Tour Ideas
Even though we are an organization that customizes programs for all our guests given below are some ideas if you are looking to travel for culture, wildlife, or perhaps a mix of the two in India. These are programs that are popular and would showcase the various facets of this wonderful country.
These experiences are ideal for a first time visitor to the region and offer a good mix of iconic India, flavours of Indian culture, cuisine, architecture, history, textiles, rural lifestyle along with elements of wilderness to showcase our wonderful wildlife diversity and landscapes.
Iconic India
This is an ideal program for a first-time visitor to the country. It showcases the iconic Taj Mahal along with the various facets of India - arts & crafts, forts & palaces, some wildlife along with cuisines of northern India. Walking through colourful and bustling market places and participating in local festivals does become a highlight of many a traveller.
Facets of Southern India
This journey introduces the diverse culture, traditions, architecture, and traditional performing arts of southern India. The experience includes learning about the spices grown in the regions and about the culinary delights of the region. The experience allows you to explore the Nilgiri Biosphere - a UNESCO world heritage site, home to many endemic species.
Exploration of Eastern India
Eight states make up most parts of eastern India. Each of these regions is quite unique. It is one of the largest tea-growing regions of the world. These states are home to incredible forests and wildlife diversity. In most states a tribal structure is prevalent and learning about their culture is a big part of this tour.
Wildlife Journeys
India is home to about 10% of the world's wildlife. We have the highest diversity of wildcats in the world. 50% of the bear species of the world call India it's home. We are home to 17 species of primates, including the Hoolock Gibbon the only ape found in India. We have more than 10% of the world's bird species, both deer as well as antelope species, and the entire range of canine species from the fox to the jackal, hyena, wild dog, and the wolf. Besides all of these, we are also home to about 870 endemic species.
At Discovering Landscapes, as our name suggested we can organize experiences around all of the above mentioned. India truly is an amazing wildlife destination where one is still discovering new species Although the travel experience is still evolving we can today showcase this diverse natural heritage through walking safaris, trekking expeditions, canoe safaris, elephant back safaris, night drives, camping inside the jungle along with jeep safaris. Diving and cruise experiences are also experiences that not many associate with India.
Big Cats of India
India is home to the highest diversity of wildcats in the world including 4 of the 5 in the genus 'Panthera'. This program is designed to give you the opportunity to see these majestic felines in their natural habitat.
Giants in our Forests
Inspired by the big five this program is designed to showcase some of the largest wildlife species that can be seen in the Indian jungles. This includes the Bengal tiger, Asiatic elephant, one-horned rhinoceros, gharial, gaur, and the sloth bear.
Snow Leopards & Brown Bears
This expedition gives you the opportunity to seek out very unique wildlife who lives in some of the harshest regions of the world. The experience takes you to the snowy Himalayan mountain ranges to seek out snow leopards and brown bears.
Unique Wildlife of India
This tour is designed to showcase some of the more unique wildlife species of India such as the Red Panda, One-horned Rhino, Fishing Cat, Salt Water Crocodiles, Hoolock Gibbon, Capped Langur along with a whole array of birdlife.
Photo Journeys
Wildlife photo journeys as the name suggest is a program designed with wildlife photographers and their requirements in mind such as how a safari is to be conducted, best time of the year, number of people in the vehicle in combination with naturalists and drivers ideally suited for the same.
Birding Trails of India
Home to over 1250 species of birds, the subcontinent is a must for all interested in seeking out avian species. Our journey showcases not just species from northern India but also in eastern India which offer very different species. Our trails will take you off-the-beaten-path in search of these colourful gems.
Theme-based Journeys
These are more focused journeys based on interest areas such as Textiles, Art & Crafts, Architecture, Culinary, Photography & Off-beat Adventures. These could be organized for a small group or independent travellers and put more emphasis on a particular interest area within destinations that may be showcased in some of our other journeys or expeditions.
Textiles of India
The story of textiles in India is one of the oldest in the world. The earliest surviving Indian cotton threads date to around 4000 BC and dyed fabrics from the region are documented as far back as 2500 BC. India’s textiles were so central to its identity abroad that in ancient Greece and Babylon the very name ‘India’ was shorthand for ‘cotton’. India’s textiles are embedded in every aspect of its identity. Global trade systems were formed on the export of Indian fabrics, and the hand-making of cloth continues to shape India today.
Architecture tour of India
Architectural tours in India can be amazing we have everything from Art Deco, Indo Saracenic, Gothic, Gothic Revival, Islamic to Hindu style of architecture. These tours will be led by architects or architecture experts to shed light on the history, technique and reasoning behind construction of some of the most iconic buildings.
Culinary Adventures
The Indian Subcontinent is a delight for any food enthusiast each region of this large country offers something unique. Besides this, our journeys will showcase the various influences of cultures not only from ancient India but also from around the globe and how they amalgamated with local flavours. Cooking demos, interactions with chefs as well as food critics, visiting local homes to understand home cooking in an Indian kitchen are all a part of the experience.
Introduction to Rural India
India is not a new destination when it comes to travel and over the years people travel to see the magnificent forts and palaces, the colourful bazaars, iconic monuments like the Taj Mahal and even come searching for the elusive Bengal Tiger, but there are not many that see and experience the true lives of rural India - this is often the India that feeds the country, that produces the cotton and silk, that contribute to the diary and its is also the India that keeps our ancient traditions of arts & crafts alive. Our journeys in rural India gets you closer to this facet of the country.
Arts & Crafts of India
Indian arts & crafts offer a very wide range of elements that have been used here for centuries for practical as well as for decorative purposes. These include metalwork, woodwork, cloth, textiles and fabric, jewelry, terra cotta objects, pottery, and objects made from cane and bamboo to name a few. This journey showcases many of the above-mentioned arts and crafts and takes you to meet with those that have mastered their technique of creating with these elements.
The Great Outdoors
These experiences showcase the great outdoor experiences in the country. It showcases a more adventurous side of India which many do not realize is possible. We have the Himalayas - yet not many mountaineers or trekkers and many do not consider skiing in these beautiful mountains. We have the mighty Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra yet not many raft or kayak on these rivers. We even have stunning limestone mountains where one can do caving - an activity that involves trekking through the mountain caves. Last but not the least is our 7500 km of coastline yet we are not known as a dive destination. Through experience we would like to change the world's perspective of how India can be explored.
To learn more about these journeys please do reach out to us at connect@discoveringlandscapes.com