A country known for its opulence, elegance and impeccable service, when you travel to India you’ll be transported back to a bygone era. Hand in hand with this go its incredible hotels. From private beaches to architectural marvels, take a look at five luxury retreats in India that will make you never want to leave.

For travel inspiration: India destination guide

InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort

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On the serene shores of the Bay of Bengal, the InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort just oozes luxury and tranquility. In this exquisite coastal retreat, every element has been meticulously crafted to create an extraordinary escape.

The resort’s location is nothing short of enchanting, embraced by the picturesque beauty of Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its ancient temples and rock-cut sculptures. Panoramic views of the Coromandel Coast, landscaped gardens and a private beach provide an idyllic sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

As you sip an evening cocktail with the central courtyard lotus pond all lit up with lamps, you’ll never want to go anywhere else.

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The Leela Palace hotel, New Delhi

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From the moment you enter the lobby of the Leela Palace, adorned with intricate Rajasthani artwork and sparkling crystal chandeliers, you’re enveloped in a world of regal charm. Located in the heart of India’s bustling capital city, Delhi, every inch of the Leela Palace hotel is a masterpiece.

As a symbol of its commitment to celebrate India’s finest artists, the hotel even has an exclusive ‘art walk’ that allows you to discover its rare and diverse collection of contemporary Indian art.

Thekri, a Mewari art form that uses intricately chiselled mirrors on plaster, is the main theme of the palace interiors. Contemporary décor blends seamlessly with traditional architecture. Outside, you’re treated to lush gardens, and panoramic lake and mountain views. The hotel, one of the finest luxury retreats in India, also overlooks the iconic Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President of India.

For the ultimate taste of India, the hotel’s Jamavar signature fine dining restaurant offers a spectacular menu. Specialty Indian cuisine delivers ‘royal dishes’ including Dhaniya Murgh, boneless drums of chicken cooked with pounded coriander, and Gosht ki Nihari, an Awadhi lamb delicacy lightly flavored with saffron.

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Read more: Looking to rekindle the romance? This luxurious Udaipur hotel ticks all the boxes

Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur

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Imagine resting you head in a majestic palace in the middle of a lake. With breathtaking views of the surrounding hillsides and palaces, you’ll feel like royalty at the famous Taj Lake Palace hotel. This 18^th century white marble marvel situated in the enchanting city of Udaipur, is undeniably one of the best luxury retreats in India.

Originally built as a summer retreat for the royal dynasty of Mewar, the Taj Lake Palace is a testament to the grandeur of Rajput architecture. Intricate marble carvings, ornate balconies and majestic domes are reminiscent of a bygone era, transporting you to a time of royal splendor.

Enjoy a candlelit dinner on the rooftop terrace, overlooking the shimmering lake, or indulge in a traditional Rajasthani thali in the elegant dining room. The fine dining restaurants at the Taj Lake Palace are exclusive to guests, adding to the allure of this spectacular hotel. From the grand welcome with a rose petal shower to the city tour in a vintage car, they have everything in place for an ethereal experience.

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Hyatt Regency Jaipur Mansarovar

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Jaipur’s flamboyance is celebrated in full at the architectural marvel that is the Hyatt Regency Jaipur Mansarovar. Located near to city center and historic sites, the hotel represents a breathtaking marriage of classic architecture and contemporary décor.

Upon entering the hotel, guests are greeted by a grand lobby with soaring ceilings and chandeliers, intricate marble flooring and opulent finishes. The exterior is also a visual feast, its sleek façade exuding a sense of elegance, while subtle nods to local architecture, such as intricate jali work and ornate balconies, pay homage to the rich cultural heritage of Jaipur.

Each guest room and suite seamlessly blends contemporary design with Rajasthani motifs, featuring vibrant colors, locally sourced artwork and rich fabrics.

Situated in the heart of the Mansarovar neighborhood, the hotel enjoys a prime location offering both convenience and tranquility. One of the finest luxury hotels in India, it is the perfect base from which to visit the Amer Fort, the bustling Jaipur markets and to immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of the Pink City.

Despite being a city center hotel close to all the sights, the open courtyards and landscaped gardens serve as tranquil retreats. The interplay of water features, lush greenery and sculptural elements creates a serene ambiance for guests to unwind and connect with nature.

