- India Private Tours
- Grand Tour of South India - Private Tour
South India is full of variety and character, where bustling modern cities and majestic temples sit alongside tranquil countryside, misty tea-covered hills, and winding rivers. Discover rich and diverse landscapes, from dense jungles and wildlife-filled reserves to serene backwaters and sunlit beaches. With centuries of history, vibrant local culture, and a relaxed pace of life, this tour offers a chance to experience the soul of South India, immersing you in the region’s unique atmosphere.
Dinner
On arrival, you will be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy a welcome dinner and settle in to your surroundings.
If you are arranging your own international flights, free airport transfers are available and included in the price. Transfers need to be booked with us at least two weeks before the tour starts and you will need to provide your inbound and outbound flight details.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
The British colonial presence in India was established in Chennai, formerly known as Madras, by the East India Company in 1639. Today, Chennai is India’s fourth largest city and hub of technology, but there are many interesting stories behind the city’s modern facade. Begin your tour with a drive along Chennai’s elegant promenade, admiring the world-famous Marina Beach en route to Mylapore, the old heart of the city. See the San Thome Basilica, resting place of “Doubting Thomas”, the Apostle who ended his days preaching on the nearby beach. Visit Fort St. George, completed in 1653 as a stronghold of British power: its museum gives a fascinating insight into colonial life, as does nearby St Mary’s, the oldest Anglican church in India. In the afternoon, proceed to Mahabalipuram, situated between the Bay of Bengal and the Great Salt Lake in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The town is known for its rock-cut temples and monuments, built by the Pallava dynasty in the 7th and 8th centuries.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today, visit the breathtaking monuments of Mahabalipuram, beginning with the city’s oldest monument, the Shore Temple - a splendid UNESCO World Heritage site comprised of shrines, carved granite monuments, and the 7th-century Five Rathas pagoda temples, recalling the five Pandava brothers named in the Mahabharata. Continue to the world’s largest open-air rock relief, Arjuna’s Penance, 27 metres long by 9 metres high, carved with intricate sculptures of birds, animals, gods, and saints. Admire the adjacent Krishna Mandapam monument, where bas-relief carvings depict village and pastoral life, before returning to your hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Following breakfast, drive to Puducherry, a French colonial settlement until 1954, now a Union Territory town. Its French legacy is preserved in its charming French Quarter, with tree-lined streets, mustard-coloured colonial villas, and chic boutiques evoking a bygone era. En route, visit Auroville (the 'City of Dawn') an ongoing experimental town where men and women of all countries, social classes, and cultures are encouraged to live in harmony.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This morning, proceed to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, renowned for its serene and self-sufficient community dedicated to spiritual and cultural education. Enjoy an afternoon to explore Pondicherry’s attractions at your own pace or relax at your hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast drive to Chidambaram to visit the magnificent Nataraja Temple, dedicated to Shiva as the Nataraja - Lord of the Dance - and a representation of the exuberance of creation. Continue your journey to Tanjore and on arrival, check in at your hotel before an evening visit to the incredible Brihadeeswarar Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built at vast expense by the Chola King Rajaraja a thousand years ago. Witness its fortified walls, rich in elaborate carved artworks.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today, proceed to Madurai, travelling via Trichy, one of Tamil Nadu’s most famous temple towns. Visit Srirangan temple complex, the largest functioning temple complex in the world and a major pilgrimage site. Drive to Madurai and wander the vibrant Madurai flower market for an insight into local life.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Madurai is one of the oldest cities in the world. Following breakfast, your day begins at the great Meenakshi Temple, dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva, with its towering gopurams (entrance towers) rising high above the surrounding township. Visit the Tirumala Nayak Palace, an impressive building in the Indo-Saracenic style, famous for the elaborate stucco work on its domes and arches. In the evening, return to the Meenakshi Temple to witness the closing ceremony, where idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are carried in a riotous procession, to be confined to their bedchamber for the night. Please note: non-Hindus are not allowed in the sanctum of the temple but can view the ceremony.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive to the scenic hills of Munnar, South India's largest tea-growing region, nestled in the UNESCO-listed Western Ghats. The rest of the day is at leisure, soaking in the cool mountain air and lush green landscapes.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Embark on a tour of Munnar, a nature lover's paradise, beginning at Mattupetty Lake, Echo Point, where calm waters are surrounded by scenic hills. Continue through thriving tea plantations to a tea museum and processing factory and visit Eravikulam National Park. famous for its large surviving population of Nilgiri Tahr (wild goat).
