Luxury India Holidays & Tailor-Made Tours
Discover India through a journey shaped around you. From Rajasthan's palaces and the Taj Mahal to Kerala's backwaters, the Himalayas and India's wildlife reserves, our India holidays are planned around your interests, pace and preferred style of travel.
India Holidays: A Journey Across a Country of Contrasts
India rarely fits into a single itinerary, which is part of what makes it such a rewarding place to explore. Delhi mixes Mughal-era monuments with a fast-moving modern capital, while Agra's Taj Mahal remains one of the most recognisable sights on earth. A short drive further west, Rajasthan's forts and palace cities - Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur - tell the story of the region's Rajput rulers through architecture, art and cuisine that's still very much alive today.
Head south and the pace changes entirely. Kerala's backwaters move at the speed of a houseboat, Tamil Nadu's temple towns hold centuries of continuous worship, and the coastline along Goa and Malabar offers a quieter, more languid side of the country. In the north, the Himalayan foothills around Rishikesh, Dharamshala and Uttarakhand give way to the high-altitude landscapes of Ladakh, while central India's forests are home to tiger reserves such as those in Madhya Pradesh.
Because the regions differ so much in climate, character and pace, an India holiday tends to work best when it's tailored - combining the destinations, duration and style of travel that suit you, rather than following a fixed route.
Featured India Tours & Tailor-Made Journeys
A starting point rather than a fixed package - every journey below can be adjusted in length, pace and destinations.
Classic Golden Triangle
Delhi · Agra · JaipurDelhi's landmarks, the Taj Mahal at Agra and Jaipur's royal heritage on a private 7-night introduction to India.
Royal Rajasthan
Jaipur · Jodhpur · Udaipur · PushkarAn in-depth 17-night route through Rajasthan's forts, palaces and heritage stays.
Kerala Nature Escape
KeralaBackwater houseboats, tea country and coastal Kerala over 11 unhurried nights.
Himalayan Adventure with Amritsar
Rishikesh · Mussoorie · Shimla · ManaliThe Golden Temple at Amritsar followed by Himalayan foothill towns over 9 nights.
Kashmir, Ladakh & Leh
Kashmir · LadakhSrinagar's lakes and the high-altitude landscapes of Ladakh over 7 nights.
South India Cultural & Coastal
Tamil Nadu · Kerala coastTemple towns, coastal Kerala and South Indian cuisine over 11 nights.
Madhya Pradesh Wildlife & Heritage
Central IndiaTiger safaris paired with heritage sites over a 9-night central India itinerary.
Banswara - Land of 100 Islands
RajasthanA lesser-known Rajasthan itinerary around Banswara's lakes and islands over 5 nights.
Explore India by Destination
Every region of India offers a different kind of holiday. Combine two or three, or focus on one in depth - the itinerary is built around what interests you.
Rajasthan & the Golden Triangle
Explore the forts and palace cities of Rajasthan alongside Delhi and Agra, where Mughal history, Rajput heritage and the Taj Mahal form one of India's most rewarding first journeys.
- Jaipur, Jodhpur & Udaipur
- The Taj Mahal, Agra
- Classic Golden Triangle route
Kerala & South India
Slow down on Kerala's backwaters, then continue into Tamil Nadu's temple towns or the Malabar coast for a South India holiday built around culture, cuisine and a gentler pace.
- Kerala backwater houseboats
- Tamil Nadu temple heritage
- Malabar coast & South India
North India
Beyond the Golden Triangle, North India stretches from Delhi's layered history to Kashmir's lakes and valleys, making it a natural fit for a longer or repeat visit to India.
- Delhi's old & new city
- Kashmir, Ladakh & Leh
Central India
Madhya Pradesh combines tiger reserves with lesser-visited heritage sites, making it a strong addition for travellers who have already covered Rajasthan or the Golden Triangle.
- Tiger safaris
- Heritage & temple sites
Goa & Coastal India
Goa's coastline works well as a relaxed final stop after a more cultural itinerary, combining beach time with Portuguese-influenced heritage in Old Goa.
- Goa's beaches & old town
- Combine with Mumbai or Delhi
Northeast India
Arunachal Pradesh and the hill stations around Darjeeling and Gangtok offer a less-travelled side of India, with mountain scenery, tea estates and distinct local cultures.
- Darjeeling, Gangtok & Shillong
- Arunachal Pradesh
Choose Your India Holiday
An India holiday can be shaped around almost any interest. These are some of the ways travellers typically approach their trip.
Luxury India Holidays
Hand-picked heritage hotels, private transport and guides throughout, for travellers who want comfort alongside authenticity.
Explore →First-Time India
A well-paced introduction - typically Delhi, Agra and Jaipur - that covers India's landmark sights without feeling rushed.
Explore →Wildlife & Safari Holidays
Private safari drives through India's tiger reserves, paired with heritage stays and cultural stops along the way.
Explore →Culture & Heritage
Archaeological sites, historic cities and centuries of layered history across Rajasthan, Delhi and the south.
Explore →Wellness & Ayurveda
Yoga, Ayurveda and time in Rishikesh or Kerala, combined at whatever pace suits your itinerary.
Explore →Family Holidays
Destinations, pace and activities adjusted for travelling with children, built around your family's interests.
