Southern India Tour For Women

A journey through ancient temples, spice-scented landscapes, and serene backwaters

Step into a world of vibrant colors, timeless traditions, and unforgettable flavors on this 15-day journey through South India. From the bustling streets of Chennai to the quiet waterways of Kerala, every day brings a new discovery. Explore majestic temples adorned with soaring gopurams, stroll through streets lined with pastel colonial villas, and savor bold, fragrant cuisine that tells the story of this extraordinary region.

Experience the grace and beauty of South India through its people, culture, and landscapes. Watch a private Bharatanatyam dance performance in Chennai and meet the dancers behind the mesmerizing movements. Wander the UNESCO-listed monuments of Mahabalipuram, where ancient stone carvings rise dramatically from the shore, and meander the charming streets of Pondicherry’s French Quarter, stopping at boutiques, artisanal studios, and seaside cafés.

Discover the grandeur of Chettinad’s palatial mansions, where intricate tilework and centuries of history meet hands-on culinary experiences that reveal the secrets of South India’s bold, aromatic spices. Visit the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, a vast and vibrant complex of carved pillars, towering gopurams, and stories etched in stone for centuries.

Reconnect with nature and serenity in Kerala. Drift along the backwaters of Kumarakom in a traditional houseboat, glide past swaying coconut palms and quaint villages, and spot wildlife amid the lush hills of Periyar Tiger Reserve. Explore fragrant spice plantations and enjoy interactive cooking classes that bring the flavors of the region to life.

Throughout your journey, Kari Richardson, your host, will guide you with warmth, insight, and a love for immersive travel. With her, every temple, spice market, and hidden alley becomes a story, every meal a celebration, and every day a chance to create memories that will linger long after you return home.

Our team is currently putting the finishing touches on this itinerary, and once it’s ready, we’ll release it first to the women on our pre‑registration list. To join our pre‑registration list for this tour, simply email Natalie at natalie@worldwidequest.com. Once the full itinerary is ready, you’ll have two weeks to review the details, ask questions, and decide if it’s the right fit, before it’s shared with the general public. There’s no cost or obligation to joining the list, just the privilege of being first in line.

 Click Here to explore our photo gallery, which include photos from our 2024, 2018, 2015, and 2011 tours of India.

⭐ Extend Your Adventure

This tour will have an optional post-trip extension to SwaSwara Wellness Retreat in Gokarna, Karnataka. If you are interested in this please contact natalie@worldwidequest.com for more details.

Trip Details

Signature Moments

  • Strolling the charming streets and seaside promenade of Pondicherry
  • Bharatanatyam, a graceful introduction to South India’s classical dance
  • Discovering Mahabalipuram’s UNESCO Monuments.
  • Spotting wildlife amid lush hills in Periyar Tiger Reserve
  • Exploring Chettinad’s palatial mansions, heritage & cuisine
  • Tranquil backwater cruise in Kerala aboard a traditional houseboat
  • Tasting artisan coffee and local teas on Kochi’s curated Café Trail
  • Witnessing the vibrant costumes and storytelling of Kathakali

Trip Hightlights

  • Guided city tour of Chennai, exploring Kapaleeshwarar Temple, San Thome Basilica, and the colonial architecture of Fort St. George
  • Visit Mahabalipuram to see the iconic Shore Temple, Pancha Rathas, and the massive bas-relief Arjuna’s Penance
  • Explore Pondicherry’s French Quarter, pastels streets, local boutiques, and Auroville’s spiritual center
  • Journey through Chettinad’s countryside to admire grand heritage mansions and participate in an interactive cooking demonstration
  • Private walking tour of Madurai’s lively streets, markets, and the magnificent Meenakshi Temple with its soaring gopurams and intricate murals
  • Gentle trek and bamboo rafting in Periyar Tiger Reserve, spotting elephants, deer, exotic birds, and more
  • Visit spice plantations in Periyar to learn about cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, and other aromatic spices
  • Leisurely cruise along the backwaters of Kumarakom, observing daily life in villages, swaying coconut palms, and birdlife near the sanctuary
  • Explore Kochi’s waterfront, Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue, St. Francis Church, and the iconic Chinese fishing nets
  • Enjoy a cultural evening with Kathakali, Kerala’s classical dance-drama, with vivid costumes and expressive storytelling
  • Airport transfers on tour start and end dates
  • Accommodations, based on double occupancy in beautiful, well-appointed hotels, 4-star or better
  • Transportation by private air conditioned coach.
  • Bottled water on the coach.
  • All activities and entrance feesas described in the detailed itinerary
  • Most meals, as specified in the detailed itinerary
  • Services of bilingual, specialized English-speaking guides
  • Gratuities for guides, drivers, hotel staff, and included meals
  • All taxes
  • Services of your Women’s Travel Network Host
  • Roundtrip airfare from your home city
  • Travel insurance (mandatory)
  • Airport transfers if arranging independent plans prior to or following main tour
  • Meals other than those mentioned above
  • Beverages with meals
  • Visa fees
  • Alcoholic beverages and bar charges
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Additional transportation required due to any emergency or other situation
  • Any item not mentioned in “What’s Included”

