India
A country in name, yet a world in its own right, India is an immersion of colour, rhythm and contrast. It is a place felt as much as it is seen — alive with the call of temple bells, the hum of traffic and the heady scent of spices drifting through the air. To navigate such extraordinary diversity, our India specialists draw on first-hand experience to design a journey that is entirely yours, shaped around what stirs your curiosity and senses.
In the north, the Himalaya rise in silent majesty, their snow-crowned peaks a striking counterpoint to the life unfolding below. Travel south into Rajasthan, where honey-hued forts and opulent palaces glow in the desert light, and the marble perfection of the Taj Mahal reveals itself in hushed reverence. In central India, the jungle stirs with possibility — the rustle of leaves, distant calls and the chance of encountering leopard, elephant or the elusive Bengal tiger.
Kolkata, in the northeast, still carries the echo of empire, its grand colonial mansions and neo-Gothic architecture set against a backdrop of creativity, literature and street life. Mumbai on the west coast is exhilarating and unapologetic — Art Deco boulevards, bustling bazaars, clattering trains and a city that never pauses. In the south, Kerala slows the pace entirely. Glide through palm-lined backwaters on a converted rice barge, where the air is heavy with jasmine, coconut and spice, and life unfolds to a gentler rhythm.
Curated Horizons crafts India journeys that awaken every sense — tasting, listening, observing and connecting. This is travel that goes deeper, revealing a country of extraordinary depth, spirit and soul, experienced in a way that is uniquely your own.
Where Your Indian Story Begins
To help you begin shaping your Indian journey, we have highlighted a selection of our most sought-after itineraries below. Each one reflects routes and experiences that have stood the test of time, refined through first-hand knowledge and a deep understanding of the country. They are not fixed programmes, but thoughtfully crafted starting points — designed to inspire ideas, spark imagination, and open the door to what is possible. From here, every detail can be carefully tailored to your exact requirements, creating a journey that is unmistakably your own.
Glimpse of India
A short but comprehensive journey through India’s Golden Triangle
Places Visited :Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Delhi
Popularly known as the Golden Triangle, this tour takes in the most popular sights of the country and is a true introduction to India. Start in the city of Delhi with the tree-lined boulevards of Lutyen’s New Delhi and the hustle and bustle of the Old City. Move on to Agra to admire one of the most iconic and beautiful buildings in the world, the Taj Mahal, as well as the impressive Agra Fort with its Diwan-i-Am & Diwan-i-Khas (halls of public and private audience) and lastly, the Pink City of Jaipur, with its stately forts, sprawling palaces and colourful bazaars.
Golden Triangle and Tigers
An exciting tour of India’s classic Golden Triangle and Ranthambore National Park
Places Visited :Delhi, Agra, Ranthambore, Jaipur, Delhi
Ideal for first time visitors who want to explore a little of India’s nature along with the big hitting sights. We start a tour of Old Delhi, including the Jama Masjid and the Red Fort, and explore the bazaars of Old Delhi by cycle rickshaws before driving through Lutyens’ Delhi to Humayun’s Tomb and head towards the iconic 2000 year Qutab Minar. In Agra we visit the iconic Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. The Pink City of Jaipur comes next, with its stately forts, sprawling palaces and colourful bazaars. Lastly, our foray into nature takes us to Ranthambore where we seek out tigers among other exotic wildlife.
Call of the Wild
An exhilarating journey through India’s premier national parks, home to the Royal Bengal Tiger
Places Visited :Delhi, Ranthambore National Park, Agra, Bandhavgarh National Park, Kanha National Park, Nagpur
Embark on an exhilarating journey through some of India’s premier national parks where the tiger has been part of the folklore for generations. Ranthambore in Rajasthan is renowned for its excellent Tiger sightings. Bandhavgarh, in central India, has rocky hills rising from valleys with dense forests and swamps. The neighbouring park at Kanha, one of the finest in the country, has vast open meadows and grasslands offering ideal grazing territory for mammals that form part of the food-chain. Each of these parks, with its sizeable tiger population, provides us with the possibility of observing these beautiful cats from up-close in their natural habitat.
In Agra, we soak in beauty of another kind when we visit the magnificent Taj Mahal. You stay in good resorts in each park, where accommodation is comfortable standard grade properties, and in first-class hotels in cities. The tour uses a combination of road and train travel.
