South India Coast-to-Coast: Chennai to Kochi
From the Bay of Bengal to the Arabian Sea, traverse temple plains, Chettinad, tea hills, and backwaters.
The most classic skeleton for South India group tours: explore historical monuments and the French Quarter on the East Coast, head inland for Chola temples, Chettinad mansions, and Madurai, cross the Western Ghats to Munnar and Thekkady, and wrap up with the backwaters and Kochi. See two states in one go with frequent hotel changes, perfect for first-timers with a long enough holiday.
Eravikulam National Park is closed from Feb to Mar; you can visit other tea gardens instead.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrive in Chennai
Chennai（Fort St. George、Government Museum, Chennai）
About 40 minutes from the airport to the city center. Take a taxi in the afternoon to visit the fort and museum.
The Government Museum, Chennai is closed on Fridays; verify before departure.
Stay: Egmore & Nungambakkam
Day 2 · Head South along the East Coast Road
Chennai（Kapaleeshwarar Temple、Marina Beach、DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum） → Mamallapuram（Mamallapuram Beach）
Visit temples in the city, then take the East Coast Road (ECR) to Mahabalipuram (approx. 1.5 hours).
Stay: Beachfront
Day 3 · Pallava Rock-cut Monuments to Pondicherry
Mamallapuram（Shore Temple、Arjuna's Penance (Descent of the Ganges)、Pancha Rathas） → Puducherry (Pondicherry)（Promenade Beach (Rock Beach)）
Explore the monuments on foot in the morning, then hire a private car to Pondicherry in the afternoon (approx. 2 hours).
Stay: White Town (French Quarter)
Day 4 · Auroville and the French Quarter
Puducherry (Pondicherry)（Auroville & Matrimandir、Sri Aurobindo Ashram、White Town (French Quarter)）
Take a taxi to Auroville in the morning (approx. 40 minutes), and explore the Old Town on foot in the afternoon.
Prior booking is required to enter the Matrimandir; you can visit the viewing point if you only want to see the exterior.
Stay: White Town (French Quarter)
Day 5 · Enter the Chola Heartland
Thanjavur（Airavatesvara Temple, Darasuram、Brihadisvara Temple）
Hire a private car to Thanjavur via Kumbakonam (approx. 180 km, taking 4.5–5 hours).
Stay: Thanjavur Old Town
Day 6 · Thanjavur Palace to Chettinad
Thanjavur（Thanjavur Maratha Palace、Saraswathi Mahal Library） → Karaikudi (Chettinad)
Visit the palace in the morning, then hire a private car to Karaikudi in the afternoon (approx. 2.5 hours).
Stay: Karaikudi (Chettinad)
Day 7 · Mansion Villages to Madurai
Kanuadukathan (Chettinad) → Madurai（Meenakshi Amman Temple）
Explore the mansion villages in the morning, then hire a private car to Madurai in the afternoon (approx. 2 hours).
Stay: Around Meenakshi Temple
Day 8 · A Day in Madurai Old Town
Madurai（Madurai Flower Market (Mattuthavani)、Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal、Pudhu Mandapam、Gandhi Memorial Museum）
Get around by taxi or on foot (10–20 minutes one way). Visit the flower market first thing in the morning.
Stay: Around Meenakshi Temple
Day 9 · Cross Bodimettu to Munnar
Drive to Munnar via Theni and Bodimettu (approx. 155 km, taking 4.5–5 hours).
The mountain roads have many hairpin bends; prepare motion sickness medicine and depart early in the morning.
Stay: Munnar Town
Day 10 · A Day in Munnar Tea Hills
Munnar（Eravikulam National Park、KDHP Tea Museum (Tata Tea Museum)、Mattupetty Dam、Echo Point）
Hire a private car in town. It takes about 40 minutes to Rajamalai. Head down Mattupetty Road in the afternoon.
Stay: Munnar Town
Day 11 · Thekkady, the Land of Spices
Thekkady (Periyar)（Spice Plantation Tour、Mudra Cultural Centre）
Hire a private car to Kumily via the tea garden highway (approx. 110 km, taking 3.5–4 hours).
Stay: Spice Plantation Stays
Day 12 · Periyar to Kumarakom
Thekkady (Periyar)（Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (Thekkady)） → Kochi & Alappuzha（Kumarakom Backwaters & Bird Sanctuary）
Take an early morning boat cruise, then hire a private car down the hills to Kumarakom (approx. 115 km, taking 3.5–4 hours).
Stay: Kumarakom
Day 13 · A Night on a Backwater Houseboat
Kochi & Alappuzha（Alleppey (Alappuzha) Backwaters）
Board the boat at the jetty and cruise through Vembanad Lake to Alappuzha (approx. 22 hours in total).
Stay overnight on the houseboat; book well in advance during peak season.
Stay: Alappuzha Town
Day 14 · Wrap up in Fort Kochi
Kochi & Alappuzha（Paradesi Synagogue & Jew Town、Fort Kochi、Chinese Fishing Nets, Fort Kochi）
Disembark in the morning, hire a private car to Fort Kochi (approx. 1.5 hours), and head to the airport in the evening (approx. 1.5 hours).
Try to choose a late flight to leave enough time for a half-day in the Old Town.