East Coast Road Trip for Friends: Mahabalipuram & Pondicherry, 4 Days
Starting from ₹12,500 per person, twin sharing
- Fully Customisable
- Free to Enquire
- Reply Within Hours
- Duration
- 3 nights / 4 days
- Pickup → drop
- Chennai → Chennai
- Best time
- Nov – Feb
- Activity level
- 1/4 · Relaxed
- Group size
- 4–12
Activity level 1 of 4: Relaxed.Monument walks, cycling and an optional surf lesson. Drives of 1.5–3.5 hours.What the levels mean
- 1 · RelaxedSightseeing by car with short walks, under 2 hours on foot a day.All ages and fitness levels, including parents and young children.
- 2 · Light2–4 hours on foot a day, with stairs, uneven ground or some long drives.Anyone in normal health who can walk 30 minutes comfortably.
- 3 · Active4–6 hours of walking or a few long rough drives, some days at altitude.Regular walkers. Start walking 30–45 minutes a day a month before.
- 4 · ChallengingLong days, steep climbs or high altitude (above 4,000 m).Good fitness; check with your doctor if you have heart, lung or blood-pressure conditions.
Quick answer
A 4-day East Coast road trip for friends runs Chennai to Mahabalipuram (1 night) and Pondicherry (2 nights), then back to Chennai. It includes a surf lesson at Covelong, the Shore Temple at sunrise and a day in Pondicherry and Auroville. It costs from ₹12,500 per person at 6 travellers and suits November to February.
Trip Overview
A four-day coastal road trip for friends: a surf lesson at Covelong, sunrise at the Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram, then south to Pondicherry for the French quarter, the Promenade and Auroville.
It starts and ends in Chennai, and the drives are short: 1.5 hours, 2 hours and 3.5 hours.
- Stays included
- Meals included
- Transfers included
- Sightseeing included
Trip highlights
- A surf lesson at Covelong (Kovalam) beach
- Shore Temple at sunrise and the Pancha Rathas
- Pondicherry's White Town and the Promenade at sunset
- Auroville's visitor centre and the Matrimandir viewing point
- A cafe and bakery trail in the French quarter
- A Tempo Traveller and driver for the whole trip
Day by day
Itinerary
Chennai → Chennai · 3N/4D
4 days · tap a day to open or close it
- 1
Day 1Chennai to Mahabalipuram via CovelongChennai → Mahabalipuram · 55 km · 1.5 hrs+
Pickup in Chennai. Stop at Covelong beach for a surf lesson (optional, at all levels), then on to Mahabalipuram. See the Shore Temple in the evening light.
- Covelong surf lesson (optional)
- Shore Temple
Beach resort, Mahabalipuram D
- 2
Day 2Pallava monuments, then PondicherryMahabalipuram → Pondicherry · 95 km · 2 hrs+
Sunrise at the Shore Temple, then Arjuna's Penance, Krishna's Butterball and the Pancha Rathas. Drive down the East Coast Road to Pondicherry. Evening on the Promenade.
- Shore Temple
- Pancha Rathas
- Promenade
Heritage guesthouse, White Town B · D
- 3
Day 3Pondicherry and Auroville+
Cycle or walk the French quarter and its cafés. Auroville's visitor centre and the Matrimandir viewing point in the afternoon (inner-chamber visits need advance booking), and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram.
- White Town
- Auroville
- Sri Aurobindo Ashram
Heritage guesthouse, White Town B · D
- 4
Day 4Back to ChennaiPondicherry → Chennai · about 150 km · 3.5 hrs+
A slow breakfast at a French café, a last walk on the Promenade, then the drive up the coast to Chennai for your onward journey.
Trip ends B
Meals: B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner. Drive times are typical and exclude stops.
What's included
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included
- 3 nights: a beach resort and a heritage guesthouse (twin or triple sharing)
- Daily breakfast and dinner on Mahabalipuram night; breakfast elsewhere
- A private Tempo Traveller with driver from and back to Chennai
- Licensed guide for the Mahabalipuram monuments
- Cycles in Pondicherry's White Town
- 24×7 trip support on WhatsApp
Not Included
- ✕ Flights or trains to the start point and from the end point
- ✕ Monument, temple-darshan and camera fees unless listed
- ✕ Lunches unless listed, tips, laundry and personal expenses
- ✕ 5% GST (added to the final quote)
- ✕ Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- ✕ Surf lesson and Auroville inner-chamber booking (optional)
Before you go
Good to Know
- The sea has strong currents. Swim in the resort pool rather than the sea, except at supervised surf lessons.
- One ASI ticket covers the Shore Temple and the Pancha Rathas on the same day.
- Pondicherry is busy on weekends. Book early.
Packing list
Things to Pack
- Light cotton clothes
- Swimwear for pools
- Sandals plus closed shoes
- Mosquito repellent
- Sunscreen and hat
- A playlist for the coast road
Places on this trip
Destination Guides
How booking works
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Read before you go
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Guides and stories from our writers on Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu and the way you travel.
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FAQs
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On-trip help
Can we hire scooters in Pondicherry?+
Yes, if everyone has a valid licence. We can arrange rentals, though cycles are included.
Is it good for a group of eight?+
Yes. A Tempo Traveller seats up to 12.
Can we add a night in Chennai?+
Yes. A night before or after, and a city tour if you wish.
What is the best time?+
November to February. October to early December is the north-east monsoon.
Is it a good long weekend?+
Yes, from Chennai. Leave Friday evening and be back Monday.
Can I change the itinerary?+
Yes. Dates, hotels, pace and stops can all be changed; we'll re-quote.
Do I pay anything to enquire?+
No. You'll get a written plan and quote first. Payment only happens after you approve it.
From₹12,500 /person
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