Heritage
Madurai & the Meenakshi Temple
From $400 per person
South India tours
South India is a different India: towering Dravidian temples in Madurai and Thanjavur, the shore temples of Mahabalipuram, French-quarter Pondicherry, the royal palace of Mysore, the boulder-strewn ruins of Hampi and Kerala's backwaters. Plan 7–10 days for one state, such as the Tamil Nadu temple trail, and 12–16 days to combine Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. The best time to go is October to March.
Every tour below is private: your own air-conditioned car and driver, licensed local guides at the temples and palaces, and hotels you choose. For backwaters and tea hills, see our Kerala tours; for the Taj Mahal, add a Golden Triangle tour. We tailor any route and send a free quote within 24 hours.
- Tours12 private tours
- Length3–14 days
- Price from$400 per person
- Destinations11 places
Up to 5 days
- City
Hyderabad Heritage & Cuisine
From $420 per person
- Scenic
Kerala Backwaters Houseboat Cruise
From $540 per person
- Heritage
Mysore & Bangalore Royal Karnataka
From $580 per person
HeritageHampi Ruins Explorer
From $620 per person
- South coast
Chennai, Mahabalipuram & Pondicherry
From $720 per person
- Honeymoon
Kerala Honeymoon Escape
From $760 per person
6–8 days
- Best seller
Kerala — God's Own Country
From $820 per person
- Heritage
Tamil Nadu Temple Trail
From $940 per person
- Wellness
Kerala Ayurveda Wellness Retreat
From $1,240 per person
9 days or more
GrandGolden Triangle with Kerala
From $1,580 per person
Grand tourGrand India — North & South
From $2,180 per person
Compare South India tours
| Tour | Days | Visits | From (per person) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madurai & the Meenakshi Temple | 3 | Madurai | $400 |
| Hyderabad Heritage & Cuisine | 3 | Hyderabad | $420 |
| Kerala Backwaters Houseboat Cruise | 4 | Kochi (Cochin), Alleppey (Alappuzha) | $540 |
| Mysore & Bangalore Royal Karnataka | 4 | Bengaluru, Mysuru (Mysore) | $580 |
| Hampi Ruins Explorer | 4 | Bengaluru, Hampi | $620 |
| Chennai, Mahabalipuram & Pondicherry | 5 | Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry (Puducherry) | $720 |
| Kerala Honeymoon Escape | 5 | Kochi (Cochin), Munnar, Alleppey (Alappuzha) | $760 |
| Kerala — God's Own Country | 6 | Kochi (Cochin), Munnar, Alleppey (Alappuzha) | $820 |
| Tamil Nadu Temple Trail | 7 | Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Madurai | $940 |
| Kerala Ayurveda Wellness Retreat | 7 | Kochi (Cochin) | $1240 |
| Golden Triangle with Kerala | 10 | Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Kochi (Cochin), Alleppey (Alappuzha) | $1580 |
| Grand India — North & South | 14 | Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Varanasi, Kochi (Cochin), Munnar, Alleppey (Alappuzha) | $2180 |
Where you'll go
Things to do, best time to visit and tours for each city.
South India questions
7–10 days covers one region well, for example Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Thanjavur and Madurai in Tamil Nadu. With 12–16 days you can combine Tamil Nadu with Kerala (Munnar and the Alleppey backwaters), or Karnataka (Mysore, Hampi) with Kerala.
October to March, when it is warm and mostly dry (around 28–32 °C). April and May are hot. The south-west monsoon brings rain to Kerala and Karnataka from June to September, and Chennai and the Tamil Nadu coast get their heaviest rain from mid-October to December.
A classic 12-day route: Chennai (1 night) → Mahabalipuram (1) → Pondicherry (2) → Thanjavur (1) → Madurai (2) → Munnar (2) → Alleppey houseboat (1) → Kochi (2), flying home from Kochi. Karnataka lovers can swap the start for Bengaluru → Mysore → Hampi.
The Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, the Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur (UNESCO), the Shore Temple and Five Rathas at Mahabalipuram (UNESCO), Srirangam near Trichy, and the Vijayanagara ruins of Hampi (UNESCO). Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, and remove shoes before entering.
A private car with driver is easiest within each state: Chennai to Mahabalipuram about 1.5 hours, Mahabalipuram to Pondicherry about 2.5 hours, Madurai to Munnar about 4 hours. Longer jumps, such as Bengaluru to Kochi or Chennai to Hyderabad, are quicker by short domestic flight.
Yes. It is relaxed, green and generally less crowded than the north, with excellent food (dosas, Chettinad and Kerala cooking) and a mix of culture, beaches and nature. Many travellers do the Golden Triangle first and South India on a second trip — or combine both in two weeks.