850 ReviewsIt’s the details that define a journey.
The intention behind each decision.
Begin with a conversation.
Depart your home country on your flight to Chennai.
Most suited for
Couples, Families
Ideal time to visit
December- May
Tamil Nadu, a state where ancient traditions meet everyday life, rewards those who take the time to look properly, and this itinerary does exactly that.
You begin in Pondicherry, where French and Tamil influences sit side by side in streets best explored on foot. The scale shifts in Thanjavur (Tanjore), where temple architecture reveals the ambition of a civilisation at its height. In Chettinad, vast mansions speak of trade, craft, and a beautifully preserved heritage.
The route threads through forests and plantations deliberately, building in time to unwind in nature before returning to cities still shaped by living tradition. We’ve chosen Mahabalipuram for the finale: where a UNESCO-listed monument sits practically on the beach and the Bay of Bengal provides a natural exhale.
The result is not a checklist of highlights, but a considered progression; one that reveals Tamil Nadu’s cultural depth, its spiritual framework, and enduring warmth.
In-Depth Tamil Nadu
As with all our holidays, this itinerary is just a starting point. We will create a bespoke package which will be completely unique for you.
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Day 1
Your adventure begins
Days 2 - 3
Pondicherry
Your private driver will welcome you to India (who will spend the next 14 days with you), before taking you to the beautiful former French territory of Pondicherry. Settle in, with your first day at leisure.
Spend a full day exploring the ‘White Town,’ the French area of Pondicherry, by foot. Highlights include the Place de la République, the museum and the Tamil Quarter.
Days 4 - 5
Kumbakonam
This morning, you’ll be dropped off at Pondicherry train station to board the Kanyakumari express for the 4-hour train journey to Kumbakonam, one of the oldest towns in Tamil Nadu. Here, you’ll be staying in a central location, convenient for exploring the 7th century capital of the Chola dynasty and by the two rivers of Cauvery and Arasalar.
Early the next day, you’ll take a morning sightseeing tour of Tanjore with a local private guide. Tanjore is a fascinating city with its spectacular central temple, Brihadeeswara.
Days 6 - 7
Chettinad
Today, journey through rural countryside and villages towards Chettinad, a small town with an impressive artistic heritage. Your small central hotel has a homestay feel and is a great base from which to explore.
The next day, you’ll have a full-day guided tour of this prosperous community, during which you can experience the culture and cuisine of a relatively unchanged region. It’s hard not to be impressed by the beautiful mansion houses with lovely courtyards. Chettinad is a fantastic town to go antique shopping in, too!
Days 8 - 9
Rajakkad
This morning, you’ll drive through the hidden hills of Tamil Nadu to a lovely estate in a lush forest and coffee plantation. Here, you can take some time out to relax, go for walks, eat lovely home-cooked food from the locally grown ingredients and while away a few hours reading in the garden amid birdsong.
Days 10 - 11
Madurai
Today, a relatively short drive brings you to the third-largest city in Tamil Nadu: Madurai. It’s a city famous for upholding Tamil traditions and is an important Hindu pilgrimage centre. The rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure.
The next day you’ll have a private guided tour of the city, taking in the key sites such as the Meenakshi Amman Temple and the 17th century Thirumalai Nayak Palace. In the evening, you have a chance to experience the famous puja at the Sri Meenakshi temple, joining hundreds of pilgrims as an image of the god Shiva is carried from his shrine by temple priests and taken in a chariot procession to the shrine of his wife.
Days 12 - 15
Mahabalipuram
In the late morning, you will take a short flight back to Chennai and be driven south for about 2 hours to Mahabalipuram. Now’s your time to relax on the coast for the next three days, but the region still has a lot to offer with UNESCO World Heritage Sites of beautiful stone carvings.
Your driver will drop you off at Chennai airport for your flight back home.
(We can add more on to this journey or, if your time is limited, remove the beach stay.)
