with coconut trees, observe village life and enjoy fresh local food. Cruise around Vembanad Lake which is the longest lake in India. This classic Kerala experience offers natural beauty, relaxation and a glimpse into traditional backwater living.
Alleppey, or Alappuzha, is the heart of the backwaters of Kerala. It offers serene water, scenic views and traditional houseboat experiences. Cruise through canals, enjoy village life and savor freshly prepared meals on board. The calm environment and picturesque landscapes makes Alleppey a peaceful and memorable stop.
Cochin is a beautiful city which blends Dutch, Portuguese and British influences. Here, you will explore Fort Kochi, Chinese fishing nets, Dutch Palace, Mattancherry and Jewish Synagogue. Cochin is a perfect end to this South India tour as it offers a mix of charm, heritage and modern city life.
Here’s why choosing our 13-day Tamil Nadu and Kerala tour is the smart choice:
The perfect time to plan this 13-day journey is from November to February, when the weather is pleasant across South India. Hill stations like Munnar are cool, backwaters are calm and sightseeing is easy. Avoid the monsoon months to fully enjoy outdoor activities and explore comfortably.
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On arrival at the airport, meet out guide who will transfer you to the booked hotel. Later in the afternoon proceed for half day sightseeing tour of Chennai where you will visit Marina Beach that provides stunning views of sunrise and sunset. Nest head to visit Fort St. George which was built in the year 1640 AD by the British East India Company. Visit St. Mary’s Church that is situated within the fort. Later visit National Art Gallery that was established in the year 1857 and is one of the country’s finest museums. Head to visit Kapaleeshwarar Temple is situated in Mylapore and is devoted to Lord Shiva. Overnight stay at Chennai.
Today morning drive towards Kanchipuram which is one of the seven holy cities in the country. Visit Kailasanathar Temple which was built in the 8th century AD and is famous for intricate carvings. Next visit Ekambareswarar which is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Later continue your drive to Mahabalipuram and rest of the day is for leisure. Overnight stay at Mahabalipuram.
After breakfast, head for sightseeing tour of Mahabalipuram where you will visit some of the popular attractions like Panch- the five rathas, Arjunas Penance which is a masterpiece carved out in the mid 17th century, witness the Mahasura Mandapam Which is a rock cut cave temple that dates back to the late 17th century, shore temple which is a UNESCO World Heritage site dating back to the 8th century. Next visit Krishna's Butter Ball which is a gigantic rock of granite weighing more than 250 tons. After the sightseeing tour, drive to Pondicherry which is a 3-hour drive from Mahabalipuram. Overnight stay at Pondicherry.
Munch in your breakfast and head for sightseeing tour of Pondicherry where you will visit few places like Aurobindo Ashram which is a spiritual community founded by Sri Aurobindo, drive past the Seaside promenade which is a 1.5 km long stretch along the ocean. Head to visit Pondicherry Museum which is a treasure trove of rare bronze and stone sculptures from the Pallava and Chola dynasties. Evening will be at leisure and overnight stay at Pondicherry.
Enjoy your breakfast and proceed to Thanjavur. Enroute visit Chidambaram which is dedicated to Lord Nataraja. It is one of the few temples where Shiva and Vishnu enshrined under one roof. Built by the cholas, it is an ancient temple that was devoted solely to the art of Bharatanatyam. Later drive to Tanjore which is known as the Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu. On arrival, check in at the hotel and explore the city. Begin your sightseeing tour of Thanjavur where you will visit popular places like Brihadeeswara Temple which is a 11th century temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Next head to visit Thanjavur Palace which is locally called Aranmanai and is the residence of the Bhosle family that ruled Thanjavur from 1674-1855. Later visit Sivaganga Fort and the art gallery. Overnight stay at Thanjavur.
After breakfast, proceed to Trichy which is one of the popular landmarks in Tamil Nadu. On arrival, rest for a while and head to visit Rock fort temple which is a magnificent temple perched on a massive rocky outcrop. Next you will visit Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple which is one of the largest and most interesting temple complexes in India. Lastly, you will visit Jambukeswarar Temple which is symbolic of the water element. After the sightseeing tour, continue your drive to Madurai and on arrival, check in at the hotel.
