
April 14, 2025
We all know that summer vacation is here, and everyone wants to escape from the heat. If you are looking for a perfect retreat, here are 10 best places to visit with family in South India for a memorable vacation.
From misty mountains and idyllic backwaters to greenery landscape, and breath taking views, South India is one of the best destinations for families looking for a budget friendly travel. When planning a family vacation, you want a trip that is fun, relaxing, and a memorable trip that satisfies every traveler’s desire.
Families can enjoy boat rides, amusement parks, refreshing waterfall baths, toy train journeys, wildlife safaris, and mountain adventures – every place you deserve a promising joy, bonding, and timeless snapshots.
Ooty is known as the Queen of Hills, and a perfect destination to travel in South India. Ooty offers cool, and pleasant weather all over the year, which is 550 kms from Chennai. You can Travel by car, train, and flight.
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Both kids and adults will enjoy iconic toy train rides, leisure walks through botanical gardens, and relaxing picnic spots. Ooty lake offers a family boating ride experience, whereas scenic viewpoints of Doddabetta peak provides a perfect spot for camera ready moments. The lush green tea estates add a beautiful charm, and safe family friendly accommodations where you can enjoy the refreshing morning breeze.
Coorg or Kodagu, located in Karnataka is one of the beautiful places in South India, which is known for its billowing hills, greenery coffee plantations, and a cool comfortable climate throughout the year. Additionally, you can visit Nagarhole National Park and Dubare Elephant Camp are ideal for kids to enjoy, and adults who like the natural beauty.
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Experience the warm welcome of Coorg and dive into the vibrant traditions of Kodava culture. Explore one of the best holiday destinations in South India, which is the perfect place to create freeze frame memories with family and kids.
Munnar which is located in Kerala, is one of the top places to visit in South India. It has a peaceful valley, fog blanketed hills, and numerous tea estates, and is a perfect retreat to enjoy during summer with family.
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You can explore Eravikulam National Park, and Anamudi Peak which is the highest peak in South India, presents incredible views, and safe family outings. Kids can enjoy boating at Mattupetty Dam and Kundala Lake, meanwhile Attukal waterfalls provide a perfect hideout to immerse yourself in natural beauty.
For the most part, kids love socializing with elephants at Carmelagiri Elephant Park, and participating in fun activities like boating and horse riding. To escape the summer heat, the best season to visit Munnar is from April to June.
Kodaikanal, also known as Princess of Hill Stations, is a beautiful place in South India to visit with family and all age groups to enjoy a perfect holiday spot during summer vacation. It has a cool, breezy climate covered by gentle sloping hills.
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Kids can enjoy boating, cycling, exploring pine forests and visiting silver cascade falls. Scenic walking paths provide the perfect setting for family stroll, to take photos and enjoy small picnics.Additionally, children will love Kodaikanal solar observatory and children park around the lake area, that keep the little ones entertained, while offering a relaxing environment for parents.
Best time to visit Kodaikanal is from April to June, to escape from summer heat and a memorable family getaway.
Wayanad is one of the famous places to visit with family in South India, which is also located in Kerala. The territory is covered by wavelike hills, dense forests, waterfalls, and paddy fields. With its cool and refreshing climate, best time to visit Wayanad is from March to May.
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There are exciting places to visit in Wayanad wildlife sanctuary to spot elephants, deer, and unique birds, a delightful experience for both kids and adults. In addition, Soochipara falls, Meenmutty falls, Kanthanpara falls are great picnic spots, where families enjoy nature and playtime with water.
Wayanad excludes peaceful vibes, with serene lakes surrounded by forest, paddle boating, and engage in adventure activities to connect with nature.
Alleppey or Alappuzha, also known as the Venice of the East, is one of the famous places in South India, and a must visit spot to enjoy with your family and children. A peaceful houseboat ride through the serene backwaters offers a unique experience where kids and adults love to travel.
Alleppey is covered by paddy fields, coconut woodland, and peaceful canals is a great view for nature lovers. You can visit the Kumarakom bird sanctuary, relax on beautiful beaches, take small boat rides via narrow canals, and enjoy yourself in the rich traditional and cultural experience that captivate the vibe of Kerala’s. It is a perfect trip to add color and charm to your summer vacation.
