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Restaurant, Xandari Resort & Spa, San Jose, Costa Rica

Windermere Estate

Kerala, India

Once the summer resort of the British Government in South India and set at the confluence of three mountain streams, Windermere is a 60-acre Cardamom Plantation known for its excellent hospitality.

Why we like Windermere Estate

Full of character and charm, it remains the best place to stay in Munnar and offers spectacular views of the surrounding valleys.

Facilities

The Cottages and Garden Rooms are spacious and have king-sized beds, with a view of either the valley or garden, while the Planters Villa Rooms, set among oaks and with perfect views of the surrounding tea-clad hills of the Western Ghats. There are big bathrooms, bigger beds (over six feet), and thoughtful inputs, such as a balcony and large windows.

Activities

The spice plantation and cardamom estate are a fascinating exploration. It’s also possible to hire bicycles and ride through the local villages and quiet, winding roads. There is good shopping in Munnar, especially for spices. Treks and walks can be arranged depending on fitness and ability. There are some challenging treks or gentle strolls. A tea safari in a jeep through a local tea estate is a visual feast, as it’s the highest tea estate in the world. Perched on a treacherous ridge rising above the plains of Tamil Nadu, it’s almost otherworldly in its magnificence.

Windermere Estate, Costa Rica

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Tiger Safari in Central India

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Forts and Palaces of Rajasthan

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Highlights of Kerala – Cochin, Munnar and Backwaters

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Central India’s Cultural Highlights

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A Family Friendly Holiday to South India

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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.

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India: A Private View with Ursula Weekes

For centuries people have tried to understand India. Most have failed. For those keen to try, for those who believe that knowledge and understanding of a country is best achieved through art and history, this alternative itinerary through Rajasthan and…

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Bundi Palace, Rajasthan, India

View Group Tour

Idea

Wildlife Safari in Kanha, Pench and Satpura

With small private eco-lodges providing a comfortable base, discover the rich biodiversity of India’s most prolific national parks. Pench is famous for its leopard sightings, while the dense forests and the large prey base at Kanha, provide the perfect territory for…

15 days from £6,500pp

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View Holiday Idea

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Golden Eagle Madras Mail – South India by Luxury Train

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15 days from £14,205pp

Deccan Odyssey Train, Rajasthan, India

View Holiday Idea

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On the Trail of Snow Leopards

*Departure dates for 2025 to be confirmed. To register your interest speak to our of our India experts* Our snow leopard group tour works with the Snow Leopard Conservancy Trust India in Ladakh and is accompanied by its team of…

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

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Tiger Safari in Central India

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

10 days from £5,995pp

Bengal Tiger, Bandhavgarh National Park, India

View Holiday Idea

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Forts and Palaces of Rajasthan

Picture India in your mind’s eye and there’s a strong chance you will think of Rajasthan. From Agra to Jaipur and Jodhpur, few places in the world pack such a powerful, cultural punch with festivals, architecture, people and food all…

14 days from £6,595pp

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

View Holiday Idea

Idea

Highlights of Kerala – Cochin, Munnar and Backwaters

For a slower but no less rewarding Indian holiday, head south to the laid-back state of Kerala, home to hillside tea estates, exceptional beaches, wildlife parks and vibrant ports and cities.

12 days from £5,495pp

Tea Estates, Munnar, Kerala, India

View Holiday Idea

Idea

Central India’s Cultural Highlights

This holiday idea to Central India has been designed to combine some of the most evocative and memorable experiences from the religious ceremonies in Varanasi to the perfectly preserved temples of Khajuraho.

12 days from £3,855pp

Gwalior Fort, Gwalior, India

View Holiday Idea

Idea

South India’s Temples

This holiday idea offers you the most comprehensive, contrasting and experience-led journey through Southern India’s temple state of Tamil Nadu.

9 days from £3,995pp

Meenakshi Temple, Madurai, India

View Holiday Idea

Idea

A Family Friendly Holiday to South India

This family-friendly journey to South India is brimming with activities to satisfy even the most adventurous of children. A beautiful combination of private river cruising, wildlife safaris and child-friendly, insightful experiences amongst working plantations guarantees a holiday packed with variety.…

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Sunset on Backwaters, Kerala, India

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View all holiday ideas View all group tours

Where to stay

Some of the wonderful places to stay that we frequently recommended.

Spice Village £££££

India

Spice Village is a collection of individual cottages set in a landscaped spice garden in Thekkady, close to Periyar Wildlife Reserve.

Brunton Boatyard £££££

India
City

Brunton Boatyard is an elegant colonial-style hotel with distinguished decor, a fantastic outdoor pool and an excellent selection of restaurants. Sophisticated and chic, heritage-style hotel with a superb seafood restaurant.

Coconut Lagoon £££££

India

This traditional-style, eco-friendly hotel promising complete escapism. Individual cottages, called tharawads, are set amongst lawns and gardens amid a network of pools and waterways.

Marari Beach Resort £££££

India
Beach and Island Escapes

Sprawled expansively across 25 acres of land, Marari Resort is separated from the sea by a windbreak of stretching palms. There are a mere 52 cottages, so the sense of space here is much more dramatic.

Neeleshwar Hermitage £££££

India
Beach and Island Escapes

Neeleshwar Hermitage is a beach and spa hotel in northern Kerala. The resort is stunning in every way, with comfortable rooms, all beautifully designed and influenced by local fisherman’s huts, an excellent spa and unparalleled seafood at the beachside restaurant.

Old Harbour Hotel £££££

India
City

Surrounded by lush tropical greenery, this comfortable hotel, set in an 18th-century, Dutch Colonial-style building, is a six-minute walk from the Mahatma Gandhi Beach, and three kilometres from the Mattancherry Palace.

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