Watch the sunrise from the shore and, if time, take the ferry to Vivekananda Rock and the Thiruvalluvar statue for iconic coastal views; boats run ~6:00am–5:00pm. A short, energizing start to the trip.
Long high-speed corridor then hilly descent (~500–600 km broken into manageable legs; depending on chosen route, consider an overnight break if needed). Expect a very long travel day — plan extra stops.