Unlock the secrets of India’s tropical South
Bounded by the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Arabian Sea in the west and the Indian Ocean in the south, South India is topographically and culturally diverse. With its colonial ports, tea-covered hills, lazy backwaters and world-famous beaches, luxury South India tours have something for everyone.
Essential components of any tailor-made South India holiday, the gateways of Mumbai and Chennai tend to be the first ports of call. They can be combined with travel to Goa on India’s southwest coast which is popular for its sun-kissed sandy beaches and easygoing lifestyle. A luxury Kerala holiday is a more tranquil alternative on the Arabian Sea. Of the two, Kerala lies farther south, separated from Goa by the state of Karnataka. Both are sheer tropical paradises and offer the ideal beach retreat or a relaxing extension to a more comprehensive luxury holiday in India.
Bengaluru and delightful Mysuru (which was called Mysore until 2014) are other highlights, as are the old hill stations of Ootacamund and Kochi (Cochin). The oldest European settlement in India, Kochi is the source of the tranquil backwaters of Kerala's canals and rivers. You can also explore the intricate temples of Tamil Nadu, India’s southern-most state or visit Munnar, high in the mountains, to find out more about India’s tea trade.