Some trips ask you to choose between temples or beaches, hill stations or backwaters. This one doesn’t. This 8 Nights / 9 Days Tamil Nadu and Kerala tour package links two of South India’s most distinct states into a single, unhurried route — starting at Madurai’s ancient temple gates and ending at Kochi’s colonial waterfront, with Rameswaram’s pilgrimage sites, Kanyakumari’s meeting of three seas, and the full Kerala hill-and-backwater circuit in between.
It’s a genuinely well-paced itinerary for travelers who want the temple-town experience of Tamil Nadu without giving up Kerala’s greener, slower half — Munnar’s tea hills, Thekkady’s wildlife, and an Alappuzha backwater cruise all make the cut.
Quick overview
| Duration | 8 Nights / 9 Days |
| Route | Madurai → Rameswaram → Kanyakumari → Kovalam → Thiruvananthapuram → Munnar → Thekkady → Alappuzha → Kochi |
| Pickup | Madurai |
| Drop | Kochi |
| Best for | Families, pilgrims, first-time South India travelers wanting both states in one trip |
| Transport | Private air-conditioned vehicle for the entire tour |
If you’d rather do just the Tamil Nadu temple leg on its own, we’ve covered that in detail in our 3 Days 2 Nights Rameswaram Madurai tour package. And if the Munnar–Thekkady–Alleppey half of this trip is really what you’re after, our 4 Nights 5 Days Kerala tour package covers that portion on its own. For travelers with more time, our 15 Days South India tour package extends this same route further north into Karnataka.
Day-Wise Tamil Nadu & Kerala Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Madurai & Madurai Sightseeing
The trip begins with pickup at Madurai, one of South India’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. After meeting your driver, head straight into sightseeing:
- Meenakshi Amman Temple — a sprawling temple complex dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi, known for its towering, intricately carved gopurams
- Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal — a 17th-century palace with a massive pillared courtyard blending Dravidian and Islamic architectural styles
Check in to your hotel and rest up for the pilgrimage leg ahead.
Overnight: Madurai
Day 2: Madurai to Rameswaram & Rameswaram Sightseeing
After breakfast, drive to Rameswaram — an island town connected to the mainland by the Pamban Bridge, and one of the holiest pilgrimage sites in the country.
- Ramanathaswamy Temple — one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, famous for its 1,200-metre corridor
- Pamban Bridge — India’s first sea bridge, still an engineering landmark
- Dhanushkodi and Dhanushkodi Beach — the abandoned ghost town at the tip of the peninsula, destroyed by a 1964 cyclone and never rebuilt, where the Bay of Bengal meets the Indian Ocean
Overnight: Rameswaram
Day 3: Rameswaram to Kanyakumari & Sightseeing
Check out and drive to Kanyakumari, India’s southernmost point, where the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean converge.
- Vivekananda Rock Memorial — built on a rock islet where Swami Vivekananda is said to have meditated in 1892, reached by a short ferry
- Thiruvalluvar Statue — a 133-foot statue of the Tamil poet-philosopher standing beside the memorial
- Sunset Point and Kanyakumari Beach — this town is one of the few places in India where you can watch the sun both rise and set over open water
Time the evening right and you’ll catch one of the country’s most striking sunsets.
Overnight: Kanyakumari
Day 4: Kanyakumari to Kovalam — Beach Experience
After breakfast, cross into Kerala and head to Kovalam, one of the state’s best-known beach towns.
- Kovalam Beach — a crescent-shaped shoreline that put Kerala on the international beach-tourism map decades ago
- Lighthouse Beach — named for the red-and-white candy-striped lighthouse overlooking it, still functional and open to visitors
- Hawa Beach — a quieter stretch popular for sunset walks
- Local beach areas and viewpoints, at a relaxed, unhurried pace
Overnight: Kovalam
Day 5: Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram Sightseeing & Onward to Munnar
After breakfast, check out and take in a quick stop in Kerala’s capital before the drive to the hills:
- Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple — one of the richest temples in the world, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, with a striking seven-storey gopuram (entry is restricted to Hindus, but the exterior architecture alone is worth the stop)
From here, the road climbs steadily toward Munnar, Kerala’s best-known hill station. Check in and settle in for the evening — the temperature drop from the coast is noticeable and welcome.
