Planning a Trip to India? Don’t make this mistake.
A few weeks ago, a couple from Toronto reached out to me on Instagram. They had landed in Delhi with a bucket list full of temples, food tours, and yoga retreats. But by Day 2, they were already frustrated.
Hotel bookings were messed up, the driver didn’t speak English, and their so-called “budget tour” was turning into a money pit.
Sound familiar?
Whether you’re sitting in Mumbai or Manchester, Sydney or Surat, planning a trip across India isn’t just about booking flights and hotels anymore.
Maybe you’re an Indian family living abroad, bringing your kids to see your hometown after years.
Maybe you’re working in Bangalore and looking for a weekend escape to the mountains.
Or maybe you’re a professional in Canada planning a long-overdue cultural tour through Rajasthan.
Whoever you are, one thing is clear: You want the trip to be smooth, worth your money, and easy to plan.
That’s where good travel companies come in.
No, not just any travel agency, I’m talking about the ones that actually get the mix of tech, local knowledge, and real hospitality right.
But with so many options, apps, websites, Instagram ads, it’s tough to know which ones actually deliver and which leave you stuck chasing customer support.
So we did the work.
This blog gives you a simple, no-fluff list of the top 11 travel companies in India that actually make travel easier in 2025, for both Indian and international travelers.
What makes a travel company “The Best” in 2025?
A fancy website?
Attractive Instagram ads?
Good-looking, well-dressed staff?
Flashy offers and “limited time” packages?
What about:
- Giving you the “lowest price” but adding hidden charges later?
- Sending a smooth-talking agent who disappears after the booking?
- Posting drone videos of Kashmir but forgetting to mention the 3-hour roadblock?
We’ve all seen it.
The truth is none of that guarantees a good trip.
So, what actually makes a travel company stand out in 2025?
Here’s what we looked for when curating this list:
They make your planning process easier, not harder.
- Clear communication from Day 1
- A clean, simple booking system
- No back-and-forth for basic info
- For international travelers: smooth currency payment options
They combine tech with real support.
- App/Website + human helpline (especially useful if you’re in a new city or with kids)
- Real-time updates, not just email receipts
- WhatsApp or call support that actually replies
They offer real value, not just low prices.
- Transparent pricing with no “surprise charges”
- Proper breakdown of what’s included: hotels, meals, transport, etc.
- Options to customize based on your group size, time, or budget
- Safe and comfortable options for families, women, and older travelers
- Refund/cancellation policies that actually make sense
They understand the destination.
- Local insights: when to go, what to avoid, what’s worth your time
- Guides who speak your language or understand your vibe
- Itineraries that match your pace, whether you want to see 10 cities or just relax for a week
They’re reviewed by real travelers like you.
- Google reviews, not just paid influencers
- Stories from solo women travelers, families with kids, older couples, and working professionals
- Ratings on platforms like Tripadvisor, etc.
Would you trust a company that looks great online but disappears when things go wrong?
Definitely not.
Because when you’re spending time and money on a trip, especially to a country as diverse and unpredictable as India, what you need is clarity, care, and consistency.
Who is this list for?
Let me tell you that these 11 travel companies were handpicked especially for:
Indian families and professionals
Looking for trusted help with weekend getaways, domestic holidays, or full-length India tours.
NRIs and international travelers
From countries like the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Europe, Russia, and more, who want to explore India safely, comfortably, and with real cultural value, without the overwhelm.
Ready to meet the companies? Let’s go.
List of top 11 best travel companies in India in 2025
Here’s a list of travel companies that actually deliver what they promise. Some are big names, some are small, others are local specialists, but all of them are known for being reliable, easy to work with, and helpful when you’re planning a trip in or around India in 2025.
Varanasi Excursion
Best for: Spiritual travel, first-time India trips, slow and meaningful cultural tours
If you’re looking for a company that knows India beyond brochures and bucket lists, Varanasi Excursion is worth checking out. They’re based in Varanasi but plan trips across India and what sets them apart is how personal, calm, and well-organized the entire experience feels. No aggressive upsells, no messy bookings, just smooth planning, local guides, and a lot of cultural depth.
Features of Varanasi Excursion
- Ideal for spiritual, heritage, and first-time India travelers
- Private and fully customizable tours (from 1-day to 2-week trips)
- Local, English-speaking guides who actually know the area
- Well-planned itineraries with real experiences, not just photo stops
- Strong on-the-ground support (driver, guide, accommodation, all sorted)
- Highly rated for communication and responsiveness (TripAdvisor 4.8★, Google 4.8★)
- Popular for Varanasi, Sarnath, Golden Triangle, Buddhist circuit, and Rajasthan-Kerala combos
📍Based in
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
📲 Website and contact
🌍 Works well for
Foreigners, NRIs, families with parents or elders, solo spiritual travelers, couples looking for authentic India experiences.
