New itineraries enable travellers to discover the stunning and more sedate southern states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Karnataka

Following the launch of their first India itineraries in 2016, bespoke travel experts Experience Travel Group have now added new holidays to the country's southern states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Karnataka. Created by the company's India experts Nick Clark and James Wilmshurst, the new itineraries will take visitors to the heart of Southern India, exploring fascinating parts of the country that few tourists get to see. Watch James and Nick's introduction to Southern India here.

 “Southern India has so much to offer visitors,” says Nick. “Kerala is both striking and fascinating – the south and central parts have the well-known highlights, but the quieter north should not be missed. Karnataka is fast becoming one of India's most vibrant destinations, boasting its cosmopolitan capital city, Bangalore, Hampi with its famous boulders, the coffee plantations of Coorg and the marvellous palaces of Mysore.” “Its rural areas have plenty to tempt travellers away from the capital too,” says James. “Tamil Nadu is not only home to hundreds of distinctive temples, but beach towns, hill stations and peaceful, spiritual destinations, while Goa is still the perfect place to finish any holiday in India.”

The following three sample tours demonstrate just some of the unforgettable new holidays on offer.

Undiscovered Northern Kerala
From £3,656 per person, including accommodation, experiences, a number of meals, entrance fees, guides, transport, flights, 24hr in-country back up and access to a dedicated travel expert in the UK.

This itinerary enables visitors to get away from the crowds and explore the distinctive charm of the lesser-known northern region of Kerala. Highlights include cruising through the quiet backwaters on a converted rice barge; exploring eclectic Cochin, with its culturally diverse mix of architecture and history, on an expertly-guided tuk tuk tour; and glamping in the beautiful Thattekad region, home to some of India's best wildlife. The itinerary ends with a few nights' R&R at a remote sandy beach hotel on the shores of the Arabian Sea.

Wild Karnataka and Beach
From £3,342 per person, including accommodation, experiences, a number of meals, entrance fees, guides, transport, flights, 24hr in-country back up and access to a dedicated travel expert in the UK.

This off-the-beaten track overland trip eschews domestic flights in favour of alternative modes of transport, such as local trains and jeeps. It takes visitors through Karnataka, visiting the key UNESCO World Heritage cities of Mysuru and Hampi, before getting away from it all at two beautiful boutique hotels in the plantation areas of Coorg and Chikmagalur, where travellers will visit the first coffee plantation in India. A stay at Nagarhole National Park offers plenty of opportunities to spot herds of elephants and the exciting trip ends at a beautiful beach resort in Goa, home to some truly stunning sunsets.

In-depth Tamil Nadu
From £2,534 per person, including accommodation, experiences, a number of meals, entrance fees, guides, transport, flights, 24hr in-country back up and access to a dedicated travel expert in the UK.

Famous for its beautiful temples, remote plantations and colonial coastal cities, Tamil Nadu is a state with much to explore and this two-week holiday enables visitors to do just that via trains, planes and automobiles! Designed for more active travellers, the trip moves every couple of nights and takes in the beautiful old trading city of Chettinad (perfect for antique shopping!) and French Colonial Pondicherry. Visitors will also be able to take in an evening puja ceremony with pilgrims at Sri Meenakshi temple and enjoy a little down time at the end of the holiday in Mahabalipuram.

Find out more about Experience Travel Group's new Southern India holidays here.

Experience Travel Group specialises in bespoke holidays for passionate travellers. Offering adventures in Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Borneo, Indonesia and India, Experience Travel Group expertly tailor-makes trips that enrich their clients' travel experiences.

For more information about Experience Travel Group, please visit the website, or find out what the team has been up to recently by checking out their blog or Twitter page.

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Notes to Editors:

Founded in 2004 by Tom Armstrong and Sam Clark, Experience Travel Group has grown from featuring Sri Lanka to also specialise in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Borneo, Burma (Myanmar), Maldives, the 17,000 islands of Indonesia and India. Intimate knowledge of these destinations, combined with its engaging, enriching service ethos and an ability to create extra-ordinary local experiences, sets Experience Travel Group apart from the rest.

Experience Travel Group is a fully bonded ATOL agent (ATOL number 9324); a member of ABTA (membership number Y544X); and a member of AITO. The company's Sustainable Travel Policy is about continual improvement, monitoring and evaluation, and is available online at www.experiencetravelgroup.com/info/responsible-travel.

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Zoe Slater (zoe@bacall.net) or Nat Frogley (nat@bacall.net)

Bacall Associates   Web: www.bacallassociates.co.uk  Tel: 020 7630 2880