Stay here on: Imperial Rajasthan

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Andana in the Himalayas

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As you approach The Andana, a sense of awe washes over you, and time seems to slow down. One of the most famous luxury retreats in India, the elegant, traditional Himalayan design blends harmoniously with the breathtaking landscape, creating an enchanting ambiance. With only a handful of exquisitely appointed villas, privacy reigns supreme, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the tranquility and seclusion of this idyllic haven.

Set amidst the majestic Himalayan foothills of North India in the former palace estate of the Maharaja of Tehri-Garhwal, Ananda is one of the best luxury wellness retreats in India and is world renowned. Sprawling 100-acre grounds, gardens and surrounding forests, and boasting world-class wellness facilities, it is the ultimate chance to return to the peaceful solitude of nature.

This spiritual location, is the birthplace of Ayurveda, yoga and meditation, the perfect reason to engage in yoga sessions, and rejuvenate mind, body, and soul amidst awe-inspiring surroundings. Or simply surrender to the healing touch of the spa, where ancient wellness traditions are seamlessly blended with modern techniques.

To experience some of the best luxury retreats in India for yourself take a look at our limited-edition luxury small group journeys and make memories for a lifetime.

A captivating world of wildlife, communities and industry, with an amazing story to tell, the Mississippi Delta is one of the lesser-known treasures of the American South.

We had the pleasure to speak with Barbara Johnson, co-founder of Great Delta Tours to learn more about her love for the Delta. She talks us through the significance of these remarkable wetlands and gives a peek at what’s in store on your journey through New Orleans and this natural wonderland.

Experience this on: Southern Grace

Arriving in Louisiana aged 17 with her family, Barbara studied for a Masters in Urban and Regional Affairs in New Orleans, and fell deeply in love with its community. New Orleans has now been her home for over 30 years, and she founded Great Delta Tours six years ago with her colleague, Dr. Peter Yaukey, a local science professor and naturalist.

Originally working in Community and Economic Development, Barbara’s entire life has been about building up this community. She tells us that it was when working as a consultant with coastal communities after Deepwater Horizon (the BP oil spill) in 2010, that her ‘aha’ moment happened.

Founding Great Delta Tours

“New Orleans is known around the world for its distinctive culture and the richness of its food, music and architecture,” Barbara explains. “But we’re less celebrated for our natural environment – one of the most important river delta systems in the world.”

“With ecotourism fast-growing, I realized there was an opportunity to build on that sector of our travel and leisure economy; to tell the story of this amazing natural environment and to also build awareness of how we sustain ourselves as a coastal community.”

A fresh perspective

“This is what we celebrate on Great Delta Tours and what guests of Luxury Gold will experience,” says Barbara. “We offer a fresh and unforgettable perspective and understanding of New Orleans. And we reveal the beauty and importance of one of the largest river ecosystems in the world, through cultures, wildlife, fisheries and economic assets that are not found anywhere else.

“We are the river. Everything comes from the Mississippi that’s created this amazing tapestry of land and people and diverse cultures and wildlife.”

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A rainforest of North America

‘The Mississippi Delta’ refers to the bottom third of Louisiana and is a massive wetland system – a 200-mile-long swathe from Texas to Mississippi. “It’s sometimes referred to as a ‘Rainforest of North America’,” Barbara says, “because of its diversity of plant life, marine life and wildlife.”

“These wetlands are like giant nurseries of life and on this tour Luxury Gold guests will get to truly experience that bounty. We go beyond the flood walls and visit places most visitors don’t get to experience.”

Highlighting the importance of the Mississippi as a navigable waterway and one largest port systems in the world, she explains that the wetlands protect incredibly important economic resources. “We are one the largest producers of energy in the country,” says Barbara, “and this land protects all of that.”

Celebrate birds and conservation projects

Explaining that the Mississippi Delta is also one of the great bird flyways of the world, Barbara tells us “Right now, there are millions of birds moving from South America to North America on a great migration. The wetlands provide them food and habitat along their way, and we endeavor to seek out birdlife on our tours.

“On the tour we’ll celebrate some of conservation success stories that we’ve been able to achieve. Whether it’s saving the Brown Pelican, our state bird, that was on the verge of extinct extinction from the 60s to the 80s, or the alligators whose population is once again rising steadily. These animals are no longer threatened, and we have a very rich number of them here now. It’s a great success story for us.”

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A fortress we must protect

“The wetlands have a very important role to play in flood prevention,” Barbara explains. “They’re a crucial part of the fortress of levees and flood walls protecting the people of Louisiana.”

New Orleans is surrounded by water and is located in a depression between the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico that is up to five meters deep. This makes the city especially vulnerable to flooding from hurricanes, the river and heavy rainfall.

