East India

East India Tours and Private Travel

A tour through East India takes you through a dramatically varied landscape: mangroves in the Sundarbans and lofty peaks in the high Himalayas. Most tours begin in Kolkata, once the capital of the British Empire, where bustling B.B.D. Bagh brims with declining 19th-century colonial architecture. Moss-covered headstones in South Park Street cemetery, the Paresnath Jain temple, the Armenian Church, all tell stories of the multi-cultural influences that have shaped this city over millennia. Sail the Hooghly at dawn to visit temples upriver, and end the day with a typical Bengali meal. Bengalis are obsessed with food, and Kolkata, for all its shortcomings, is a foodie’s paradise. Don’t leave without sharing in the bounty of Bengali cuisine and conversation.

Around the hill station of Darjeeling, large estates grow some of the world’s most coveted tea. Sip on a cup of pure Darjeeling first flush, amidst mist-covered tea gardens in a colonial ambience.

The sound of chanting Buddhist monks fills the air in Pelling, Sikkim. Gardens burst with orchids and forests teem with rhododendron. Around every corner of the state, you’ll come to arresting views of snow-capped ranges and the striking five-peaked Mount Kanchenjunga.

Further east, in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park, one-horned rhinos graze languidly, and otters swim energetically in the muddy rivers flowing by. Assam is part of the seven northeastern states affectionately called the Seven Sisters. Unique wildlife like hoolock gibbons and great hornbills inhabit this land of exceptional natural beauty, starring dramatic waterfalls and hidden caves. It is also an ethnically diverse region, where indigenous tribes like the Angami Nagas and Bodos reside.

When the choices are so overwhelming, how do you pick what to see of East India in the time you have? Our India specialists will hand-hold you through the process, and cut a personalized itinerary that fits you best.

Popular Trips to East India

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Best Places To Visit

Darjeeling is known as East India’s Queen of the Hills. Encompassed by verdant tea plantations and perched atop a steep ridge, the town offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

Darjeeling

Gangtok is a popular Tibetan Buddhist pilgrimage site and capital of the alpine-laden state of Sikkim.

Gangtok

Kaziranga: A tryst with the wild! Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary, nearby Jorhat, is home multitudes of animals like swamp deer, one-horned rhinos, Indian elephants, clouded leopards and majestic tigers; it also houses varieties of exotic birds like the Rusty-bellied Shortwing, Nuthatch, Ward’s Trogon, Rufous-necked Hornbill and Blue-fronted Robin.

Kaziranga

Kolkata was once the epicenter of the British Raj and a major trading post of the East India Company.

Kolkata

Sunderbans: Vanishing Islands! 54 tiny islands, a stretch of impenetrable mangrove forest of great size and bio-diversity and a recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sunderbans

The ancient city of Bhubaneswar is also known as the Temple City of eastern India.

Bhubaneswar

Is India Safe?

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Best Time To Visit

The best travel time for East India tours is during the months of September/October to March. Follow this link for an overview on the best time to travel.

Best Time To Visit India

Things To Do

Charming colonial towns, verdant tea plantations, misty mountains and unique cultural delights – discover all this and more on your East India tours. Follow this link to read about the top things to do in East India.

Things To Do in East India

Travel Guide

What are the things to consider while planning East India tours? What clothes should you pack for your tour? What type of food can your expect? What are Indian trains like? Our destination experts answer all these questions and more.

India Travel Guide

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What Our Guests Say

Our trip to southern India was customized for us by Enchanting Travels based on suggested itineraries from their website. The two of us spent 22 days with 2 different drivers, the first in Karnataka and the second in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. They were excellent drivers and the SUV was always spotless. They also spoke reasonably good English so we were able to learn about the areas we were driving through and the Indian culture. The local coordinator was available by What’s App and frequently checked in with us to see how the trip was going. She also changed our internal flights on short notice and had someone meet us at the airport with our boarding passes! We really felt we were never alone. We are totally spoiled now that we have travelled with Enchanting Travels and will definitely travel with them again! This is a first class organization!

Ann Weigel

USA

My husband and I recently returned from a 3 week customized and private vacation in Southern India and Sri Lanka put together by Enchanting Travels. This is our second trip with Enchanting Travels and once again this experience exceeded our expectations. Anita Sahi was a joy to work with, she really listened to what we wanted our trip to look like and helped us plan activities, tours, hikes, and special places to visit. We chose what hotels we wanted and she recommended excellent accommodations to choose from. Once we were in India, our trip manager Sugufta Sumbul worked closely with us to ensure everything was going as planned. We stayed in contact with her through WhatsApp and any question nor concerns we had she was on top of it. All our drivers and guides were excellent with good knowledge and good English skills. A special shout out to our driver/guide Numal in Sri Lanka. We felt like we were traveling with a good friend. He really shared his knowledge of his beautiful country, answering all our questions, taking us to his favorite spots and recommending food and handicraft shops. We wished we had more time in Sri Lanka. We would highly recommend Enchanting Travels. They made the trip so enjoyable and most of all stress free, which is priceless.

