Top Chennai Half-day Tours

Explore Chennai's Mylapore neighborhood with a local guide and learn about the rituals of daily life, hear stories of gods and demons, and gain a deeper understanding of local customs and traditions. This popular walking tour showcases the highlights and the history of this incredible city and is not to be missed.

First time in Chennai? Make the most of a private guide and flexible itinerary on this 4-hour sightseeing tour. Unveil the secrets of Chennai’s rich history and heritage as you tour the fascinating Government Museum and admire the 17th-century Fort St George. Then, keep your camera poised as you drive along the scenic Marina Beach and visit the stunning Kapaleeshwar Temple.

Chennai is a royal destination and for centuries it is known for its rich and yummy food culture, we are fortunate today that this rich food culture is preserved in the form of small food joints by some thoughtful people for generations. We have designed this amazing experience for you with an intention to take you to these places for food tasting, so that you can also cherish this food, feast your taste buds and have a fabulous and lasting impression.

This tour is led by a cultural evangelist who will bring alive the cultural heritage of Chennai through Marina. Marina Beach is where the pulse of Chennai can be gauged. Soak in the atmosphere and meet the city's people. While the statues tell the history of the city, the beach itself is where common people gather to voice their opinion on issues to those in power.

This walk is led by a cultural evangelist who will bring alive the heritage and legacy of Chennai's first settlement. Trace the evolution of George Town as the trading post for East Indian Company in the 17th century to its modern avatar as the trading hub of Chennai. Experience cultural diversity as we walk to ancient temples predating the British Era and an iconic Church of Armenian traders.

Escape the tourist track—and wake up those calf muscles—on this relaxing bicycle tour through rural Tamil villages. Learn about centuries-old traditions and lifestyles, from pottery-making to agricultural cultivation. Visit schools, temples, and farms, covering more sights in less time on two wheels. Tours include a tender coconut as a refreshing local snack.

Chennai’s tourist menus won’t give you a true perspective on the everyday foods enjoyed by locals. Step forward on this small-group walking tour of the Sowcarpet Market: where a multitude of stalls serve the staples that keep Chennaites sustained. Let a guide navigate the market so you don’t get lost, taste popular foods at tried-and-trusted stands, and get the full lowdown on local delicacies that you wouldn’t hear on your own.

Tours are led by cultural ambassadors who will bring alive the history and culture of the times when St Thomas came to India in the first century AD.

This is a cooking tour where you will visit a traditional cook in her home in Chennai to experience authentic south Indian cooking. The lady of the house will explain to you about the south Indian cuisine and its unique ingredients. This will be followed by a cooking demonstration session. Guests will be encouraged to participate in the cooking process as well as guided by our cook.

This walk will demystify Hindu Gods & Temple rituals. From far, the thousands of Hindu Gods and complex rituals in temples look bewildering! Our Cultural Evangelist will demystify the reason for so many Gods and purpose of Temple rituals. Relics of St Thomas are a highlight. Visit the Shrine in San Thome Basilica to see relics like a small bone of St Thomas, the head of the lance with which the Saint was pierced and an ancient painting of Our Blessed Mother. This walking tour is led by a cultural evangelist who will bring alive the cultural heritage of Mylapore. The walk coms with an opportunity to taste the iconic Filter Coffee of Mylapore.

Thousands of temples with lofty towers dot the skyline of the southern state of Tamil Nadu in India. These temples are torchbearers of the glorious heritage of the Tamil speaking region, and are repositories of the magnificent art forms that have evolved over several centuries. Visit four such temples of Chennai on this half-day tour. Highlights: • Kapaleeshwarar Temple • Vadapalani Murugan Temple • Shirdi Sai Baba Temple • ISKCON Temple

Delving into Chennai’s Mylapore neighborhood independently could mean you skim over some landmarks and cultural insights, or lose your bearings. This private walking tour ensures you cover the highlights and enjoy observations on local life you’d likely miss alone. Follow the heritage Peacock Trail to the Kapaleeshwara Temple and other sights, and hear tales of Chennai's religion and culture. A tuk tuk ride, snacks, and choice of departures are included.

