India Holidays

India holidays are the real deal - we're talking ancient temples, sizzling spices, golden beaches, and culture that’ll make your jaw drop before you’ve even landed. No two jollies here look alike, and that’s the whole point.

Highlights of your holidays to India

• Maldives-rivalling beaches (at a fraction of the cost)

• Food so delicious you’ll dream about it for years

• Temples, palaces, and forts that bring history to life

• Wildlife safaris with the chance to spot actual tigers (!!!)

Good to Know

• Fun Fact - India has 18 officially recognised languages and over 1,600 spoken dialects! Don't worry, though, English is widely spoken in all tourist areas.

• Best Beach - Radhanagar Beach, Andaman Islands. It’s remote, stunning, and regularly ranked in Asia's top ten. Worth every minute of the journey.

• Money Matters - India is an incredible value. A local thali (set meal) costs around £1.50–£3. A decent restaurant meal for two costs around £8–£15, and a beer in a Goa beach shack is just £1–£2.

The best beaches to visit on your India holidays

With a coastline stretching over 7,500km, India delivers golden sands in spades. Whether you’re after a winter sun escape or a proper summer scorcher, here are our absolute favourite beach spots:

• Palolem Beach, Goa - the Instagram-worthy crescent bay that practically invented the "chilled-out beach jolly." Think calm waters, hammocks, and cosy beach shacks.

• Radhanagar Beach, Andaman Islands - regularly voted one of Asia's best beaches. It earns the title every time with its turquoise waters, white sands, and zero fuss.

• Varkala Beach, Kerala - dramatic red cliffs, crashing waves, and a clifftop strip packed with yoga shalas and seafood joints.

• Agonda Beach, Goa - the quieter, more laid-back cousin of Palolem. Head here if you want pure beach vibes without the party crowds.

• Kovalam Beach, Kerala - features three bays, lighthouse views, and proper surf. Great for couples who want something a bit more dramatic than flat, calm water.

• Rushikonda Beach, Andhra Pradesh - a hidden gem on the Bay of Bengal, brilliant for watersports and escaping the usual tourist trail.

• Neil Island, Andaman Islands - remote, unspoiled, and ridiculously beautiful. It’s only accessible by ferry, but it's absolutely worth the trip for families wanting something unique.

India holidays 2026 travel guide

Things to do for Families

• Tiger safaris in Ranthambore: - spot a Bengal tiger in its natural habitat. Ranthambore National Park is the most accessible tiger reserve for visitors and runs early-morning jeep safaris - a family holiday story for life!

• Kerala backwater houseboat: - hire a traditional Kerala kettuvallam (rice barge) for a night on the backwaters. Watch rice paddies and coconut palms drift past while the crew cooks up fresh fish on board.

• Ethical elephant encounters in Jaipur - visit conservation-positive elephant sanctuaries just outside Jaipur, like Elefantastic or Elefun. The kiddos will genuinely lose their minds.

• Resort water parks - Wonderla and Splash 'n' Dash in Goa are proper full-day water park days to keep the whole family occupied with slides and wave pools. Just bring enough sun cream to fill a paddling pool!

• Humayun's Tomb and Red Fort - located in Delhi, these UNESCO World Heritage Sites are brilliant with older kids. The sheer scale of the historic Mughal architecture does the hard work of making history interesting for you.

Things to do for Couples

• Taj Mahal at sunrise - yes, it's touristy, but it lives up to the hype. Watching the sun hit the white marble in Agra before the crowds arrive is genuinely one of the most extraordinary, romantic things you'll ever see.

• Houseboat sunset on Dal Lake - located in Srinagar, Kashmir, spending a night or two on a traditional shikara houseboat surrounded by stunning floating gardens is pure romance.

• Traditional Ayurvedic spa retreat - Kerala is the home of Ayurveda, and a multi-day Panchakarma retreat in a traditional spa is the ultimate way to properly switch off and unwind on your couples' holiday.

• Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur - rising 122 meters above the Blue City, explore the dramatic palaces and catch sweeping views before heading to the museum cafe for peak-romance sundowners.

• Authentic cooking class - learn to make authentic Kerala fish curry, coconut chutneys, and banana leaf thalis with a local family. You'll eat incredibly well and come home with actual skills.

Things to do for Groups

• Goa nightlife - Baga Beach and Anjuna's club scene is genuinely popping. Legendary spots like Tito's, Shiva Valley, and Club Cubana (the "nightclub in the sky" built into a hillside) draw huge crowds until sunrise.

• Rafting on the Ganges - head to Rishikesh - the adventure sports capital of India - for a proper group day out. Expect Grade III-IV rapids, plenty of shouting at each other, and falling in.

• Catch a stadium cricket match - if you're visiting between October and March, catching an IPL or international match is an experience unlike anything back home. The noise, the energy, and the snacks are brilliant.

• Jaipur bazaar crawl - team up for a group trip around Jaipur's vibrant markets to hunt for block printing, blue pottery, jewellery, and textiles. The friendly haggling sport makes it even more fun.

• Bollywood studio tour - step behind the scenes of the world's most prolific film industry in Mumbai. Several studios run group tours where you might even catch a live shoot in progress.

Local Lingo

Throw a few of these phrases into conversation to connect with the locals:

• Hello — Namaste

• How are you? — Aap kaise hain?

• Thank you — Dhanyavaad

• You're welcome — Koi baat nahi

• How much is it? — Yeh kitne ka hai?

• Very good — Bahut accha

• Where is the station? — Station kahan hai?

• I don't understand — Mujhe samajh nahi aaya

Places to visit in India

• Goa - India's ultimate beach destination, offering everything from lively, family-friendly resorts and buzzing nightlife in the north to chilled-out, crescent-shaped bays in the south.