India is a land of a dizzying cacophony of sight, sounds, wonders —and cultural shocks.
Breathtaking natural landscapes, bustling cities, vast blue oceans, succulent food, pristine beaches, ancient history, exotic wildlife, and spiritual mystique make it one of the world’s most desired travel destinations.
India is the abode to the mighty Himalayas, the centuries-old traditions of Ayurveda and yoga, the birthplace of ancient spiritual traditions, and home to over a billion people. Visiting India is a truly transformative experience.
Most international tourists fill up their India travel bucket list with destinations like the Taj Mahal, Rajasthan (known for its opulent palaces and cultural attractions), and “God’s Own Country” Kerala (known for its sleepy otherworldly backwaters, Ayurveda therapies, and stunning beaches.
And why not? These are some of the most remarkable destinations you’ll visit on the planet.
But what if we tell you there is a whole new untouched world of luxury adventure travel that most tourists have been missing out on?
If you’ve been dragging your feet on visiting India, now is the time. A host of exciting off-the-beaten-path adventure travel destinations await you in 2023.
Here is a list of the 10 best luxury adventure places in India in 2014.
The ever-green Western Ghat mountain range meanders through the Southwestern states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
Picture a landscape of rolling green hills, cascading tea gardens, picturesque waterfalls, chirping birds, and just the perfect kind of weather for a cycling tour.
That’s the Western Ghats. We recommend a cycling tour in the Nilgiri (Blue Mountain) Biosphere Reserve region.
The Best Time to Visit: After the monsoon and end of summer—November to March.
“What! Skiing in India!” Yes. You heard that right!
Gulmarg (the “Meadow of Flowers”) is snuggled in the Himalayas in the northernmost state of Jammu & Kashmir and is India’s best skiing destination.
It also has the world’s highest golf course (the Gulmarg Golf Course) as well as the world’s highest cable car—the Gulmarg Gandola.
If you love snow and skiing, we highly recommend a visit to Gulmarg in winter.
The Best Time to Skii: While Gulmarg is the perfect getaway in the sweltering months of summer (April-September), the best months to go skiing are from November to February).
The word Spiti means “the Middle Land” in the local Tibetan language of the region. For centuries the Spiti Valley has been the gateway to the Tibetan plateau from India.
A Jeep safari along the Spiti River which snakes its way through the valley is the adventure of a lifetime.
Snow-clad Himalayan peaks, rugged rocky terrain, beautiful streams and lakes, and a vast cold desert form the dream canvas for an off-roading expedition.
The northeastern state of Meghalaya is one of the wettest places in India. But do not let that scare you. It is a stunningly exotic world of indigenous tribes, gushing waterfalls and streams, lush green mountains, and dense forests.
The so-called “Living Root Bridges” of Meghalaya is a testament to the indigenous engineering skills of the Eastern Khasi tribe. They are formed by training roots of a Ficus Elastic Tree (popularly known as Rubber Tree) to form bridges of roots over streams, rivers, and water bodies.
A dense and rich ecosystem of flora and fauna, and mesmerizing nature trails —some of them used for centuries by the Khasi people—make Meghalaya a great nature destination to visit.
Ladakh is home to some of the highest motorable passes on the planet, like the Khardung La (5,359m/ 17,582 ft) and Changa La (5,360m/5,391 ft).
For off-roading daredevils, Ladakh is just the dream destination. It has everything you need to rev up your jeeps: motorable high passes, vast barren plateaus, and a stunning Himalayan landscape.
Don’t forget to ride the double-humped Bactrian camel in the Nubra Valley. Stop on the famous Gompas (ancient Buddhist monasteries) along the way. We recommend Hemis, Thiksey, and Diskit Gompas.
The One-Horned Indian Rhinoceros (aka Rhinoceros Unicornis, aka the Indian Rhino) is an endangered species native to the Indian subcontinent. The Kaziranga National Park in the northeastern state of Assam is the last remaining habitat of this amazing creature in the world.
Thanks to the amazing conservation program, the rhino population at Kaziranga has soared to 2,613 (up from 2,401 in 2015).
The tropical moist broadleaf forest of Kaziranga coupled with a topography of marshlands and elephant grass sustained by the holy Brahmaputra River make it an excellent habitat for a wide range of birds, reptiles, and mammals.
For wildlife lovers, a wildlife safari in the Kaziranga National Park is an absolute must.
The misty mangroves of the Sundarbans are an ideal place to go canoeing. Comprising 102 small islands in the Ganges Delta, the 1330 sq. km. Sundarbans is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is home to the majestic Bengal Tigers, saltwater crocodiles, marine turtles, Ganges River dolphin, and a host of other species of mammals, birds, and reptiles.
Located in the north of the Indian subcontinent, the Himalayas are the mightiest mountain range in the world. From the Himalayas, originate rivers like the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra that provide sustenance to over 2 billion people in the region.
With peaks like Kanchenjunga (8,586m)— the third-highest peak in the world—Nanda Devi (7,816m), Kamet (7,756m), Hanuman Tibba (5,982m), Dunagiri, and Rathong, India is one of the world’s most coveted destinations for serious mountain climbers.
If you are not that extreme a climber, you could still trek many other easier peaks in the “Lower Himalayas.”
Tigers are notoriously elusive creatures who —much to the disappointment of safari-goers—camouflage themselves perfectly out in the wild. Not all Tiger Safaris in India end with the thrill of sighting this awe-inspiring creature.
But the Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan is your best bet. It offers one of India’s best wildlife Safaris with the highest probability of spotting tigers.
The Nicobar and Andaman Islands are a collective of …islands off the coast of Southern India.
The islands are blessed with gorgeous white sand beaches, clear-blue skies, picturesque mangroves, and ideal beach weather.
The coral reefs of the Andaman teem with exotic marine life. It is a surreal place for scuba diving and deep-sea exploration.