MakeMyTrip
Best for: Quick bookings, app-based convenience, domestic and international trips
If you’ve ever booked a flight or hotel in India, chances are you’ve already used MakeMyTrip. It’s one of India’s largest online travel platforms, widely used for booking flights, hotels, buses, trains, and complete holiday packages. It’s especially useful if you prefer planning your trips yourself using an app or website.
The platform is designed for convenience, you can compare prices, filter by preferences, and make bookings in just a few minutes. While it doesn’t offer much in terms of personalized travel planning, it works well for travelers who want to manage everything on their own, from airport cabs to accommodation, without going through an agent.
Features of MakeMyTrip
- Easy-to-use mobile app and website for self-booking
- Coverage for domestic and international travel
- Budget and premium hotel options across India
- Pre-designed holiday packages available by destination and interest
- Offers, cashback, and loyalty points for regular users
- Customer support available via app and call centre
📍Based in
Gurugram, Haryana
🌍 Works well for
Indian travelers, NRIs, solo professionals, families planning short domestic trips or city-to-city holidays across India
Yatra
Best for: Budget packages, domestic tours, group and corporate travel
Yatra is another well-established name in India’s online travel space. While it offers a similar range of services as MakeMyTrip including flights, hotels, trains, and holiday packages. It tends to focus more on value deals and ready-made tour packages, especially for domestic travelers.
It’s often used by families and professionals looking for cost-effective travel solutions without getting into detailed custom planning. They also have a strong presence in corporate travel and group bookings, which makes them a preferred partner for businesses and school/college tour operators.
Yatra also offers curated tour packages to popular Indian destinations, including religious circuits, hill stations, and heritage sites.
Features of Yatra
- Competitive rates for flight + hotel combos
- Domestic and international holiday packages
- Special categories like pilgrimage tours and seasonal offers
- Option to pay in EMIs for selected packages
- Corporate travel management tools
- Available on web and mobile with 24/7 customer support
📍Based in
Gurugram, Haryana
🌍 Works well for
Budget-conscious travelers, Indian families, corporate groups, and tour organizers planning pre-designed trips across India
Thomas Cook India
Best for: End-to-end trip planning, visa assistance, and inbound India travel
Thomas Cook India offers fully managed travel services, which include everything from flights and hotel bookings to visas, forex, and insurance. It’s a practical choice for travelers who prefer structured tours and professional support throughout their trip.
Their India-focused packages are especially popular among NRIs, international tourists, and senior travelers who want a ready-to-go itinerary without having to coordinate different parts of the trip themselves. While customization options are limited compared to niche travel planners, the advantage here is convenience and consistency.
Features of Thomas Cook India
- Pre-planned domestic and international tour packages
- Visa documentation assistance and foreign exchange services
- Tour options include both group departures and private trips
- Destinations covered: Golden Triangle, Kerala, Kashmir, South India, and more
- Support available online, over phone, and through local offices
- Pricing is on the higher side but includes most travel essentials
📍Based in
Mumbai, Maharashtra
🌍 Works well for
NRIs, international tourists, senior travelers, and those looking for fully managed India travel with visa and documentation support
SOTC
Best for: Family vacations, group tours, and fixed-itinerary holiday packages
SOTC is a travel company that focuses heavily on organized tour packages, both within India and internationally. If you’re looking for a holiday where everything is already planned, be it transport, sightseeing, hotels, meals and you don’t want to coordinate much on your own, SOTC is a practical option.
Their packages tend to follow fixed routes and schedules, which works well for families, older travelers, or groups who prefer a predictable and time-managed itinerary. You won’t find a lot of personalization here, but the trade-off is fewer decisions and less trip-planning stress.
Features of SOTC
- Fixed departure group tours and private holiday packages
- Options for India tours (Golden Triangle, South India, Kashmir, etc.)
- Well-suited for non-tech-savvy travelers who prefer traditional bookings
- Includes transport, meals, hotels, and guided sightseeing
- Offers corporate, school, and group travel solutions
- Available through online bookings and travel agents
📍Based in
Mumbai, Maharashtra
🌍 Works well for
Indian families, working professionals, retired couples, and anyone looking for structured, pre-planned holidays with support
Intrepid Travel
Best for: Small group tours, sustainable travel, and offbeat India experiences
Intrepid Travel is an international company known for its small-group, culturally immersive tours and their India itineraries reflect that approach. Unlike large, crowded group tours, Intrepid focuses on slow travel, local experiences, and responsible tourism.
