Where to travel right now

See our full list of destinations

About

Financial Protection

Our Content

Our People

Our Team
Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
Our Tour Experts
We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
Heroes and Heroines
The people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education.

Dining room, Visalam, Karaikudi, Chettinad, Tamil Nadu, India

Visalam

Boutique
Chennai and Tamil Nadu, India

Visalam heritage hotel, set in a converted mansion with original woodwork and art deco artefacts, is located in the small village of Karaikudi in Tamil Nadu.

Visalam is a lovely base from which to explore a part of Tamil Nadu that has many surprises.

Facilities

Visalam is a lovingly restored, 15 room heritage hotel in the heart of the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu. The conversion from a traders mansion is a huge success with much of the original charm and cultural heritage retained. Although much has been maintained, the rooms offer all the modern amenities one might wish for, from air conditioning to ensuite bathrooms with hairdryers and Wi-Fi. The hotel has a large, outdoor swimming pool, perfect to cool off in after exploring the nearby towns and villages. The restaurant serves superb local cuisine and a mix of European dishes.

Activities

During a stay at Visalam take a bullock cart ride around the local villages, visit the markets and explore the antique shops.

Visalam, Karaidkudi 630103, Sivaganga, India

Visalam, Karaidkudi 630103, Sivaganga, India

Group tour

Ancient caves & rock paintings

Travel to a region of India where the past feels closer than the present, the Deccan Plateau. This unique tour explores the remains of a 2000-year-old culture in valleys and hills of Western India.

Departing 17th November 2021

9 days from £4,495pp

Kailas temple in Ellora caves complex, Maharashtra state in India

View Group Tour

Group tour

India – Ganges River Cruise with William Dalrymple

Board the five-star Ganges Voyager on a 11-day river cruise into the heart of West Bengal. William Dalrymple, author and historian will join you onboard to share his knowledge of India and explore key regions mentioned…

Departing 23rd February 2022

11 days from £4,995pp

Sunrise over River Ganges, Varanasi, India

Idea

A Central India Safari – including Tadoba, Pench and Satpura

With three small private eco-lodges providing a comfortable base, visit Pench, famous for its leopard sightings, be introduced to the greater conservation issues whilst at Tadoba, and explore the newly opened Bori Sanctuary whilst staying at…

13 days from £3,995pp

Canoe, Tiger Trails, Tadoba National Park, India

View Holiday Idea

Idea

Golden Eagle Madras Mail – South India by Luxury Train

Journey through Southern India, covering everything from India’s most important cities of Mumbai and Hyderabad to spectacular World Heritage Sites and the coastlines of Goa and Kerala.

15 days from £12,350pp

Deccan Odyssey Train, Rajasthan, India

View Holiday Idea

Group tour

On the Trail of Snow Leopards

Our snow leopard group tour works with the Snow Leopard Conservancy Trust India in Ladakh and is accompanied by its team of expert trackers. Spend four full days exploring the Ulley Valley searching for ‘The Ghost…

Departing 19th February 2021

13 days from £5,795pp

Rare and elusive snow leopard on mountain top lookout, Ladakh, India

View Group Tour

Group tour

Tiger Conservation with New Scientist

Visit the tiger reserves of Tadoba and Pench in search of the Bengal tiger, staying in award-winning PUG certified lodges. Set camera traps and understand the tiger’s habitat and prey species.

Departing 10th April 2021

9 days from £3,995pp

Bengal Tiger, Ranthambore National Park, India

View Group Tour

Group tour

Tribes of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh

This tour is new and exciting. It offers privileged visits to local tribes who can often trace their indigenous history to faraway places in Mongolia and Southeast Asia. Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland are India’s last frontiers…

Departing 15th November 2021

16 days from £4,995pp

Morungs, Kohima, Nagaland, India

View Group Tour

Idea

Forts and Palaces of Rajasthan

This holiday idea has been specially created to take in the highlights the Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra and Jaipur) and also take you further into the heart of Rajasthan to explore other royal cities and rural…

14 days from £4,300pp

Detail of decorated gateway, Amber fort, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

View Holiday Idea

Idea

Tiger Safari in Central India

This holiday suggestion is perfect for anyone keen to see tigers in the wild. Experience 10 game drives over 8 days, accompanied by best-in-field naturalists, in three of the best tiger parks in India; Kanha, Bandhavgarh…

11 days from £4,295pp

Bengal Tiger, Bandhavgarh National Park, India

View Holiday Idea

Idea

Tigers of Nepal and India with Taj Safaris

This 12-day luxury safari holiday combines the best of Nepal and Indian wildlife experiences with the exceptional hospitality and comfort delivered by Taj Safaris. From the tiger heartland of Kanha National Park, in Central India to…

12 days from £4,100pp

Tiger walking along road, Dudhwa National Park, India

View Holiday Idea

Need Inspiration?
Browse our India holiday ideas.

We know a thing or two about bespoke holidays – we’ve been creating them since 1989. Take a trip through the India holidays that we love today.