After breakfast, head for sightseeing tour of Madurai where you will visit popular attraction like Meenakshi Temple-one of the largest temple complex built between 16th and 18th centuries, Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple which is one of the 6 abodes or holy shrines of Lord Murugan, Palamuthirsolai Murugan Temple- it is one of the 6 holiest Murugan shrines. Later in the evening, return back to Meenakshi Temple to witness the Aarti ceremony. Later drive to Munnar and on arrival check in at the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Today, proceed towards Periyar which is South India’s most popular wildlife sanctuary. Enjoy spice plantation tour followed by Kathakali Dance Show. Overnight stay in Periyar.
After breakfast at the hotel, proceed for Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary- one of the India's biggest wildlife sancturies. Enjoy watching birds and animals such as tiger, elephants, deer etc. at Periyar National Park. Evening enjoy scenic boat ride at Periyar lake. Return back to the resort for overnight stay.
Morning after breakfast, board the houseboat and cruise around the beautiful Vembanad Lake that offers enchanting experience to the tourists. Vembanad Lake is the best spot where you can relax your mind and body. It is an excellent picnic spot to spend your vacation. Proceed to Kumarakom through the backwaters. Arrive at Alleppey where you can relax at the lap of nature. Overnight stay at the houseboat.
In the morning, check out from the houseboat and proceed to Cochin. After breakfast, get ready to explore the beautiful city of Cochin. Head to visit the famous Chinese fishing nets, St. Francis Church, Jewish Synagogue, Dutch Palace, Mattancherry, Fort Kochi Area. Explore the spice market where you can find numerous samples of spices, out in the open. Overnight stay at Cochin
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My wife and I, from Mauritius, embarked on a tour of Kerala at the beginning of January this year. We were fortunate to choose the services of Tra Eminent India Tours. They are great professionals who know exactly how to craft an amazing experience. Their dedicated team—Prachi, Nitin, and driver Thomas—was simply excellent. Prachi, our travel specialist, was attentive and available from the initial booking right through to the end of our journey. Nitin, the operations manager, coordinated our trip seamlessly and was reachable around the clock. Our driver, Thomas, was a constant source of pleasant surprises—punctual, always available, and exceptionally kind and helpful. We were so delighted with TraEminent that we have already booked another tour with them for this coming March. The hotels they selected were all of very good standard, and honestly, their prices were very reasonable. If you are looking to enjoy a tour of India, I wholeheartedly recommend TraEminent India Tours. January, 2026.
TraEminent = support, advice, personal input, reactivity, presence. EXCELLENT support and advice from Jugmohan. Excellent reactivity from Mukesh. Really appreciated the personal input of the MD Sunny when some problems arrose. Really appreciated the make good at Chawki Dhani! Thank you again. Tej pal was a discreet and good driver for our Goldenn Triangle and the driver you’ve got from your agent in Kerala > Zakkir was really good, helpful, funny and professional. Thank you ;-) March, 2024.
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Trip to Kerala. Shivani from Tra-Eminent tours planned and organized a two weeks trip around Kerala. She took in consideration all our requests and planed for us the hotels, theatre shows, and short trips. An excellent driver served us all the time. We enjoyed very much the trip and had a great time and great memories from the trip to Kerala. Thanks to Shivani. Date of experience: December 2019
Konings South India Tour Sept/Oct 2024 Dear Shivani, just a short note to say Thank You for organising a wonderful tour for us through South India. We thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Our highlights were: • Walking tour through Fort Kochi (Our guide Clyde was also awesome). • Sailing on the house boat. We enjoyed the food and the very comfortable boat. The crew were also fantastic. • Mysore Palace was spectacular. A special call out for Arun our driver. He was exceptional. Prompt, friendly, informative and accommodating. He drove us safely from Kochi to Bangalore and made our trip extra special. We hope to return to India soon and will definitely be in touch with you. Kind Regards Valerie, David and Noah October, 2024.
