The Golden Triangle with Kerala combines India's most famous monuments with its most relaxing landscapes in about 11 days. You spend the first half in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, the classic Golden Triangle. A short flight then takes you south to Tamil Nadu and Kerala, for temples, tea plantations, wildlife and the backwaters. Here is the route day by day, as we run it on our Golden Triangle and Kerala tour.
The route at a glance
| Day | Route | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in Delhi | Laxmi Narayan Temple, Bangla Sahib, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk |
| 2 | Delhi – Agra (200 km) | Taj Mahal and Agra Fort |
| 3 | Agra – Jaipur (260 km) | Marble inlay workshop, road to the Pink City |
| 4 | Jaipur | Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Jantar Mantar |
| 5 | Jaipur – Madurai (flight) | Meenakshi Temple |
| 6 | Madurai – Munnar | Tea gardens of the Western Ghats |
| 7 | Munnar – Thekkady | Cardamom hills, Periyar |
| 8 | Thekkady | Periyar Lake boat ride, spice garden |
| 9 | Thekkady – Backwaters | Paddy fields and canals of Kuttanad |
| 10 | Backwaters – Kochi | Fort Kochi, Chinese fishing nets |
| 11 | Depart from Kochi | Transfer to the airport |
Days 1–4: Delhi, Agra and Jaipur
Day 1: Delhi
Your guide meets you on arrival. In the afternoon, you see the Laxmi Narayan Temple and the Sikh Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, then the Jama Masjid, built by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1650. A cycle-rickshaw ride takes you through the 17th-century lanes of Chandni Chowk, and the day ends at Raj Ghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.
Day 2: Delhi to Agra
The drive to Agra takes about four hours on the expressway. In Agra you visit the Taj Mahal, the white marble mausoleum Shah Jahan built for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, and the red sandstone Agra Fort.
Day 3: Agra to Jaipur
In the morning you watch craftsmen inlay marble with semi-precious stones, the same pietra dura technique used on the Taj Mahal. Then the road leads west into Rajasthan and the Pink City of Jaipur.
Day 4: Jaipur
Amber Fort, the hilltop home of Jaipur's maharajas, is the highlight of the day. You stop for photos at the Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds, and then visit the City Palace and the Jantar Mantar, an 18th-century astronomical observatory.
Days 5–8: Madurai, Munnar and Thekkady
Day 5: Fly to Madurai
A domestic flight from Jaipur brings you to Madurai in Tamil Nadu. In the late afternoon, visit the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, a vast complex of carved towers, pillared halls and daily rituals. Staying for the evening ceremony is unforgettable.
Day 6: Madurai to Munnar
The road climbs into the Western Ghats and into Kerala. Munnar sits at about 1,600 metres, surrounded by rolling tea estates. The air is cool, and the views over the green hills are some of the most beautiful in India.
Days 7–8: Thekkady and Periyar
From Munnar you drive through cardamom and pepper plantations to Thekkady, the gateway to the Periyar Tiger Reserve. An early-morning boat ride on Periyar Lake is the best chance to see elephants, deer, monkeys and many birds. In the afternoon, a guided walk through a spice garden shows you where cardamom, pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg come from.
Days 9–11: The backwaters and Kochi
Day 9: Into the backwaters
The road descends to Kuttanad, the "rice bowl of Kerala", a landscape of canals, lagoons and paddy fields that lie below sea level. Life here moves at the pace of the water. You can watch villagers, ducks and canoes from a houseboat or a waterside resort.
Day 10: Kochi
Fort Kochi reflects five centuries of trade with Portuguese, Dutch and British merchants. Walk past the Chinese fishing nets on the shore, St. Francis Church and the spice warehouses of Mattancherry. If you have time, a Kathakali dance performance in the evening is a must.
Day 11: Departure
Transfer to Kochi International Airport for your onward flight.
Best time to do the Golden Triangle and Kerala
October to March is ideal. Delhi, Agra and Jaipur are dry and pleasantly warm by day, and Kerala is green after the monsoon. December and January can be foggy and cold in the early mornings in Delhi and Agra, so pack a warm layer. April to June is very hot in the north, and the main monsoon reaches Kerala in June.
Tips for this itinerary
- Pack for two climates. Light layers for the north, plus breathable cotton and rain protection for Kerala.
- Dress for temples. Shoulders and knees should be covered, and you remove your shoes before entering.
- Taste the difference. North Indian curries and breads give way to South Indian dosas, appams and coconut-based fish curries.
- Want more time? Add a night on a private houseboat, or a beach extension at Marari or Varkala.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need for the Golden Triangle and Kerala?
About 11 days is the comfortable minimum. It allows four days in the north, a flight south, and six days in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. With two weeks you can add a houseboat night or a beach stay.
How do you get from the Golden Triangle to Kerala?
By domestic flight. Our itinerary flies from Jaipur to Madurai, then continues by road into Kerala. The flight saves about two days compared with travelling overland.
What is included in the India Travelix Golden Triangle and Kerala tour?
Ten nights in hotels with breakfast, lunches and dinners, an air-conditioned vehicle with driver, an English-speaking guide throughout, monument entrance fees, the Periyar Lake boat ride and the Jaipur–Madurai flight.
How much does the Golden Triangle with Kerala tour cost?
Our tour starts from about €1,050 per person. The final price depends on your dates and hotel category. Request a free quote for your exact dates.