Eravikulam National Park is closed between February-April to protect the breeding season of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr. During affected tours you will watch a Kalarippayattu show instead. Kalarippayattu is the traditional martial art practiced in Kerala. Famed as the mother of all martial arts, this ancient art-form is believed to have been adapted into various martial art forms like karate, kung fu and judo.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, proceed to Alleppey and board a traditional houseboat, which will be both your transport and accommodation. A leisurely cruise takes you through the serene winding backwaters of Kerala, enjoying the regional cuisine and stunning rural scenery of the surrounding villages and waters. Meandering through these beautiful lagoons, rivers, and canals is truly an unforgettable experience.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Beckoning merchants and explorers for over 500 years, the port city of Kochi offers a dynamic cultural blend of Portuguese houses, ancient mosques, and crumbling remnants of British colonialism, all overlooking the tropical Malabar Coast. Check in at your hotel and, in the early evening, head to a Kathakali cultural show - a traditional dance performance based on themes of Hindu mythology.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Begin a tour of Kochi, the historic centre of India's spice trade. Discover the influence of ancient Chinese explorers in Kochi harbour’s impressive fishing nets, still used daily by locals, and take a ride along village roads in a tuk-tuk. See the Mattanchery Dutch Palace and the oldest European church in India, St. Francis, before returning to your hotel for the remainder of the day at leisure.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After an early breakfast, travel to the Ernakulam railway station to catch the train to Coimbatore. On arrival, proceed onward to Ooty (short for Udhagamandalam), a resort town in Tamil Nadu’s Western Ghats mountains. Founded as a summer resort for the British Raj. Enjoy time to relax or explore the town at your own pace.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Visit the Government Botanical Garden, covering 22 hectares and divided into six sections each with its own theme and collection of beautiful plants and flowers. See the St Stephen Church, one of the oldest churches in Ooty, before an afternoon ride on the famous Nilgiri Mountain Railway (Toy Train), completed in 1899 by British colonial forces. On a winding and steep track passing through the Nilgiri hills, travel along a series of narrow gauges, across over 200 lofty bridges, and past picturesque tea plantations – a truly memorable journey.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Travel to Kabini, where wild wetlands surround the vibrant Kabini River. The biodiverse riverbanks boast a rich variety of wildlife, particularly in summer, when receding waters reveal luscious meadows. After lunch, embark on your first thrilling safari, keeping an eye out for varied birdlife, including Malabar Pied Hornbills, Indian bison, and majestic Bengal tigers pacing amongst evergreen bamboo.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Discover the striking wildlife of Kabini further with a second safari. Spot the country’s largest congregation of Asiatic elephants, a variety of water birds, and marsh crocodiles stalking shallow waters - your safari route gives you the best chance to observe South India's most intriguing natural inhabitants. Return to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Following breakfast, proceed to the ancient city of Mysore, or Mysuru, in India's southwestern Karnataka state, the capital of the Kingdom of Mysore from 1399 to 1947. After some time to relax, take an evening visit Devaraja Market, celebrated for its cultural significance and vibrant atmosphere: browse over 800 shops filled with flowers, fruits, colourful spices, and souvenirs.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Considered one of India's most flamboyant cities, Mysore boasts a glittering royal heritage, bustling marketplaces and a thriving yoga centre. Your full day tour brings you to the heart of the city and one of India's grandest royal abodes, the sprawling Mysore Palace. Discover the palace's Marriage Pavilion, with its painted glass ceiling and peacock motifs, the treasured royal paintings lining the Public Durbar Hall, and a glistening Golden Howdah used to carry the Maharaja. Atop the nearby Chamundi Hills, visit the Chamundi Temple, famed for the intricate carvings that crown its towering ‘gopuram’ entrance. Stop for photographs of the area’s panoramic vistas over Mysore. In the afternoon, travel to the 18th century fort town of Srirangapatnam, former stronghold of ruler Tipu Sultan before his defeat by colonial forces. Cross the town’s main bridge over the Cauvery River to discover intriguing monuments documenting South India's power struggles, including a striking marble church built by French missionaries, before returning to your hotel in Mysore.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today brings you to the hub of India's booming IT industry, peppered with Victoria-era architecture - Bangalore. Enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city, including the atmospheric Bull Temple, home to an enormous granite monolith of Nandi the celestial bull. Wander through the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens to admire some of the world's most diverse and rare plant species, and marvel at Vidhan Soudha, home of the state government, a colossal Neo-Dravidian building. The rest of the day is free to explore at your leisure or relax at your hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Transfer to Bangalore Airport to take a connecting flight to Hubli, then travel to Hospet, near Hampi. A UNESCO World Heritage site in Karnataka, Hampi is famous for its stunning ruins belonging to the mighty Vijayanagara Empire of the 14th-16th centuries, comprising elaborate temples, palaces, and markets, amidst a unique landscape of giant boulders and the Tungabhadra River. These monuments represent a historic peak of South Indian art, architecture, and wealth, before the site’s eventual destruction and abandonment. The day is free to settle in to your surroundings.