OAT Soul of India: The Colorful South Review

One of OAT's Best — and Most Overlooked — Packages

I've enjoyed both of my OAT India trips. Northern India is absolutely worth seeing, but Southern India is different—very special in its own way. There's a wonderful variety of experiences, cultures, food and scenery that make this trip stand on its own.

And here's another reason I think this trip deserves more attention: I've very often seen OAT offer it at
bargain-basement prices. With NO Single Supplement.

If you've been thinking about visiting India but aren't sure which trip to take, don't overlook the South.
This one deserves a serious look.

The two questions I'm asked most often about OAT's India tours are, “Which trip is better?” and “Which should I do first?”

My honest answer is that both are incredible — and vastly different — adventures. It's a bit like asking, “Which should I visit first: New York or Las Vegas?” Both are well worth seeing, but the experiences couldn't be more different.

I've created this page to explain why I loved OAT's Soul of India tour and why I believe it's one of the company's better offerings.

I think that gives you a nice transition into the rest of the review. It also immediately helps the reader who is trying to decide Soul of India versus OAT's Northern India trip.

Planning Your First
OAT Adventure?

If you're considering Soul of India or another Overseas Adventure Travel trip, I hope my experiences and tips help you decide whether OAT is right for you.

I've now taken 19 OAT adventures and have another one booked. If you decide to travel with OAT, I'd really appreciate your telling them (when booking):
"I was referred by Jesse Slome
OAT #932019."

It costs you nothing and it helps me earn a credit toward a future adventure.

So far, 88 travelers have told OAT they were referred by Jesse Slome.

If you decide to take an OAT adventure, I hope you'll be #89!

Thank you - and I hope to see you somewhere in the world!

Enjoy a few Soul of India photos taken by Jesse Slome

Picking Between Southern India and Northern India

5 Things I Want To Tell You About OAT's Soul of India Tour (Plus 1 Incredible Savings Bonus)

India Is Unlike Almost Any Other Destination
India can be significantly more intense than many overseas destinations — sensory, fast-moving and filled with extraordinary contrasts. It's ideal for adventurous travelers who enjoy diving headfirst into local culture, don't mind a little unpredictability and prefer authentic experiences over predictable itineraries.

South India's Secret Rivals to the Taj Mahal
If you think the Taj Mahal is the only architectural marvel in India, wait until you see the South. The skyline here is often dominated by jaw-dropping, pyramid-like temple towers called gopurams. Some soar more than 150 feet high and are painted in vivid, kaleidoscopic colors, with thousands of intricately carved statues covering their surfaces.

Dating back more than a thousand years, these aren't simply quiet historical monuments. They remain active, deeply spiritual centers of worship. Experiencing them without being swallowed up by massive tourist crowds makes them feel like a hidden, living treasure.

Houseboats and Backwater Cruising Are Major Highlights
Cruising through Kerala's backwaters aboard a traditional kettuvallam houseboat is one of the experiences that stays with you. Gliding through quiet canals surrounded by coconut palms and village life is remarkably peaceful — and for many travelers, it becomes one of the favorite memories of the entire trip.

Step Into Mumbai's Living History Before the Modern World Takes Over
Mumbai is a city where history is still hard at work. Just feet from gleaming modern skyscrapers, men still hand-wash thousands of garments in massive open-air concrete vats at Dhobi Ghat. Meanwhile, the city's famed Dabbawalas continue delivering hot meals by bicycle using a remarkably efficient system that dates back more than a century.

It's one of those rare places where you can watch living traditions continue right alongside the modern world.

Beyond Tikka Masala: Why South India's Food Will Surprise You
If your idea of Indian food comes primarily from neighborhood restaurants, prepare for a very different culinary experience in the South. This is where spices such as black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon and mustard seeds are grown, creating a distinctly different world of flavors.

Meals can be light, vibrant and packed with fresh flavors, often served traditionally on a banana leaf. Add an incredible variety of fresh tropical fruit — from sweet mangoes to tree-ripened jackfruit and tiny bananas — and the food becomes one of the highlights of the journey.

