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Holiday trends are constantly evolving : be it intergenerational escapes , lesser - known destinations , spacations , or pickleball getaways. While some travellers seek the comfort of returning to familiar destinations , others are drawn to the thrill of discovering places less explored. Whatever your travel style , we at Robb Report India have made it easier for you with a list of the 50 Greatest Places to Explore , paired with luxury properties worth -their salt. Curated with recommendations from RR Circle members , insights from a panel of over 30 -plus experts across travel , hospitality , and other fields along with our editorial team , this is your guide to the destinations worth the journey. Ready to explore ? Let ’s checkin.
“In Ilulissat, an iceberg drifted past, hollowed by time. Through its blue window I glimpsed painted houses; fishermen among fulmars, a humpback’s fluke slipping under,” says Kartiki Gonsalves, Academy Award-winning director and producer of The Elephant Whisperers and founder of Earth Spectrum. The city of Ilulissat radiates an ethereal charm, much like the rest of Greenland. “Ice, older than memory, holds this town together. It is melting. Protecting our planet is the key to everything that still floats here, living and luminous,” says Gonsalves.
When in Greenland, you do not want to stay away from the glaciers, or nature at its pristine best. The Eqi Glacier Lodge – World of Greenland offers remotely-located cabins with views of glaciers and surrounding fjords. It is a short drive from Ilulissat. While here, spend time at the sauna or set off on hikes to the ice sheet or other locations nearby. This accommodation features around 15 cabins and can be booked between mid-June to mid-September.
The Scottish Highlands is dotted with stunning places like the Isle of Skye, Glencoe, Loch Ness among others. No wonder, it was a challenge for Tarun Khiwal, to pick one favourite place here.
“The mountains and streams of the Scottish Highlands stretch endlessly, kept alive by the wind, with Eilean Donan Castle rising where three lochs meet. Before such a landscape, one feels pleasantly ordinary. The Highlands remind us we are merely passing visitors, briefly here to enjoy it,” says Khiwal, who is a well-known fashion photographer and director.
In the land of castles, you might as well stay in one. The Inverlochy Castle in the Highlands was built in 1863. It features around 17 classic guest rooms and suites, and eight renovated stable block rooms. And in case you want to dial up the luxury a touch more, you can fly into the castle in a chopper; it has a helipad or choose to get a transfer in the castle’s Rolls-Royce Phantom.
“Ladakh showed me, a city boy, how light carves a mountain; Kashmir waited years to follow,” says Colston Julian, prominent Indian photographer celebrated for his impactful work across portraiture, editorial, advertising, and fashion photography. “I arrived in January, in sub-zero weather, yet it never felt cold. Crossing a valley, we stopped beside a lone vendor’s rack of velvet pherans, glowing against the snow in quiet hope. I had to make the image,” he says. “A local dog adopted us, puzzled by what these strangers found so absorbing in the empty snow, he says, adding, “He kept pace beside me, settling at my feet as I waited for the light. I came home proud that this extraordinary land is part of India, longing to return and make more images.”
Gulmarg is built around its slopes, and The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa makes the most of it. At 8,825 feet, it’s a short walk from the Gulmarg Gondola, the ski resort has 85 rooms and cottages tucked among pine forests. They range from balcony rooms facing the Himalayas to a two-level Presidential Cottage with its own plunge pool and jacuzzi. After a day in the snow, the temperature-controlled pool stays warm through winter, with The Khyber Spa by L’Occitane close at hand to pamper further. Dinner is best spent at Cloves, where the menu stays rooted in Kashmiri cuisine. Savour Italian delicacies at Brava, and spend afternoons at Chaikash sipping on warm kehwa.
Rid Burman, who clicked this image recalls, “Maasai Mara was a revelation of sorts. Primal and raw, it tells you how fascinating and unforgiving nature can be. One evening while coming back from our safari we spotted a young calf screaming for its mother, I was so tempted to pick it up. But our guide said it’s forbidden, it’s going to be someone’s dinner that night. That really hit hard; nothing can change this rule...that’s the fundamental law. It felt like this incredible equation, forces balancing each other out.” Burman is a fashion photographer who shuttles between Paris and Mumbai.
Maasai Mara is Kenya at its wildest best. For a different view, climb into a hot-air balloon at sunrise and drift above the plains as the Mara wakes below.
Angama, in Swahili, means ‘suspended mid-air’. Perched 1,000 feet above Kenya’s Maasai, Angama Mara sits right on the edge of the Great Rift Valley. The lodge is the brainchild of safari veterans Steve and Nicky Fitzgerald, who spent years creating and running camps across Africa before deciding to build one of their own. The tented suites line the escarpment, their floor-to-ceiling glass walls seem to bring the space around into your personal space. Outside, it’s wildlife. Inside, it’s comfort, good food and intuitive service.
