The Serai Kabini
Kabini River views,
Safari access,
Contemporary comfort
Couples,
Nature Enthusiasts
The Serai is a refreshing modern hotel just an hour’s drive out of Mysore.
This very special part of the Nilgiri biosphere is teeming with lush forests, rare bird species, and lots of wildlife. On the banks of the Kabini River, the Serai offers cottage style accommodation with all the luxury amenities you’d expect from this high-end resort group, as well as spectacular views of the water from every angle.
This isn’t a tribal or a traditional experience, but more of a modern luxury accommodation experience. Come here if you want to get lost in the spectacular jungle surroundings of Nagarhole National Park but come home to exceptionally luxurious mod cons.
Wildlife lovers will be thrilled to spot hundreds of colourful and endemic bird species. The area has the largest congregation of magnificent Asiatic elephants, and if you want to learn more, you can chat to one of the on-site guides and naturalists at the resort.
If you haven’t exhausted yourself in a kayak on the river, on a jungle safari, or atop a Harley Davidson, you can work out at the hotel gym or swim in the pool.
If you have, you can organise a massage or a treatment at the spa.
The Rooms
The Serai has only 16 rooms, all of them with superb views of the Kabini River and all featuring private verandas, air-conditioning, and luxurious furnishings. Some have atmospheric open sky showers with fibreglass roofs, and the villas have their own non-heated Jacuzzis.
The standard is high and the comforts are plentiful.
What You’ll Find:
Why You'll Love It:
Explore ETG's Sample Itineraries in India
A few of our favourite routes, hand-picked by the team and ripe for tweaking.
Think of them as conversation starters. Curiosity sparkers. Not fixed plans, just ideas for what your holiday could look like, shaped by years of local know-how and the kind of immersive experiences that live long in the memory.
India
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
Gallery
India
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
Gallery
Serai Kabini on the map
In Our Travellers’ Words
An Epic Adventure Across Southeast Asia
Immersive India
With ETG, we have visited extraordinary places
The Curious Traveller’s Expert Guide to India
Want to know more? With its vast size, rich diversity, and countless possibilities, planning a holiday to India can feel overwhelming – so we’ve created our Curious Traveller’s Guide to India to help make sense of it all.
It’s our experts’ pick of standout experiences and places to stay, with honest advice on the best regions and tips for both first-time visitors and those returning for more.
