Top Chennai Shore Excursions

Visit Chennai's Mylapore neighborhood on foot with this guided tour. You'll spend time at the famous Kapaleeshwarar Temple, visit the Sri Ramakrishna Temple and the Sao Tome Church, and make a stop at the Chennai Lighthouse. You will also make a stop along the way for a snack and the chance to sample local coffee.

Discover historic George Town, a diverse port neighborhood in Chennai with ties to the East India Company. Founded as Chennai’s first English settlement in the 17th century, George Town became a hub of international merchants and traders and is full of fascinating stories your local guide will share. See Fort St. George, the Armenian Church, and Madras High Court, which was attacked by the Germans in World War I.

The coastal town of Mahabalipuram makes an ideal day trip from bustling Chennai, but organizing admission fees and transportation to explore independently takes up valuable sightseeing time. On this tour, reach Mahabalipuram in comfort by private vehicle—with entry fees and round-trip transportation from your Chennai hotel included. Explore the cave temples and rock sculptures with your guide to lead the way, and gain insight into Mahabalipuram’s fascinating 7th-century history.

Get a primer on Pallava-style architecture on this full-day private tour to Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram. Benefit from personal attention and the ability to travel at your own pace while visiting the Ekambareswar and Kailasanathar temples, then a local saree weaver. Moving on to the port of Mahabalipuram, see the Five Rathas, the shore temple, and Arjuna's Penance, learning about them through guided commentary.

Spend your day exploring Chennai's cultural hub of Mylapore, with this day tour. Your morning will be spent visiting the iconic 7th-century Kapaleeshwar Temple and the San Thome Basilica, followed by a traditional South Indian lunch in a local restaurant and visit the shrine at Ramakrishna Math, followed by a visit to the 17th-century Fort Saint George before returning to your hotel.

Learn about the British influence on Chennai's architecture with this small-group walking tour, led by a local guide. You'll see a variety of structures that were built when Chennai was under British rule, from the Ripon Building and the Southern Railway Headquarters to Fort St George and the Napier Bridge.

Take a walk down Chennai's Marina Beach and learn about the city's rich history and cultural traditions with this guided tour. You'll start at the Chennai Lighthouse, where you'll have the chance to head up to the top to take in the views before continuing along Marina Beach to check out its many statues. This tour also includes a visit to the Parthasarathy Temple to learn more about local religious traditions.

Explore one of Chennai's most interesting neighborhoods on foot during this private walking tour of Mylapore. You'll visit the tiered Kapalesshwara Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, as well as the Portuguese San Thome Cathedral. Walk through colorful markets and try out some traditional South Indian snacks. You’ll also ride an autorickshaw on one portion of the trip, for a local experience.

Explore Chennai by following in the footsteps of St. Thomas on this full-day tour. Learn about the history of Christianity in Chennai through visits to local religious landmarks such as the cave in the Little Mount, the handprints of St. Thomas, St. Thomas Mount, and the St. Thome Basilica. Listen to guided commentary as you travel detailing the influence St. Thomas had on the city and the country of India as a whole between AD52 and AD72.

In the time it takes you to have roughly 1 sitdown meal, you could instead try several local dishes and street foods in Sowcarpet in Chennai. Connect with the local culture as you dine at various food stalls and navigate the bustling streets. Visit a mix of more popular vendors and ones you’d likely miss on your own.

Devote a day to visiting two of the most important ancient sites near Chennai with this private tour. Visit the temple town of Kanchipuram and the sea-facing Mahabalipuram, both celebrated for their ancient temples and monuments hewn from stone, with a local guide to explain their history. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for your convenience.

Explore a medieval kingdom’s capital and visit its renowned sari makers on this all-day tour. After a convenient pickup from your Chennai hotel, travel by private vehicle to Kanchipuram. Stop by two architecturally significant 7th-century temples before immersing yourself in the craft of sari-making. Meet a weaver and see how traditional looms are used to transform mulberry threads into gorgeous garments.

