Kudu Travel packs in history, walking and wildlife galore in its new 15-day escorted itinerary to the beguiling southern state of Kerala and its nearest neighbours.

The British Raj is represented by a trip on the famous narrow-gauge Blue Mountain train to the Ooty (Udhagamandalam) Club, where billiards was invented, and Thalassery where the British East India Company built the fort in 1683 to protect its pepper trade. The French get a look in — there’ll be a visit to the former French outpost of Mahe. India’s own colourful contributions to the tour include the Maharaja’s Palace at Mysore and the 400 year-old spectacle of traditional Kathakali dancing in Coin.

To say nothing of walks and game drives: game in no less than eight wild reserves and sanctuaries in search of exotic endemic species such as the Malabar trogon, the Indian pitta, the Nilgiri pipit (all birds) and the endangered Nilgiri Tahr (the primtive relative of a goat).

The dates are January 8-22 2008, the price £2,350pp inclusive except for international flights.

BON VOYAGE

Expect thrills and spills on High & Wild’s new 14-day whitewater rafting trip on India’s Brahmaputra river, often dubbed the “Everest of waters” with 30ft waves and white-knuckle rapids – one short stretch reaches grade six status (really wild). It takes two days in a 4WD travelling through the dense rainforests of Arunaal Pradesh to get to the starting point at Purang; the trip winds up at Pasighat, home of the very traditional Adi people.

Brave souls prepared to undertake the adventure – which leaves from Delhi on November 14 – will pay £2,299pp for internal flights, training, kit, accommodation (mainly riverbank camping) and most meals.

HIDDEN RAJASTHAN

Most India fans will reckon they’ve “done” Rajasthan, the country’s most exotic and popular state. But a closer look at a new itinerary “Hidden Rajasthan”, from Cox and Kings, may convince them otherwise.

The 11-night tour travels through the rural heartlands to meet farmers and villagers for an insight into their traditional methods and very different local cultures. There’ll also be visits to the Rajasthan’s only hill station, Mt Abu, the exquisite Jain temples at Dilwara, and the aracterful little fortress city of Deogarh, the trip winding up with two nights’ r&r at the lovely Samode Palace hotel. Prices start at £1,845 for flights, 11 nights’ B&B, private transfers and excursions.

Unless otherwise stated, all prices are based on two people travelling together. Jill Crawshaw

Dine with a maharajah