Overnight: Munnar
Day 6: Munnar Local Sightseeing
A full day dedicated to Munnar’s rolling tea country.
- Tea Gardens / Tea Plantations — walk through the estates that have shaped this region’s economy and landscape for over a century
- Mattupetty Dam — a scenic reservoir with optional boating
- Kundala Lake — a favorite paddle-boating spot ringed by pine
- Echo Point — a small, quiet lakeside stop
- Tea Factory and Tea Museum — see how the leaf becomes the cup, with tastings included
- Blossom Park — an easy, landscaped walk to close out the day
Overnight: Munnar
Day 7: Munnar to Thekkady — Spice, Wildlife & Culture
Check out after breakfast and head to Thekkady, stopping en route at a spice plantation to see how Kerala’s famous cardamom, pepper, and cinnamon are grown and harvested.
Once checked in, the rest of the day is packed:
- Periyar Lake boating — a cruise through Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, with a real chance of spotting wildlife along the shoreline
- Kathakali Performance — Kerala’s classical dance-drama, distinguished by elaborate costumes and expressive face paint
- Kalaripayattu Show — a demonstration of one of the world’s oldest martial art forms, still practiced in Kerala today
Overnight: Thekkady
Day 8: Thekkady to Alappuzha — Kerala Backwater Experience
After breakfast, drive to Alappuzha, often called the “Venice of the East” for its dense network of canals, lagoons, and backwaters.
- Backwater cruise through coconut-lined waterways
- Scenic views of canals, lagoons, and traditional village life along the banks
- An evening at Alappuzha Beach, taking in the coastal atmosphere before your final day
Overnight: Alappuzha
Day 9: Alappuzha to Kochi — Complimentary Sightseeing & Departure
After breakfast, check out and drive to Kochi for the final leg of the trip. As part of the package, you’ll get complimentary sightseeing here, time permitting:
- Fort Kochi — the historic quarter with Portuguese, Dutch, and British-era architecture layered together
- Marine Drive — a landscaped waterfront promenade, popular for an evening stroll
- Chinese Fishing Nets — the giant cantilevered fishing nets that have become one of Kochi’s most photographed sights
- Other attractions, subject to time and your departure schedule
The tour concludes with your onward drop-off at Kochi — nine days across two states, from ancient temple corridors to backwater canals, behind you.
What’s Included in This Package
| Inclusion |
| 8 nights accommodation in well-appointed hotels as per itinerary |
| Daily breakfast at the hotel |
| Private air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers and sightseeing |
| Airport / Railway Station / Hotel transfers as applicable |
| Toll charges, parking fees, fuel charges and driver allowance |
| All applicable taxes |
| Complimentary Kochi sightseeing on Day 9, subject to time availability |
What’s Not Included
| Exclusion |
| Airfare and train tickets |
| Entry fees to monuments, temples, museums and attractions |
| Ferry, boating, ropeway and other activity charges |
| Lunch and dinner |
| Personal expenses — laundry, calls, beverages, shopping, tips |
| Any additional sightseeing not specifically mentioned in the itinerary |
| Early check-in / late check-out charges, if applicable |
| Expenses arising from weather, road closures, or other circumstances beyond the service provider’s control |
Frequently Asked Questions
What all destinations are covered in this Tamil Nadu Kerala tour?
Madurai, Rameswaram, Kanyakumari, Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram, Munnar, Thekkady, Alappuzha and Kochi, across 8 nights and 9 days.
Where does this tour start and end?
It begins with pickup at Madurai and ends with drop-off at Kochi, including complimentary Kochi sightseeing on the final day, subject to time availability.
Does this package include the Alappuzha backwater houseboat?
The itinerary includes a backwater cruise experience with hotel accommodation in Alappuzha. If you’d prefer a private overnight houseboat stay instead, this can be arranged as a customization.
Are entry fees and meals included in this package?
Accommodation and daily breakfast are included, along with private vehicle transfers. Entry fees, lunch and dinner, and activity charges like boating or ropeway rides are not included.
Plan Your Tamil Nadu & Kerala Journey
Few single itineraries let you move so smoothly between temple towns, a converging coastline, hill-station tea country, and backwater canals — all in nine well-paced days.
Get in touch with our travel experts to check dates and pricing, or browse more of our tour packages if you’d like a shorter or longer version of this route.
