India Holidays
India holidays from Exodus.
Noise, people, deserts, teeming markets, the Taj Mahal, tigers, mountains and a dazzling coastline are some of the many facets that make up the vast country of India. Travel in India is always an unforgettable experience, not always for the right reasons, but the rewards are huge: dawn at the Taj in Agra, viewing tigers from elephants in Bandhavgarh, the backwaters of Kerala, the magnificent mountains in Himachal Pradesh or Ladakh and of course the food.
For many India can be intimidating: with one billion people it is understandable but it is always unforgettable. With a host of tours from long overlands to short wildlife safaris there is plenty of choice in this most intoxicating of countries. You'll find a great range of holidays to India below.
Expect the unexpected. India evokes emotion like no other place - drama, passion and Bollywood style romance. Few countries can offer can offer such cultural and geographical diversity for adventure holidays: from the semi-desert of Rajasthan to the tropical delights of Goa and Kerala.
The highlights are almost too many to mention. India’s cities and towns are truly intoxicating, the countryside ranges from lush verdant rainforest to rugged mountain wilderness. From the sensual overload of the cities to the relaxing calm of the country’s backwaters, the myriad of sights, sounds and smells – culture shock is guaranteed.
For all of its natural wonders and beauty, the local people are the thing that will make your activity holiday truly memorable. Warm, welcoming and of a generous laid-back spirit, a healthy ‘anything goes’ optimism exists that makes the subcontinent pot bubble with a vibrant intensity.
India is a country of massive extremes, capable of making your heart sing one moment, and cry out the next. A trip to India is less a holiday and more a voyage of discovery, once there India will grab you and leave an indelible mark that you won’t ever forget.
To find out more about this fascinating country check out our Country Guide to India.
Read the Episodes article online India: Love it or Loathe it? (Nov 2010).
Walking & Trekking Newsletter - Olly Townsend, Exodus' Leader Operations Manager, writes about Memorable Moments in the Himalaya (26 March 2009).
Read the Extracts magazine article online to help you decide whether to visit North or South India? (July 2009).
Win a Trip! Click here to view feel more alive moments from India and for more information about this competition
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A Fairy Tale Morning at the Taj MahalWow, words cannot express the pure bliss I felt this morning. The Taj Mahal is an incredibly majestic place. I visited the monument for sunrise dressed in a recently purchased Sari. It was cloudy and raining slightly but no sooner did the sun come out and create a beautiful backdrop...a rainbow over one of the world's most well recognized piece of architecture! And if you were wondering I tied my Sari all by myself! -
A Tiger in the WildMy first trip to India. Tigers and Cricket with Paul Goldstein. I knew from previous experience that Paul has a reputation for delivering. But this was tiger country and it is the tigers who decide whether to show themselves. Then it happened. A beautiful female tiger came out of the undergrowth. Awesome, magnificant, and Alive. I fumbled around to try and capture the moment on camera. And eventually succeeded. Definitely Worth More Alive. -
Colours of RajasthanThe local women and their children gathered around to greet us, their beautiful sari's blowing in the breeze. Smiles all round and a wonderful welcome to Jaipur, India -
Jumping over the Taj Mahal!Delhi to Kathmandu - amazing trip! Never thought a building could make me feel so alive!! -
there is only one Tajnever really saw myself as sentimental & never really moved by man-made wonders till I saw the Taj Mahal ! to see it & to hear the story of it's construction makes emotions rise to the surface I never knew I had ! -
Working Elephants in KeralaWas on an Explore holiday in Kerala where we cycled places westerners normally do not reach. 16 white people on bikes. Unseen there before. Villagers would phone along the road resulting in a large reception party at each village with children running alonside our bikes shouting greetings. It was christmas and villages had nativity scenes with cotton wool snow on them. The temperature was in the 30s! No McDonalds and no chain stores. Everything was wonderful. After a long ride we met a working elephant which was moving trees in the jungle.So we just had to stop and touch. Wonderful. -
Feeding wellEating a meal with 600 tribal people at a gathering in Orissa (Odisha) - made me glad to be alive - these people are so joyful, but have so little compared to westerners. The photo shows the colour as we ate from plates made of leaves stitched together. All of us ate from the same cooking pots..... -