Their trips are designed for travelers who want more than sightseeing, usually combining visits to major attractions with homestays, local transport, and interaction with communities. While the tours aren’t luxury-focused, they offer a balanced mix of comfort and authenticity, especially for solo travelers, couples, or small groups coming to India for the first time.
Features of Intrepid Travel
- Fixed departure group tours (max 12–16 people)
- India tours include North India, Kerala, Rajasthan, Ladakh, and spiritual circuits
- Focus on sustainability, local guides, and ethical travel practices
- Includes transport, mid-range stays, and guided activities
- Can be booked from overseas via their global website
- Less ideal for travelers looking for private or custom itineraries
📍Based in
Mumbai, Maharashtra
🌍 Works well for
International travelers, solo travelers, couples, and anyone looking for a guided, small-group India experience with a cultural focus
Veena World
Best for: Group tours, senior-friendly trips, and all-inclusive India travel
Veena World is a Mumbai-based travel company known for its well-managed group tours across India. It’s especially popular among middle-class Indian families, senior citizens, and first-time travelers who want everything handled, from transport and hotels to sightseeing and meals.
Most of their tours follow fixed itineraries and operate on specific dates, which makes them easy to book if you’re not looking for heavy customization. Their tours usually have a tour manager, which adds a layer of comfort for travelers who want structured travel with on-ground support.
Features of Veena World
- Fixed departure tours covering all major Indian regions
- Packages include hotels, meals, internal transport, and sightseeing
- Group tours led by a Veena World tour manager
- Special categories like “Women’s Special,” “Seniors’ Special,” and festival tours
- Not ideal for travelers looking for flexible or private plans
- Bookings available online, through offices, or local travel agents
📍Based in
Mumbai, Maharashtra
🌍 Works well for
Indian families, senior citizens, first-time domestic travelers, and group travelers who prefer structured tours with everything pre-planned
Kesari Tours
Best for: Large group tours, language-based groups, and cultural India travel
Kesari Tours has been a familiar name in Indian travel for decades, especially known for large, organized group tours across India. One of their unique strengths is offering tours based on regional languages like Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, or Tamil which makes the experience more accessible and comfortable for travelers from different parts of India.
Their trips are highly structured, often run on tight schedules, and are ideal for those who prefer traveling with a group where everything is taken care of including hotels, meals, sightseeing, even the daily timetable. You won’t find much room for customization, but the upside is a consistent and predictable experience, especially for cultural and historical destinations.
Features of Kesari Tours
- Fixed itinerary group tours with multilingual support
- All-inclusive pricing (hotels, meals, guides, internal transport)
- Covers all major tourist regions in India: Rajasthan, Himachal, Kerala, etc.
- Tour manager support throughout the trip
- Well-suited for community, school, and family group travel
- Offline booking support through regional travel offices
📍Based in
Mumbai, Maharashtra
🌍 Works well for
Indian families, regional language groups, senior travelers, and anyone who prefers full-service guided India tours in their own language
Ghum India Ghum
Best for: Custom India tours, inbound travel support, and flexible private itineraries
Ghum India Ghum is a Delhi-based travel company that focuses on private, customizable tours across India, especially for inbound international travelers and NRIs. Unlike fixed group tours, their approach is more flexible, you can choose your destinations, pace, and level of comfort.
They cover both popular tourist circuits and lesser-known cultural spots, offering local guides, airport transfers, hotel bookings, and itinerary planning. This makes them a practical choice if you’re flying into India and want a pre-arranged trip with room for personalization.
Features of Ghum India Ghum
- Private India tours with flexible itineraries
- Services include hotels, transport, guides, and tour planning
- Covers Golden Triangle, Rajasthan, Varanasi, South India, Northeast, and more
- English-speaking driver and guide options available
- Suitable for families, couples, solo travelers, and small groups
- Online bookings, WhatsApp support, and dedicated travel consultants
📍Based in
New Delhi
🌍 Works well for
NRIs, international tourists, and Indian travelers who want a hassle-free, custom India travel experience without joining large group tours
Ixigo
Best for: Budget travel, train bookings, and travel planning through mobile apps
Ixigo started as a flight and train search engine but has grown into a popular travel app for budget-conscious Indian travelers. It’s especially well-known for its smooth train booking experience, detailed platform information, and real-time travel updates, features that are extremely useful if you’re navigating Indian railways or planning city-to-city travel.
