Plantation properties in India are among the prettiest hotels in the country, surrounded by gorgeous greenery, and feel like stepping back in time.
Imagine sipping your morning cuppa (or perhaps a G&T in the evening) with a view of spectacular Himalayan scenery, high in the hill station of Darjeeling.
Or experience grand hospitality and faded grandeur in Shimla, or explore the many tea and coffee plantations of South India.
We reckon that staying in a plantation bungalow is a fascinating experience and a throwback to a different time, whether you go for a working tea planter’s bungalow or a former landowner’s home.
You could plan your whole holiday around hotels like this – they’re that good. Or just choose one or two. Either way, we’ll do all the work and create something completely bespoke to you.
Want to talk it through? Chat to one of our India specialists to start shaping your Indian holiday.
Darjeeling, India
Glenburn Tea Estate
Set on a hillside overlooking the River Rungeet and with jaw-dropping views of Kanchenjunga, Glenburn Tea Estate is an atmospheric and intimate retreat in the Darjeeling hills. Owned and run by a passionate family, it combines colonial charm with thoughtful service and curated experiences that showcase the surrounding natural beauty.
Highlights
Highlights
Tea estate setting,
Kanchenjunga views,
Outdoor activities
Best for
Couples,
Families,
Nature Enthusiasts
Gallery
Tamil Nadu, India
Rajakkad Estate
High in the foothills of Tamil Nadu’s Western Ghats, Rajakkad Estate offers a peaceful retreat surrounded by coffee, pepper, and cardamom plantations. With just seven rooms in an 18th-century wooden house, it’s the kind of place that feels lost in time—a sanctuary for birdwatchers, walkers and those craving real quiet.
Highlights
Highlights
Peaceful rural setting,
Bird-watching haven,
18th-century heritage
Best for
Couples,
Solos
Gallery
India, Kerela
Windermere River House
An intimate, relaxing property set among tranquil gardens along the River Periyar.
Highlights
Highlights
Gorgeous setting
Best for
Couples,
Solo Travellers
Gallery
Our Unique Holidays in India
Relaxing, immersive, life-affirming adventures that show you the best of the destination. Packed with experiences that connect you to the country and are kind to its people and environment. Your holiday can be as adventurous or as luxurious as you choose, as every trip will be turned into your own bespoke package.
Here are some ideas to spark your curiosity…
Alleppey
Kerala Encompassed
Gain a great insight into the variety Kerala has to offer as you travel south to north over three weeks. You’ll have the opportunity to stay in different types and styles of accommodation, ranging from tea bungalows to a plantation mansion, houseboat, treehouse and tents, to name a few.
Spend your days among tea and spice plantations, relaxing in rural settings, spotting wildlife, cruising along the Alleppey backwaters, visiting local markets and getting to know the towns that make Kerala tick. Finish on a remote beach to round off your journey through ‘God’s Own Country’.
Highlights
Cruise the backwaters
Get a real feel for life on the backwaters as you cruise through the canals on a houseboat for two nights, watching local life pass by
Birdwatching
Wake up on the banks of the river Periyar where you’ll have the chance to spot over 120 species of birds
Safaris
Track elephants and tigers on safaris and boat rides through the Nagarhole National Park
Gallery
Darjeeling
Highlights of East India
Little visited and often overlooked, East India is an incredible place: from the spellbinding contrasts of Kolkata to the sleepy waterways of the Sundarbans, the Buddhist culture of Sikkim and the mighty Himalayas.
This journey will enable you to explore Kolkata in depth, before heading south for a lovely tranquil experience in the Sundarbans National Park. While you’re unlikely to spot one of the park’s many tigers, there is a plethora of wildlife here, and it’s a lovely place to spend a few days.
Then it’s back up to Kolkata for an overnight train deep in the Himalayas. East India is an incredible region: the heart of Buddhist culture in India, a land of monasteries, sleepy hill towns, friendly people and breathtaking views.
Highlights
Kolkata
Explore Kolkata, the former capital of British India and a riot of colour, a hub of Bengali culture and an incredibly vibrant place.
Incredible culture
Discover timeless Buddhist monasteries and a highly distinct Sikkim culture.
Khangchendzonga Mountain
Being inspired by the view of the mighty Khangchendzonga Mountain, the third-highest in the world, soaring above the horizon
Gallery
Delhi
East to West: Highlights of the Gangetic Plain
This holiday is for travellers with an adventurous spirit who like to get away from the tourist trail; people who have a desire to explore eclectic, busy and ever-evolving Indian cities, but who also want to contrast immersive city life with some unique, rural experiences.
Take time to delve into Kolkata and Varanasi with our signature experiences in each. You’ll journey by car, train and minimal internal flights so that you can experience the beautiful rural life and landscape of the Gangetic Plain as you move around. You’ll spend four days exploring northern Madhya Pradesh and three days in a remote valley of Uttar Pradesh; allowing completely different rural and wildlife experiences in each.
Highlights
Lunch with an art collector
Taking lunch with an art collector in his home in Kolkata
Sunrise at the River Ganges
Watching the sunrise from your private boat on the River Ganges
Chambal Valley
Experiencing life in remote hamlets of the Chambal Valley
Gallery
India
Birds of South India
Discover lesser-visited but beautiful areas of Southern India during this two week holiday. There is a particular focus on the region’s abundant birdlife, exceptional for casual and serious aficionados. Visit several sanctuaries and travel through the lush western ghats, known as a treasure house of endemic species, as well as the strictly protected wildlife of Bandipur National Park.
Highlights
Rangananthittu Bird Sanctuary
End your journey with a visit to the Rangananthittu Bird Sanctuary, home to some 170 exquisite bird species
Valparai
Explore Valparai’s remote landscapes through forest treks in an area full of wildlife, including some of the most endangered varieties of hornbills
Bandipur National Park
Spot elusive big game on sunrise and sunset safaris in Bandipur National Park
Gallery