“The wetlands act like giant speed bumps and barriers, protecting around 1.5 million people from storms and hurricanes that come off the Gulf,” she says.

“For various reasons we’ve been losing these wetlands and the land is sinking, partly due to natural evolutionary processes and also as the result of human activity. So now in South Louisiana we have underway one of the largest climate adaptation projects in the world, working to restore what’s been lost since the 1930s.”

Louisiana is recognized as a global pioneer in taking action to mitigate the impact of the climate crisis to its communities. In place since 2007, a $50 billion, 50-year plan developed using the best available science and engineering, guides the state’s efforts to sustain its coastal ecosystem, safeguard coastal populations, and protect vital economic and cultural resources.

“Our future depends on ensuring that we have a flood protection system as well as restoring and conserving our wetlands here,” says Barbara, “and this is what guest will also see as we point out these projects on our tour.”

Discover fishes and fishermen

“One of my favorite parts of the tour is the Yscloskey fishing village, where we go to have lunch and meet with a fifth generation Isleños fishermen,” Barbara tells us. “It’s a very quaint, small village, you feel like you’re in in a fishing village in the South Pacific, with lodges up on stilts 20 feet high as is the requirement beyond the flood walls.

“It’s also a major commercial fishing community (Louisiana has the second largest fishery in America), that also defines who we are as a coastal community. Families have been here for generations, and they harvest and process blue crabs, shrimp, crawfish and oysters, everything we celebrate in our restaurants.

“Here you can just drink in the beautiful nature with birds and wildlife. You’ll see the fishermen coming in with their catch and have the chance to talk with a local. It’s like taking a step back in time.”

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Celebrate Spanish culture

 “While New Orleans is more often known for its French influence, we like to celebrate the city’s very distinctive Spanish culture,” Barbara says. “Architecturally the French Quarter and its surrounds is more Spanish in character than French.”

Defeated by the British in the French and Indian War, France gave up control of Louisiana to Spain from 1763 until 1801. The Spanish recruited militia and farmers from the Canary Islands, a Spanish colony, to defend New Orleans from British expansion. They were known as ‘Isleños’.

“3000 Isleños were recruited, and we share the whole story with guests in the Islenos Village Complex,” she says. “There is a museum and also several of the original homes that the Spanish built. It’s a fascinating culture that most people don’t know about, and we celebrate this at the Isleños village that is now St. Bernard Parish.”

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Fresh eyes on New Orleans

“Through the Mississippi Delta tour, we take guests on a deep dive into the history of New Orleans, to show how it emerged from a backwater settlement on the edge of a cypress swamp to one of the most prosperous cities in America by the mid 1800s,” Barbara explains. “You’ll see the colorful and beautiful historic architecture of neighborhoods that we travel through and understand the city’s development from living on the edge of the river, on the natural levees, to how we were able to expand into the surrounding areas.

“You’ll also see architectural hidden gems such as New Orleans Lakefront Airport, one of the finest examples of art deco in the country. When it was built in 1934 it was the largest and most modern airport in America. Renovation after Hurricane Katrina revealed eight priceless murals by the Spanish muralist Javier Gonzalez on the second floor. The building and grounds also include a beautiful bas relief façade and a sculpture fountain by Mexican born Louisiana artist Enrique Alvarez.”

Maybe extend your time in this amazing city: 7 incredible destinations to extend your Luxury Gold vacation

Working with the water, for the future

“We also celebrate nature in a special way at places like New Orleans City Park,” Barbara explains. Over 170 years old, one mile wide and three miles long comprising a total of 1,300 acres, New Orleans City Park is one of the largest urban Parks in the country. It is home to the largest grove of live oak trees in the world and one of the finest sculpture gardens in the country in the New Orleans Museum of Art.

“The museum shows in a special way how we are learning to live with, and celebrate, water as we learn from the Dutch for our future survival, and resilience post Katrina. We used to turn our backs to the water and try to pump it out as fast as we can. But now there’s a whole different way that we’re trying to capture water and celebrate it.”

This intimate look at the Mississippi Delta is one of the unforgettable moments that await on Southern Grace. Discover the best of the sublime American South with exquisite hotels, exceptional dining and exclusive experiences, curated for you.

Under the Tuscan sun, immerse yourself in fine vintages and fascinating conversation at the sublime Castello di Fonterutoli. Take a timeless journey with us to Italy on a Founder’s Collection departure and be personally welcomed into the home of La Famiglia Mazzei, the renowned Tuscan winemaking family.