Group tour

Ancient caves & rock paintings

Travel to a region of India where the past feels closer than the present, the Deccan…

Departing 17th November 2021

9 days from £4,495pp

Kailas temple in Ellora caves complex, Maharashtra state in India

View Group Tour

Group tour

India – Ganges River Cruise with William Dalrymple

Board the five-star Ganges Voyager on a 11-day river cruise into the heart of West Bengal.…

Departing 23rd February 2022

11 days from £4,995pp

Sunrise over River Ganges, Varanasi, India

Idea

A Central India Safari – including Tadoba, Pench and Satpura

With three small private eco-lodges providing a comfortable base, visit Pench, famous for its leopard sightings,…

13 days from £3,995pp

Canoe, Tiger Trails, Tadoba National Park, India

View Holiday Idea

Idea

Golden Eagle Madras Mail – South India by Luxury Train

Journey through Southern India, covering everything from India’s most important cities of Mumbai and Hyderabad to…

15 days from £12,350pp

Deccan Odyssey Train, Rajasthan, India

View Holiday Idea

Group tour

On the Trail of Snow Leopards

Our snow leopard group tour works with the Snow Leopard Conservancy Trust India in Ladakh and…

Departing 19th February 2021

13 days from £5,795pp

Rare and elusive snow leopard on mountain top lookout, Ladakh, India

View Group Tour

Group tour

Tiger Conservation with New Scientist

Visit the tiger reserves of Tadoba and Pench in search of the Bengal tiger, staying in…

Departing 10th April 2021

9 days from £3,995pp

Bengal Tiger, Ranthambore National Park, India

View Group Tour

Group tour

Tribes of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh

This tour is new and exciting. It offers privileged visits to local tribes who can often…

Departing 15th November 2021

16 days from £4,995pp

Morungs, Kohima, Nagaland, India

View Group Tour

Idea

Forts and Palaces of Rajasthan

This holiday idea has been specially created to take in the highlights the Golden Triangle (Delhi,…

14 days from £4,300pp

Detail of decorated gateway, Amber fort, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

View Holiday Idea

Idea

Tiger Safari in Central India

This holiday suggestion is perfect for anyone keen to see tigers in the wild. Experience 10…

11 days from £4,295pp

Bengal Tiger, Bandhavgarh National Park, India

View Holiday Idea

Idea

Tigers of Nepal and India with Taj Safaris

This 12-day luxury safari holiday combines the best of Nepal and Indian wildlife experiences with the…

12 days from £4,100pp

Tiger walking along road, Dudhwa National Park, India

View Holiday Idea

View all holiday ideas View all group tours View all cruises

Accommodation that we love in India

The rich beauty of India is certainly matched by the wealth of extraordinary places to stay – explore them right here.

More luxury accommodation

Svatma

Boutique
£££££

Svatma is a luxury, boutique heritage hotel located…

Room, Svatma, Tanjore, Tamil Nadu, India

Palais De Mahe

Boutique
£££££

Palais de Mahe is an elegant, chic hotel…

Pool view, Palais de Mahe, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, India

Maison Perumal

Boutique
£££££

Hotel Maison Perumal is a boutique hotel located…

Front View, Maison Perumal, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, India

The Bangala

£££££

This delightful little heritage hotel sits in the…

The Bangala, Karaikudi, Chettinad, India

La Villa

Boutique
£££££

La Villa is a 19th-century mansion, located in…

La Villa, Pondicherry, South India

De L’Orient

Boutique
£££££

Pondicherry boasts stunning buildings reflecting its French colonial…

Exterior, De L'Orient, Pondicherry, India

Let’s chat

Speak to our experts

Our team is waiting to help you tailor a trip that will leave you with stories for a lifetime. Call us on

Send us an enquiry

Complete our enquiry form and start your next journey.

A faultless trip so brilliantly expedited and organised by Steppes Travel but with a major backup from those on the ground, in India.

India

All guides, drivers and vehicles were superb and it was such a great way to see everything and know everything. The service was excellent.

India

Why Choose Steppes?

These may be uncertain times but they are, without a doubt, still full of opportunity to discover the extraordinary safely. Through knowledge and expertise, we can connect you to those destinations embracing travellers with the added confidence of flexible booking and decades of insight.

Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?

Featured in the press

Your Wishlist Account

Sign up and take advantage of our Wishlist if you would like to create your own holiday boards. You can click on the heart across our website and curate destinations, holidays, properties and experiences that you would like us to build your future holidays around.

Your Wishlist Account

Sign up and take advantage of our Wishlist if you would like to create your own holiday boards. You can click on the heart across our website and curate destinations, holidays, properties and experiences that you would like us to build your future holidays around.

Account Created

All you need to do now is activate this account by clicking on the link we’ve just sent you via email to the address you’ve just provided or log in below.

Reset your password

Enter your email below.

We've sent you an email to reset your password

you will receive an email from us in the next few minutes. Click in the link in the email to change your password.

if you can't see an email from us in your inbox, please check your junk mail folder as it may have been mistakenly categorised as spam or try a different email address.