South India Tours & Vacations

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Learn more about Intrepid’s COVID-19 policy

Yes, all foreigners (except those from a visa-exempt country) must apply for a visa before travelling to India. This can be done online (e-visa) or by post at your nearest Indian embassy. Eligibility for an e-visa depends on your nationality, trip duration, and how you plan to enter the country.

Learn more about India visas

Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their tour. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

Learn more about travel insurance.

Get ready to take your tastebuds on a mouthwatering adventure. South Indian cuisine includes a combination of food from each state: Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Telangana. Dishes are largely vegetarian but seafood is also popular, particularly in Kerala. Many dishes are made with coconut oil and cream and a combination of spices including curry leaves, mustard seeds, tamarind, asafoetida, fenugreek seeds and chillies.

Some of the most popular foods to try include:

• Idli: A savoury rice cake typically eaten for breakfast. It's made by steaming a batter made with fermented black lentils and rice.
• Dosa: A savoury pancake/crepe made from rice and lentil flour batter. They can be eaten by ripping off a piece and dipping it in sambar or stuffed with veggies, potato or paneer.
• Sambar: A lentil and vegetable stew flavoured with spices and chillies. It's a staple in South Indian cuisine and is served alongside most dishes.
• Rasam: A deliciously hot and sour lentil soup made with tamarind and kokum (a mangosteen fruit).

Squat toilets are the most common toilets in India. Always carry your own toilet paper and soap or hand sanitiser, as they're usually not provided. Flushable, Western-style toilets can be found in up-market restaurants, some higher-end hotels and in some tourist areas.

India is notorious among travellers for sickness. We don't recommend ever drinking tap water, and travellers should avoid drinks with ice and foods that haven’t been cooked or peeled. This means salad is also off the menu, but with so many delicious South Indian dishes on offer this shouldn't be an issue!

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. We’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries. 

Learn more about Accessible Travel with Intrepid