South India Malabar Coast Tour

Day 1: Chennai - Covelong
The South India Malabar Coast Tour set off with your arrival in the capital of Tamil Nadu, Chennai. You’ll be transferred to your hotel at Covelong, 32 km from Chennai with a small halt at Dakshin Chitra cultural centre.

Check into Fisherman’s Cove Hotel where you’ll be staying for next three nights.

Day 2 & 3: Covelong
The Day 2 and 3 will be spent at leisure. Get acclimatized to the weather while having fun at the resort.

Day 4: Covelong - Pondicherry
On the Day 4, you’ll be driven to Mahabalipuram renowned for its magnificent temples. The city boasts of 7 seaside monolithic temples carved from a single granite boulder.

You’ll come across a giant frieze, called Arjuna’s Penance.

Continue on to Pondicherry, a former French colony which still imbues the colonial ambience. The French influence is manifest in its architecture.

Check into your hotel on arrival at Pondicherry. Spend the night at hotel.

Day 5: Pondicherry
Following a leisurely morning, you’ll be heading for the city of Gingee to visit the fifteenth century Vijaynagar Fort. On your return, pay a brief visit to Aurobindo Ashram in the afternoon.

The night stay is scheduled at Pondicherry.

Day 6: Pondicherry - Tanjore
You’ll be driving to Tanjore stopping briefly at temple towns of Chidambaram and Kumbakonam.

On arrival at Tanjore, check into your hotel where you’ll be staying for two nights.

Day 7: Tanjore
Thanjavur is better known as its anglicized name Tanjore. Dotted with spectacular temples, Tanjore is a major city of Chola architectural sight. You’ll get to visit the great Brihadeswarar temple.

Later, you’ll find yourself driving to Trichy or Tiruchirapalli. Visit the imposing Rock Fort Temple and Srirangam, a splendid temple that sits an island in the Cauvery River. Visit also Sri Ranganathaswami Temple, one of the biggest in India.

Day 8: Tanjore - Madurai
On the Day 8, you’ll be driven to Madurai. Madurai was a renowned centre of learning for centuries. You’ll visit the imposing Meenakshi Temple Complex. The temple enshrines Lord Shiva and a singularly specimen of elaborate Dravidian architecture. Embellished with colorful pictures of gods, animals and figures, you’ll get delighted by the sheer sight of ancient art.

The night stay is scheduled at Madurai.

You can also visit Chettinad, 90 km from Madurai. The area has remarkable edifices.

Day 9: Madurai - Kodaikanal
On the Day 9, continue on to Kodaikanal, a charming hill station at an altitude of 2100 meters. You’ll be staying at Kodaikanal for two nights.

Day 10: Kodaikanal
Explore the breathtaking surroundings of Kodaikanal. The place offers remarkable vistas and landscaped lakes. Visit Coakers Walk, Devil’s Kitchen and the Pillar Rocks. You can also indulge in activities like cycling around the lake, boating the Kodai Lake, hiking and trekking.

Day 11: Kodaikanal - Munnar
Enjoy the breathtaking ride towards the Munnar hills. Munnar is the finest hill station in Kerala, situated at an altitude of 1520 meters. Once the summer resort of British government in South India, Munnar is the popular place of Indian honeymooners. The must-visits at Munnar include Christ Church and Water Falls.

Day 12: Munnar
The day is spent into exploring the breathtaking Munnar. You’ll visit Eravikulam National Park, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Kundala Lake and Echo Point.

Day 13: Munnar - Cochin
In the morning, you’ll be driven to Cochin or Kochi. On arrival, check into your hotel and spend the night there.

Day 14: Cochin
In the morning, you’ll visit the Jewish Synagogue, Dutch Palace and St. Francis’ Church. Also visit local spice market.  

After lunch, you’ll be escorted for a harbor cruise visiting nearby islands and Chinese fishing nets.

Day 15: Cochin - Mararikulam
Enjoy a picturesque drive to Marari Beach. You’ll be staying at a beach resort for three nights in Mararikulam.

Alternatively, you can spend a few days in the Kerala backwaters before unwinding on Marari beach.

Day 16 & 17: Mararikulam
Relax and unwind on the Beach for next two days.

Day 18: Mararikulam - Chennai
This marks the last day of Malabar Coast Tour. You’ll be driven to Cochin domestic terminal where you’ll catch flight to Chennai for onward journey.

Possible Adaptation from Cochin

Day 14: Cochin - Tellicherry via Calicut
On the Day 14, you’ll be driven to Tellicherry spending a night at Ayesha Manzil, a 15-year-old colonial bungalow located atop a hillock overlooking the Arabian Sea.

Day 15: Tellicherry - Coorg
Followed by a leisurely morning, you’ll be driven to Coorg. The city of Coorg is ensconced in the Western Ghats at 800 m above sea level.

Unwind amidst the spectacular paddy fields, thick forests, crisp air, and coffee plantations. You’ll be staying for two nights at Coorg.

Day 16: Coorg
Today, you’ll be taken on an escorted walk to a local tribal village. The Kurbas and Eravas tribes inhabit the forests of Coorg in small communities. Later in the day, visit a forest plantation.

Day 17: Coorg - Mysore
Today, you’ll find yourself being driven to the palace city of Mysore where you’ll spend two nights at an exotic hotel.

Day 18: Mysore
Explore the city of Mysore and take an excursion to Chamundi Hills. The city tour will incorporate visits to Maharaja’s Palace, St Philomena’s Church, National Museum and Lalit Mahal Palace.

Day 19: Mysore - Chennai
On the last day of Malabar Coast Tour, you’ll be visiting the ruins of Srirangapatna, the capital of Tipu Sultan. Visit Daria Daulat Bagh.

Later you’ll be heading for railway station to board the train to Chennai where you’ll catch the flight back home.