How much does it cost?

From £3,099 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,186 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is train travel included?

Yes. The tour includes Standard Class, AC Chair Class, and non-AC Chair Class rail travel. Key journeys are the Nilgiri Mountain Railway from Ooty to Mettupalayam (described as Asia's steepest) and the Intercity Express to Kochi.

Is this an escorted tour?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager throughout, and all sightseeing tours are led by local guides.

What is not included?

Travel insurance, India visa, tips (GBP 37 recommended), and optional activities such as Ayurveda massage, boat rides, and the Mamallapuram excursion are not included.

When does the tour depart?

Great Rail Journeys offers departures in October, November, December, January, February, and March across 2026 and 2027.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Grand Tour of Southern India & Kerala

17-day escorted tour through southern India by rail, coach and houseboat

Great Rail Journeys operates this 17-day escorted tour of southern India and Kerala, departing from London Heathrow and ending in Chennai. The journey begins with two nights in Bengaluru, moves through the hill stations and tea plantations of Tamil Nadu aboard the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (Asia's steepest rack-and-pinion railway), then descends to the Malabar Coast to explore Kochi's colonial heritage and Kerala's backwaters by luxury houseboat. The tour wraps with visits to the ancient temples of Madurai and coastal Chennai. Throughout, a UK Tour Manager leads the group, local guides conduct city and temple tours, and stays are in 3- to 5-star hotels. Days combine guided sightseeing (Mysore Palace, the Meenakshi Amman Temple's 14 towers, the Thousand Pillar Hall) with free time for independent exploration. Breakfast and dinner are provided each day along with four lunches and all guided excursions, making this tour a complete package for travellers seeking comfort and expert leadership through India's southern region.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £300 since 4 Jul, to £3,099.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