If inclined, you could consider upgrading accommodations to many 'ultra luxury' options available.
Remember, this trip can be personalised to suit your travel needs - we can tailor everything from hotel, travel type, duration and more.
Rail Holidays
Choose from an extraordinary selection of journeys aboard India's most celebrated luxury trains.
The Maharajas' Express, winner of the World's Leading Luxury Train Award for seven consecutive years, features spacious cabins with private en-suite facilities, personal butler service, and gourmet cuisine prepared fresh onboard by celebrated chefs. Travel through Rajasthan's Golden Triangle visiting the Taj Mahal at sunrise, spot Bengal tigers in Ranthambore National Park, and explore the Pink City of Jaipur—all while enjoying five-star accommodation that never requires you to pack and unpack.
The Palace on Wheels, India's pioneering luxury train launched in 1982, traverses the desert landscapes of Rajasthan in carriages once used by actual maharajas, stopping at magnificent forts, the serene lake city of Udaipur, and the golden sandstone majesty of Jaisalmer.
The Deccan Odyssey stands out by focusing mainly on the less explored regions of central India, with specially commissioned carriages that reflect the splendours of the Deccan Rule. Our top recommendation approaches from the south via Mumbai, offering a regal journey through distinctive landscapes, wildlife, and historic highlights of the state. This includes visits to the magnificent cave temples of Ellora and Ajanta, along with thrilling opportunities to spot wild tigers in Pench National Park.
For those seeking a more authentic adventure, our India by Rail tour takes you through the heart of the subcontinent using the public railway network, riding the historic Darjeeling Mail to the Himalayan foothills and the narrow-gauge toy train to Darjeeling, experiencing station life as a microcosm of Indian society itself.
Golden Triangle and Kerala Backwaters
Places Visited :Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Mumbai, Cochin, Periyar National Park, Alleppey, Kovalam
One of the questions we’re most frequently asked by clients contemplating their first trip to India is ‘whether to go north or south’? This two-week tour neatly sidesteps the dilemma by combining the highlights of both. Beginning with a whistle-stop round of the Golden Triangle and Rajasthan’s monuments – including the Taj Mahal, Delhi’s Jama Masjid and “Pink City” of Jaipur – it uses Mumbai’s ultra-efficient flight connections as a stepping stone to the far southern state of Kerala, whose lush, tropical backwaters and tea plantations provide the perfect counterpoint to the Mughal grandeur and desert vistas of the previous week.
Southern Explorer
Journey across southern India taking in UNESCO Sites, colourful temples and picturesque backwaters.
Places Visited :Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Kumbakonam, Madurai, Periyar, Kumarakom, Alleppey (Rice boat), Cochin
Covering some of the finest sights of the southernmost states of India, our Southern Explorer tour commences with the atmospheric temple towns of Tamil Nadu, including Mamallapuram and its beautiful shore temples and bas-relief. After an overnight stop at the uniquely French city of Pondicherry, we drive to Thanjavur to see the UNESCO World Heritage temples of Brihadeeshwara and the bustling Meenakshi temple at Madurai. Crossing the Western Ghats into Kerala at Periyar, we enjoy a boat ride on tranquil Lake Periyar and experience a night under the stars sailing the backwaters on a traditional rice boat before visiting Colonial Fort Kochi.
Kayaking in Kuttinad in India
When it comes to exploring the Keralan backwaters, rice boats can only get you so far. To penetrate deeply into the area’s roadless core, you need to navigate canals that are far too narrow for a houseboat. Kayaks are perfect for this.
Your guide will be with you every paddle stroke of the way, as you delve into the tunnels of vegetation shrouding Kuttinad’s myriad islands and hidden waterways – a greatway to experience village life close up.
You can add this experience to any tailor-made itinerary that includes a night on Kerala's backwaters.
Pushkar Camel Fair
Puskhar really comes alive during the annual mela, or fair, held over the full-moon of Karthik month (which usually falls in November). Hundreds of thousands of Hindu pilgrims pour in from across the region to take a redemptory dip in the holy water, said to cleanse the soul of all sin at this time. But it’s the extraordinary spectacle of the livestock market run alongside the religious festival that really captures the attention of foreign visitors.
Droves of animals, particularly camels, are traded here by villagers, who take the opportunity to adorn themselves in the most striking traditional clothes and jewellery – an unmissable photo opportunity.