New Year 'is perfect for sun-drenched India holidays'

The New Year period could be the perfect time for families to head off on their India holidays and take in Tamil Nadu.

India's south-eastern region has its monsoon season at the same time as the UK's autumn, which means the rainfall should have completely cleared up by mid to late December, making this a great time to visit the tropical Kerala Coast.

Guidebook producer Lonely Planet's travel editor, Tom Hall, said this time of year is certainly well suited for people planning to take India holidays, although he cautioned that many other travellers may have similar ideas.

"You can certainly visit at this time, the only caveat being that Kerala's beaches may be busy," Mr Hall wrote in his regular column for The Guardian.

The Adventure Company's Spicelands & Elephants trip gives families the chance to explore the Tamil Nadu region and the coastline themselves.

With packages available in both December and April, prospective travellers can make their own minds up about when to make the journey.

We offer some exciting choices of family activity holidays for you to discover