Moderate
A good level of fitness is important for this trip. You must be comfortable walking on uneven terrain and irregular paving and climbing stairs. You should be able to walk unassisted for up to three hours at a time in warm temperatures. We usually walk more than 10,000 steps per day,
so good walking shoes are necessary. In most places access to temples and forts is only on foot with some steep ascents.  Shoes must be removed to enter temples; we suggest bringing appropriate socks.

We stay in a mix of four-star plus Western style hotels for most of this trip.  All rooms have private facilities. Most hotels have swimming pools. Please note that not all hotels have elevators.

While on tour in 
We will be travelling by private air-conditioned coach driven by a professional driver. While roads are mostly paved except on rural back roads, there are few divided highways. The traffic is slower and often includes heavily laden vehicles, so we cannot expect to cover distances as quickly as in North America. Some travel days will be long but scenic, with regular stops along the way.

Joining Instructions
The tour commences with a group transfer from the airport to the hotel (based on group flight schedule). The tour concludes with a group transfer from the hotel to the airport (based on group flight schedule). Please contact us to verify the timing of this transfer prior to making any flight arrangements.

International Flights
Roundtrip international flights are not included in the cost of your tour and must be arranged separately. Our team is happy to assist you in booking your flights; this way we can do our best to keep the group together. If you’d prefer to book your own flights, please check with us first to ensure the trip has been confirmed before booking and to verify the timing of these group transfers to ensure your flight schedule fits our program. When you book a pre- or post-trip night with Worldwide Quest, your airport transfer will be included. If you are making your own pre- or post-trip arrangements, these transfers can be provided at an additional cost.

We expect clear sunny skies with average daytime temperatures between 23°C and 30°C and overnight lows of about 20°C. Most sites we visit have some shade, but the Indian sun is strong and a hat is suggested.

You will require a passport for your trip to Thailand. Please make sure it is valid for six months after the date of your return home. Canadian and USA passport holders require a tourist visa for India. This can be obtained online. We will provide detailed instructions on how to obtain your visas prior to departure.

We recommend consulting your travel doctor for advice on vaccinations and travel health for Southern India.

If you are travelling on your own and would like to share accommodation, we would be happy to try to match you with a suitable roommate. We do our best to ask each woman some questions to help our matchmaking process 🙂
If we are unable to find you the right match, the single cost applies.

We’d like to make sure that you know about our Worldwide Explorers Club. Travel twice with us and we’ll say a special thank you by taking 5% off all your subsequent trips. The bonus applies to our brochure trips only, is non-transferrable, and cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount or credit.  Note that some exceptions may apply as indicated on the tour’s Detailed Itinerary.

For Reservations, to Request a Detailed Itinerary or to Discuss the Trip details use the “Add Yourself To The Preregistration List For This Tour” or the “Get More Information About This Tour” contact form on this page

Or contact our reservations team directly:

Email:  natalie@worldwidequest.com

Phone: (416) 633-5666 ext 114 or toll free at 1-800-387-1483

Or contact Womens Travel Network directly:
Email:  melissa@womenstravelnetwork.ca
Website: www.womenstravelnetwork.ca

If our Tour Ready criteria are not met, your tour will not operate and we will transfer your payments to your choice of tour within 2 years of your initial travel date.

Our tours will proceed when all the following Four-point Tour Ready criteria are met:

  • The Canadian government does not have an ‘avoid all travel’ to the country or region within a country for any part of the tour.
  • No region of the tour has any significant related restrictions.
  • There is reliable airline access for arrival and departure.
  • Worldwide Quest and our in-country partners are confident that your trip can operate safely and enjoyably.

Payment Details:
A non-refundable deposit of US$750 per person is required to reserve a space on this tour. A second non-refundable deposit of US$2000 is required six months prior to departure. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure.

CANCELLATION TERMS AND CONDITIONS CLICK HERE

Add Yourself To The Preregistration List For This Tour

Tour Host:  Kari Richardson
Womens Travel Network Tour Host Kari Richardson