India Cultural Vacations

Culture is a very subjective word, and if you ask a group of people what they hope to experience on a cultural vacation in India they are likely to come up with very different ideas. We don’t aim to capture all the adventures that await in this India cultural vacations guide, but just give you a taster menu. This is a country with 22 official languages after all, as well terrifically varied landscapes, from the Himalayas to the Arabian Sea.
I had been on a mission to see the Golden Triangle for years. But to call it a triangle is to undersell it. An octagon, more like, each point simply overflowing with cultural highlights.
You have Mughal, Rajput and Tamil heritage, all informing the architecture, cuisine and art forms, as well as the spice trades and colonial influences throughout the southern states, from Portuguese in Goa and French in Tamil Nadu to British in Kerala. Go on a tailor made trip or a small group tour, stay on a houseboat, in a homestay or in a haveli. All our vacations have culture at their core.

Is a cultural India vacation for you?

Go on a cultural India vacation if….

… you haven’t been to India before and you don’t know where to start. Deserts and Delhi, Kerala’s coast or Tamil Nadu’s temples? There’s a lot to choose from. … you would like to have a tailor made vacation with your own driver guide, picking and choosing how many temples, how many homestays or how many palaces. … India’s Golden Triangle has always been top of your travel dream list. We can help make it a reality. … you want to see the cultural highlights of India on a budget, or splash out on some luxury. And boy, India does luxury.We have cultural vacations to cater for every budget.

Don’t go on a cultural India vacation if…..

… you aren’t very sociable. Our cultural vacations bring you into the heart of communities.
… you are in a rush. India’s culture can’t be ‘done’ in a weekend.
… you haven’t read up a bit about India’s history, or aren’t interested. There are so many different influences going on in this magnificent country, it is good to be prepared.
… you are a picky eater. Food is central to India’s culture. One of the best expressions you can learn is svadist khana! Which means, enjoy your meal!

Our top India culture Vacation

Kerala tailor made vacation, 11 days

Kerala tailor made vacation, 11 days

Revitalize in Kerala - A most wonderful and balanced trip

From £1349 to £1779 11 days ex flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about India culture or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.

What we rate & what we don't

UNDERRATED

Karnataka

Sometimes seen as the poor cousin of Goa or Kerala …

Tamil Nadu

Madurai is the Tamil cultural hub in this magnificent state, …

Thar Desert

It’s Rajasthan’s cities that attract cultural tourists, but don’t miss …

Punjab

Colourful and cultural, Punjab is a feast for body and …
RATED

Golden Triangle

It is hard to imagine that you can pinpoint three …

Rajasthan

This desert state may be parched but it is perfect …

Budget small group tours

You can get some great deals on small group, cultural …

Kerala

If you are honoured to witness the worshipful ritual of …
OVERRATED

Street photography

It’s hard not to get snap happy in India as …

Puskhar Camel Fair

This big event in Rajasthan has gone from real to …

Kathakali dance

Unlike the more authentic theyyam ritual of Northern Kerala, this …

Plastic convenience

From plastic culture to the culture of plastic. We need …
Written by Catherine Mack
Photo credits: [Page banner: Uzi Yachin] [People Taj Mahal: dMz] [Karnataka Temple in Badami : Nicolas Vollmer ] [Tamil Nadu - Sri Meenakshi Temple: Bryce Edwards] [Thar Desert : Jack Wickes] [The Golden Temple: Ravi Jhar] [Agra - Mosque at Taj Mahal: Varshesh Joshi] [Blue architecture - Jodhpur: David Baxendale] [The camel rider: plaits] [Backwaters -Kerala : Jean-Pierre Dalbéra] [Street Photography - Women and child: R ZwartBy: R Zwart] [Pushkar camel fair: Prabuddha Jain] [Kathakali dance - Costume : Arian Zwegers] [Plastic Convenience - Plastic Bottles in piles of bags : Christian Haugen ]