Chased by an elephant!It was dark, and we were on our way back to the tree house. I heard one of rangers point out that the trees were pulled down. We could smell fresh feces of an elephant. As we proceeded, we saw the back of the elephant. slowly turning around to see what was behind. Just then, it started running towards us. The driver immediately reversed in full speed. The elephant followed us for a while, and then disappeared. It was scary as we had just heard about stories of people being killed by elephants. A never to forget experience indeed! -
BELIEVE!Inspired by Tony Jaa in Ong Bak my housemate bet me the cost of my trip that I too couldn't do a handstand atop an elephant. After 3 weeks, on the final day we came across this magnificent creature "Chunpa". Although by form its not likely to win a gold at the olympics anytime soon, this was my everest. A truly ridiculous story matched only by its achievement. BELIEVE. -
Riding the World's Highest Road PassesRiding a motorcycle that was designed in 1953, on roads that disappear for 8 months of the year, to the highest road pass in the world. You cannot feel more alive. Or maybe it's the altitude... -
holi festival Udipur India...this was the holi festival which marks the end of winter and begining of spring, great fun as long as you don't mind getting covered in coloured powder and water.... -
Taj and tigersTravelling around India for three weeks on night trains -
TigersFollowed a tiger through the jungle in India whilst sitting on the back of an elephant. Very special birthday treat. -
the eye of the tigerlast year travelled to india on tiger safaris felt so alive and exhilerated driving in the jeeps searching for these elusive animals. Best experience was being in a reserve sitting on elephants with a cornered tiger only a few feet away . I looked at the tiger and we just stared at each other for a few seconds ...as if he were trying to read my thoughts .. one of the best experiences of my life Cant believe people are still killing these magnificent creatures -
India's painted houses - the perfect stage!India's Haveli's are just awesome on their own, but add children into the mix and the whole scene comes to life - the children listened to the tales of the history of the houses then took matters into their own hands and showed us what they really thought - just priceless and proving to us how valuable travel experiences are for our children. -
The Terrific Thar DesertI was out on a camel Safari in the Thar Desert. I was wearing a Salwar Kameez. One of the men that came with me was re-tying his turban so I tried to copy him with my scarf. He came over to me and tied a turban for me. He then took out a mirror from his coat pocket to show me what I looked like! It was a wonderful moment:) -
seeing a tiger in the wildSeeing a tiger in the while caswually walk throught about 200 tourists and locals in the national park. -
Celebrating Holi in IndiaStaid ladies in saris throwing sparkling powders at passers by, laughing children throwing water over giggling elders and everywhere paint and colours and music. The whole community took to the streets to celebrate the festival of Holi in the little village in Rajasthan I was staying in on my Gap Year Travels . I really felt part of the colourful, vibrant and joyous celebrations. I will always carry the colours and joy in my memories of travelling in India. Magic! -
Old post officeA fantastic experience being shown round several Hindu temples in the Chambal area of northern India. Working for the post office this image of the regional post office built in the time of the British colonisation grabbed my attention. The sacred cow and the roaming pig just added to the scene. -
Face to face with a tigerEarly one June morning in Ranthambore National Park in India we headed out on a tiger safari. Having been warned that our chances of seeing a tiger were slim at best, although excited our expectations weren't high. I knew many people who had been several times and had no luck. This was our one day to see one. I have never felt more alive than when staring at a magnificent, beautiful, powerful tiger just feet away from our jeep. -
An Indian Trip Down Memory LaneI never thought I would come back here again,' my husband said as we landed at Dehli for the trip of a lifetime. It was to be a very special moment for us in more ways than one. Not only did we see all the magical wonder of India including the breath-taking Taj Mahal, we also retraced my husband's back-packing footsteps when he first arrived in India 45 years earlier taking photographs of the same monuments and temples. We even visited the Sikh temple where he met his best friend with whom he still keeps in touch with today. -
