Tailor-Made India Holidays
India Holidays
India, in all its vast extraordinary glory, is an overspilling treasure trove of magnificent travel experiences. There's a lot to take in, but breathe deep — our thoughtfully tailored India holidays will see you gliding through the colourful chaos like a Bengal tiger through the forests of Rajasthan (or something like that!).
Our well-oiled logistics will handle all the bureaucratic bits, and our expert guides will be on hand to show you the shortcuts. All that’s left for you to do is open your heart, your senses, and your sense of adventure! It’s time to let India in...
Magnificent structures
The Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Varanasi’s funeral ghats on the Ganges — India is brimming with structures that have mythic status in the collective imagination. And they’re all as impressive and atmospheric as their reputations suggest.
Beyond the most famous sights, however, it’s also well worth visiting historic settlements such as Lucknow with its spectacular Islamic architecture, the evocative ruins of Madhya Pradesh, or the unique Meenakshi Temple complex in Madurai.
Awe-inspiring cities
From historic Leh, perched high in the Himalayas, to sacred Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges, and the extraordinary desert city of Jaisalmer, India boasts some of Asia's most awe-inspiring cities. You feel transported back in time as you wander their ancient alleys, and watch daily life unfold around monumental buildings that are anything but everyday. And we're just as entranced by the cries of chai wallahs, the wandering cows, and the nooks and niches where people are getting by...
Unconventional accommodation
One of our favourite aspects of travel in India is the chance to stay in some really interesting accommodation. Many ancestral homes have opened their doors to paying guests, meaning that you can stay in Raj-era forts (with hot tubs on the battlements), ornately carved stone townhouses, and family-run farms where you’ll dine on home-grown produce.
Tiger safaris
The chance to see a wild Bengal tiger is a huge draw for many who visit India. The country boasts several large jungle reserves which protect breeding populations of these magnificent animals. There's nothing quite like spotting tiger cubs in their natural habitat to put the crowning moment on your holiday!
Bohemian backwaters & coastal bliss
Head to the coast for a tantalising blend of laid back beaches, yoga centres, historic architecture and superb seafood. The Kerala backwaters — a network of lagoons, lakes and rivers along the south-west coast — offer an interesting alternative for R&R, with their bohemian houseboat accommodation and deeply relaxing vibe.
A word about food
As you may have noticed (!), the Selective Asia team are enthusiastic about eating, and we wax lyrical about the cuisine in many of our destinations. However it is worth a special mention for India — the food here is fantastic, but it’s also important to note that it’s not all about curry and very hot spice. There’s an extraordinary amount of regional variation, and certainly no need to be put off if you’re travelling with kids, or someone whose eyes water at the sight of a chilli!
And connecting it all…
...that extraordinary train network, with its on-board samosa vendors and chai wallahs, superb people-watching opportunities, and simply the legendary bucket-list status of train travel in India!
