The two halves of this trip are deliberately different. It opens with heritage — Madurai, where a temple city has been continuously inhabited for two millennia — and then spends the rest of its time in landscape: the Periyar reserve, the tea country at 1,600 metres, Kerala’s largest waterfall, and the backwaters. It closes at Fort Kochi, where the two come back together in a quarter that is both. Ten days, one direction across the Western Ghats, no road driven twice, and inter-state permits included. Suited to travellers who want temples and forest in the same fortnight rather than choosing between them.
Met at Madurai airport or railway station. The Meenakshi Amman temple in the afternoon after the midday closure, and the evening aarti. Overnight in Madurai.
Thirumalai Nayakar Palace, the Gandhi Memorial Museum, and the bazaar streets around the temple. Overnight in Madurai.
Four hours west into the Cardamom Hills and across into Kerala. Afternoon spice plantation walk — cardamom, pepper, vanilla and nutmeg growing within a few square metres. Overnight in Thekkady.
The 7am boat on Periyar Lake, the slot when animals come to the water. Afternoon at leisure, with a Kalaripayattu demonstration in the evening. Overnight in Thekkady.
Three hours north through cardamom into tea. Afternoon free. Overnight in Munnar.
Eravikulam National Park, Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point and the Tea Museum, or a quieter estate walk instead. Eravikulam closes for roughly February and March during calving. Overnight in Munnar.
About four hours west on the Malakkappara forest road, which runs through rainforest rather than taking the highway — slower, better, and with a genuine chance of elephants. Athirappilly is Kerala’s largest waterfall, best in the last hour of light. Overnight near Athirappilly.
Three hours south to the backwaters. Board a private houseboat around midday, cruise Vembanad Lake and the village canals, moor by 5:30pm. Overnight on the houseboat.
Disembark after breakfast, then ninety minutes to Fort Kochi. Mattancherry Palace, Jew Town, the Chinese fishing nets at sunset, and a Kathakali performance. Overnight in Fort Kochi.
Ninety minutes to Cochin airport.
You can look forward to a rich blend of heritage, culture and natural beauty. This tour covers iconic UNESCO temples, French colonial architecture, wildlife encounters, tea gardens, and refreshing hill stations. From the rock monuments of Mahabalipuram to the spice-scented forests of Thekkady and the misty landscapes of Munnar, the journey offers a perfect balance of sightseeing, relaxation and authentic South Indian experiences.
Yes, this tour is designed with comfort and flexibility in mind, making it ideal for families, senior travellers and first-time visitors. Daily schedules are well-paced, drive times are manageable, and hotels are carefully selected for safety and convenience. Most attractions involve light to moderate walking, ensuring that all age groups can enjoy the journey without feeling rushed or tired.
You will stay in a curated mix of premium hotels, boutique stays and scenic resorts across Chennai, Pondicherry, Trichy, Madurai, Thekkady and Munnar. Each property is chosen for cleanliness, comfort, service quality and proximity to major attractions. Travellers can also request upgrades to luxury or heritage properties depending on their preferences and budget.
Yes. This itinerary includes guided heritage walks, temple visits, French Quarter exploration in Pondicherry, a spice plantation tour, wildlife boating at Periyar Lake, tea estate visits in Munnar, and opportunities to attend traditional performances. These experiences offer deep cultural insight while keeping the journey engaging and memorable.
It’s recommended to pack lightweight cotton clothes, comfortable walking shoes, a light jacket for the hill stations, sunscreen, insect repellent, and modest attire for temple visits. Bring a reusable water bottle, personal medicines, phone chargers, and travel documents. Since the tour covers coastal, heritage and high-altitude regions, layering your clothing will help you stay comfortable throughout the trip.
That one is nine days and goes from Madurai to Kochi via Thekkady, Munnar and Alleppey. This adds a day and includes Athirappilly, reached on the Malakkappara forest road rather than the highway. If waterfalls and forest matter to you, take this one; if you would rather have the extra day elsewhere, take the nine.
We think so, and it is why this itinerary exists. It runs through the Vazhachal forest division rather than around it, past tea estates and rainforest, and elephant sightings are common enough to be worth watching for. It adds perhaps forty-five minutes over the standard route. In heavy monsoon we sometimes take the highway instead for safety.
Just after the monsoon, from September to November, when the volume is high and the surrounding forest is at its greenest. It runs year-round but is noticeably thinner in March and April. If waterfalls are a priority, plan for the autumn.
Not personally. The vehicle needs an inter-state permit, which is included in your quote and arranged before you travel. You drive straight through.
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Amazing service. Communication excellent both before and during holiday.
All hotels excellent.
Sree, our driver absolutely superb.
Our 10 day tour around Kerala was perfect.
Our 5-day Kerala trip with Troper Tours was a lovely experience from the moment we arrived until the final day. My friend and I travelled from the UK and everything was organised smoothly, which made the journey comfortable and easy. We enjoyed the changing scenery, local food, tea hills, backwaters and the relaxed pace of the trip. One of our favourite moments was reaching Munnar, where we could enjoy the cool weather, plantations and peaceful mountain views. The vehicle was comfortable, our driver was punctual and helpful, and the team was always easy to contact whenever we needed anything. What we appreciated most was that the trip never felt rushed or overly planned. We had enough time to enjoy Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey and Trivandrum properly. Troper Tours took good care of us throughout the five days. A memorable Kerala holiday, and we would happily recommend them to other travellers visiting from the UK.
Our 6-day Kerala trip with Troper Tours was a wonderful experience from beginning to end. My brother and I travelled from Australia and everything was arranged very smoothly, which made the journey comfortable and stress free. We enjoyed the changing scenery, local food, backwaters and the relaxed pace of the trip. One of our favourite moments was the houseboat experience, where we could simply sit together, enjoy a nice meal and watch the peaceful water and village life around us. The vehicle was comfortable, our driver was punctual and helpful, and the team was always easy to contact whenever we needed anything. What we appreciated most was that the trip never felt rushed or overly planned. We had enough time to enjoy each place properly. Troper Tours took very good care of us throughout the six days. A memorable Kerala holiday, and we would happily recommend them to other travellers coming from Australia.