My fiancé and I recently spent two incredible weeks travelling in India’s beautiful South. It was the best adventure we’ve been on together to date so I wanted to share our complete itinerary for two weeks in South India.
We went to some of the top places to visit in South India starting with five nights in Kerala.
Next, we flew from Kerala to Goa and explored both the North and South. We finished our two weeks in India on a high in crazy Mumbai.
Despite doing very little planning, we both felt like we’d packed in a perfect mix of slow and fast paced destinations.
Neither of us would have changed anything about our trip.
We decided to focus our first trip to India on the south of the country mainly because we’d heard that’s where the best food is, I won’t lie.
Happily, the local fare more than lived up to our expectations – and I’m happy to report that not a hint of Delhi Belly occurred (perhaps because Delhi is in the North?)!
We had a loose travel itinerary for our South India tour but no real plans beyond our Globe Travel Centre tour of Kerala.
Planning a trip to India can be overwhelming because the country is so vast and diverse so I hope this guide to some of the best tourist places and holiday destinations in South India is helpful!
The Kerala portion of this itinerary was arranged and paid for by Globe Travel Centre and Xandari Resorts, who kindly hosted us during our time in Kerala.
Where to go in South India in two weeks
Watch my full India travel video on Youtube
Of course, this isn’t an exhaustive guide to South India – we barely scratched the surface of its spicy landscape in the two weeks we had and even two years in South India wouldn’t be enough to call yourself an expert.
But this is our exact, tried-and-tested itinerary which combines a little bit of everything South India is famous for.
I did a lot of research to make sure we spent time in places that allowed us to absorb local culture, kick back on the beach and experience buzzing Indian city life.
A good trip is all about balance for me!
Day 1: Cochin, Kerala
We flew into Cochin International Airport and met our driver and guide from Globe Travel Centre at Arrivals. We were driven directly to Xandari Harbour, which was an excellent base.
Cochin (also known as Kochi) is a great place to start your first trip to India. We felt like it eased us slowly into the whole India experience, if that makes sense!
The port city is the largest city in the state of Kerala and a good place to learn about India’s colonial past.
Interestingly, the caste system in Kerala isn’t as enforced as it is elsewhere in India and education is compulsory for all there.
A local female guide from Globe Travel Centre showed us around the city, starting with the Chinese fishing nets that are still used today in the harbour.
We also visited various religious buildings and did a spot of shopping in Jew Town, which I loved.
One day in Cochin is enough to see its main highlights and it’s definitely worth stopping there if you fly into Cochin to explore Kerala.
Best tours and activities in Cochin
Search for accommodation in Cochin
Booking.comDays 2 & 3: Kerala’s Backwaters
The main attraction in Kerala for tourists is the backwaters, a network of palm-fringed lagoons and lakes that sprawl inland from Cochin to Quilon.
As part of our Kerala Globe Travel Centre tour, we headed to Lake Vembanad to spend an incredible night onboard one of Xandari Riverscapes‘ luxurious converted rice barges.
We had the houseboat to ourselves. It had a large bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, plus a roof terrace.
Typically people book a minimum of two nights on the houseboat and enjoy delicious meals cooked onboard by a private chef, while learning about the local area from your guide.
This was an incredible experience and it’s the number one reason people visit Kerala, so you can’t miss it!
Read more about our luxury Kerala cruise
More cruise options on Kerala’s Backwaters
Days 4, 5 & 6: Marari, Kerala
When we reluctantly got off the houseboat back in Kottayam we climbed back into the car that had been arranged for us by Globe Travel Centre and were driven the short distance to Xandari Pearl in Mararikulam.
This tranquil luxury beach resort is THE place to relax and unwind. It’s perfect for couples and is super environmentally conscious, which delighted us.
We slept in one of the 27 villas and absolutely loved having our own private plunge pool and an outdoor shower.
The food served at the resort was to die for and for our entire two night stay, it felt like we were walking on air. Pure bliss!
If you’re looking for a laid-back place to stay in Kerala with your partner, I can’t recommend Xandari Pearl enough.
Read my full review of Xandari Pear Resort
Search for accommodation in Marari
Booking.comDays 7, 8 & 9: Calungate, North Goa
As our first week in India drew to a close, we were dropped off back at Cochin airport and that was the end of our fantastic Globe Travel Centre tour of Kerala.
From there, we flew to Goa and got a taxi from the airport to Hotel Goan Heritage in Calungate.
It was perfectly located at the south end of Calungate near quieter Candolim, and a 20 minute walk along the waterfront to rowdier Baga Beach.
We went to North Goa for nightlife, and it certainly delivered!
