Tours of India

North-East India & Myanmar: Across The Indo-Burmese Border

Tour Map of North-East India & Myanmar: Across The Indo-Burmese Border

For years travellers have been both fascinated and frustrated by the challenges of crossing overland between India and Myanmar as the border has effectively been closed to all but the most persistent who still had to rely on luck if they were to obtain the official permissions required for such a journey.This is starting now to change and we are delighted therefore to be able to offer this unique chance to experience a veritable 'wild frontier' and to cross from India's remote north-eastern states into Myanmar's rarely visited western zone. Although our adventurous route will take us from the tea-plantations of Assam, through the tribal areas of Nagaland and across the border towards the breath-taking summit of Mt.Victoria and the temples of Bagan, it is in the smaller places where we expect the longer-lasting memories to be forged - meeting beautifully adorned women in remote Chin villages or watching local Manipuris skilfully navigate the waters of Loktak Lake in their dugout canoes.This is not a regular trip and promises to be one that will finally open up a once impenetrable part of Asia

Get beyond the tourist façade of the countries you visit. Focus on the local culture, past and present, and discover the lifeblood of any country – its people. Discovery and culture tours uncover different ways of life, and offer the opportunity to meet and sometimes stay with local people or tribal groups. Our discovery tours explore cultural sites – both ancient and modern – and help you learn about the people and their culture. Visit the remote tribes of Ethiopia’s Rift Valley, live the nomad life in desert camps or meet the local people of the high Andean altiplano in Peru. There’s no better way to get to the true heart of a country than through its people.

Inside the Hidden Kingdoms

Tour Map of Inside the Hidden Kingdoms

Travel with us on this cultural adventure from the vast Ganges Delta of Bangladesh, through the tea plantations of Darjeeling and into the Buddhist Kingdom of Bhutan. Along the way we explore relics of the Raj, ruined monasteries and ancient temples. These awe-inspiring religious sites are set against the dramatic backdrop of the Himalayan Mountains.

North East India: Meghalaya Tree Bridges & Nagaland Hornbill Festival

Tour Map of North East India: Meghalaya Tree Bridges & Nagaland Hornbill Festival

India's North East receives far fewer visitors than other parts of the country and with many of its inhabitants sharing more in common with their Burmese and Tibetan neighbours, this remote region makes for a fascinating destination, ideal for the adventurous traveller. For years, access to the area was restricted for political and security reasons, but now that the situation has relaxed, we are delighted to guide you around this little-known, stunning part of India.On this unforgettable journey we'll travel first to the living root-tree bridges and wild landscapes of Meghalaya before heading to the wildlife-rich lands of Kaziranga National Park and the tranquil verdant acres of Assam's tea gardens. We'll also float along the meandering bends of the mighty Brahmaputra and mix with some of the varied local tribes who inhabit these frontier lands. Lastly, we will raise a fitting finale to the trip at the amazing Nagaland Hornbill Festival.From the animist tribal villages that we'll discover on foot, to ancient cultural capitals, North East India is there just waiting to be explored and is sure to provide a plethora of surprises to those who may have already visited India before.

On all Explore tours we take you under the skin of the country you’re visiting and introduce you to real, authentic local life. But on some tours we make this the main focus of the trip: fully immersing ourselves into local life and experiencing how the local people live. These tours are designed to take every opportunity to discover traditional life and rub shoulders with local people. We visit local communities, sometimes eating with them or even staying overnight with them. We may travel by local transport and visit local markets, festivals or local projects. We also hope to experience local culture and witness music, dance and other traditions. To experience first-hand the way of life enjoyed by other cultures around the world, interacting with local people who have little contact with the world of tourism, can be immensely inspiring and enriching – not just for us but also for the host communities.

Highlights of Assam and Nagaland

Tour Map of Highlights of Assam and Nagaland

This adventurous tour sees us heading right off the beaten track and exploring India's north-eastern states of Assam and Nagaland. After a brief stop in Guwahati we explore the tribal Khasi villages of Cherrapunjee and test out their ingenious living tree bridges. We spend time in Kaziranga National Park searching for rhino before moving on to Majuli Island, one of the world's largest river islands. Whilst in Nagaland we explore Ao Naga and Regma tribal villages as well as visiting Longwa, where half of the village is in India and the rest in Burma.

Sikkim & West Bengal

Tour Map of Sikkim & West Bengal

Situated in the Eastern Himalayas Sikkim is one of the most beautiful states of India. It boasts the 3rd highest mountain in the world - Kanchenjunga - at 8586m, luxuriant forests, deep valleys with terraced hillsides, exotic flora and fauna, pristine waterfalls, sacred lakes and a number of beautifully ornate Buddhist monasteries. We will enter Sikkim via Darjeeling, long renowned as a Hill Station during the Raj, famous for its colonial architecture and tea plantations. Heading out to West Sikkim we visit the sacred lake of Khecheopalri and walk to the charming and unspoilt town of Yuksom. Our journey also includes the breath-taking wild landscapes of North Sikkim with a homestay at a traditional Lepcha village of Dzongu and the stark natural beauty of the Yumthang Valley situated at an elevation of 3894m. Heading south we cross Gangtok before taking our overnight train journey south to Kolkata, India's second largest city and revered as the cultural and intellectual capital, but also famed for its huge population. Here our visit will coincide with the Durga Puja or Devi Paksha, 'Fortnight of the Goddess' celebrating the victory of good over evil. This tour will introduce you to Sikkim - a more scenic, remote and culturally diverse region of India and combine this with visits to the more renowned cities of Darjeeling and Kolkata in West Bengal.

The Edge of India

This trip allows you to experience some of the traditional ways of life of the peoples of the tribal states of north east India. We start this trip in Meghalaya where we will hike down from Cherrapunjee, the wettest place on earth, to the lush jungles on the border of Bangladesh. There we will witness the incredible living bridges of the Khasi people. Then we will take a road trip through the jungles of Arunachal Pradesh and up into the peaks of the Himalayas and the Tawang Valley. We visit the largest Tibetan Buddhist complex outside of Lhasa and experience life in a remote Buddhist convent. To really get a feel of tribal life we will stay at a small Adi village and join some Adi friends of ours on a traditional trip into the jungle. We will see first hand how the jungle is the builder centre and larder for the villagers with rope, poison, baskets, food, entertainment and lodging all available if you just know where and how to look. Finally, we’ll cross the mighty Brahmaputra by ferry before staying a night in a colonial era tea plantation.

Tribes and Temples of Orissa

Tour Map of Tribes and Temples of Orissa

Visiting Orissa is like taking a trip through time, from the 'first people' tribes, to the temples and monasteries of the Buddhist and Hindu eras, to the time of the Raj. We'll meet the tribal people at the Adivasi Tribal Fair, and mix with them in colourful markets and remote villages. We'll explore temples at Bhubaneshwar and Puri - one of the four most holy pilgrimage sites for Hindus, see the holy men of Joranda, and stay in the Maharajah's Palace at Dhenkanal.