Destinations
South India Tours
South India moves to a slower, greener, more tropical rhythm than the north. This is the India of the Kerala backwaters and their thatched houseboats, of tea-carpeted hills at Munnar, of towering temple gateways in Tamil Nadu and long palm-lined beaches on both coasts. Our South India tours are private and tailor-made, weaving together the backwaters, the Western Ghats, the great temple towns and the shore into journeys that feel restful rather than rushed.
The south is a different country in almost every sense — its own languages, cuisine, architecture and climate. Kerala, on the south-west coast, is the region's showpiece: a lush ribbon of coconut palms, rice paddies and interlinked lagoons where you drift on a converted rice-barge houseboat, watching village life go by from the water. Inland, the Western Ghats rise into the cool, misty tea gardens of Munnar and the spice plantations and wildlife of Thekkady, before the land drops back to the beaches of Kovalam and the calm of Trivandrum.
Tamil Nadu and the eastern side add a very different flavour — the soaring, sculpture-covered gopuram gateways of the great Dravidian temples, and pilgrimage centres such as Tirupati, one of the most visited sacred sites in the world. Together these threads make the south enormously varied: you can build a trip around backwaters and beaches for pure relaxation, around temple architecture and living Hindu tradition, or around hill stations, spices and wildlife. Ayurveda, the region's traditional system of wellness, is woven through many Kerala itineraries for travellers who want to unwind.
The south has a tropical climate that is warm all year, so timing is about rainfall rather than cold. Broadly, October to March is the most comfortable and popular window, with pleasant days and lower humidity; the south-west monsoon arrives around June and paints the landscape at its most brilliant green, which some travellers seek out, and which coincides with the traditional Ayurveda season. We plan the south as a private, chauffeur-driven journey with careful pacing — a houseboat night on the backwaters, a couple of nights in the hills, time on the coast — matched to comfortable, characterful hotels. Tell us whether you lean towards relaxation, temples, wildlife or wellness, and we shape the route and the length of stay in each place to suit.
Kerala backwaters
A night aboard a traditional houseboat drifting through the lagoons and villages around Alleppey — the quintessential South India experience.
Munnar tea hills
Cool, misty ridges carpeted in emerald tea gardens in the Western Ghats, a refreshing change of altitude and pace.
Thekkady spice country
Cardamom and pepper plantations and the wildlife of the Periyar reserve, where you can cruise a forest-fringed lake in search of elephant.
Temple towns of the south
The towering, sculpture-covered gopuram gateways of Dravidian temple architecture — living centres of worship, colour and ritual.
Tirupati pilgrimage
The hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala, one of the most visited and revered pilgrimage sites in the world.
Coast & Ayurveda
The palm-backed beaches of Kovalam and the region's traditional Ayurvedic wellness — an easy, restorative end to a southern journey.
Itineraries
South India Tours — sample itineraries
Every itinerary below is private and fully customisable. Enquire for a tailor-made quote.
FAQ
South India Tours — frequently asked questions
Eight to ten days is ideal for South India. That is enough to combine the Kerala backwaters, the tea hills of Munnar, a spice-country stay and time on the coast at a relaxed pace, with room to add temple towns if you wish.
October to March is the best time to visit South India, with warm, comfortable, lower-humidity days. The green south-west monsoon runs roughly June to September and is also the traditional season for Ayurveda.
The Kerala backwaters are a network of interconnected lagoons, lakes and canals along the coast. The classic way to experience them is an overnight stay on a converted rice-barge houseboat, drifting slowly past palm groves and waterside villages.
Yes, South India is an excellent first trip, especially if you want a gentler, greener and more relaxed introduction. The backwaters, hill stations and beaches make for an easy pace, and it pairs beautifully with the Golden Triangle for a fuller picture.
Yes. Kerala and the temple towns of the neighbouring south combine naturally into a single overland journey, mixing backwaters and hills with the great Dravidian temples. Tell us your total number of days and we will design the route.
Ready to plan your India journey?
Tell us your dates and interests and our Delhi team will send a tailor-made itinerary and quote — usually the same day. No obligation.