Wildlife enthusiasts will love getting out of busy Chennai for the day and heading to the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary. Spot some of the many species that live in the watery habitat, including migratory birds and some rare species. If you’re visiting between November and March, see many nesting birds that have traveled from around the world. Bring a good pair of binoculars to get a close-up look at the birds.

Pondicherry and Mahabalipuram are located an easy drive from Chennai, but sights are spread out and public transportation options are limited, so it’s hard to get around without your own vehicle. Ideal for time-pressed travelers looking to avoid an overnight stay, this private full-day tour ticks off highlights such as the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and French Quarter, utopian Auroville, and Krishna’s Butterball, and whisks you back to Chennai by dinnertime.

A treasure trove of art and architectural masterpieces and home to many rock-cut sculptures and majestic temples, Mahabalipuram is a beautiful heritage site located in the heart of Southern India. A Chennai to Mahabalipuram tour package will make sure that you enjoy and explore a wide variety of attractions, that too in a single day. Get picked up from your stay in Chennai, followed by a transfer to Mahabalipuram. The sightseeing will start by visiting the Mahabalipuram Seashore Temple. This is one of the oldest granite stone temples in Southern Asia and exhibits the ancient finesse of art.

Step into the colonial grandeur of Madras, once the heart of British India. This isn't a "tour"—it's a portal into the rise and fall of an empire. As a Ministry of Tourism-approved organization and proud IATO member, our Cultural Evangelists reveal the dramatic fate of the masters who once ruled these halls. From the Gothic Revival arches of Central Station to the shimmering white Indo-Saracenic domes of the Ripon Building, we trace how stone was used to command a colony. Discover the "Cupid’s Bow" memorial and the pioneering reinforced concrete of the Railway Headquarters. We explore how imperial symbols like the Senate House evolved into the unifying pillars of modern India. As winners of the Outlook Responsible Tourism Award 2025, we provide an ethical, elite journey that supports our local community. Join us to experience the architectural soul of Chennai.

South India is home to all sorts of fascinating wildlife, and with this day trip from Chennai, you can see some of the area's coolest creatures, safely. Highlights include visits to Guindy National Park, home to all sorts of snakes, reptiles, and even butterflies as well as stops at the Chennai Crocodile Park and the Arignar Anna Zoological Gardens, the first public zoo in India!

Your Tamil Nadu and Andaman Islands tour offers a unique blend of rich cultural heritage and tropical relaxation. Explore ancient temples, historic cities, and vibrant markets in Tamil Nadu, then unwind on the pristine beaches of the Andaman Islands. This curated journey combines history, spirituality, and natural beauty for an unforgettable experience. Book now for the best of South India and island paradise!

Welcome to an enriching cultural experience! Our Indian Art and Craft Tour in a traditional home offers a unique and hands-on opportunity to delve into the vibrant traditional arts of India, all within a comfortable indoor setting in Chennai. Perfect for cultural enthusiasts, art lovers, foodies, and anyone seeking an authentic and engaging experience. We will learn things like Kolam, garland making, doll making, musical instrument making draping saree or dhoti, making filter coffee and vada.

Chennai is known for its culinary scene, but it’s easy to get stuck with disappointing tourist traps when you’re new to the city. Ideal for foodies of all stripes, this small-group food tour gives you behind-the-scenes access to Sowcarpet Market. Navigate the packed stalls alongside a guide who navigates so you don’t get lost, stopping at a handpicked selection of vendors to taste local street food delicacies.

Gallic culture and history is alive and well in the old French colony of Pondicherry, a short day trip from Chennai. With this day tour, you'll not only get to walk through the historic old city, but you'll also get to visit Auroville, a gargantuan international community that has been bringing generations of people from around the world to live together in harmony since it was founded in the 1960s.

Go shopping in Chennai without having to worry about haggling or language barriers by booking this small-group tour, led by a local guide. You'll visit a wholesale market full of fruits, flowers, and vegetables, another market with leather and antiques, a flea market, and a fish market, with time left over to check out handicrafts at a craft emporium.

You'll fly to Delhi in the morning, where a driver will take you to Agra for a day of sightseeing. After visiting the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, you'll head to a local restaurant for lunch before returning to Delhi Airport for your flight back to Chennai.