We spent every night with our feet in the sand, and went to the infamous Titos Lane in Baga Beach for a big night on one occasion.
North Goa is fun but if you don’t have much time to spend in Goa, I’d recommend heading south, which we did next.
Tours and activities in Goa
Search for accommodation in Calungate
Booking.comDays 10, 11 & 12: Palolem, South Goa
Around three hours from Calungate by taxi, Palolem is a little slice of paradise in South Goa.
It’s an absolute must-visit in Goa and one of the best places to visit in South India if you like picture-perfect beaches.
It’s a popular South India holiday destination among independent travellers but tour companies haven’t really moved in yet, so Palolem has dodged over-tourism and there are no concrete buildings or gaudy hotel developments.
We truly felt like we’d stumbled upon a hidden gem.
We stayed in beach huts at O3 Beach Resort. The entire beach is lined with similar accommodation options. They all serve great food too!
Trying to decide between North or South Goa? I’ve compared the two in a separate blog post.
Search for accommodation in Palolem
Booking.comDays 13 & 14: Mumbai
We spent 24 hours in Mumbai to end our South India trip on a high.
The flight from Goa to Mumbai, in India’s southwest, was easy and our local friend picked us up at the airport, then kindly showed us around.
One full day in Mumbai should be enough to see the city’s main highlights.
We managed to cram a lot in but traffic can be nuts so it’s best to use a combination of local driver and local trains (outside of peak times to avoid the crowds, of course) to get around.
We weren’t sure if we would enjoy Mumbai and while one full day was enough for me, I’m really glad we decided to end our trip in this heaving city.
Best tours and activities in Mumbai
Search for accommodation in Mumbai
Booking.comUseful information for visiting South India
Travelling to South India
We flew from Manchester to Cochi via Qatar with Qatar Airways. If you’re doing this India itinerary in reverse, you can fly to Mumbai from London direct.
My best money-saving tip for flights is to search for your preferred dates on Skyscanner and compare prices and flight durations on different airlines.
Make sure you apply for a visa online more than 72 hours before check-in opens for your flight! This is the official Indian e-visa website (don’t get caught out with scams).
Be warned that it’s a lengthy process so you’ll need to set aside around 45 minutes to complete your application.
Anyone who watches my Instagram Story will have seen the trouble we had with visas thanks to Tom’s lax attitude to travel plans…
How to get around South India
We didn’t have a super strict budget so we skipped the long train and bus journeys in favour of flights between Kerala and Goa, and Goa and Mumbai. When you’re short on time, it’s easier this way.
I’d heard a lot about how easy it is to get scammed when it comes to taxis in India but we did our research beforehand or asked a local barman or hotel worker what we should expect to pay. People are helpful!
When getting taxis from airports, we simply looked for the pre-paid taxi desks and paid the fixed price.
We’re eternally grateful for having the help of Globe Travel Centre for Kerala. It was our first trip to India so it was reassuring to have a personal guided tour planned for us.
We were picked up at the airport when we arrived in Cochi, accompanied by a guide for the bits when a local person came in useful, and had the same driver throughout our time in Kerala.
Travel insurance and vaccinations
We were a bit naughty and didn’t get vaccinations, but we have had jabs a few years ago so we hope they protected us. Obviously, you should do as I say and not as I do!
Always check whether you’ll need any vaccinations for South India before you go.
I was worried about malaria but we only visited low-risk areas so there was nothing to be nervous about.
It’s best to stay away from animals like dogs and monkeys in India because of the risk of rabies.
One great thing I learned in Mumbai was that a lot of the dogs on the street have clipped ears to indicate they have been treated for rabies. It made me feel safer because I’m nervous around dogs at the best of times!
Health insurance is essential for India trips. World Nomads have an excellent reputation among travellers. You can use the box below to get a quote.
Useful travel guides for your trip to South India
I was sent the Rough Guide to South India & Kerala for my trip and found it insanely useful for finding essential information about the best places to visit in South India.
There’s so much great information online but this book really filters out all the confusing bits and breaks each destination down into easily digestible chunks.
You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter from more updates from the UK and beyond. You can also subscribe to my newsletter to make sure you never miss a post.
Pin this
Melis Living says
I’ve never fancied India but your post totally makes me want to brave it and go! What amazing pictures. It sounds like a totally unique adventure. Melis x
Vansh Tiwari says
Hey, I had visited Goa recently and spent most of the time in North Goa side and especially at Mandrem. I hope when you come next time in Goa, you should definitely explore some quaint beaches and off beat places. Dudhsagsr falls is also present there. It was my first time there. I hope you enjoyed in India 😊.