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 Vana - India’s Ultimate Wellness Retreat

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

Umaid Bhawan Palace is one of Ampersand's Top Ten Hotels in Rajasthan. A magnificent Art Deco palace hotel and still...
View here The Imperial Hotel ,
Delhi

The Imperial Hotel is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Lux City Hotels and our Top 10 Hotel Spas. From the moment...
View here Taj Falaknuma Palace ,
Hyderabad

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

The Oberoi Vrinda is an exclusive cruiser that offers a luxurious journey through the picturesque and lush backwaters of Kerala....
View here Rajakkad Estate ,
Dindigul

Rajakkad Estate is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Secret Gems. Set 1,000 metres above sea level, in the cool foothills...
View hereSome of our favourite places of interest in India
Srinagar

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

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

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

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

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

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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