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast embark on a sightseeing tour of Hampi, a highlight of which is the Vittala Temple. See the Hampi Stone Chariot, a stunning monolithic shrine within the Vijaya Vittala Temple complex. Built in the 16th century by the Vijayanagara Empire, the shrine was dedicated to Garuda (Lord Vishnu's mount) and features beautiful intricate carvings. After walking through the Vittala Temple, proceed to the Royal Enclosure, which is home to many ancient attractions such as the outstanding Mahanavami Dibba, a richly-decorated granite platform over 40ft in height. The Queen's Bath, Lotus Mahal, and elephant stables are among some of the iconic wonders that remain. There's also an open museum, where many artifacts found and collected from Hampi can be seen.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Continue your tour of Hampi at Hampi Bazaar, where popular attractions like the Virupaksa Temple, the oldest still-functioning temple in the region, and other important Hindu structures can be seen. In the evening, travel to the Hemakuta Hill, where you can witness a beautiful sunset alongside panoramic views of the Hampi landscape and iconic Virupaksa Temple tower.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Following breakfast, proceed to Goa, stopping for lunch en route at Hubli. Enjoy time to rest and unwind in Goa or explore the surroundings of your hotel.
Breakfast
Transfer to the airport and fly to Mumbai. Board your return flight to the UK.
If you are arranging your own international flights, free airport transfers are available and included in the price. Transfers need to be booked with us at least two weeks before the tour starts and you will need to provide your inbound and outbound flight details.
Use discount code TOUR200 at the checkout to save £200 per person on selected tours departing in June 2026, July 2026, August 2026, September 2026, October 2026, November 2026, December 2026, January 2027, February 2027, March 2027, April 2027, May 2027, June 2027, July 2027, August 2027, September 2027, October 2027, November 2027 and December 2027
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The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. The schedules of the domestic airlines in country are subject to frequent changes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.
Important: Please note that all mobile phones are banned from India’s National Parks and Tiger Reserves. Phones will need to be left at the hotel when you are on safari. You will still be able to bring cameras into the parks and reserves to take photos.
If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
A visa is required for entry into India. British Citizen Passport Holders will need to obtain a tourist visa. You can apply for an E-visa no more than 30 days in advance. Your E-visa must be valid for your whole trip so please ensure the expiry date is for the whole duration of your stay. Alternatively you can visit The Indian Visa Application Centre in London: 142-148 Goswell Road, London, EC1B 7DU. We also work closely with The Travel Visa Company who will be able to arrange your visa on your behalf. Please call them on 01270 250 590 and quote 'Mercury Holidays'. Additionally, you will need to complete an e-Arrival Card within 72 hours before your arrival. This can be done on the Indian visa website: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival/. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months before you enter India. Visa requirements are subject to change and obtaining a visa is the responsibility of the traveller and not Mercury Holidays. We recommend you check with your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy prior to departure for the most up to date guidelines regarding visas and passport validity.
Please note we will require your APIS/Passport information at least 2 months in advance to pre purchase your Safari passes, this can be uploaded via our website on "Manage My Booking".
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
It is your responsibility to check any health or vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
All our tours feature a “Tour Pace” to help find the right holiday for you. To travel on any of our tours requires unaided mobility and the ability to stroll around the sights, climb stairs and get on and off coaches and boats. The tour pace is rated Active due in large part to the length of the tour. A good level of fitness is required as you may be on your feet for approximately four hours in a day, though this will be interspersed with regular breaks and will vary from day to day. You will be walking around the sights, and you will be getting on and off coaches, trains and boats and climbing steps which may be irregular. You will stay in variety of hotels throughout the tour. Our guides will always endeavour to provide the highest level of service and assistance; however, they cannot be expected to cater for customers who are unfit to complete the itinerary. Early morning trains and flights depending upon the schedule and some early morning sightseeing’s are also in this tour.
The currency in India is the Rupee or Rs. The Rupee is a closed currency and officially you are not allowed to take any cash out of India. US Dollars and GBP are also widely accepted in India should you wish to keep an alternative currency on you. There are restrictions on taking Indian rupees into India. Visitors, including tourists, are not permitted to take any amount of Indian currency into the country. You can take cash or travellers' cheques (in pounds sterling or another foreign currency) and/or a bank card with you and exchange or withdraw rupees once in India. Cash machines will also be available throughout the tour in order to withdraw money in your local currency. It is important that you budget carefully and ensure you have the right form of currency before you arrive in the country.