India, exceeded all expectations
A trip taking in the Golden Triangle... rest and relaxation at Ramathra Fort and a beach resort in Kerala. Great planning... everything went perfectly and we felt we experienced all aspects of India.
Ian
28 February 2025Excellent
850 Reviews
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What’s included:
With ETG, what’s included is shaped around ease. We take care of the practical details that can distract from the experience itself, so you’re free to relax into the journey and enjoy it as it unfolds.
Here’s what comes as standard in all of our holidays:
All flights (unless you’ve booked your own)
Carefully selected guides and drivers
All accommodation
Many meals and snacks
Immersive experiences throughout
All regional transport
Gratuities
24/7 In-Country support
Personal travel consultant throughout
Pricing:
Each journey is shaped around you, so costs vary depending on season, flight choices, accommodation and how much is built in.
As a guide, most of our two-week trips fall between £5,000 and £10,000 per person.
Some fall below that, particularly for families or travel outside peak periods. Others go beyond it when the brief includes business-class flights, longer stays, or more ambitious hotel choices.
We discuss budget early, so everything is clear from the start.
Meet Our India Experts
With over a decade of experience, Sara knows how to blend India’s vibrant energy with luxurious, personalised touches. Her itineraries balance historic cities, serene countryside retreats, and cultural experiences that stay with you forever.
Sara
Regional Expert
Explore Our Hotels & Villas
Wherever you go, and whatever you do, at the end of every day you can always be sure of a comfortable rest. Every location on our list of hotels is handpicked, and in its own way, shares the history, the hospitality, and the soul of the destination. Below are some examples of the different hotels we use.
The ETG Guarantee
We guarantee you an experience no one else has ever had.
The travel magic you’ll remember won’t be found on a well-trodden – or over-Instagrammed – itinerary. It will be the surprises, discoveries and secrets that you’ll uncover along the way with us.
Do you ever feel like people aren’t listening to you?
We get it. And we will – that’s a promise. Your holiday starts with with a proper, no-pressure call to understand what you want, what you don’t want, and what matters to you. From there, we create a completely unique adventure, inspired by our conversation together.
And because of our long-standing relationships with trusted partners across Asia, you’ll have access to experiences you can’t find on Google. The kind of special experiences that are literally impossible to find on your own.
Experiences in India
Crafting bespoke packages is the heart of what we do. Each holiday is specially designed to confound preconceptions and share magical, memorable, and truly exceptional experiences.
Important FAQs about India
India is a place of contrasts and deep cultural richness, and travelling here with ETG ensures you experience it in a way that is authentic, seamless, and meaningful.
We craft holidays that go far beyond the typical tourist trail: think hand-picked boutique hotels, private guides with expert local knowledge, and immersive experiences that give you genuine insight into India’s diverse traditions and landscapes. From the calm of rural Rajasthan to the chaotic charm of Delhi, our holidays are designed to be both inspiring and stress-free, with 24/7 in-country support so you can focus on the magic of the moment.
India is a year-round destination, but the best time to visit depends on the region and your interests. For most of northern India, the cooler, drier months from October to March are ideal for exploring cultural sites, cities, and wildlife reserves. The southern states, such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu, are also wonderful during these months, while the Himalayan regions are best visited in the warmer months from April to June. If you’re looking for fewer crowds, travelling in the shoulder seasons—September or April—can offer a great balance of pleasant weather and quieter
Every ETG holiday to India is designed to feel seamless, immersive and stress free. We’ll arrange international flights (if you’d like us to), your drivers and guides, and stays in characterful hotels we know and trust.
You’ll experience India in a way that’s completely bespoke to you – from quiet moments to big adventures – all planned by our India specialists. And while you’re away, our local team is on hand 24/7, so you’ll always feel well looked after.
The Curious Traveller’s Guide to India
Discover astounding wildlife, immersive culture and exciting adventure, all in one handy guide.