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Perfect season to explore Alleppey is from March to May, which has a temperature of typically hot and humid.
Chikmagalur is a hill station in Karnataka and is one of the top 10 tourist places in South India . Located in the Western Ghats, it offers greenery landscapes, coffee estates, and cloudy hills all over the year, making a perfect getaway for summer vacation to spend with family.
Kids and Adults can enjoy soft trekking, nature walks, jeep safari, enchanting waterfalls Hebbe and Jhari Falls, and historical temples like Sringeri sharada peetham gives spiritual experiences. Additionally, you can enjoy Bhadra wildlife sanctuary with exciting safari rides, along with ideal photo scenery moments with backdrops of mountains, waterfalls, and coffee estates, making your trip a truly memorable experience.
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Chikmagalur, is the best destination in South India to enjoy family friendly homestays, and a delightful retreat for a refreshing summer vacation.
The best time to visit Chikmagalur during summer is March to May for pleasant weather, and breathtaking sceneries.
Araku Valley is a hill station, located in Andhra Pradesh covered by green valleys, thick forests, and misty hills in the Eastern Ghats, making a perfect and peaceful trip for a beautiful family vacation.
In addition to the scenic beauty, you can enjoy a train ride from Visakhapatnam to Araku Valley, which is famous for its tunnels, waterfalls, and breath taking views where kids and adults love to travel. The trip also includes sightseeing spots like fascinating Borra caves, and a cool climate with beautiful waterfalls like Katki falls and Dumbriguda Falls. The area provides numerous resorts that are ideal for homestays, and also perfect for photography moments to make your trip a captivating weekend getaway or summer vacation.
The best time to visit Araku valley during the summer season is from March to May for pleasant weather.
Thekkady, a small town located in Idukki district of Kerala, is a famous destination and is considered among the top 10 best places to visit in South India with family. It is a home to India’s largest Periyar National Park, where families can enjoy boat rides on Periyar Lake, while spotting elephants, deers, bison, and even tigers.
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Thekkady is situated in Western Ghats, which enjoys cool and refreshing weather throughout the year. You can explore elephant rides, nature walks, bamboo rafting, and trekking where kids absolutely love to enjoy the experience. It is a perfect escape from the heat of the cities, during summer holidays within a family friendly budget.
Varkala is a town in South Indian State of Kerala, and is located in Thiruvananthapuram district along the Arabian Sea. It is a haven for a famous Varkala beach, that is also known as Papanasam Beach, which is ideal for a peaceful retreat and safe for children to play. Varkala cliff offers stunning views, and is lined with shops, cafes, and restaurants.
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The Janardhana Swamy Temple, which is over 2000 years old, gives you a divine and spiritual experience. Varkala is spotted with Ayurvedic centres with massages and therapics, that rejuvenate your body and soul. You can explore several nearby beaches like Kappil Beach, Edava Beach, Odayam Beach, Chilakoor Beach, and Thiruvambadi Beach.
Varkala is a best destination and a perfect retreat for a summer holiday with family and children.
The top 10 tourist places in South India, encompass Kerala’s Munnar, Alleppey, Wayanad, Thekkady, and Varkala, Tamil Nadu’s Kodaikanal and Ooty, Karnataka’s Chikmagalur and Coorg, and Andhra Pradesh’s Araku Valley. These destinations are famous for their serene beauty, rich culture, breathtaking landscapes, and perfect photo capture moments.
Exploring South India with your family is a perfect blend and delightful treat to enjoy the natural beauty, cultural experience, and memorable trip from the misty hills of Munnar to Ooty, and beautiful backwaters of Alleppey, and tranquil serene of Coorg and Chikmagalur to Araku Valley, you can enjoy the 10 best places to visit with family in South India, each offering a true experience that attracts to every type of traveler.
To make your journey hassle free, Riyana Tours and Travels takes care of your travel needs from bookings, personalized, budget friendly packages to reliable services, you can enjoy your trip with your loved ones and families.