Discover India on one of our
Bespoke Luxury Tours
“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 both the daring and the cautious traveller, for those who prefer to be escorted 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, such as Umaid Bhawan Palace. Luxury holidays to India uncover remarkable history and culture, scenic views, 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, luxury train tours, 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 for your vacation 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 the ultimate luxury 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
The Golden Triangle & Rajasthan: The Best of the Best!
At Ampersand, luxury and culture are what we do best and this tour is the epitome of both. Make your...
View hereRajasthan & The Golden Triangle: The Best of the Best in Reverse!
With our 25 years of expertise, travel the Ampersand way in style on this itinerary of The Golden Triangle & Rajasthan...
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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 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 hereTamil Nadu & Kerala: From Coast to Coast
From Tamil Nadu to Kerala; a comprehensive tour from the Coromandel Coast to the Malabar Coast. Towering temples, mist shrouded hills...
View hereToy Trains & Tamil Nadu
Exploring the sacred state of Tamil Nadu, this journey encapsulates the essence of the history, culture and spirituality of South...
View hereSome of our favourite hotels in India
Aman-i-Khás ,
Ranthambore
Aman-i-Khás is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Hotels in Rajasthan and Top 10 Safari Lodges in Asia. Aman-i-Khás is an exclusive wilderness retreat on the...
View here RAAS Chhatra Sagar ,
Nimaj
Set on the banks of a 100-year-old dam in rural Nimaj, RAAS Chhatra Sagar offers an idyllic, peaceful retreat amidst...
View here Ahilya Fort ,
Maheshwar
Ahilya Fort is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Romantic Retreats The incomparable Ahilya Fort is quite possibly one of the...
View here Visalam ,
Chettinad
Visalam is an elegant 70-year-old Chettiar Mansion which has been carefully converted into a boutique hotel in the heart of this fascinating...
View here Svatma ,
Tanjore
Svatma is a unique hotel in one of Tamil Nadu’s most remarkable ancient cities – Tanjore – which immerses its guests in...
View here Evolve Back Chikkana Halli Estate ,
Coorg
Located in the hills of the Western Ghats, Karnataka, Evolve Back Chikkana Halli Estate offers a unique opportunity to experience a...
View hereSome of our favourite places of interest in India
Jawai Bandh
Jawai Bandh is a dam built across the Jawai River, and is located in the most rugged and wild part of the Aravalli...
View hereThe Hooghli River
The 260 kilometre-long Hooghly River, a tributary of the Ganges, links the charming rural scenes of West Bengal with the...
View hereOsian
There are 23 temples in this frontier town, one of the final provisioning stops for travellers crossing the Thar Desert...
View herePort Blair
Port Blair is a small town and the main trading hub of the Andaman Islands. It's often necessary to spend...
View hereBangaram Island
India's tiniest Union Territory, the Lakshadweep Archipelago, is a cluster of 27 idyllic islands set in the Arabian Sea, between...
View hereBekal
Bekal is a small, peaceful town situated on Kerala's golden coastline. Famous for its giant key-hole shaped fort, Bekal attracts...
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