A cycling tour isn't just about a chafed buttIt's about experiencing diversions! Whether its your trusted guide who ushers his cycling charges to an impromptu Hindu ceremony to witness adorned and bejewelled elephants vying for a title or locating a boat to load your bike onto because the bridge that was there on the last trip has been washed away or its chilling out with your new found buddies sharing gin and tonic, swapping stories and bonding in a comfy boat whilst marveling at the dazzling colours of a spectacular Kerala sunset, it's never boring as there's lots of stories to tell and experiences to be had -
Camel ride on an Indian summer nightWe were staying in a place in Pushkar, a quiet town dominated by a holy lake. It was boiling hot and organised for camels to take us out to the desert where we could have dinner out on the plains away from the pollution and traffic.Turned out to be the most peaceful night of the trip and a must do for any Indian adventurers. This was all capped off by a return journey under the stars in the ever cooling night. -
A stroll in JaipurCars, bikes, trucks, tuk-tuks, roadworks, animals, people, NOISE - negotiating the streets of Jaipur! (Highlights of Northern India Nov 2012) -
Chilling ‘Ganges Style’With its white sandy beaches and jade green water, it looked just like the Caribbean. After a hot morning’s walk, the lure of the Ganges was too great to resist. Hoping to gain from any spiritual benefit, I went for the full immersion…. Straight from the Himalayan foothills, the icy shock of the water awakened the senses but not only did it take your breath away, it hurt your brain. For me it certainly was a once in a lifetime, NEVER to be repeated experience! -
amazingly friendly happy childrenWaving goodbye to the school children who all came out to see us whilst we waited for our ferry. They wondered why anybody would choose to cycle across Kerela in the heat of midday. -
A room with a view!The exhilaration of peeling back the tent door to be greeted by Kanchenjunga 8,586 ("the sleeping budda") resting in the early morning crisp, bright sunlight, is a moment to savour. The Singalila Ridge provides constant stunning views of the Himalayan mountain chain that we felt privileged to share with friendly members of the occasional village and their hardly livestock. A true early morning tonic! -
Jump for Joy!One of the highlights of my cycling trip through Kerala was stopping off at an orphanage to meet the children. I thought this would be harrowing but it was quite the opposite. The simple pleasure of a climbing frame brought 'having fun' right back to basics. The smiles, laughter and energy of these children showed their genuine appreciation to have been given a second chance in life, and really put 'feel more alive' into perspective. -
memories of IndiaOur family holiday to India with Exodus was a chance for each one of us to make new friends and to see amazing sites. We managed to see a tiger in the wild, the Taj Mahal at sunset and sunrise and how Indian families live with a home visit . Giving our family memories to treasure together, is the best gift we can give them . -
Incredible Indian himalayasThe Taj Mahal at dawn was the most amazing experience, it isn't until you actually go there and see it for real that you appreciate what a real wonder of the world is. It was our last visit of a unique and wonder filled 2 weeks in Amritsar and the Indian Himalayas and we decided that we didn't need to see anything more, it really was a question of leaving the best till last, something we shall never forget -
a night under the stars with a camelWith the sun starting to rise we met our camels, Lalla, Heraa and ChinqoCharlie and the guide we would have for the next two days, a local desert villager, Pusa. After an Indian breakfast we set off on our camel safari. Riding through the desert on our camels, getting to know their personalities, learning about desert and village life, escaping the heat of the day in shepherds huts, having some of the best indian food we tasted-cooked on a simple camp fire, traditional songs in the evening and sleeping on the sand under the stars = an amazing 2 days. -
50th BirthdayTurning 50 on a train in Kerala India with new found friends. -
The End of a Hard DayThis was our group savouring a very welcome ice cold drink on arrival at Wild Haven lodge in the Mudumalia National Park . We had just completed the ride from Bandipur National Park in the foothills of the Western Ghats through a tiger reserve , passing wild elephants, peacocks and monkeys on route . The perfect end to an exhilarating, tiring, hot ride. -
Birthdays to rememberAn amazing way to celebrate three big birthdays . Three girls , 18 21 and 50 years old all in the same 6months. A trip we all want to go on again as India was mind boggling , rough ,rich showy and manic....we rode on 9 different modes of transport including Elephant byson bycicle and rickshaw. We crave for more............ -
Sunrise on the Ganges in VaranasiOf the places we were visiting on the 'Northern Highlights of India' trip I didn't expect to like Varanasi. I imagined it would be a dirty and smelly place. I couldn't have been more wrong! The experience of witnessing the hustle and bustle of life and in particular the hindu pilgims practising their faith on the banks of the Ganges, especially on the beautiful morning pictured here will live we me for ever -
The best exotic Marigold hotel relivedI had seen the film twice before leaving for India and Nepal, and once more on the flight to Delhi. Then, here we were, two days later about to live the part, amidst the hustle and bustle of Jaipur, the noise of the traffic,the crowds of people, the array of garlands of marigolds lining the streets for Divali, combining with our shrieks of laughter. -
A spot of YogaThe edge of the World rock in Munnar Southern India, whilst staying with a familyin a Homestay. Balance had to be correct as there was a 500' drop behind me. It focussed my concentration. So pleased I had the beer later!! -
To the BoneNo matter where I am when I feel the sun I think back to my Exodus holidays! Another restless night at altitude! Its 6am, I crawl out of my tent. Its just getting light, still freezing but its good to get out and start moving. As soon as the 1st sun rays come up I feel the heat on my face and within minutes warming my cold bones. Then I look around at miles of rugged mountain landscape. Its beautiful. I feel so fortuneate. I smile and feel alive. -
The river Ganges at sunset TICK“Penny its not your usual styleâ€. Indeed it wasn’t - camping on a sandbank in the river Ganges February 2013 against glamping at Bush Camp in 2012! However journeying some 85 kilometres by country boat with the perfect entry to Varanasi made all worthwhile. Millions of Pilgrims had been at the Kumbh Mela and the tranquillity of the river with just the sound of the slap of water on the oars was worth some physical discomfort. A great group of people all combined to give me the buzz of FEELING MORE ALIVE. -
Hindu BabyThe Meenakshi Ammanle Temple in Madurai - South India, such a beautiful and spiritual place. I could have spent days and days wondering around such a beautifully colourful and vibrant atmosphere. So many reasons for celebration, newly wed couples, newly pregnant mothers to be and babys first blessings. This baby was brought to the temple for his first ever blessing and I was lucky enough to hold him. The mother gave me her address and I made sure I sent lots of photos of her beautiful baby when I got home.
Holidays in India
15 days from
2299
Flight Inclusive. Country: India
The two southernmost states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala perfectly depict the contrasting nature of India. Seeing them on two wheels gives us an excellent opportunity to soak up the rich culture and appreciate the different landscapes as we cycle by.
Tamil Nadu sees far…
Average review rating 
based on 5 reviews.
Trip code: MIT
Next departure: 12th October 2013
Max group size: 14
11 days from
1799
Flight Inclusive. Country: India
Cradled between mountain ranges, Bandhavgarh boasts a breathtaking mixture of dense green valleys and rocky hills. This stunning park, home to a huge variety of wildlife including leopards, Chital deer, wild boar, sloth bear and wild dog as well as an astounding number of…
Average review rating 
based on 2 reviews.
Trip code: AKT
Next departure: 24th October 2013
Max group size: 16
16 days from
1899
Flight Inclusive. Country: India
Rajasthan has landscapes varying from green rolling hills to barren deserts. The whole state is dotted with dramatic fortresses, reminders of the Rajputs and their warrior past, while away from the desert the countryside is a patchwork of villages and small towns where we…
Average review rating 
based on 30 reviews.
Trip code: MIJ
Next departure: 18th October 2013
Max group size: 16
15 days from
1899
Flight Inclusive. Country: India
Southern India is a magical place: beautiful landscapes, fascinating towns and villages, long white beaches and superb food, an excellent place to explore by bike.
In the cool heights of the Western Ghats the sanctuaries at Bandipur and Mudumalai hide wild elephants,…
Average review rating based on 62 reviews.
Trip code: MIK
Next departure: 20th July 2013
Max group size: 14
15 days from
1449
Flight Inclusive. Country: India
After exploring the old spice town of Cochin we journey inland to visit the Raj town of Munnar, surrounded by tea plantations, grassland and verdant forest.
Christianity and even Judaism have left their mark on the coastal regions but it is Hinduism that dominates,…
Average review rating based on 43 reviews.
Trip code: AIT
Next departure: 31st July 2013
Max group size: 16