On this half day tour discover the architectural heritage of Chennai. Located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal, the city once served as a trading outpost for the East India Company. Drive past some of the heritage buildings of Chennai and discover the colonial past of the city. You will be able to see prime examples of Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, which flourished in the 19th century as British architects combined Gothic styles with India's Indo-Islamic architecture. Highlights • Indo-Saracenic architectural style • Photo stop at buildings with Gothic, Islamic, and Hindu characteristics • Learn about Chennai's history and culture through the lens of its buildings • Visit to the Government Museum, second oldest museum of India

Chennai is home to some world famous dishes that are truly representative of the culinary history of this city in South India. Spend an evening visiting some of the best places to eat and savor a cuisine that is rich in spicy flavors. By the end of the tour, you will be left with a distinct feeling of wanting to come back for more. Highlights • Explore the streets of Chennai • Savor popular local foods • Learn about South Indian cuisine

Discover Chennai on this private half-day tour. Visit the oldest English fortress in India and learn about its role in contemporary Tamil Nadu. Head to the Government Museum and National Gallery to admire palm-leaf manuscripts, Amravati paintings, and rare works by celebrated artists like Raja Ravi Varma. Visit a 7th Century temple and enjoy a drive along Chennai’s beautiful waterfront.

Explore the best of Chennai's cultural hub of Mylapore with this heritage-themed walking tours. You'll meet your guide bright and early and have a traditional breakfast before heading on to see some of the area's most interesting and historically significant sites. Highlights include visits to San Thome Basilica, the temple of Ramakrishna Math, and the 7th-century Kapaleeshwar Temple, the most famous temple in town.

Your private tour will follow the footsteps of St. Thomas, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus.  You will visit the Basilica of San Thome as well as St Thomas Mount where he was killed.  This has been a well known Christian pilgrimage site for centuries. After the tour, lunch will be included at a local restaurant. Highlights • San Thome Basilica • Ancient image of Our Blessed Mother • Cave at Little Mount to see prints of St Thomas

Go past some of the famous streets and markets of Chennai in a colorful auto-rickshaw. This unique ride will let you experience the sights and sounds of this bustling city from close quarters. Unlike travel by an air-conditioned car that keeps out all the noise of the city, you will be able to experience the vibrant energy of the city as you move along. You can step out and walk along at interesting spots to catch a closer glimpse and then hop on again as your guide takes you along the itinerary.

Chennai, formerly known as Madras, was the capital of the Southern British India. Many great monuments were built during the British rule and several of them continue to dominate the skyline of Chennai even today. In this walking tour, we will visit some of the prominent landmarks of Chennai, which were built during the British era in an architectural style blending British as well as Indian elements. We will start at the Central Railway Station and walk to Ripon Building, Southern Railway Headquarters, Victory Memorial, Fort St George, Naper Bridge and finish at Madras University building.

Explore one of Chennai's most interesting neighborhoods on foot with this walking tour of Mylapore. You'll get to visit the famous Kapalesshwara Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, and the Portuguese San Thome Church, walk through colorful markets, and try out some traditional South Indian snacks at the famous Saravana Bhavan restaurant.

On this day-excursion from Chennai, visit the oldest water bird sanctuary of India. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is home to migratory birds such as Pintail, Garganey, Grey Wagtail, Blue-winged Teal, Common Sandpiper and many more. The best time to visit this sanctuary is from November to March when migratory birds are nesting here. Highlights: • Many small lakes in the sanctuary • 40 000 birds including 26 rare species • Migratory birds from countries as far away as Canada

This walk is led by a cultural evangelist who will explain the things required for a typical South Indian Wedding. Walk past all the shops that sell merchandise critical for an Indian Wedding. Silk, jewelry, apparel, flowers & utensils.

Gandhi said, "Villages are the heart of our nation"! Village is the best place to learn Indian culture and tradition and biking through villages is the best way to experience rural lifestyle, farms, village temples. This tour will take you to village panchayat schools, little temples, pottery making and agricultural fields to experience authentic Indian village.

Chennai is a beautiful city during the day, yet it is even more beautiful at night. Come and join us on this amazing and completely off beat experience of Chennai at night. Experience the urban side of city on this walk, visit local popular hangout places, most prominent, beautiful monuments, ancient and modern buildings and old streets in the beautiful night view of the Chennai city.