While Ixigo doesn’t offer curated holiday packages or personalized tours, it works well as a do-it-yourself travel planner helping users compare prices, track delays, and make informed bookings for trains, buses, flights, and hotels.
Features of Ixigo
- Excellent for booking Indian Railways and IRCTC-connected trains
- Smart tools like PNR prediction, live train tracking, and platform alerts
- Affordable flight and bus booking options
- Trip planning features like hotel search, price comparison, and itinerary tools
- Best suited for app-savvy users who prefer booking on their own
- Focused more on logistics than guided experiences or customer service
📍Based in
Gurugram, Haryana
🌍 Works well for
Indian travelers, solo budget travelers, students, and working professionals who prefer to plan and manage their own trips using tech tools
WanderOn
Best for: Young travelers, group adventures, and social backpacking trips
WanderOn is a newer travel company that focuses on community-style group trips, mostly targeting younger travelers, solo explorers, and working professionals. Their tours are designed to be more social and experience-driven, with a mix of adventure, sightseeing, and casual networking.
They handle the logistics, stays, transport, activities, while keeping the vibe relaxed and group-oriented. Most trips follow fixed dates and destinations, and are popular among people who want to explore India with like-minded travelers without having to plan everything themselves.
Features of WanderOn
- Fixed-date group trips to destinations like Himachal, Kashmir, Ladakh, Meghalaya, Goa, and more
- Includes stays, transport, a trip captain, and curated experiences
- Community-focused with expect music nights, bonfires, hikes, and local food
- Easy booking through their website with detailed itineraries
- Not ideal for families or those seeking private/custom tours
- Appeals more to the 20s–30s crowd looking for affordable, well-organized travel
📍Based in
Gurugram, Haryana
🌍 Works well for
Solo travelers, college friends, young professionals, and anyone looking to explore India through group adventures and shared experiences
How to choose the right travel company for you
There’s no “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to travel planning. Some people want flexibility, some need full support, and some just want to avoid the back-and-forth.
So instead of getting overwhelmed by flashy websites or big promises, ask yourself a few simple questions:
Do you want everything taken care of, or do you enjoy planning yourself?
- If you like booking your own stays and browsing on your own time, platforms like MakeMyTrip or Ixigo are good enough.
- But if you want a team to handle everything, from itinerary to stays and local transport. Go with full-service planners like Varanasi Excursion, Ghum India Ghum, or Thomas Cook.
These companies are especially helpful if you’re short on time or coming from outside India.
Are you traveling solo, with family, or in a group?
- Solo or young travelers often prefer small-group experiences. Companies like WanderOn or Intrepid work well here.
- Families, seniors, or first-time travelers usually need structure and safety. In that case, check out Veena World, Kesari, or SOTC.
- Want something in between? Varanasi Excursion offers private, flexible India trips with local guides which are great if you want support without being part of a large group.
Is it your first time visiting India?
If yes, you’ll need a company that can offer:
- Visa help
- Airport pickups
- English-speaking guides
- Local tips and safe routes
Varanasi Excursion specializes in that kind of travel, especially for NRIs, international tourists, and families coming to India for the first time. They also cover trips beyond Varanasi including Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Himachal, Delhi, and more. All with a focus on comfort and real cultural experiences.
Do you want fixed plans or flexibility?
- Fixed-date tours are simple: you pay, join, and everything’s scheduled. Look at SOTC, Yatra, or Kesari for this.
- If you want to adjust the pace, skip the rush, or add personal touches, go with flexible planners like Varanasi Excursion or Ghum India Ghum.
Final note
Don’t choose any travel company just based on offers or shiny Instagram posts. Think about who’s going with you, how much time you have, and how much handholding you’ll need. A good travel company should make the trip smoother, not more stressful.
And if you’re unsure talk to a few. Probably the respond you get will tell you a lot.
So… Which travel company feels right for you?
Travel planning doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
You don’t need 15 open tabs or a week of research to figure it all out. Sometimes, the simplest way forward is just to talk to someone who understands what you’re looking for, your pace, your budget, and the kind of experience you actually want.
That’s exactly what we do at Varanasi Excursion.
We’ve helped Indian families, NRIs, and international travelers plan everything from short Varanasi tours to full, multi-city India trips, with no pressure, no hidden costs, and no confusing back-and-forth.
If you’re thinking about booking a trip whether it’s a few days or a longer journey just reach out to us at 🌐 Varanasi Excursion or call us at 📞 +91 9005104999.
We’ll ask a few easy questions, offer clear options, and you can decide what feels right.
No pushy talk. Just honest planning from people who know India well and want your trip to go smoothly.
