India is a dazzling mix of sights, sounds, wonders and cultural shocks.
Breathtaking natural scenery, vibrant cities, vast blue oceans, delicious food, pristine beaches, ancient history, exotic wildlife and spiritual mysticism make the country one of the most desired travel destinations in the world.
Home to the majestic Himalayan mountain ranges, centuries-old Ayurveda and yoga traditions, ancient spiritual traditions and over a billion people, visiting India is a truly transformative experience.
Destinations such as the Taj Mahal, Rajasthan (known for its opulent palaces and cultural attractions) and “God’s own country” Kerala (known for its sleepy hinterland, Ayurvedic remedies and beautiful beaches) are on many international tourists’ India bucket lists.
Why wouldn’t you? These are some of the most amazing destinations you can visit on Earth.
But what if I told you there’s a whole new, unexplored world of luxury adventure travel that most tourists miss out on?
If you’ve been hesitating about traveling to India, now’s your chance: a host of off-the-beaten-path and exciting adventure travel destinations await you in 2023.
Here are the 10 best luxury adventure spots in India for 2014.
Cycling the Western Ghats
The evergreen Western Ghats meander through the southwestern states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Imagine a landscape of rolling green hills, cascading tea plantations, picturesque waterfalls, chirping birds and perfect weather for a cycling tour.
These are the Western Ghats. We recommend a cycling tour in the Nilgiri (Blue Mountains) Biosphere Reserve region.
Best time to visit: End of monsoon and summer, November to March.
Skiing in Gulmarg, Kashmir
“What! Skiing in India?” Yes, that’s right!
Gulmarg (“Meadow of Flowers”), nestled in the Himalayan ranges in the northernmost part of Jammu and Kashmir, is India’s top skiing destination.
It is also home to the world’s highest golf course (Gulmarg Golf Course) and the world’s highest cable car, Gulmarg Gandra.
If you love snow and skiing, then visiting Gulmarg in winter is highly recommended.
Best Time to Ski: Gulmarg is a great holiday destination during the hot summer months (April to September), but the best time to ski is from November to February.
Jeep Safari in Spiti Valley, Uttarakhand
The word Spiti means “the middle land” in the local Tibetan language of the region. For centuries, the Spiti Valley has been the gateway from India to the Tibetan Plateau.
A jeep safari along the Spiti River, which meanders through the valley, is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
The snow-capped mountains of the Himalayas, rugged rocky terrain, beautiful streams and lakes, and vast cold deserts are a dream canvas for off-road exploration.
Nature trail in the Land of Living Root Bridges, Mawlynnong (Meghalaya)
The northeastern state of Meghalaya is one of the rainiest places in India, but don’t be scared: it’s home to an incredibly exotic world of indigenous peoples, rushing waterfalls and streams, lush mountains and dense forests.
The so-called ‘living root bridges’ of Meghalaya are a testament to the indigenous engineering skills of the Eastern Khasi people. They are formed by guiding the roots of rubber trees (commonly known as Hevea brasiliensis) to create root bridges over streams, rivers and water bodies.
A rich and dense ecosystem of flora and fauna and fascinating nature trails, some of which have been utilised for centuries by the Khasi tribe, make Meghalaya a fantastic natural tourist destination worth visiting.
Off-road driving in Ladakh, the “Land of High Mountains”
Ladakh is home to some of the highest motorable passes on Earth, including Khardung La (5,359 metres/17,582 feet) and Changa La (5,360 metres/5,391 feet).
For off-roading experts, Ladakh is a dream destination. It has everything you need for a jeep ride – high driveable mountains, vast barren plateaus and stunning Himalayan landscapes.
Don’t miss a two-humped camel ride through the Nubra Valley, stopping at famous gompas (ancient Buddhist temples) along the way, including Hemis, Thikse and Diskit Gompa.
Tracking rhinos in Kaziranga National Park (Assam)
The Indian rhinoceros (also known as Rhinoceros Unicornis) is an endangered species native to the Indian subcontinent. Kaziranga National Park in the northeastern state of Assam is the last remaining habitat of this amazing creature in the world.
Thanks to an excellent conservation program, Kaziranga’s rhino population has soared to 2,613 (up from 2,401 in 2015).
Kaziranga’s tropical moist broadleaf forests, combined with a landscape of wetlands and elephant grass fed by the sacred Brahmaputra River, provide an excellent habitat for a wide variety of birds, reptiles and mammals.
For wildlife lovers, a wildlife safari in Kaziranga National Park is an experience you should never miss.
Canoeing in the Sundarbans
The misty mangrove forests of the Sundarbans are an ideal place for canoeing. Comprised of 102 tiny islands in the Ganges delta, covering an area of 1,330 square kilometres, the Sundarbans is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is home to majestic Bengal tigers, saltwater crocodiles, sea turtles, Ganges dolphins and many other mammal, bird and reptile species.
Trekking in the Himalayas
Located in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, the Himalayas are the world’s most majestic mountain range and are home to rivers such as the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra, which provide food for more than 2 billion people in the region.
India is home to mountains such as Kangchenjunga (8,586m), the third highest in the world, Nanda Devi (7,816m), Kamet (7,756m), Hanuman Tibba (5,982m), Dunagiri and Ratong, making it one of the most desirable destinations in the world for serious mountaineers.
If you are not such an extreme climber, you can also trek to many other easier peaks in the “Lower Himalayas”.
Tiger watching in Ranthambore National Park
Tigers are notoriously elusive animals, often to the dismay of safari-goers, as they camouflage themselves perfectly in the wild. Not all tiger safaris in India end with the thrill of sighting this awe-inspiring animal.
But your best option is Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan, which offers one of the best wildlife safaris in India and the best chance of spotting a tiger.
Scuba Diving in the Andaman Islands
The Nicobar and Andaman Islands are a group of islands off the coast of South India.
The islands are blessed with beautiful white sand beaches, clear blue skies, picturesque mangroves and ideal beach weather.
The Andaman Islands’ coral reefs are teeming with exotic marine life, making this a surreal location for scuba diving and deep-sea exploration.
