5 days
Kochi · Munnar · Thekkady · Alleppey
5 days Kerala tour
Kerala's four classic stops in five days — the port at Kochi, the tea hills, the Periyar forest and a night on the backwaters.
Choose your South India tour package
South India is slower and greener than the north. It suits travellers on a second visit, and anyone who finds the Golden Triangle too busy.
9 tours
5 days
Kochi · Munnar · Thekkady · Alleppey
6 days
Kochi · Munnar · Thekkady · Alleppey
6 days Kerala tour with two nights in Munnar
The five-day Kerala route with a full day added in the tea hills, so Munnar is a stay rather than a stop.
6 days
Bangalore · Mysore · Nagarhole · Bandipur · Ooty
6 days South India wildlife safari from Bangalore
Two of India's best elephant and tiger forests, Mysore's palaces on the way in and the Nilgiri hills at the end.
7 days
Kochi · Munnar · Thekkady · Alleppey
7 days Kerala backwaters and hills tour
Kerala at its own pace — colonial Kochi, tea estates at Munnar, spice hills at Thekkady and a night on a houseboat in the backwaters.
9 days
Kochi · Munnar · Thekkady · Kumarakom · Alleppey · Kovalam
9 days best of Kerala with backwaters and beach
All of Kerala top to bottom: the port, the hills, the forest, the lake, the houseboat and two easy nights on the beach at Kovalam.
10 days
Chennai · Mahabalipuram · Thanjavur · Madurai · Kerala
10 days South India temples and backwaters tour
Dravidian temple towns down the Tamil coast, then across to Kerala for the hills and the backwaters — the south at full length.
10 days
Kochi · Munnar · Thekkady · Kumarakom · Marari
10 days luxury Kerala tour in heritage hotels
Kerala at an unhurried pace in restored heritage properties — two nights at every stop, a lake resort, and a beach to finish.
13 days
Chennai · Tirupati · Madurai · Rameswaram · Kanyakumari · Trivandrum
13 days South India temple tour
The great temples of the south in order — Tirupati, Kanchipuram, Chidambaram, Thanjavur, Srirangam, Madurai, Rameswaram — down to the tip of India.
14 days
Kochi · Periyar · Munnar · Ooty · Nagarhole · Coorg · Bandipur
14 days Kerala and Karnataka wildlife tour
A two-week loop through the forests of the Western Ghats — Periyar, Eravikulam, Nagarhole and Bandipur — with tea hills and Coorg in between.
What the price covers
The same promise on every tour in this collection.
Included in every package
- Private AC car, or train tickets where the tour uses one
- Hotel pickup and drop
- Monument tickets booked ahead
- Ministry-approved local guide
- Guided monument tour
- Bottled water
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before travel
Not included
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses
Questions people ask
How is South India different from the north?
Greener, slower, hotter and more humid. Different food, different architecture, different languages. Many people who have done the Golden Triangle come back for this.
When should we go?
October to March. The monsoon arrives in June and the hills stay comfortable through most of the year.
Can we combine north and south?
Yes, with a domestic flight in the middle. Allow at least two weeks for both to be worth doing.
Is a houseboat night worth it?
For most guests, yes. A night on the backwaters is quiet in a way very little else in India is.
Which places should a South India tour include?
Kochi, Munnar and the Alleppey backwaters in Kerala, the temple towns of Madurai and Thanjavur, and Mahabalipuram and Pondicherry on the Tamil Nadu coast. Mysore and Hampi suit a route through Karnataka instead.
How many days do I need for South India?
Ten to fourteen days gives you Kerala and Tamil Nadu without rushing. A week works if you focus on Kerala alone.
How do I get to South India from Delhi?
Fly. Direct flights from Delhi to Kochi, Chennai and Bengaluru take around three hours, and we arrange pickup on arrival and a car for the whole route.
Can non-Hindus enter South Indian temples?
Most temples welcome visitors of all faiths into the main complex, though some inner sanctums are reserved for Hindus. Dress modestly, remove footwear at the entrance, and your guide will tell you where photography is allowed.
What food should we try in South India?
Dosa, idli and filter coffee for breakfast, a vegetarian meal served on a banana leaf, and Kerala's coconut-based fish curries. Spice levels can be adjusted if you ask.