Luxury India tours range from luxury trains priced from about US$3,160 per person to custom five-star hotel circuits quoted by your travel planner. Train fares below are 2024 published rates and change each season, so confirm current prices with the operator.
Luxury is a matter of service and space, not just a star rating. Before you pick a trip, browse the Astraloka Tours package list to see our standard plans, then read on to compare them with luxury trains and custom hotel circuits.
At A Glance
• Price: from about US$3,160 per person on luxury trains
• Duration: 3 to 7 nights
• Areas covered: Rajasthan, South India, Maharashtra and Kashmir
• Included: Cabin or room, meals, guided excursions and personal service
• Best season: October to March
What Counts As A Luxury India Tour?
A luxury India tour trades speed for space, service and set-piece experiences. It usually means a private cabin or suite, dedicated staff, fine dining and guided excursions, delivered either on a luxury train or through a hand-built hotel circuit.
Most luxury India tours fall into three styles:
• Luxury trains: a moving hotel with set routes, dining cars and daily excursions
• Palace and five-star circuits: private cars, heritage hotels and one guide throughout
• Customised premium trips: a standard destination upgraded with better rooms, private transfers and longer stays
Luxury trains in India are the most visible option, but they are only one of the three. The right choice depends on how much planning you want to do, because a train hands you a fixed route while a hotel circuit lets you decide where to linger.
Which Luxury Trains Run In India, And What Do They Cost?
India has four main luxury trains: the Palace on Wheels, Golden Chariot, Deccan Odyssey and Maharajas’ Express. CNBC’s 2024 guide to luxury trains lists fares from US$3,160 per person on the Golden Chariot to US$8,330 on the Deccan Odyssey.
|
Train |
Route and length |
Runs |
Starting fare |
|
Golden Chariot |
3 South India itineraries, 3 to 5 nights |
October to March |
US$3,160 per person |
|
Maharajas’ Express |
4 itineraries from Delhi and Mumbai, 3 to 6 nights |
October to April |
US$4,890 per person |
|
Deccan Odyssey |
6 itineraries from Mumbai and Delhi, 7 nights |
September to May |
US$8,330 single occupancy |
|
Palace on Wheels |
Northwest India Golden Triangle, 8 days |
September to April |
Confirm with operator |
These are 2024 published fares, so treat them as a guide to scale rather than a quote. Luxury India tours on rails are priced by cabin category, route length and season. Fares are set by season and cabin category, and taxes are usually extra.
The same guide warns that some websites look official but sell the same trips at higher rates. Book through each train’s own operator site, which its guide links, and compare any agent quote against it.
Why Is The Golden Chariot Easy For Bangalore Travellers?
The Golden Chariot is the easiest luxury train for Bangalore travellers because every journey starts and ends in Bengaluru. You skip the flight to Delhi or Mumbai, which saves a day and the airfare, and you can take a luxury train journey inside one working week.
The train has 18 carriages named after South Indian dynasties, ensuite cabins with an attendant, two dining cars and a lounge bar styled on Mysore Palace. Itineraries run from three to five nights through South India, between October and March.
If you are searching for a Golden Chariot train from Bangalore, check availability early. Peak winter departures are the first to fill, and cabin category changes the fare more than the route does.
Can You Build Luxury India Tours Around Hotels Instead?
Yes. A hotel circuit gives you the same comfort without a fixed timetable. You choose the hotel category, a private car and the length of stay, so luxury India tours can be built around Kashmir, Goa, Andaman or any city you prefer.
Kashmir shows how the pieces add up. Our Kashmir trip cost from Bangalore guide lists deluxe houseboat rooms at ₹4,500 to ₹8,000 a night and private cabs at ₹3,000 to ₹3,500 a day in Srinagar.
That guide puts a mid-range five-day Kashmir trip near ₹58,500 per person, flights included, against ₹39,200 on a careful budget. A luxury Kashmir tour package simply moves each line up a category, so the total climbs with it.
How Does A Luxury Trip Compare With A Standard Package?
