This route crosses the Western Ghats from one culture to another. It starts at Madurai, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, built in concentric rings around a temple that is still a working centre of daily worship rather than a monument. Then it climbs west through the mountains into Kerala — wildlife at Thekkady, tea country at Munnar, the backwaters at Alleppey — and ends at Fort Kochi, where five centuries of trade sit in one walkable quarter. Inter-state permits are included and handled by us; you arrange nothing at the border. Nine days, one direction, no road repeated.
Met at Madurai airport or railway station. The Meenakshi Amman temple in the late afternoon, timed for the reopening after the midday closure, and stay for the evening aarti when the temple is at its most alive. Overnight in Madurai.
The Thirumalai Nayakar Palace in the morning and the Gandhi Memorial Museum, then a second visit to the temple at a different hour — it is a genuinely different place in the morning. The old bazaar streets around it are worth an hour. Overnight in Madurai.
Four hours west, climbing into the Cardamom Hills and crossing into Kerala. The change is abrupt — dry plains to rainforest in under two hours. Afternoon spice plantation walk. Overnight in Thekkady.
The 7am boat on Periyar Lake, which is the slot where elephants and gaur come to the water. The rest of the day at leisure, with an evening Kathakali or Kalaripayattu performance. Overnight in Thekkady.
Three hours north through cardamom and then tea, climbing to 1,600 metres. Afternoon free in Munnar. Overnight in Munnar.
Eravikulam National Park for the Nilgiri tahr, Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point and the Tea Museum. Eravikulam closes for roughly February and March during calving season; Top Station substitutes. Overnight in Munnar.
Four and a half hours down from the hills to the water. Board a private houseboat around midday, cruise Vembanad Lake and the narrower village canals, moor by 5:30pm and dine on board. Overnight on the houseboat.
Disembark after breakfast and drive ninety minutes north to Fort Kochi. The afternoon in the old quarter — Mattancherry Palace, Jew Town, the Chinese fishing nets at sunset — and a Kathakali performance in the evening. Overnight in Fort Kochi.
A final morning in the quarter if time allows, then ninety minutes to Cochin airport.
Yes, this tour is designed to be comfortable for families, senior travellers and first-time visitors. The pace is moderate, stays are in well-reviewed hotels, and sightseeing includes a balance of temples, nature spots and relaxing backwater experiences.
Temples in Madurai, Rameswaram and Trivandrum do follow traditional dress codes. Modest clothing is required—men may need dhotis in some temples and women should wear outfits covering shoulders and knees. Troper Tours provides dress code guidance and assistance at every stop.
Yes, Alleppey houseboats are safe, crewed by licensed professionals and ideal for families. Safety rails, onboard staff, freshly prepared meals and calm backwater routes ensure a comfortable experience.
Absolutely. Troper Tours specializes in customizing temple-to-nature journeys. You can add destinations like Kovalam, Munnar or Thekkady, or extend your stay in Cochin or Kumarakom for leisure.
October to March offers the most pleasant weather for temple visits, sightseeing and backwater cruising. However, the monsoon months bring beautiful greenery and discounted prices—perfect for those seeking a peaceful, budget-friendly trip.
You do not, personally. The vehicle needs an inter-state permit and that is included in your quote and arranged by us before you travel. You simply drive through. It is worth asking any operator about this, because it is a common hidden extra.
Fly into Madurai (IXM) and out of Kochi (COK). The route runs west and this is the only sensible way to fly it — a return from Madurai would mean nine hours of driving back across the Ghats on your final day. Kochi is Kerala’s largest international gateway with one-stop connections via Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi.
Two days of nine. Madurai is the temple portion; everything after Day 3 is Kerala — wildlife, tea country, backwaters and a colonial port town. If you want a deeper temple circuit, our Sacred South India tour covers Rameswaram and Kanyakumari as well.
It is a mountain road with switchbacks, about four hours, and some people find it winding. We schedule it for the morning when the light is good and the traffic is thin, and we stop twice. If anyone in your party is prone to motion sickness, tell us and we will plan the stops accordingly.
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Our prices vary based on season, dates, group size and custom add‑ons. Every quote is tailored for your exact travel plan.
This page shows a sample itinerary to give you a clear idea of the route, inclusions and timings. Every itinerary is fully customisable to match your dates, hotel preferences and interests. Once you share your travel details we will prepare a personalised itinerary and an itemised quote.
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.