Tamil Nadu and Kerala Tour Packages

Tamil Nadu and Kerala Tour Packages with Taxi Service

South India is a different trip from Rajasthan, and the mistake most people make is planning it the same way. The distances look modest on a map but the roads are slower, the two states have opposite monsoons, and the things worth seeing – a temple complex, a tea estate, a backwater – reward staying put rather than moving every day.

We arrange Tamil Nadu tour packages and Kerala itineraries with a private car and driver throughout, as a single booking with one point of contact.

One thing to be straight about: our own fleet and drivers are in Rajasthan. For Tamil Nadu and Kerala we arrange the vehicle and driver locally and manage the itinerary, the bookings and the coordination for you. You get one contact and one quote; the car is a southern one, driven by someone who knows those roads.

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Tour at a Glance

Detail Information
Typical duration 10 to 14 days for both states; 6 to 8 for one
Usual start and end Chennai in, Kochi or Trivandrum out – or the reverse
Transport Private AC sedan, Innova, Innova Crysta or Tempo Traveller with driver
Best season October to March
Monsoons Kerala and the hills: June to September. Tamil Nadu coast: October to December
Temple dress code Shoulders and knees covered; some temples require dhoti or sari – available on site
Hill stations Ooty, Kodaikanal and Munnar – cool year round, cold in winter
Booking 25% advance confirms the arrangements

Tamil Nadu: What to Build the Itinerary Around

Chennai – the usual arrival point. Kapaleeshwarar Temple, the Government Museum, Marina Beach and a day to adjust.

Mahabalipuram – 55 km south, a UNESCO site of 7th and 8th century rock-cut monuments including the Shore Temple and Arjuna’s Penance. Half a day, and the best introduction to Pallava stonework.

Kanchipuram – the temple city and the silk-weaving centre. Buy from a weaver or a cooperative rather than a tour-bus showroom.

Pondicherry – the former French territory, with a grid of pastel colonial streets, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and genuinely good food. Two nights is not too many.

Thanjavur – the Brihadeeswara Temple, completed in 1010 under the Cholas, with a 66-metre vimana built without mortar. One of the great buildings of India and far less visited than it should be.

Madurai – the Meenakshi Amman Temple, a living temple city with towering painted gopurams. Go in the evening for the closing ceremony.

Rameswaram and Kanyakumari – the pilgrimage end of the state, and the southern tip where three seas meet. Sunrise at Kanyakumari is the standard reason to be there.

Ooty and Kodaikanal – the Nilgiri hill stations, tea estates and cool air. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway up to Ooty is a UNESCO site and worth doing as a leg.

Kerala: Where to Spend the Nights

Kochi – Fort Kochi, the Chinese fishing nets, the Paradesi Synagogue, Mattancherry Palace, and Kathakali performances in the evening. Two nights.

Munnar – tea estates at 1,600 m, Eravikulam National Park and the Nilgiri tahr. Cool and often misty; take a jacket.

Thekkady (Periyar) – the lake and the wildlife sanctuary, with boat trips for elephant and gaur. Spice plantations around it.

Alleppey and Kumarakom – the backwaters. One night on a houseboat is the right amount: you board at midday, cruise, moor overnight and disembark after breakfast. Two nights on a boat is usually one too many.

Varkala or Kovalam – the beach stop, best at the end of the trip when you have stopped wanting to see things.

Two Planning Points That Matter

The monsoons are not the same. Kerala and the hills get the south-west monsoon from June to September. The Tamil Nadu coast gets the north-east monsoon from October to December, which is exactly when most people assume the whole south is dry. If you are travelling in November, build the itinerary to favour Kerala and the hills over the Coromandel coast.

Do not move every day. South India’s roads are slower than their distances suggest, and the places worth going to – a backwater, a tea estate, a temple city – are the ones that reward a second night. A fourteen-day itinerary with eleven hotels is a worse trip than one with seven.

Travelling in Rajasthan as well? See our Rajasthan tour packages and Rajasthan taxi service, which we operate with our own fleet.

Frequently Asked Questions: Tamil Nadu and Kerala Tours

How long you need, the two monsoons, and who drives the car.

Do you operate your own vehicles in Tamil Nadu and Kerala?
No – our own fleet and drivers are in Rajasthan. For the south we arrange the vehicle and driver locally and manage the itinerary, bookings and coordination for you, so you deal with one contact and one quote. We would rather tell you that than imply a southern fleet we do not have.
How many days do I need for Tamil Nadu and Kerala?
Ten to fourteen days for both states at a sensible pace. Six to eight if you take only one. The common mistake is compressing both into ten days and spending most of it in the car.
What is the best time to visit South India?
October to March overall. But note the two monsoons: Kerala and the hills get rain from June to September, while the Tamil Nadu coast gets the north-east monsoon from October to December. If you travel in November, weight the itinerary towards Kerala and the hills.
Should I start in Chennai or Kochi?
Either works. Chennai in and Kochi or Trivandrum out is the most common shape, because it moves you broadly north-to-south and avoids backtracking. The reverse is equally fine, and often cheaper depending on your international flights.
How long should I spend on a houseboat in Alleppey?
One night. You board around midday, cruise the backwaters, moor overnight and disembark after breakfast, which is the whole experience. Two nights on a houseboat is usually one too many – the novelty does not extend.
What is the dress code for South Indian temples?
Shoulders and knees covered as a minimum. Some temples – including parts of major complexes – require men to wear a dhoti and women a sari or long skirt, and these are usually available to borrow or buy at the entrance. Shoes come off, and leather belts and bags are sometimes restricted too.
Is Thanjavur worth the detour?
Yes. The Brihadeeswara Temple was completed in 1010 and its 66-metre tower was built without mortar. It is one of the most significant buildings in India and attracts a fraction of the visitors that Madurai does.
Can you include the Nilgiri Mountain Railway?
Yes, and it is worth building in. The line up to Ooty is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the ride is the point rather than the transport. We arrange the car to meet you at the other end so you are not doubling back.
Can you combine South India with Rajasthan?
Yes, though it usually means a domestic flight rather than a drive – the two regions are a long way apart. Many guests do Rajasthan with us on our own fleet, then fly south, and we coordinate both halves as one trip.
How do I get a quote for a South India tour?
Email rajasthanonwheeltours@gmail.com or WhatsApp +91 99838 89373 with your arrival and departure dates, the number of travellers, which states you want to cover and whether you need hotels. We reply with a day-by-day itinerary and a price.

Plan Your South India Trip

Send your dates, the states you want to cover and your group size for a costed itinerary.

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Call +91 86193 15547  |  Email rajasthanonwheeltours@gmail.com