Our Rural India holidays & tours
Our rural India holidays let you slow down and experience life away from the fast-moving city streets. Enjoy myriad opportunities to meet and connect with villagers as you spend time getting to know their small communities. You might volunteer with Adivasi people in the Nilgiri Mountains, with projects ranging from education to health, social welfare, conservation and culture preservation all decided on beforehand with the villagers. In Ladakh, our family homestays contribute financially to education efforts, construction of eco-friendly homes and irrigation channels, and train local people in responsible tourism.
On this type of trip a local guide is not only indispensable in translation and understanding local cultural norms, but also a fantastic help in getting the most from your stay. They’ll know if a village is hosting a private ceremony and should be avoided, or if there is an impromptu event where visitors would be welcomed, and ensure that food is brought along on overnight stays so as not to put a financial strain on the hosts. Our rural India tours are a perfect example of how the harmonious balance of responsible tourism that benefits both host and visitor works in practice.
On this type of trip a local guide is not only indispensable in translation and understanding local cultural norms, but also a fantastic help in getting the most from your stay. They’ll know if a village is hosting a private ceremony and should be avoided, or if there is an impromptu event where visitors would be welcomed, and ensure that food is brought along on overnight stays so as not to put a financial strain on the hosts. Our rural India tours are a perfect example of how the harmonious balance of responsible tourism that benefits both host and visitor works in practice.
Our top Rural India holidays
Orissa and Chhattisgarh tours in India
From
£2795
14 days
ex flights
Distinct tribal cultures, temples & traditional textiles
Small group2027: 12 Feb, 5 Nov
Indian Himalayas walking holiday
From
£1975
10 days
ex flights
Easy walking through the rural villages of Kumaon
Tailor made
Central India Buddhist heritage tour
From
£1899 to £2499
17 days
ex flights
Buddhist trails and caves, ancient temples, village life
Tailor made
Holidays to Odisha and Bastar, India
From
£2950
13 days
ex flights
An immersive journey into rural east Indian tribal culture
Tailor made
History, culture & wildlife of India holiday
From
£1336
15 days
ex flights
From the Nilgiri Hills to the beaches of Goa
Tailor made
Ladakh cultural and rural tour, India
From
£1399 to £1999
14 days
ex flights
Experience homestays, cuisine, Buddhist culture, and more
Tailor made
South India community volunteering holiday
From
£1590 to £2353
14 days
ex flights
Engage with and support forest-dwelling tribal communities
Tailor made
Sikkim & Kolkata cultural tour in India
From
£1299 to £1399
11 days
ex flights
Cultural Immersion with Tribal Communities in Sikkim.
Tailor made
Cultural and rural tour of North East India
From
£1199 to £1699
12 days
ex flights
Holiday with the tribes of stunning North East India.
Tailor made
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Rural India map & highlights
India is vast, of course – so even with internal flights or overnight train journeys, you’re still going to have to narrow down your itinerary. In the steamy south, soak up traditional life in Karnataka and Kerala before finishing up on a Goan beach. Central India promises remote village stays and tiger reserves, easily combining Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. In the north, choose between Rajasthan’s deserts and royal palaces, or the Himalayan setting of Ladakh. Or for something truly different, head to the salt-encrusted swamplands of Gujarat, or to Nagaland’s annual Hornbill Festival, in the far northeast. Remember, India’s climate varies hugely depending on season and location – so take this into account when planning where to go on holiday in rural India.
Chhattisgarh
1. Chhattisgarh
Despite being central and close to attractions such as Kanha Tiger Reserve, Chhattisgarh remains well off the mainstream tourist trail. That means that life in its rural villages remains wonderfully traditional, temples such as 12th century Bhoramdeo remain free of tourists and haat (weekly markets) are still authentic, tribal affairs. Treks into the Maikal Hills with cattle herder-cum-guide are highly recommended.
Goa
2. Goa
Goa might not be the first place to spring to mind when you think of rural holidays in India, but inland, you won’t find a more rural idyll. Canoe along rivers and through mangroves, explore the Portuguese style architecture of the country houses, look out for swallows and the odd otter, or spend a few days on some of the quieter strips of coastline, relaxing and reflecting at the end of your trip.
Gujarat
3. Gujarat
Perched between Pakistan and the Arabian Sea, Gujarat is hard to define even by Indian standards. It has an epic coastline, striking Jain architecture, tribal villages, flock of flamingoes, skilled weavers and the Rann of Kutch – wetlands that dry into salt flats each summer. Gujarat is already off the beaten track, but rural tours here take you further – into temples, villages, ancient towns and heritage hotels.
Karnataka
4. Karnataka
The Western Ghats and Nilgiri Hills are at the heart of rural holidays in Karnataka, a wild province offering multi day hill treks, tiger and elephant safaris, and a ride on the UNESCO-listed train as it traverses gorges and waterfalls are all must-dos. Visit temples dotted across the state, dating back to the 12th century, then cool off in the colonial hill station of Ooty (2,240m), just over the border in Tamil Nadu.
Ladakh
5. Ladakh
Ladakh, the “land of high passes”, is dominated by the Himalayas, and rural holidays here take you beyond the gateway town of Leh at 3,500m, and out towards snowy peaks and remote valleys, following ancient caravan routes. Explore lunar landscapes, tiny bazaars, Buddhist and Muslim heritage and ride camels across dunes, preparing yourself for some of the most brilliant sunsets you’ll ever see.
Madhya Pradesh
6. Madhya Pradesh
Sprawled across the centre of the country, this state is the “heart of India”. Here, you’ll find attractions such as the ruins at Mandu – believed to be the largest complex of forts, palaces and temples in Asia. Explore Bhopal’s Muslim heritage, the Hindu pilgrimage town on Ujjain, and the Buddhist stupa at Sanchi. Get your wildlife fix in Satpura, Kanha and Bandhavgarh National Parks, including tigers.
Rajasthan
7. Rajasthan
While many travellers may flock here for the fine cities, rural Rajasthan is just as enticing. Explore highlands and plains on a weeklong horseback tour, or base yourself in a castle, now a luxury heritage hotel, in the Aravelli Hills, and take daytrips out to traditional villages, lakes and jacaran
Our Rural India holidays reviews
4.8
70Rural India holidays reviews
Shaun Hetherington03 Mar 2026
Extremely good. The organisational skills and attention to detail were very good as was the level of care and support.read more
Zoe Davies23 Feb 2026
It was totally and utterly superb!read more
Nick Abbot05 Feb 2026
Wildlife viewing is a gamble and tiger viewing requires tracking. The guides and drivers, and naturalists were all excellent and we were fortunate to have 10/10 tiger, leopard and sloth bear sightings. What can be controlled are: itinerary, accommodations, transportation, intensity and sight seeing - all easily met or exceeded our expectations; we booked a 3-week private trip.read more