Better known as Rafael Nadal’s hometown, Mallorca is one of the Balearic Islands in Spain. Surrounded by mountains and the azure waters of the Mediterranean, this is a great destination to swim, dive, explore secret coves or just laze in the sun. And if you want to spend your nights partying, the capital city of Palma has vibrant tapas bars and cocktail lounges for nights out.
“Through my photographs, I tried to show the island’s relaxed pace of life, its warm colours, and its simple beauty. Whether it’s locals chatting in courtyards, chairs outside seaside homes, or narrow streets leading into the hills, I wanted to capture what makes Mallorca special beyond its popular sites. For me, it was about showing the island as it is and the little details that give it its character,” says eminent photographer Prasad Naik, who shot this image.
St Regis Mardavall Mallorca is an opulent seafront sanctuary. On entering the main hall, one is in awe of the wooden ceiling that is easily three storeys high. The property is replete with Michelin-starred restaurants, 125 rooms and opulent suites with private terraces facing lush lawns and the sea. A gate beyond the gardens leads to the coastal route, the cliffs, beneath which lies a cove.
There are a few places that still feel genuinely beyond reach. Antarctica is one of them: a vast, unending world of ice, sea and snow, where wildlife vastly outnumbers people. “Antarctica is unlike anywhere else I have travelled,” says Ruchi Kohli, chief of experience, Away & Co. Flying directly into the White Continent, stepping onto the ice and spending days among penguins, seals and whales, she says, makes the experience feel “almost unreal”.
There is plenty to do: encounter penguin colonies, watch whales, kayak among ice, scuba dive beneath the surface or climb an Antarctic peak. The natural light feels surreal: silvery and constantly shifting, turning the wilderness into a photographer’s dream.
Antarctica21 pioneered the air-cruise model, whisking travellers from Chile to King George Island in around two hours. From there, it’s straight onto an intimate expedition ship.
With just 75 guests on board, these ships feel more like private yachts, which means swift landings, fewer crowds and access to remote stretches of the Antarctic Peninsula that larger ships cannot reach. More time on the ice, closer encounters with wildlife, and considerably less time being tossed about at sea.
“Ireland has the same green, unhurried, old-money quiet, minus the crowds that come with a destination everyone’s already discovered,” says Karan Bhangay, founder, Indulge.
Ireland’s County Laois is all rolling hills, ancient woodlands, blanket bogs and the wild beauty of the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Hike the Glenbarrow Eco Walk, climb to the Ridge of Capard for far-reaching views, or wander through Aghaboe Abbey.
Set across 614 acres of pristine parkland, woodland, lakes and walled gardens, Ballyfin Demesne, this Georgian estate has only 20 rooms and suites. The intimate Cellar Bar and hidden-door entrance to the 1848 Conservatory add discreet touches of exclusivity.
Tea plantation travel is a new trend that is picking up across the world. Our experts highly recommend Assam. Interestingly, tea was first found growing naturally in India in the Upper Brahmaputra Valley. Spread across a lush landscape of tea estates and colonial-era bungalows, this state offers plenty to discover beyond the plantations.
In Sonitpur, the tea country also opens into the wild: UNESCO-listed Kaziranga, lesser-known Nameri National Park and Tiger Reserve, and Orang National Park are all within reach.
The Postcard in the Durrung Estate is spread across 1,400 acres of working tea gardens. It lets guests step into the rhythm of plantation life: wandering through the rows, plucking leaves and following them from bush to cup. The Brahmaputra and Kaziranga’s wildlife-rich wilderness are within easy reach.
Accommodation is suitably expansive, from the Planters’ Bungalow to Luxury Chalets and Bungalow Rooms, with high ceilings, and private patios facing the gardens.
This is, after all, the place that helped shape Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. Swim with sea lions, drift alongside sea turtles and watch schools of fish flash through impossibly clear waters. Above land, giant tortoises amble along the landscape and marine iguanas wander across volcanic terrain. Then there are the blue-footed boobies, whose elaborate courtship involves proudly parading those turquoise feet in a mating dance that is equal parts charming and comic.
At Pikaia Lodge, wilderness comes with excellent design. Perched on an extinct volcanic crater on Santa Cruz Island, the Relais & Châteaux retreat pairs sweeping views of the Pacific with an infinity pool, polished interiors and a private yacht for daily explorations.
In Esquel the landscape features Andean peaks, ancient forests, wild rivers and endless steppes. “But the ultimate way in is on horseback. Multi-day rides on native Criollo horses lead deep into working ranch country, including remote Los Rebeldes, with nights beneath canvas and days spent crossing landscapes that feel impossibly untouched,” says Karan Bhangay. And this isn’t your standard guided trail ride: guests are accompanied by a working travel photographer, turning the journey into as much of a visual expedition as an equestrian one, he adds.