A luxury trip costs more because you are buying space, service and exclusivity, not just distance. Standard packages bundle comfortable stays and transfers at a set price, while luxury trains and five-star circuits price each upgrade separately.
|
Style |
Example |
Starting price per person |
|
Standard package |
Kashmir 5N/6D with airfare |
₹46,999 |
|
Standard package |
Andaman 5N/6D |
₹55,000 |
|
Custom hotel circuit |
Mid-range Kashmir, five days |
About ₹58,500 |
|
Luxury train |
Golden Chariot, 3 to 5 nights |
From US$3,160 |
|
Luxury train |
Maharajas’ Express, 3 to 6 nights |
From US$4,890 |
Our listed packages promise comfortable stays, airfare, pure-veg meals, private transfers, sightseeing and a tour manager. For five-star or palace-style hotels, ask for a customised quote and tell us the standard you expect.
Hotel category also moves the price in Goa. The Goa trip cost from Bangalore guide shows a DIY three-day total of roughly ₹11,600 to ₹29,500 per person, and the top of that range is where beachfront and resort stays sit.
The honest trade-off is simple. A luxury train fixes your route, while a custom hotel circuit costs more to plan but follows your interests.
Who Are These Trips Best For?
Luxury India tours suit travellers who value comfort, privacy and time over the lowest price. Anniversaries, family reunions, senior parents and first-time visitors who want no logistics worries are the groups that benefit most from the extra service.
• Senior travellers: private cars and fewer hotel changes reduce physical strain
• Couples: suites, houseboats and dedicated guides make a milestone trip feel special
• Families: connected rooms and flexible meal times keep children comfortable
• Time-poor professionals: one planner handles flights, rooms and transfers
If your priority is covering many places on a tight budget, a standard package gives better value. If comfort matters most, the premium is easier to justify.
When Is The Best Time For Luxury India Tours?
October to March is the main window, because the luxury trains run in the cooler months and Kashmir and Rajasthan are at their most comfortable. The Golden Chariot runs October to March, the Maharajas’ Express October to April and the Deccan Odyssey September to May.
December and January are the busiest weeks, so book cabins and hotels well ahead. For Kashmir, our guide notes that May, June and October lift hotel rates by 30 to 50 percent, so luxury rooms in those weeks cost more again.
Match the season to the destination. A palace circuit in winter and a houseboat stay in spring suit different dates, and a single trip rarely covers both well.
How Do You Plan And Book Step By Step?
Set your budget and days, choose between a train and a hotel circuit, confirm the exact inclusions and book only through official channels. Planning luxury India tours in this order stops you paying for upgrades you will not use.
1. Set your budget and days. Luxury trains run three to seven nights, while hotel circuits can be any length.
2. Choose the style. Pick a train for a fixed, hosted route or a hotel circuit for flexibility.
3. Check the season. Match dates to the train’s running months or the destination’s weather.
4. Read the inclusions. Confirm meals, excursions, transfers and taxes in writing.
5. Book officially. Use the operator’s own site or a trusted planner, not a lookalike page.
6. Share exact traveller details. Names must match your ID for flights and entry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Time To Take A Luxury Trip In India?
October to March is the best window, when the luxury trains run and most regions are at their most comfortable. Peak weeks in December and January need the earliest booking.
Which Luxury Train Starts From Bangalore?
The Golden Chariot. Its three itineraries run three to five nights across South India, and every journey starts and ends in Bengaluru, so no connecting flight is needed.
How Much Do Luxury India Tours Cost Per Person?
Luxury India tours on trains start from about US$3,160 per person on the Golden Chariot, based on 2024 published rates. Custom hotel circuits vary with the hotel category and length of stay.
Does Astraloka Tours Offer Luxury Packages?
Our listed packages include comfortable stays, airfare, pure-veg meals, private transfers and a tour manager. For a higher hotel category, we quote a customised itinerary within 24 hours.
Are Luxury Train Fares All Inclusive?
Fares generally cover the cabin, meals and guided excursions, while taxes and personal expenses are extra. Read each train’s inclusion list before you compare prices.
Can I Take A Luxury Trip In One Week?
Yes. The Golden Chariot has three-night itineraries, and a custom five-day Kashmir or Goa trip fits a working week.
Where Do You Go From Here?
Decide whether you want a hosted train or a hand-built hotel circuit, then send us your dates, group size and hotel standard. Talk to the Astraloka Tours team and we will quote luxury India tours around your plan within 24 hours.
- Starting fare per person, Golden Chariot, twin sharing source
- Starting price per person, Kashmir 5N/6D with airfare source
