Tips and suggestions for a trip to Northern and Southern India

Hello

You won’t find your moderate pace with an itinerary like this! Sightseeing takes time, and intercity travel is long. Three weeks is barely enough for just one choice: the north or the south.

Charming or traditional accommodations (haveli, guesthouse, small hotels), comfortable without being luxurious. Travel by train when possible, and with a private driver for the rest, plus likely a domestic flight.

You’ll find all this information in my two recent travel journals, where all addresses and useful details are listed. https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=10554821;#10554821 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=10664844;#10664844

Happy reading [;)]

Hello,

We’re a couple in our 70s based in Canada (Montreal) and we’re planning a 3-week trip to India in February 2025

It’ll probably be for 2026 ;)

We’re looking for a moderate pace, with comfortable but authentic and immersive accommodations, and good service. Ideally:

Northern India (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Ranthambore The south (Kerala): Cochin, backwaters (cruise), Munnar

You’ll have to make a choice. Even at a fast pace, it won’t be possible. You’ll spend most of your time in transit. On Indian roads, you rarely average more than 50 km/h. Trains are similar, and flights aren’t always on time! For a first trip to India, I’d recommend either the south—Kerala, as you’re planning—or one or more northern states like Uttarakhand (Rishikesh, Kedarnath, Badrinath) or Himachal Pradesh (Manali, Manikaran), which are very relaxing. That’s the real North India! If you enjoy it, you can visit Rajasthan on a future trip, making sure to include Jaisalmer in your itinerary. In Rajasthan, you’ll be approached more often, and it can be a bit more tiring :/

Hi Roger, I’ll second what Catherine and Jean Michel said. In three weeks of travel, I’d say one state is enough. However, if you’re traveling express-style and only visiting the big cities at a fast pace, then it’s doable—but it’d be a real shame to miss out on meeting all the different ethnic groups in this magnificent and captivating country. Our last trip, in January and February 2025, covering two states—Rajasthan and Gujarat—reinforced our slow-and-steady style: backpacking, mostly local buses, a bit of train, a bit of a driver with a car, and lots of walking to get as close as possible to the locals. We stayed in guesthouses, homestays, and very small hotels. India is an easy country to access. The people are helpful, lovely, and they’ll assist you if you’re looking for where to catch your bus, where to sleep, where to eat a particular local dish, or how to get to one temple instead of another. Plus, the budget for this destination is very affordable. Hope I’ve given you the urge to visit this country on your own terms. Gilles

it would really be a shame to miss out on meeting all the different ethnic groups in this magnificent and captivating country.

In 3 weeks, it might be tough. India has at least 2,000 ethnic groups

Thanks for the details!

Hello,

We’d love some tips and suggestions for our trip to India planned for February 2026:

We’re a couple in our 70s based in Canada (Montreal) and we’re planning a 3-week trip to India in February 2025.

We’re looking for a moderate pace, with comfortable but authentic and immersive accommodations, and good service.

Ideally:

Northern India (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Ranthambore) Southern India (Kerala): Cochin, backwaters (cruise), Munnar

Charming or traditional lodgings (haveli, guesthouse, small hotels), comfortable without being luxurious.

Travel by train when possible, and with a private driver for the rest, plus likely a domestic flight.

What do you think?

Hi Roger, We did pretty much the same trip in February 2024—Rajasthan and Kerala (just Monroe Island)—over 5 weeks. Four weeks in Rajasthan felt magical but a bit tiring (the noise, the crowds, the dust... India, you know!). We were really looking forward to the lush, peaceful environment of Kerala (which we’d visited on a previous trip). I think you’ll actually need to choose between the North and the South... or extend your trip. I don’t know your constraints, but once your tickets are booked, you can live on next to nothing in India, so why not treat yourselves? Safe travels, best regards,

I traveled a stretch with a driver from Rajasthan named Dilip, who’s so kind and helpful that he even switches from English to French when it comes to lending a hand... Feel free to message me for more details!

Hi there, February in northern India is a cool period, if not downright cold. For this first 3-week trip to India, I’d recommend the South, with arrival in Mumbai or even better: Bangalore. You’ll be right in the heart of South India, which will make it easier to plan your visits. Check out a tourist map. See you soon!