South India holidays unfold across a vibrant and varied region.
From Kerala’s tropical calm to Karnataka’s ancient cities and Tamil Nadu’s temple towns, there is so much to explore. Kerala is as lush as it is compelling – the central and southern areas offer iconic houseboat cruises and hill stations, but head north for a quieter, often more authentic experience. Think fewer tourists, village walks, and a slower pace of life that’s deeply Keralan. Across the border, Karnataka is on the rise, blending cosmopolitan buzz in Bangalore with temple ruins in Hampi, misty coffee estates in Coorg, and regal grandeur in Mysore’s palaces.
Tamil Nadu offers a heady mix of colour, culture and carved-stone devotion.
Known for its towering Dravidian temples, it also serves up French colonial towns, hill station escapes and sacred journeys. Then there’s Goa – India’s beach favourite – ideal for winding down at the end of a cultural trip. Whether you’re into history, hiking, heritage or simply hammocks by the sea, South India combines it all in one endlessly fascinating region.
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Kerala Encompassed
Gain a great insight into the variety Kerala has to offer as you travel south to north over three weeks. You’ll have the opportunity to stay in different types and styles of accommodation, ranging from tea bungalows to a plantation mansion, houseboat, treehouse and tents, to name a few.
Spend your days among tea and spice plantations, relaxing in rural settings, spotting wildlife, cruising along the Alleppey backwaters, visiting local markets and getting to know the towns that make Kerala tick. Relax on a remote beach to round off your holiday through ‘God’s Own Country’.
Highlights
Cruise the backwaters
Explore the canals on a houseboat for two nights, watching local life pass by
Birdwatching
Wake up on the banks of the Periyar River, where you’ll have the chance to spot over 120 species of birds
Safaris
Track elephants and tigers in Nagarhole National Park
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Birds of South India
Discover lesser-visited but beautiful areas of Southern India during this two week holiday. There is a particular focus on the region’s abundant birdlife, exceptional for casual and serious aficionados. Visit several sanctuaries and travel through the lush western ghats, known as a treasure house of endemic species, as well as the strictly protected wildlife of Bandipur National Park.
Highlights
Rangananthittu Bird Sanctuary
End your journey with a visit to the Rangananthittu Bird Sanctuary, home to some 170 exquisite bird species
Valparai
Explore Valparai’s remote landscapes through forest treks in an area full of wildlife, including some of the most endangered varieties of hornbills
Bandipur National Park
Spot elusive big game on sunrise and sunset safaris in Bandipur National Park
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