Explore →Adventure & Trekking
Himalayan trekking routes and more active itineraries for travellers who want to get further off the beaten path.
Explore →Honeymoon & Romantic Journeys
Private, considered itineraries for couples marking an occasion, with accommodation chosen to suit the milestone.
Explore →Plan Your India Holiday
How long should you spend in India?
- 7–9 days Good for a focused Golden Triangle-style journey covering Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.
- 10–14 days Allows a broader combination, such as Rajasthan with a wildlife safari, or Kerala in more depth.
- 14–21 days Suitable for combining multiple regions, for example Rajasthan and Kerala, or North India and the Himalayas.
- 3+ weeks Better suited to a slower, multi-region journey with time to explore each destination properly.
These are practical guidelines rather than fixed rules - every itinerary is built around the time you have available.
Where should first-time visitors go?
Most first-time travellers to India start with Delhi, Agra and Jaipur - the classic Golden Triangle - before deciding whether to add Rajasthan's other cities or a second region such as Kerala. It's a combination that balances well-known landmarks with enough variety to get a genuine sense of the country.
Can India holidays be customised?
Yes. Destinations, duration, accommodation, pace, experiences, private transport and guides can all be adjusted to suit how you want to travel. Use our custom itinerary tool or speak directly with our tailor-made India tours team.
When Is the Best Time to Visit India?
India is too large and climatically varied for one blanket answer - the right time depends on which regions are on your itinerary.
North India, Rajasthan & the Golden Triangle
October to March is often the most popular window, with cooler, drier weather for sightseeing in Delhi, Agra and Rajasthan.
Kerala & South India
Conditions differ from the north, with its own monsoon and dry-season pattern - worth planning around the specific month rather than assuming the same window applies.
The Himalayas
Travel windows vary considerably by altitude and destination, from Rishikesh's year-round accessibility to more seasonal high-altitude routes.
Ladakh
Most routes are only accessible for part of the year due to snow at altitude, so timing matters more here than almost anywhere else in India.
Wildlife & Safaris
National parks have set opening periods and safari conditions that shift through the season, which affects the best time for a wildlife-focused trip.
How We Plan Your India Holiday
Tell Us What You Want
Share the regions, interests and pace you have in mind, along with your rough travel dates and group size.
Build Your Itinerary
We put together a draft route with suggested accommodation, matched to your interests and the time you have available.
Refine the Details
Adjust destinations, pace or accommodation until the itinerary feels right, with guidance from our team throughout.
Travel With Local Support
Once you're in India, private guides, drivers and our local team are there to help your journey run smoothly.
Why Travel With Imperial India Escapes?
Private Journeys
No fixed departures or shared coach tours - every India holiday is planned for you and your travelling companions.
Tailor-Made Planning
Destinations, duration and pace are built around your interests rather than a set package.
Regional Knowledge
Combined experience across India's regions, from Rajasthan's cities to the Himalayan foothills and the southern coast.
Handpicked Accommodation
Heritage hotels and luxury stays are chosen to suit each itinerary, not selected from a single fixed list.
Local Experiences
Access to guides and experiences that go beyond the standard sightseeing stops.
Personal Communication
A direct point of contact for planning your trip, with local support once you're travelling in India.
What Our Travellers Say
Frequently Asked Questions About India Holidays
Most first-time visitors start with Delhi, Agra and Jaipur - the Golden Triangle - since it combines the Taj Mahal, Rajasthan's palace heritage and India's capital in a manageable route. From there, many travellers add a second region such as Kerala or the Himalayas, depending on how much time they have.
It depends on what you want to see. Seven to nine days suits a focused Golden Triangle-style trip, ten to fourteen days allows a broader combination such as Rajasthan and wildlife, and two to three weeks or more gives space to combine several regions at a comfortable pace.
There isn't one answer for the whole country. October to March generally suits northern India, Rajasthan and the Golden Triangle, while Kerala, the Himalayas and India's wildlife reserves each have their own seasonal patterns. We recommend timing your trip around the specific regions on your itinerary.
Yes. Every itinerary can be adjusted in terms of destinations, duration, accommodation, pace and included experiences. You can start from one of our featured journeys and customise it, or build a trip from scratch through our tailor-made India tours team.
Rajasthan's heritage hotels, Kerala's backwater resorts and the Himalayan foothills all offer strong options for a luxury India holiday, each with a different character. The right choice depends on whether you're drawn to palace architecture, coastal calm or mountain scenery.
Yes, this is a popular combination for travellers with two weeks or more. It pairs Rajasthan's forts, palaces and desert landscapes with Kerala's backwaters and coastline, giving a good sense of India's contrasts within a single itinerary.
Yes. Our India tours are private rather than joined with other travellers, with your own transport, driver and guide throughout, and an itinerary built specifically around your interests and pace.
A typical itinerary includes accommodation, private transport, guides where relevant, and the experiences you've chosen for each destination. The exact inclusions are confirmed with you during planning, since every itinerary is built individually.
Yes, private guides, drivers and transfers are arranged as part of your itinerary, coordinated by our local team so you have support in place throughout your journey.
Start Planning Your India Holiday
Share the regions, pace and experiences you have in mind, and we'll put together an itinerary built around how you want to travel.