Your Incredible Money-Saving Opportunity

Here's the part that the Thrifty Senior Traveler in me really wants you to know.

OAT sometimes has unsold spots on its Soul of India tours, and I've found that some surprisingly good discounts can appear on their website. I grabbed one myself — even though I was traveling during peak season.

The deal included no single supplement fee and worked out to about $100 a day for everything, including my own private cabin on the houseboat cruise.

That's the kind of OAT deal worth watching for. PLUS, if this is your first tour, that added Referral Bonus (saying "I was referred by Jesse Slome, #932019" just adds to what you'll save. Bon voyage!

Tips & Advice: OAT's Soul Of India Tour

Written by Jesse Slome, The Thrifty Senior Traveler
Originally published August 23, 2026 | Last updated August 23, 2026Write your text here...

Here are a few things I learned that weren't really covered in the OAT material — including one or two that could save you some money and aggravation.

Weather Matters When Choosing When to Go
My tour ran from November 15 through December 2, 2025. This is generally a very good time to visit India's southern states, coming after much of the monsoon season.

Which is one reason finding this trip as a special last-minute deal was such an incredible surprise. If you see a great deal on this tour, my advice is don't wait too long. As India becomes an increasingly popular destination, deeply discounted spaces may become harder to find.

That said, this is a large country and the itinerary covers a lot of territory — including both coasts. So don't be surprised if you encounter some rain along the way. I certainly did.

Pack Slip-On Shoes — and / or Socks Your Spouse Hates
You'll be removing your shoes before entering the main areas and shrines of many Hindu temples. A pair of slip-on shoes or sandals will make life a little easier.

My other suggestion: bring several pairs of inexpensive, washable socks that you won't be heartbroken about losing. Temple floors can be dusty, hot or cold, depending on the location and time of day. A cheap pair of socks can be a lot more appealing than going barefoot.

Securing Your Indian Visa
I applied for my own visa because — well, I'm the Thrifty Senior Traveler, and doing it myself was considerably cheaper.

I eventually succeeded, but I won't pretend it was fun. The Indian online application system took me several days to work through and was both frustrating and a little nerve-racking.

Then I came up with what I consider a pretty good Thrifty Senior Traveler solution. OAT has employees in India. I did an AI search, found contact information for someone there and sent an email asking for help securing the final PDF I needed for entry. They handled it easily and emailed it to me.

My advice? If you decide to handle your own visa application and get stuck, don't automatically panic or start over. See if someone at OAT's India operation can point you in the right direction. Or, pay to have the company OAT recommends handle.

Are Rupees Really Needed?
The Thrifty Senior Traveler hates paying the 8% to 15% fees often charged at airport currency exchange counters. I avoid them whenever possible.

There are ATMs at Chennai International Airport (MAA), and I simply withdrew a small amount of cash rather than exchanging a large sum of money.

You probably won't need to carry a fortune in rupees, but having some local currency is useful for small purchases, tips and those situations where a credit card isn't accepted.

Can You Book Your Own Airfare?
I did. That's part of being the Thrifty Senior Traveler!

Getting from Chennai to the first hotel meant arranging transportation in advance. Unfortunately, I can't remember which online service I used to book the taxi.

Getting from Mumbai to the airport, however, was a completely different story. The hotel arranged for an Uber, and when they told me the price, I was shocked. It was around $13, as I recall, for what turned out to be about a 45-minute drive.

I was so convinced there had to be a mistake that I asked the hotel to confirm the price multiple times — and even give me a printed confirmation!

The price was correct. I happily used my remaining rupees to give the driver a nice tip.

Water, Water Everywhere
Drinking water is understandably one of the biggest concerns for people traveling to India.

I can't guarantee that OAT won't change its procedures, but during my trip they continually provided bottled water. I never found myself worrying about where my next bottle of safe drinking water was coming from.

That's a small thing — until you're traveling in India. Then it's a very nice thing indeed.

When I Took This Trip: November 15-December 2, 2025
Jesse's Thrifty Senior Traveler Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars