India is less a single destination than a collection of worlds. Watch the light change on the Taj Mahal, stay in the palaces and desert forts of Rajasthan, track tigers in the forests of central India and drift along Kerala’s backwaters on a traditional houseboat. It is vivid, surprising and endlessly rewarding, and no two visits are ever the same.

We have been creating tailor-made holidays since 2007, and our specialists know India well beyond the Golden Triangle: the ghats of Varanasi, the temple towns of Tamil Nadu, the tea gardens of Darjeeling and Assam and the high-altitude monasteries of Ladakh. A country this size rewards careful planning, so we pace your route sensibly, pair private drivers with expert local guides and choose characterful heritage hotels along the way. Every itinerary is built around your pace and interests.

The journeys below are starting points, not fixed tours. Each can be adjusted, extended or combined with Nepal, Bhutan or a beach stay in the Maldives.