Experience the wonder of a luxury holiday in India, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives

“In religion, India is the only millionaire – the One land that all men desire to see, and having seen once, by even a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for all the shows of all the rest of the globe combined.”

That was Mark Twain writing over a hundred years ago and despite the gathering pace of globalized anonymity – the subcontinent retains that unique, quirky distinctiveness, the extravagant extremes, the wealth of natural riches, that has drawn travelers, conquerors and migrants to its fertile plains and remote beautiful mountains since the very dawn of humanity. History, culture and politics have divided this land into several distinct nations each with a wonderfully unique flavour of its own reflecting the complex patterns of ethnicity and language that the subcontinent has always harboured.

The mountain rim to the north cradles Nepal with its ancient and resplendent Newari culture of the Kathmandu Valley, magnificent hill country peopled by some of the warmest and friendliest people on earth and the superb national parks of the lowlands famous for rhinos and tigers that are sometimes spotted against the backdrop of some of the highest mountains in the world. This is a land where Hinduism and Buddhism meet and fuse together in a synthesis of race and religion. To the east lies Bhutan – once the Forbidden Kingdom – a Buddhist stronghold perched on the precipitous mountains at the edge of Tibet. It is a land of incredible beauty and tranquility; its human landscapes dominated by some of the most captivating architecture in the subcontinent; its natural landscapes clothed in primeval forests largely untouched by a tiny human population and alive with a gorgeous diversity of wildlife. Far to the south, just off the southern tip of India is Sri Lanka – Serendip of the Arabs. With its lush tea covered mountains, wildlife parks, ancient cities including the forbidding eyrie of Sigiriya fort and a gloriously tropical coastline abounding in some of the most stylish small boutique hotels in Asia, Sri Lanka is a dream destination for surprisingly affordable holidays. Finally, at the very edge of the subcontinent is the vast collection of atolls strewn astride the Equator that comprise the Republic of the Maldives. Just the name conjures up images of almost sybaritic luxury amidst limpid seascapes. The Maldives boast some of the finest and most exclusive island resorts in the world each occupying an atoll on its own, splendidly and idyllically isolated from the rest of humanity.

The subcontinent offers an incredible wealth of experiences for the discerning traveler no matter what your interest and our expertly crafted bespoke itineraries cater to the individual looking for that little extra that makes travel special.

The diversity of the Indian subcontinent is breathtaking these are some of the highlights:

• Moonlight on the Taj Mahal and dawn on Everest
• The splendours of Rajasthan
• The sun-warmed coast of Goa and Kerala
• The magnificent ruined cities of Hampi and Mandu and the great medieval cities of the Kathmandu Valley
• The sinuous, sensual sculpture of Khajuraho and the towering temples of the South
• Snow leopards and Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh
• Nomads and lions in Gujarat
• Tigers, temples and the tribals of Bastar
• Wild elephants and rhinoceros in the grasslands of Kaziranga
• The magic of Nepal and the Himalayas bathed in alpenglow
• Wildlife safaris and trekking in the shadow of Annapurna
• Forests aflame with rhododendrons, birds and Buddhist festivals in Bhutan – Land of the Thunder Dragon
• Sri Lanka – enchanted Serendip – with the leopards of Yala, the dancers from Kandy; the temple of the Tooth, Anuradhapura, Galle Fort and the allure of palm-fringed beaches
• And the dreaming atolls of the Maldives

Confronted with such an array of choices even the most independent of travellers needs a helping hand, a word of advice, a pointer in the right direction. Especially if you wish to wander off the well-trodden trail. This is what Indian Explorations specialises in. Bespoke holidays to India, tailor-made to your specific requirements.