As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels as well as American Express.
You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any personal purchases, such as souvenirs, laundry, extra drinks and snacks. Approximately £400-£500 per person will be sufficient for the duration of the tour.
It is customary to tip your guide and driver. This is at your discretion, but we recommend you allow approximately £4-£5 for each guide and £2-£3 for each driver per person per day. It is asked that you tip in pounds and not local currency, please do not give coins as these are difficult to exchange. Your guide will also ask you for £1 or £2 a day to add to a kitty this is for the porters, waiters etc throughout your tour.
This is a fully escorted tour. A national guide will meet you on arrival and accompany you throughout your trip. In certain cities, local guides will join you to provide expert insight based on the sites visited.
For private tours, you will travel with either a Driver Guide or a Driver plus local guides. They will accompany all sightseeing. Private tours can depart any day of the week, subject to transport schedules and attraction opening times. These tours follow the brochure itinerary unless otherwise advised and include all listed meals, sightseeing, and excursions.
**Trains **
During your tour you will be getting on and off several trains. You will be booked in Air Conditioned Chair Car carriages. Seats recline and there is overhead space for a bag. Bathrooms are at the end of each carriage but toilet roll and hand sanitiser is advised. Trains in India do vary to the UK in terms of quality. Some trains can be disrupted by heavy fog and your tour guide will let you know if anything changes.
**Safari Vehicles **
Your safari will be taken in a canter, this is a large open roofed truck that seats up to 20 people. Safari drivers take you to areas of the park where wildlife are more likely to be seen but as with all wildlife experiences nothing can be guaranteed. Please note that many paths inside the park are bumpy and dusty.
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist between the UK and India. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.
A triple room is available but please note that this will be a twin room with a fold away bed for the 3rd passenger.
During this tour you will have a night’s stay on board a traditional houseboat as the best way to experience the backwaters of Kerala. The houseboats are built using traditional methods and there is no standardised design or layout. Your group will be split across a range of houseboats each one with between one and six bedrooms. Some will have a single deck consisting of bedrooms and a seated dining area, others may have an upper deck as well. The simple bedrooms feature en-suite and air conditioning but of necessity do not have the same comfort/facilities of a hotel room.
The crew on the ship will prepare your meals in a traditional Keralan style and are employed from the local villages so their English is basic. The guide will be available but as the group is split he will not be on your houseboat at all times.
Breakfast is buffet-style and is always a combination of Indian and western style. Lunch is typically a buffet of mainly Indian cuisine. Dinner is served buffet-style or as a set menu, also featuring Indian dishes. All meals on the boat are served in the main deck dining room.
Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information. Vegan, vegetarian and non-spicy meal options are available, all meal requests need to be sent over to our suppliers before travel.
It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way, so to ensure your comfort and well-being.
There are some dry hotels in India, and some hotels where alcohol can be consumed on the premise but must be brought in from outside. Your guide will pre-warn you of this and if anyone in the group would like to purchase drinks before getting to the hotel then we will arrange for you to visit a local shop and get what you need wherever possible.
Dry days are when the sale of alcohol is not allowed. Most of the Indian states observe these days on major national festivals/occasions such as Republic Day in January, Independence Day in August and Gandhi Jayanti in October. Dry days are also observed during elections in India.
During visits to Churches/Temples please note long trousers or skirts should be worn to cover knees, Long sleeved tops should be worn to cover shoulders and ladies should bring a scarf to cover your head.
Please note that plastic bottles are banned in the national parks so keep a reusable water bottle for your tour.
Please note that all mobile phones are banned from India’s National Parks and Tiger Reserves. Phones will need to be left at the hotel when you are on safari. You will still be able to bring cameras into the parks and reserves to take photos.
On your arrival in Chennai you will be met by a representative from our local agent, Jayasree Travels & Tours, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/ Jayasree representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your guide will be able to answer any queries you may have.
If you need to contact Jayasree Travels and Tours, during your stay the details are: Jayasree Travels and Tours:
341-Ground Floor Lado Sarai New Delhi 110030 Contact number: +0091 9526188860 / +0091 995 898 8719
Emergency contact information
Telephone number 24 hr: Biju Unnikrishnan +0091 952 618 8860, Ms Jayasree Vikraman +0091 974 700 5888, Mrs Samitha Azhar +0091 974 471 3380, Mrs Rekha Anil 0091 9744813380 , Mr Amit Bhardwaj +0091 995 898 8719
E-mail: biju@jayasreetravels.com