A British visa for India is required; assistance is available up to 21 days before departure.
The single supplement is substantial at GBP 3,949 compared to the double price of GBP 2,799 per person; solo travellers should factor this into their budget.
The tour involves flights between cities (Madurai to Chennai) and long coach journeys on some days; this is not exclusively a rail journey.
Optional activities such as Ayurveda massage, canoe and kayak rides, and the Mamallapuram excursion are payable locally and not included.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Overnight flight
Direct flight to southern India
Meet the Tour Manager at London Heathrow and board an overnight flight to Bengaluru.
Day 2overnight: Bengaluru
Arrival in Bengaluru
Land in Bengaluru this morning, check in to the hotel, with free time before a welcome dinner at the five-star hotel.
Day 3overnight: Mysuru
To Mysuru, a city of palaces
A walking tour of Bengaluru including the Vidhana Soudha, Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens and Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace, then travel by coach to Mysuru, checking into the Radisson Blu Plaza. For the 2nd October departure, the group stays at the Royal Orchid Metropole instead.
Day 4overnight: Mysuru
Discovering ornate palaces and temples in Mysuru
A sightseeing tour of Mysore Palace and St Philomena's Church, then Srirangapatna, Chamundi Hill's Sri Chamundeswari Temple, the Nandi bull temple and the local market.
Day 5overnight: Ooty
To Ooty, the 'Queen of the Hill Stations'
Travel south by coach through Bandipur National Park and Mudumalai Tiger Reserve to Ooty for a two-night stay, with the afternoon free for independent sightseeing.
Day 6overnight: Ooty
Exploring floral Ooty in the Nilgiri Mountains
Visit the Botanical Garden and the summit of Doddabetta, lunch at a colonial-era hilltop hotel, then St Stephen's Church and the local market.
Day 7railovernight: Coimbatore
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway – Asia's steepest
Ride the toy train from Ooty to Coonoor for a walking tour and tea factory visit, then continue on the steam-hauled Nilgiri Mountain Railway to Mettupalayam before a coach transfer to Coimbatore.
Day 8railovernight: Kochi
Journey to the Malabar Coast by rail
A free morning in Coimbatore, then board the Intercity Express with a packed lunch to Kochi, checking into a hotel beside Vembanad Lake.
Day 9overnight: Kochi
Guided tour of Kochi, 'Queen of the Arabian Sea'
Visit the Paradesi Synagogue, Fort Kochi and St Francis' Church, the Chinese Fishing Nets, Mattancherry Palace and Hill Palace, with a Kathakali dance performance before dinner.
Day 10overnight: Kumarakom
Scenic cruise along Kerala's idyllic backwaters
Transfer to Alleppey to board a luxury houseboat across Vembanad Lake and through the backwater canals to Kumarakom for a two-night stay, with lunch served on the cruise.
Day 11overnight: Kumarakom
Uncovering the allures of Coconut Lagoon
A free morning at the hotel, then a Kumarakom Village guided walk and a Shikhara boat ride to Manjira village to see coconut tree climbing and coir-making.
Day 12overnight: Thekkady
On to the atmospheric spice village of Thekkady
Travel by coach into the Ghat Mountains to Thekkady, checking into the Spice Village, then a free lunch followed by a Periyar Lake boat ride spotting wildlife.
Day 13overnight: Madurai
A spiced journey to the ancient Tamil city of Madurai
A guided walking tour of a spice plantation, then descend the Ghat Mountains by coach into Tamil Nadu to Madurai for a two-night stay.
Day 14overnight: Madurai
Touring Madurai, the 'City That Never Sleeps'
A sightseeing tour of the Thirumalai Nayak Palace, the Meenakshi Amman Temple and its Thousand Pillar Hall, and the Gandhi Memorial Museum, with the afternoon free.
Day 15overnight: Chennai
A short flight to Chennai on the Bay of Bengal
An internal flight to Chennai, then a sightseeing tour including Madras War Cemetery, Marina Beach, San Thome Cathedral Basilica, Kapaleeshwarar Temple and the flower market.
Day 16overnight: Overnight flight (via Delhi)
Free day in Tamil Nadu and homeward bound
A free day with the option of an excursion to Mamallapuram, or exploring Chennai's Fort St George and St Mary's Church, before an overnight flight home via Delhi.
Day 17
Arrival in London
Land back in London Heathrow early this morning, bringing the holiday to a close.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 7Board the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Asia's steepest rack-and-pinion railway, for two journeys through misty mountains and tea plantations from Ooty through Coonoor to Mettupalayam.
Day 8Travel by Intercity Express to Kochi on the Malabar Coast, arriving at a five-star hotel beside Vembanad Lake.
Day 9Tour Kochi's colonial landmarks including the oldest European church on the subcontinent and watch a traditional Kathakali dance performance.
Day 10Cruise on a luxury houseboat through Kerala's palm-lined backwaters and lagoons from Alleppey to Kumarakom.
Day 14Explore Madurai's Meenakshi Amman Temple with its 14 gopuram towers, Golden Lotus Pond, and Thousand Pillar Hall, one of India's oldest cities.

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
14 nights' 3, 4 & 5-Star hotel accommodation
Standard Class, AC Chair Class and non-AC Chair Class rail travel
All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout your tour
Flights from London Heathrow to Bangalore, Chennai to London Heathrow
All internal flights
Breakfast and dinner each day, 4 lunches
Group luggage transfers between hotels from Coimbatore to Kochi, Madurai to Chennai
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour
British citizens require a visa to enter India (GRJ can help with visa applications up to 21 days before departure)

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £3,099 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,186 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?: Yes. The tour includes Standard Class, AC Chair Class, and non-AC Chair Class rail travel. Key journeys are the Nilgiri Mountain Railway from Ooty to Mettupalayam (described as Asia's steepest) and the Intercity Express to Kochi.
Is this an escorted tour?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager throughout, and all sightseeing tours are led by local guides.
What is not included?: Travel insurance, India visa, tips (GBP 37 recommended), and optional activities such as Ayurveda massage, boat rides, and the Mamallapuram excursion are not included.
When does the tour depart?: Great Rail Journeys offers departures in October, November, December, January, February, and March across 2026 and 2027.