Sub Region: India

If you like to be ahead of the curve, this region – which spans the enormous state of Madhya Pradesh as well as the tribal areas of Chattisgarh and the little-known coastal state of Orissa is a fantastic option.
 
Of course, while being underdeveloped has many benefits, it also means that you’ll need the help of insider knowledge to be sure of getting the best from your luxury trip.

The standard and style of accommodation is developing rapidly but sensibly and we have discovered some real gems on our recent visits. Wildlife itineraries, too, need to be well thought out and managed and, with the unparalleled knowledge of our Destination Experts,  cazenove+loyd is very well placed to provide the best experience possible.

For adventurers and culture-seekers alike, Northern India offers an incredibly enchanting experience. Journey to scattered villages in the hauntingly beautiful foothills of the Himalayas or the tea plantations of Darjeeling and Assam to discover a way of life that has changed little for centuries.

Vivid colours, swirling crowds, majestic forts and palaces, teeming medieval cities, the heat and dust of the desert and the dreamily romantic lakes – Rajasthan holidays deliver the quintessential Indian experience. For this to be truly magical, however, it must be handled with care. While most visitors tend to race from one city to another, packing in as much as they can, we believe in a different approach.

We believe in taking Rajasthan at a more leisurely pace, combining the cities with some rural gems that we have discovered and enabling you to get under the skin of this incredible state.

At these little rural places, there are no grand sights but that is the point; here you will see a Rajasthan that is off the beaten track, its way of life little changed over the centuries. We try to show off each of these places with special experiences that are unique to cazenove+loyd, and the insight of some exceptional private guides.

Nevertheless, although we believe that properties with character and authentic charm are essential to a genuinely Indian experience, we are not averse to a good dose of luxury – and we combine Rajasthan’s new breed of world-class hotels with just the right mix of more authentic places.

From the painted temples of Tamil Nadu to the natural riches of Karnataka, where jungle-clad hill country is dotted with rice paddies, coconut palms and banana plantations, the southern states are one of the country’s most intriguing regions. Everywhere throughout this often off-the-beaten-track region, the pace is relaxed and the crowds almost non-existent.

In Kerala, great cultural diversity and languid pace create a unique feeling of intimacy and richness. Here it is all about ‘homestays’, where local families have turned their ancestral homes into charming small hotels. These allow you to experience a more authentic Kerala, however, the choice of these homestays is crucial as only the ones that have been well thought out and are well managed can provide truly fantastic experiences.