Robert S Cole

USA

Seamless organisation and communication resulting in an unforgettable experience in India. I would highly recommend this company and our itinerary. We particularly enjoyed staying in Indian Heritage Hotels and the local guides made each location interesting and informative. Our driver, Mukesh, was incredibly reliable and safe. Thanks to Rose Kennedy and Shruti Jain for making it happen

Yasmine Layher

Australia

This trip was my gift to my wife for her birthday. I had traveled to India numerous times for business and wanted her to see this interesting and beautiful land. This was our 7th trip with Enchanting and I knew they would put together a journey that would explore the most important sights in the time which we allowed. We spent 2 weeks in the North of India and 2 weeks in the South. I was hesitant to do some much traveling by car but India has really improved their highways and the car trips where enjoyable. Our drivers were excellent. They knew the lay of the land and how to navigate the hectic Indian traffic. I am a retired international airline pilot and I will tell you that the hotels we stayed in are some of the finest in the world.

Everett Beasley

USA

This was our 14th trip with Enchanting. Each trip is always very well coordinated with never any worries about transportation, reservations or tickets etc…. The guides are always very knowledgable, helpful and kind. The drivers are always very prompt and courteous. The trip coordinators are in constant contact for any needs or concerns throughout the journey. I always answer the survey after our trips and know that Enchanting takes the answers very seriously. Thanks to the staff at Enchanting for many happy memories!

Julie Goodwin

USA

Our week-long visit to Delhi and Rajasthan planned in a short period of time was exceptional. Everything except our dinners was arranged for and included in the itinerary. Our personal guides in each city were engaging and enhanced our experience tremendously. Our chauffeur (far more than a driver) was brilliant. He was also our trip coordinator and provided local guidance as we travelled. The whole visit was executed perfectly and Enchanting staff made it so from planning through to the final wave goodbye. We are so pleased to have found this company and will definitely select them again for future visits elsewhere in the world.

Michael Patrick Proctor

USA

Frequently Asked Questions about Luxury East India Tours

The best time for East India tours is between September and March. During these months, the weather remains cool and dry, making it ideal for exploring wildlife sanctuaries and hill stations. This optimal window ensures comfortable sightseeing across diverse landscapes, from the Himalayas to coastal mangroves.

Visitors to East India can easily spot one-horned rhinos, clouded leopards, and hoolock gibbons. Kaziranga National Park and the Sunderbans offer exceptional biodiversity for wildlife enthusiasts. Keep your eyes peeled for majestic tigers, swamp deer, and exotic bird species thriving within these dense, protected mangrove forests and floodplains.

Kolkata serves as East India’s cultural epicenter, showcasing declining 19th-century colonial architecture and an iconic culinary scene. Travelers explore bustling B.B.D. Bagh, visit historic sites like the South Park Street cemetery, and sail the Hooghly River at dawn to discover riverside temples and vibrant multi-cultural influences.

Enchanting Travels customizes your East India journey through a dedicated specialist who designs a private itinerary. The planning process follows three simple steps: Consult with an India travel expert. Select preferred destinations like Sikkim or Assam. Finalize a customized schedule featuring hand-picked accommodations and exclusive experiences.

Darjeeling anchors East India as the “Queen of the Hills” with its world-renowned tea estates and steep mountain ridges. Visitors sip pure first flush tea amidst mist-covered gardens while enjoying breathtaking, panoramic views of the surrounding Himalayan valleys and authentic colonial-era architecture.

Sikkim rewards East India travelers with chanting Buddhist monks, vibrant orchid gardens, and striking views of Mount Kanchenjunga. In the alpine capital of Gangtok or the serene town of Pelling, tourists immerse themselves in deep Tibetan Buddhist traditions surrounded by lush rhododendron forests and snow-capped mountain ranges.

The Sunderbans highlight East India’s coastal beauty as a UNESCO World Heritage site comprising 54 tiny islands. This massive, impenetrable mangrove forest hosts extraordinary biodiversity. Explorers navigate the complex waterways to witness vanishing islands and observe rare, protected wildlife in their natural, untouched river delta habitat.

East India remains a safe, secure destination when exploring with Enchanting Travels. Dedicated trip coordinators provide continuous 24/7 support throughout your entire journey. Expert local guides and vetted, professional drivers ensure secure transportation and seamless navigation across diverse, remote regions like Nagaland and Meghalaya.

Do you have a vacation in mind? Personalize your itinerary with our Trip Builder.

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