An exclusive invitation from la Famiglia Mazzei

For over six centuries, ‘la Famiglia Mazzei’ has dedicated itself to winemaking, with a passion and commitment handed down from one generation to the next. In 1938, Ser Lapo Mazzei became known as the pioneer of Chianti Classico, as the author of the first document known to mention ‘Chianti.’ Then in 1435, when Ser Lapo’s granddaughter Madonna Smeralda Mazzei married Piero di Agnolo from Fonterutoli, the Castello di Fonterutoli estate became a family heritage.

Enjoy an exclusive lunch and wine-tasting with either Marchese Francesco Mazzei or his grandson Lapo Mazzei, at their centuries-old Tuscan estate. Through this intimate meet and greet, learn about the family themselves, their beautiful home, the Mazzei wine dynasty and how they are preserving the local eco system for future generations.

Experience this on a Founder’s Collection departure of Ultimate Italy

Castello di Fonterutoli

“My family has owned Castello di Fonterutoli since 1435, so for 25 generations. We’ve been living here forever, it’s our paradise,” Marchese Francesco Mazzei explains.

Set in the picturesque village of Fonterutoli, Castello di Fonterutoli is more than a winery. This small rural settlement is located in the heart of Chianti Classico between Florence and Siena and is considered one of the most important institutions of Chianti Classico and Tuscany.

Built at the end of the 1500’s, the Marchesi Mazzei have taken care to preserve the authentic charm and atmosphere of the village, and today it retains much of its original spirit. Cobbled paths, beautiful rustic buildings decorated by rose pink flowers and a strong community prevail. Visitors can enjoy a coffee in the village bar, a chat with the locals or, of course, sip some famous Castello di Fonterutoli wines.

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Ancestors celebrated through their wines

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The Mazzei family describe their wines as ‘the maximum expression of their terroirs.’ Maybe one of their most renowned products is the ‘Siepi’. Credited as ‘one of the 50 wines that changed Italy’s wine style’ this has been produced by the Mazzei family since 1435.

Much of the family history is told through its wines. With their outstanding ‘Chianti Classico Riserva’, the Marquis Mazzei celebrate their notable ancestor Ser Lapo, and a sublime vintage named ‘Philip’ is dedicated to Philip Mazzei (1730-1816). An illustrious ancestor and political thinker, together with Thomas Jefferson, Philip was a pioneer of the viticulture in Virginia.

Captivating stories and connections

As part of your visit, you will have the opportunity to see inside the impressive wine cellars. This vast space is taken up by thousands of barrels, all decorated with the Mazzei family’s official stamp. On your tour you will learn about the various vintages, and the barrelling process.

“If I could bring anyone here, past or present, it would have to be Thomas Jefferson. He was a real wine connoisseur,” Marchese Francesco Mazzei tells us. Jefferson also happened to be a close friend of Francesco’s ancestor, Filippo Mazzei, and was a Founding Father of the United States, contributing to the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Filippo Mazzei is credited for being the inspiration behind one of its famous quotes: “All men are by nature equally free and independent. Such equality is necessary in order to create a free government,” something later acknowledged by President John F. Kennedy in his book, “A Nation of Immigrants”.

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Natural treatments in the vineyard

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Guaranteeing the stability of the ecosystem and its biodiversity is very important to the Mazzei family. At Castello di Fonterutoli and their other estates, they’ve eliminated chemicals for weeding and recycle their production waste (shoots, grape stalks, olive pomace, and horse manure) as organic fertilizer.

To reduce their carbon footprint and preserve of the surrounding landscape, they’ve adopted various methods, including their ledge-shaped terraced vineyards. This reduces erosion and preserves the heritage of the landscape.

Water is used carefully, including as a natural coolant for the wine cellar. Through the recycling of the fast flowing spring water through the rock walls of the cellar, no climate control system is required.

An elegant and intimate lunch

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Traditional Tuscan dishes, reinterpreted in a gourmet-style await you in the family’s osteria. This quaint restaurant, surrounded by stunning views of the rolling Tuscan countryside, is where Founder’s Collection guests enjoy an exclusive and delicious rustic meal during their trip to Castello di Fonterutoli.

Sip some more of the estate’s wines and dine on dishes made exclusively with fresh, seasonal local produce. Each plate respects the Tuscan heritage, with a particular eye to the wild game that roams wild in the estate’s meadows and woodlands.