Madurai to Kochi: Temples, Spice Hills and Backwaters
Route Covered
Overnight stops in day orderOverview
This 8-day tour links Chennai, Madurai, Thekkady, Alleppey and Kochi in one private trip across Tamil Nadu and Kerala. A short flight covers the inland leg to Madurai's Meenakshi Temple, and the road continues through Kumily's spice hills to a backwater stay at Alleppey before flying out of Kochi. It suits travellers who want temple architecture and still water in one week.
First-time visitors who want South India's temple architecture and Kerala's backwaters without a long road transfer between them
Highlights
Good to know
Flight to Madurai
A short flight covers the inland leg between Chennai and Madurai, about 460 km by road and otherwise 7 to 8 hoursSpice season
Kumily's plantations are at their greenest through the cooler months from October to FebruaryOne night in Thekkady
The Periyar Lake boat ride is split across the arrival evening and the following morning, before the drive to AlleppeyHouseboat options
The Alleppey stay can be a day cruise or an overnight houseboat; say which you prefer when bookingDay-by-Day Itinerary
- Marina Beach at dusk
Arrive in Chennai and an evening on Marina Beach
- 1Meet your driver at Chennai International Airport
- 2Drive about 21 km to the hotel and rest after the flight
- 3An evening walk on Marina Beach if time and energy allow
- Meenakshi Temple gopurams
- Teppakulam tank
A short flight to Madurai and the Meenakshi Temple
- 1Morning transfer to the airport for a short flight to Madurai, about 1 hour 15 minutes, well short of the 7 to 8 hour road alternative
- 2Check in and rest on arrival
- 3Afternoon visit to the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, with its painted gopurams and the Thousand-Pillared Hall
- 4Evening at the Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam tank
- Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal
- Madurai's old city streets
A full day around Madurai's temple city
- 1Visit the Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal, a courtyard of tall round pillars finished in the 1630s
- 2See the Gandhi Memorial Museum if time allows
- 3Free time to walk Madurai's older streets and markets around the temple
- Spice plantation walk
- Periyar Lake boat ride
Madurai to the spice hills of Thekkady
- 1Drive about 139 km south-west into the hills, roughly 3 hours, through Theni and Kumily
- 2Check in and visit a working spice plantation, with cardamom, pepper and cinnamon on view
- 3Evening Periyar Lake boat ride if the day's timing allows, or the following morning instead
- Periyar Lake wildlife watching
- Afternoon backwater cruise
Periyar Lake at dawn, then down to the Alleppey backwaters
- 1An early Periyar Lake boat ride, watching for deer, bison and elephants at the waterline
- 2Check out and drive about 138 km to Alleppey, roughly 3.5 to 4 hours
- 3Check in and rest
- 4Afternoon cruise on the canals near town
- Vembanad Lake cruise
- Alappuzha Beach and pier
A full day on Alleppey's waterways
- 1A full day's cruise through Vembanad Lake and the narrower canals of Kuttanad aboard a traditional kettuvallam
- 2Meals served aboard if a day cruise is booked, or on arrival if staying overnight on the water
- 3Evening at Alappuzha Beach and its old pier, if time allows
- Chinese fishing nets
- Jew Town and Paradesi Synagogue
Alleppey to Kochi and an afternoon in Fort Kochi
- 1Morning drive of about 53 km to Kochi, roughly 1.5 to 2 hours
- 2Check in and head out to Fort Kochi
- 3Walk past the Chinese fishing nets and St Francis Church
- 4Browse Jew Town's antique shops and see the Paradesi Synagogue in Mattancherry
- Mattancherry Palace
Mattancherry Palace and departure from Kochi
- 1Morning visit to Mattancherry Palace, also called the Dutch Palace, for its murals and royal portraits
- 2Check out and drive about 35 to 45 km to Cochin International Airport, roughly an hour
- 3Transfer to the terminal for your flight
Indicative — varies with season and hotel category.
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Trip Facts
Local Activities & Events
Updated Oct 3, 2026Kerala — across your trip
Vettukadu Feast
festivalMadre de Deus Church in Thiruvananthapuram marks the feast of Christ the King over ten days, with worshippers of several faiths attending.
Champions Boat League: Kayamkulam
sportsA snake-boat race at Kayamkulam in Alappuzha district, a round of the 2026 Champions Boat League.
Kalpathy Ratholsavam
festivalChariot festival in Kalpathy, Palakkad, where decorated chariots are pulled through the village streets from the Viswanatha Swamy Temple.
Sabarimala Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrim season
festivalPilgrim season at the Ayyappa temple in Pathanamthitta district, from the Mandalam opening through Mandala Pooja and Makaravilakku to closing in January.
Champions Boat League final and President's Trophy Boat Race
sportsThe league's closing round on Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam, held together with the President's Trophy Boat Race.
Guruvayur Ekadasi
festivalEleventh-day observance at the Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple in Thrissur, with strict fasting and elephant processions.
Tamil Nadu — across your trip
Kanda Sashti and Soorasamharam
festivalSix days of fasting and worship at Tiruchendur's Murugan temple lead to Soorasamharam, the re-enactment of Murugan's victory over the demon Surapadman.
Karthigai Deepam
festivalArunachaleswarar temple in Tiruvannamalai holds a ten-day festival that ends with a flame lit on Arunachala hill at dusk and an overnight walk around it.
Events are reviewed by our team before publishing and drop off after they end. Please confirm timings and availability with us before your trip — local schedules can change without notice.
What's Included & Excluded
Quick Answers
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