NORTH INDIA - Mumbai Ganesh Lane layer
NORTH INDIA - Jodhpur Rajasthan India

Explore the cool blue streets of Old Jodhpur.

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South India Andaman Islands Havelock
NORTH INDIA - Mumbai Bombay India
NORTH INDIA - Taj Lake Palace Udaipur
NORTH INDIA - Jodhpur 19
NORTH INDIA - Victoria Station Mumbai India
NORTH INDIA - Jodhpur (1)

The buzzing streets of Old Jodhpur are alive with activity, with busy people going about their daily chores and street vendors selling thier merchandise.

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NORTH INDIA - Holi festival

Join in the with fun of Holi. The festival normally takes place at the end of March each year and is celebrated with colour and excitement all over India.

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NORTH INDIA - The Imperial, Delhi, North India - Jaguar at the main porch

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

North India Logo

A Perfect Introduction to India

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9 days from £3,600 for 2023

The perfect first timer's tour of India, this itinerary guides you through some of India's most remarkable highlights at a...

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Essential India... Our Comprehensive Tour of North & South India

Essential India Itinerary 640

15 days from £6,420 for 2023

This itinerary is one of our absolute favourites. It combines the fascinating historical and natural gems of the northern regions...

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A Week at Vana - India’s Ultimate Wellness Retreat

VANA Malsi Estate Dehradun North India Shared Spaces Yoga Temple 2

8 days from £3,700 for 2023

Indulge in the ultimate restorative break: 8 days at Asia’s most innovative yet authentic new wellness retreat, Vana in the...

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India with Aman: A sophisticated journey for the senses

Amanbagh, Ajabgarh, North India (22).jpg

9 days from £5,720 for 2023

India is a divine destination for an Aman journey. The rich culture you'll discover here is a delightful sensory whirlwind....

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South India Logo

The Palaces, Wildlife, Plantations & Beaches of Karnataka

Hampi, Karnataka, South India (3).jpg

16 days from £9,240 for 2023

The astounding ruins of the Vijayanagar Empire at Hampi, exquisite rock cut temples of Badami, Pattadkal and Halebeedu, and giant...

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The Hidden Beaches of the Andaman Islands

Jalakara Andaman Islands South India 2

11 days from £6,380 for 2023

Explore the hidden beaches and secret gems of India’s underrated and laid-back Andaman Islands on this relaxing 12-day itinerary.

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Boutique South India: From Chennai to Cochin

Boutique South India From Chennai To Cochin Itinerary 2

14 days from £5,940 for 2023

This tailor made tour of South India comprises some of the best boutique hotels in the area, providing a unique...

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Taj Palace Tour... The Ultimate Indian Indulgence

NORTH INDIA - Rambagh Palace

16 days from £9,900 for 2023

A combination of what we do best, this 17 day tour blends opulent luxury with the best of Indian culture....

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Some of our favourite hotels in India

The Oberoi New Delhi ,
Delhi

The Oberoi Delhi, Delhi, North India (7).jpg

Following extensive renovations, The Oberoi New Delhi reopened its doors on 1st January 2018, with its legendary hospitality, spacious accommodation...

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Umaid Bhawan Palace ,
Jodhpur

Umaid Bhawan JODHPUR North India 7

  Umaid Bhawan Palace is one of Ampersand's Top Ten Hotels in Rajasthan. A magnificent Art Deco palace hotel and still...

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The Imperial Hotel ,
Delhi

NORTH INDIA - The Imperial, Delhi, North India - Jaguar at the main porch

  The Imperial Hotel is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Lux City Hotels and our Top 10 Hotel Spas. From the moment...

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Taj Falaknuma Palace ,
Hyderabad

SOUTH INDIA Taj Falaknuma Palace Facade At Night

  Taj Falaknuma Palace is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Romantic Retreats  A hotel that completely takes your breath away, this...

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MS Oberoi Vrinda ,
Kerala

MS Oberoi Vrinda Backwaters South India

The Oberoi Vrinda is an exclusive cruiser that offers a luxurious journey through the picturesque and lush backwaters of Kerala....

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Rajakkad Estate ,
Dindigul

Rajakkad Estate Dindigul Tamil Nadu 8

  Rajakkad Estate is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Secret Gems. Set 1,000 metres above sea level, in the cool foothills...

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Some of our favourite places of interest in India

Srinagar

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Srinagar is the summer capital of Kashmir and stands on the picturesque Dal Lake and the Jhelum River, surrounded by...

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Mount Abu

Mount Abu North India

Mount Abu, Rajasthan’s only hill station, is set on a rocky outcrop that overlooks the romantic Aravalli mountain range and...

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Udaipur

Lake Pichola, Udaipur, North India.jpg

Set beside the blue waters of Pichola Lake and surrounded by the ancient Aravalli Hills, Udaipur has a romance which...

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Mysore

Mysore South India

Mysore has a lovely, spacious feel, despite the fact that it is Karnataka's second city. This is partly because of...

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Kumarakom

Kumarakom, South India (2).jpg

Behind the peninsula stretching from Cochin down to Alleppey is a vast lagoon, Lake Vembanad, a reservoir for the streams...

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Munnar

Munnar, South India.jpg

Munnar is in the emerald Cardamom Hills, which stretch right down eastern border of Kerala to the southern tip of India,...

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From our Blog

Testimonials


Client Testimonials

Ampersand provided a bespoke and flexible holiday, tailored to my every whim. Their highly professional staff had only one goal which was to arrange an exceptional holiday and some unforgettable experiences in India. I have no hesitation in fully recommending them and they will be the first company I approach in the future - 10/10
- Anonymous, India
Everything you did for us whilst we were away was hugely appreciated, and Ampersand has been exemplary in every way. I'll always recommend you!
- Mr Richard Stoughton, Sri Lanka
Difficult to articulate just how good the service from you and your team really was. We know you will continue to do well and hope we have the chance to seek your assistance again before long.
- Mr & Mrs Manson, North India
I would recommend Ampersand without any hesitation!!! The best travel agent that I’ve ever had. Everything – from the individual care and attention in planning the trip, through to the efficiency of the agents on the ground in India – was handled brilliantly. An absolutely first-class service all round!
- Matthew Annable, Rajasthan, India
Without question, you put together the best trip I have ever taken. We were shown around like visiting dignitaries, the hotels were fantastic and the itinerary was just right. Everybody I know will hear about how amazing Ampersand is!
- Leslie Siben, India
Ampersand’s preparation, attention to detail and interaction before and during our trip show exactly why good travel agents have a role in today’s internet booking age. They were a delight to deal with!
- Mr David Wallace, North India
I had a very lovely time and was looked after splendidly. My first visit to India could not have been better, save for being longer! But I shall return at some point and I shall look to you to make the arrangements.
- Matthew Nicklin, North India
We had a wonderful holiday - everything was perfect. Thank you for helping us to make a thoughtful plan to enjoy and make most out of our trip. The places we visited, the guides, the transportation and driver, the hotels selected... Everything was great!
- Jaime Benitez, South India
I thought the Ampersand team was outstanding. We couldn’t have hoped for anything more.
- Mr Geoffrey Johnson, India
So many highlights to choose from! The hotels were amazing but Maya Villa was a highlight… I loved just hanging out in the hammock reading my book and watching the peacocks chase the cows!
- Krista Weir, Sri Lanka

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