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We recently completed a tour to Kashmir, Amritsar, Shimla, and Manali organised by Traeminent, and it was truly a fantastic experience from start to finish. The itinerary was very well planned, allowing us to comfortably explore each destination without feeling rushed. Kashmir was absolutely breathtaking — from the serene Dal Lake to the stunning landscapes of Gulmarg. The houseboat stay was a highlight. Amritsar added a spiritual dimension to the trip, with a seamless visit to the Golden Temple and Wagah Border. Shimla and Manali were equally memorable, offering beautiful mountain views, enjoyable local experiences, and well-coordinated sightseeing. The toy train ride in Shimla and the overall hill station experience were particularly special. The logistics throughout the trip were handled efficiently, transport was comfortable, hotels were well chosen, and the support from the Traeminent team was consistent and dependable. We always felt well taken care of. Overall, it was a smooth, enjoyable, and memorable journey. I would highly recommend Traeminent to anyone looking for a well-organised and enriching travel experience.
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TraEminent India Tours - highly recommended! Our incredible journey through India comes to an end on Nov 26 from Bengaluru. We landed in Delhi on Oct 28, travelled to Haridwar/ Rishikesh, Agra, Jaipur, Mumbai, Shirdi, Cochin, Munnar, Tirupati, Chennai, Puttarpathi and Bengaluru - 30 days by domestic planes and cars. We’re truly grateful for the seamless arrangements and thoughtful touches that made this trip unforgettable. Credit goes to TraEminent Travel Tours. A heartfelt thank you to Shivani Sharma and her team for crafting such a memorable experience and to the amazing drivers who ensured our travels were not only safe but also comfortable and enjoyable. Their professionalism, knowledge, and warm hospitality added an extra layer of charm to our adventure. From the bustling bazaars to serene temples, every moment was enriched by the expert planning and the impeccable service provided by TraEminent. Here’s to many more journeys ahead! Ramesh, the driver in Bangalore was excellent. So was Daniel, Rajpal, Balaji and Praveen. They were really great. Thank you to Shivani and her husband. Thank you to Mukesh. November 2024
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Our tour was arranged by TraEminent India Tours. We flew from Mumbai to Madurai, Then by car to Rameshwaram, Kanyakumari, Kovalam, Alleppey boat house and to Cochin. Flew then to Goa and Mumbai. I was quite happy with the price for travel in a Toyota sedan and 3* accommodation. Very respectful and well English spoken driver with timeous pick up and drop off. Similar service in Mumbai as we were traveling from South Africa. No issues on internal flights or hotel bookings. All vouchers and flight tickets were issued on arrival. Many thanks to Traeminent Tours for a peaceful and enjoyable holiday. Your service is sincerely appreciated. November, 2025.
Buddhist pilgrimage tour in India and Nepal with Taj Mahal. It was a wonderful travel experience in India with TraEminent India Tours. We explored the major Buddhist pilgrimage sites including Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Vaishali, Kushinagar, Rajgir, Nalanda, Sravasti and Tirupathi in Chennai, and finally the Taj Mahal and other monuments in Agra. We were impressed about our 11-days travel package in India and Nepal at the itinerary planning, budget-friendly cost, private car services with friendly and knowledgeable drivers, tour guide services, choice of 4-star hotel bookings, air/railway bookings and the promptly responded TraEminent India Tours staff. Thanks to Shivani and her team. January, 2024.
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The published travel route is: Chennai- Kanchipuram–Mahabalipuram- Pondicherry- Chidambaram–Tanjore- Madurai- Munnar- Periyar- Kumarakom- Alleppey- Cochin. See the day-by-day itinerary above for the planned stops and sightseeing.
The published itinerary lasts 13 days / 12 nights. Please confirm the arrival and departure arrangements with our team when planning your journey.
The inclusions published for this itinerary are:
Please confirm the final inclusions and any optional costs in your quotation before booking.
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