India guide
Like India itself, our India travel guide is bursting with colour and spice.
Rural India travel guide
One thing you will notice on our rural India holidays and their reviews is the abundance of names. Husna the female driver, Rawla Singh at the castle, Narendra’s family, Saurabh the guide, “our dearest friend Sunny”, and even Lily the goat! This familiarity sums up what is so special about rural holidays in India: they break down a population of over a billion people and put you on first name terms with Indians from all walks of life: from potters and chefs, to tribespeople and naturalists.
If you think India is Delhi and the Golden Triangle, think again. A fifth of the world’s population lives in India and two thirds of these live in villages – you have to go rural to discover India’s beating heart.![]()
Names aren’t the only words you’ll learn; these trips require a whole new vocabulary. As you travel through backwaters and valleys, you might be stopping at dhaba (roadside cafes), keeping an eye out for nilgai and gaur (deer and Indian bison), attending a puja (feast of bells) or travelling by kettuvallam (houseboat). Wander through our rural India travel guide to find out how you can put names to faces on your India holiday.
Our Rural India Holidays
Ladakh cultural and rural tour, India
Stay with local families in beautiful Ladakh
From
£750 to £1250
9 days
ex flights
History, culture & wildlife of India holiday
From the Nilgiri Hills to the beaches of Goa
From
£1336
15 days
ex flights
Central India holiday, culture and wildlife
The very best of central India's wildlife and history
From
Rupee249000
16 days
ex flights
Sikkim & Kolkata cultural tour in India
Culture of Kolkata and Village Life of Sikkim
From
£750 to £950
11 days
ex flights
Central India Buddhist heritage tour
Buddhist trails and caves, ancient temples, village life
From
£850 to £1250
12 days
ex flights
Cultural and rural tour of North East India
Cultural, rural and tribal holiday in North East India
From
£850 to £1150
12 days
ex flights
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.
Our top Rural India Holiday
Central India Buddhist heritage tour
Buddhist trails and caves, ancient temples, village life
From
£850 to £1250
12 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
Travel Team
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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
More about Rural India
What to expect rural India holiday. Things to do, things to not do and advice about travelling around rural India
Enjoy homestays, nature walks, valley treks, weaving workshops and the pleasure of home cooked meals, shared with local hosts and families...
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