Welcome to India
“This is India; the land of dreams and romance, of fabulous wealth and fabulous poverty, of splendour and rags, of tigers and elephants, the cobra and the jungle, the country of a thousand nations and a hundred tongues, of a thousand religions and two million gods, cradle of the human race, birthplace of human speech, mother of history, grandmother of legend, great-grandmother of tradition — the one land that all men desire to see, and having seen once, by even a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for the shows of all the rest of the globe combined.” Mark Twain
In one word, India is ‘diversity’; glamorous and beguiling, splendid and romantic, energetic and colourful, the entire country is awash with colourful travel experiences for the daring, the cautious and the luxury traveller. India lays claim to the soaring snow-capped Himalaya mountains, the sleepy rhythmic Kerala backwaters, the cultural Golden Triangle and everything in between, not to mention the splendid Mughal architecture of the infamous Taj Mahal, Humayun’s Tomb and Agra Fort, and some of the world’s most outstanding luxury hotels – from historic havelis to royal forts and palaces of the maharajas. Luxury holidays to India uncover remarkable history and culture, sumptuous food, spectacular scenery, effervescent metropolises, inherent kindness, unsurpassed luxury and infectious happiness that is prevalent throughout the country.
Luxury holidays to India offer experiences for every kind of traveller. Rajasthan is the ideal region for romantic honeymoons; discreet and fairy-tale palaces, candlelit dinners under the stars of the Thar Desert and private boat trips on the serene Lake Pichola. Family tours in India turn the country into an adventure playground just waiting to be explored and discovered, particularly the temple scattered sites of Tamil Nadu, where our expert guides can bring the history and magic alive. India is also perfect for adventure holidays and has some of the best wildlife and birdlife viewing opportunities in Asia. Head to Central India, to the wildlife rich state of Madhya Pradesh, where leopard, sloth bear, sambar deer, langur, wild boar, wild dog, jungle cat and many more species abound, including hundreds of resident and migratory birds. One might even be lucky enough to see a majestic Bengal Tiger in its natural habitat in the rural Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan. That’s the beauty of luxury touring holidays in India, they can be tailor-made to one’s exact requirements.
The sheer size of the country means that the weather patterns are extremely varied, and we can advise the best region for whichever month you choose to travel to India. But generally speaking, the best time to visit India is between October and March for warm, dry and sunny weather. In December and January, and from June to September marks the largest contrast between the climates of North India and South India; in mid-winter icy winds from the snowfields of the Himalayas chill the north, whilst the Tamil plains and coastal Kerala, bask under the sultry sunshine. While visiting Kerala during the summer, monsoon season breaks on the coast before working its way northeast across the country, whilst Ladakh juxtaposes the rest of the country with the most fabulous sunshine weather.
When planning a bespoke trip to India, we often speak to clients who feel they can only do the country justice if they travel for a long period of time, but we couldn’t disagree more, and believe sometimes, even a week is enough time to visit India. Our travel advice for a luxury tailor-made holiday to India would be to cover less ground in detail on shorter India tours, and then return to explore different regions. The joy with travelling across India is that there are endless parts to discover; the vast size and dazzling regional array of languages, cuisines and religions means that one can almost experience a collection of countries when touring India. Travelling to India is straightforward, with varying flight times from London; the capital of India, Delhi is approximately 8-hours flight, the buzzy hub of Mumbai 9-hours, and Chennai in the south is a 10-hour flight.
To help you decide where to travel in India, click on one of the below icons to explore suggested itineraries, luxury hotels and locations of either North India or South India, and then speak to one of our destination specialists who will be happy help you plan your bespoke India getaway, complete with our best travel tips and expert travel guides…
Our Tours of India
Essential India... Our Comprehensive Tour of North & South India
This itinerary is one of our absolute favourites. It combines the fascinating historical and natural gems of the northern regions...
View hereA Week at Six Senses Vana - India’s Ultimate Wellness Retreat
Indulge in the ultimate restorative break: 8 days at Asia’s most innovative yet authentic wellness retreat, Six Senses Vana in...
View hereIndia with Aman: A sophisticated journey for the senses
India is a divine destination for an Aman journey. The rich culture you'll discover here is a delightful sensory whirlwind....
View hereThe Palaces, Wildlife, Plantations & Beaches of Karnataka
The astounding ruins of the Vijayanagar Empire at Hampi, exquisite rock cut temples of Badami, Pattadkal and Halebeedu, and giant...
View hereThe Hidden Beaches of the Andaman Islands
Explore the hidden beaches and secret gems of India’s underrated and laid-back Andaman Islands on this relaxing 12-day itinerary.
View hereBoutique South India: From Chennai to Cochin
This tailor made tour of South India comprises some of the best boutique hotels in the area, providing a unique...
View hereSome of our favourite hotels in India
RAAS Jodhpur ,
Jodhpur
RAAS is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Boutique Hotels and Top 10 Hotels in Rajasthan. RAAS Jodhpur is an awesome little hotel designed...
View here RAAS Devigarh ,
Delwara
RAAS Devigarh is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Venues for a Wedding or Party and Top 10 Hotels in Rajasthan. The striking RAAS Devigarh...
View here The Oberoi New Delhi ,
Delhi
Following extensive renovations, The Oberoi New Delhi reopened its doors on 1st January 2018, with its legendary hospitality, spacious accommodation...
View here The Leela Palace ,
Chennai
On the confluence of the Bay of Bengal and the Adyar river, The Leela Palace launched in January 2013 and...
View here Palais de Mahe ,
Pondicherry
Opened in 2013, this extremely welcoming palatial mansion is located in the heart of Pondicherry's stylish French Quarter on Rue...
View here Brunton Boatyard ,
Cochin
Sitting on the waterfront of Cochin Harbour, this elegant white-washed building lies within the northern shores of Fort Cochin. What was formerly a...
View hereSome of our favourite places of interest in India
Deogarh
The impressive Deogarh Mahal palace sits on the top of a hill overlooking the small town of Deogarh, situated deep...
View hereBishangarh
Bishangarh is a very pretty and sleepy rural village in the region of the Aravallis, in the heart of Rajasthan, located conveniently only...
View hereMumbai
Mumbai, a vibrant and bustling coastal city, has always oozed style and sophistication. A port city overlooking the Arabian Sea,...
View hereGoa
The South Indian idyll of Goa is a beautiful, small state, with almost 100 kilometres of rich golden sand beaches...
View hereMysore
Mysore has a lovely, spacious feel, despite the fact that it is Karnataka's second city. This is partly because of...
View hereMararikulam
The people of Mararikulam, a sleepy fishing village between the Backwaters and the Arabian Sea, live in mud-walled huts with...
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