Tours of India

Get beyond the tourist façade of the countries you visit. Focus on the local culture, past and present, and discover the lifeblood of any country – its people. Discovery and culture tours uncover different ways of life, and offer the opportunity to meet and sometimes stay with local people or tribal groups. Our discovery tours explore cultural sites – both ancient and modern – and help you learn about the people and their culture. Visit the remote tribes of Ethiopia’s Rift Valley, live the nomad life in desert camps or meet the local people of the high Andean altiplano in Peru. There’s no better way to get to the true heart of a country than through its people.

South Indian Images

Tour Map of South Indian Images

Take a cultural journey with us across this colourful landscape, from intricately carved temple complexes to lush jungle backwaters and historic harbour ports. By train, bus and riverboat we climb to the heights of the Western Ghats and drop down to the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean. This fast-paced adventure includes a little bit of everything southern India has to offer.

South Indian Images - Eclipse

Tour Map of South Indian Images - Eclipse

A journey across colourful landscapes taking in the annular solar eclipse at the colonial hill station of Ooty. From intricately carved temple complexes to lush jungle backwaters and historic harbour ports, travel by train, bus and riverboat climbing to the heights of the Western Ghats and dropping down to the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean. This fast-paced adventure includes a little bit of everything southern India has to offer.

Great value, reasonable prices, quality experiences. Comfortable and varied tourist-class accommodations chosen for location and character. Mix of public and private transport for the best overall experience. All the top highlights included, plus plenty of time to explore on your own.

The trips we've build our reputation on. Designed for maximum variety, these trips are geared towards travellers searching for a healthy mix of active exploration, uncommon landscapes, amazing wildlife and local cultures.

Best of Southern India

Tour Map of Best of Southern India

From steamy Kerala backwaters and spice plantations to incredible temples and searching for tigers in the wild, have your camera ready as you experience the highlights of Southern India. This 2-week adventure offers a great balance of guided excursions and free time to explore on your own. Travelling by train, bus, rickshaw, and country boats will bring you closer to the locals and is a fascinating way to gain insight into the peaceful backwaters of Kerala and stunning temples of Tamilnadu.

Get beyond the tourist façade of the countries you visit. Focus on the local culture, past and present, and discover the lifeblood of any country – its people. Discovery and culture tours uncover different ways of life, and offer the opportunity to meet and sometimes stay with local people or tribal groups. Our discovery tours explore cultural sites – both ancient and modern – and help you learn about the people and their culture. Visit the remote tribes of Ethiopia’s Rift Valley, live the nomad life in desert camps or meet the local people of the high Andean altiplano in Peru. There’s no better way to get to the true heart of a country than through its people.

Kerala Backwaters

Tour Map of Kerala Backwaters

Unwind with us on this relaxing exploration of Kerala, a corner of India known by its welcoming locals, as God's own country. We cruise tranquil backwaters by houseboat, trek in search of wildlife in Periyar National Park and visit hilltop tea and spice plantations. Along the way we discover colonial Kochi and relax on Kovalam's crescent beaches.

Magical Malabar Discovery

This extraordinary journey offers an opportunity to experience one of the most diverse and unexpectedly beautiful corners of India. Starting out in Mysore, the cultural capital of the state of Karnataka, we visit a number of colourful Hindu temples and opulent palaces, before stopping off for a 2-night stay at the Nagarhole National Park. Wildlife abounds here, especially wild elephants, and our cruise on Kabini Lake, together with morning and evening game drives on the following day, promise to be memorable. Then, heading west to the district of Coorg in the Western Ghats, we find ourselves in a world of lush forest, rushing rivers and emerald-green tea and coffee plantations. The Bylakuppe Tibetan Buddhist settlement is a surprising highlight of this part of our holiday. Continuing our scenic journey to the idyllic Malabar Coast at the northern tip of the state of Kerala, we spend 2 nights at Neeleshwar Hermitage, an award-winning boutique hotel on the beach, the perfect place from which to explore this tranquil and traditional region. A final, unforgettable experience is the backwaters cruise and overnight stay on a comfortable houseboat. Not yet on the tourist map, this is a 'hidden' part of India where the fortunate visitor can fully connect with the local people, their vibrant cultures and the beautiful landscapes they inhabit. We can wholeheartedly recommend this one!

Bangalore to Kochi - Eclipse

Tour Map of Bangalore to Kochi - Eclipse

Travelling from Bangalore to Kochi, we'll view the solar eclipse at the colonial hill station of Ooty, as well as searching for wildlife in Bandipur National Park, relaxing for a day and a night on a traditional Kerala house boat, and riding the famous Nilgiri Toy Train through lush mountain scenery. The trip ends in the wonderful port town of Kochi, with its blend of Portuguese, Dutch and British historic influences.