Our Tamil Nadu holidays & tours
Tamil Nadu is often overlooked by people on a mission to do Kerala, but our Tamil Nadu holidays have as much to offer and a lot fewer tourists to boot. Visit the Mudumalai National Park in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiri Hills, the historical hub of Madurai, the glorious temples of Tiruvannamalai, Thanjavur and, the oldest Vishnu temple Thirumayam. Or just chill out on the beach on India’s southernmost tip at Kanyakumari. By cycling in this state and beyond you can go beyond the usual sights and meet people out on the road. Our holidays endeavour to use locally run hotels, local guides and patronise local businesses along the way, so that Tamil Nadu is no longer overlooked.
Our top Tamil Nadu holidays
Southern India tour, temples & nature
From
£494
6 days
ex flights
Tour from Coimbatore to Bangalore via Mysore
Tailor made
Tailor made
Tamil Nadu and Kerala holiday, India
From
£1999 to £2399
13 days
ex flights
Epic exploration from west to east - Tamil Nadu to Kerala.
Tailor made
Best of South India tour
From
£2257 to £2555
17 days
ex flights
Culture, Art and Scenery Tour through incredible South India
Tailor made
Tamil Nadu tailor made holiday, India
From
£3599
19 days
inc UK flights
Experiencing the highlights of Tamil Nadu
Tailor made
Tamil Nadu and Kerala tour, private departure
From
£3293
17 days
ex flights
An exciting exploration of South India from Coast to Coast
Tailor made
Chennai to Kochi cycling holiday, India
From
US $2560 to US $2630
16 days
ex flights
Coast to coast Southern India cycling tour
Small group2026: 18 Jan, 8 Feb, 28 Feb, 15 Nov
South India cycling tour, coast to coast
From
US $2380
14 days
ex flights
Coast to Coast Cycling through South Indian landscapes
Tailor made
Photography holiday in Southern India
From
£4550 to £4950
15 days
ex flights
An incredible photographic Journey into Tamil Nadu & Kerala
Small group2026: 15 Dec, 2027: 15 Dec
See all our Tamil Nadu holidaysContact Us
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Tamil Nadu map & highlights
There’s no mistaking Tamil Nadu. The state is famously high rise – not necessarily with skyscraper-loaded cities (although there are those, too), but with Hindu temples, towering banyans and mountains that scale up into the Western Ghats. To see the full Monty, stay for upwards of 14 days – especially if you’re finishing off with a stint on the Kerala waterways. Depending on your itinerary, you’ll fly into Chennai or Kerala (usually Cochin or Trivandrum airports) and travel on a combination of private vehicles and trains. Accommodation leans towards Indian-owned guesthouses, including faithfully restored mansions and lodges carved from local woods.
Chettinad
1. Chettinad
Chettinad was once the stomping ground of the Nattukottai Chettiars: a long line of merchant bankers who poured their wealth into building palatial properties. The descendants mostly moved to the city after the Depression, leaving behind around 15,000 Victorian, Art Nouveau and faux-Tudor mansions that still ghost Chettinad. The grandeur has taken on a faded charm as the rainforest slips into abandoned gardens.
Kanyakumari
2. Kanyakumari
You can dip your toes in three bodies of water in Kanyakumari. It perches on the southernmost tip of mainland India, where the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal meet. Thanks to its spot on the cape, the beach is a platform for widescreen sunrises and sunsets. Elsewhere, Kanyakumari Devi Temple is a Hindu temple for Shakti (also known as Parvati), an important creator goddess.
Madurai
3. Madurai
Madurai doesn’t do skyscrapers by halves. 12 sculpture-laden gopuras map out the edges of the Meenakshi Amman Temple – one of India’s architectural wonders. Hindus have honoured the warrior goddess Meenakshi here for almost 2,000 years; entering its flower-laden insides is like stepping into a festival. Explore the city with a rickshaw ride around the high-speed streets packed with silk shops, IT businesses and pastel temples.
Mamallapuram
4. Mamallapuram
There’s no mistaking that Mamallapuram was once the port city of the 7th century Pallava Kings. The grand Group of Monuments lays out Hindu temples and meticulously carved shrines, including the Five Rathas. Watch out for Nakula Sahadeva Ratha, which comes with a life-sized elephant shaped from a single rock. Go for a bike ride, too, to see the stonemasons that still carve out the roads and buildings of Mamallapuram.
Nilgiri Hills
5. Nilgiri Hills
The Nilgiri Hills lie in the Eastern Ghats, where plains swoop into the highest mountains of Tamil Nadu. Tea and coffee plantations pinstripe the lower hills – you can visit a family-owned set-up to see just how much work goes into making your morning cuppa. One of the best ways to travel is by train. The Blue Mountain Railway traverses waterfall-fed gorges between the British hill stations of Coonoor and Ootacamund (Ooty).
Puducherry
6. Puducherry
Follow the coastline south of Chennai, and you’ll come across Puducherry. This collection of former French colonies is best explored by bike or foot, thanks to its easily navigated grid of streets. There’s a lot in the way of French flavour, including rose and gold churches, a central canal and chic cafés. Plus, a steady stream of yogis head for the nearby city of Auroville and the Matrimandir meditation centre.
Our Tamil Nadu holidays reviews
4.7
45Tamil Nadu holidays reviews
Nicholas Till28 Mar 2025
We enjoyed the holiday very much, the variety of places to visit and stay, the convenience of having a driver, etc. Stay at Cardamon House. Beautiful setting, simple but sufficient facilities, and everything clearly considered for sustainability. Staff treated as family.read more
Graham Warner24 Mar 2024
I had a wonderful and memorable tour round the southern part of India, brilliantly organised.read more
Joyce Ray09 Mar 2024
It was a wonderful experience and we would rate our trip highly.read more