Ruca Kitai is a seven-room boutique river lodge on the edge of Los Alerces National Park. Every room looks out to the Carrileufú River, and the Andes. Try fly-fishing and a chef-led restaurant that serves produce from the lodge’s organic garden. It’s remote, intimate and rather indulgent—the sort of place where nature gets top billing.
Frost-covered forests, snow-dusted landscapes, and long evenings spent warming up with a hot drink make Finland’s Lapland feel almost dreamlike. Much of Lapland lies under the Northern Lights Belt, making it one of Europe’s most rewarding places to see the aurora. While here, float in the icy waters at night, take a huskie/reindeer-drawn sled into the wilderness, or race across frozen lakes in snowmobiles.
Octola Lodge takes its cues from traditional Sámi laavu shelters. It’s hidden in 300 hectares of private Lappish forest above the Arctic Circle. Private saunas, wilderness guides, and chef-led dining come as standard offerings. “One of my best friends surprised a group of us with a trip here, and it was truly one of the most amazing experiences of my life,” says Chef David Myers.
The flight to Lizard Island offers stunning views of the Great Barrier Reef’s unmistakable palette of turquoise, sapphire and jade.
The reef here feels completely untouched. Giant clams, turtles and clouds of tropical fish glide through crystal clear waters. “The millions of colours of corals below you when you snorkel just 100 metres off the coast are unimaginable,” says Loveleen Multani Arun, founder-director, Panache World.
Lizard Island has 24 secluded beaches, the luminous Blue Lagoon and easy access to some of the reef’s finest dive sites. Sir David Attenborough stayed here while filming his celebrated reef documentary. Remote and untamed, Lizard Island is the Great Barrier Reef at its wildest, most pristine best.
Lizard Island Resort, part of the Luxury Lodges of Australia collection, is the island’s only resort, with just 40 rooms, suites and villas spread across 24 powdery white beaches. The beachfront villas open directly onto the sand, with the Great Barrier Reef’s giant clams, turtles and brilliantly coloured fish just offshore. For ultimate privacy, The House at the resort occupies its own private peninsula, with three storeys, a rooftop spa, private pool, personal chef and dedicated host. Food is fresh and locally sourced, including produce from the resort’s own farm. The in-house activities team is extremely passionate and leaves no stone unturned to make you fall a little in love with the island.
The famous Pink City of Rajasthan, that derived its name from its terracotta-hued old town, was laid out by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in the year 1727. It boasts of a UNESCO-listed walled city that is a panoply of iconic landmarks such as the City Palace, Hawa Mahal and the Jantar Mantar observatory. If these three are any less, its hilltop Amber Fort, no less a heritage wonder, rises on the northern edge among the Aravalli hills. Bazaars brim with block-printed textiles, jewellery and crafts. Roughly 280 kilometres from Delhi, it is an easy part of the Golden Triangle, and the cooler months, October to March, are the most comfortable time to visit.
With its grand domes and arches, Taj Rambagh Palace makes you feel like royalty as you walk through its shiny marble corridors. A shower of petals welcomes the guests as they make their way through the portico. Spread across 47 acres, this real palace was earlier built as a garden house and later became the official residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur, Sawai Man Singh II. It was eventually converted into a hotel and in 1972, IHCL, the parent company and corporate owner of the Taj Group of hotels, took over. The sprawling property has 78 restored heritage rooms, lush gardens, grand suites and vast courtyards, and is one of the most iconic hotels in India.
The Okavango Delta is one of Africa’s most remarkable wilderness sites—a river that never reaches the sea but fans out across the Kalahari, creating a vast oasis of channels, lagoons and wildlife-rich islands. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Safari here is less about ticking off sightings and more about slipping into the landscape. Glide through glassy channels in a traditional mokoro, cruise by boat, track wildlife on foot or head out on a classic game drive. The most remote camps, perched on islands deep within the Delta, offer the ultimate luxury: space, silence and the thrilling sense that civilisation is very far away.
Xigera Safari Lodge is a spectacular camp that pairs exceptional guiding with clever design. Sculptural furniture, copper fireplaces and tactile natural materials echo the landscape, while an extraordinary collection of contemporary African art turns the lodge into a living gallery.
Conceived by some of Africa’s most visionary creatives, the 12 suites are designed for privacy, stillness and present a front-row seat to the wild.
“Goa is more than the sea that everyone seeks. Pilerne represents the contemplative, slow and artistic villages of Goa,” says Shoba Rudra, founder of Rare India and Bridges for conscious travel. Here, old Portuguese homes and village churches sit among lush landscapes, mangroves and waterways. Even though Pilerne is in North Goa, its vibe is of a different kind of Goa.
The Nerul River backwaters are a case in point. Calm, green and gloriously unhurried, they are made for kayaking, birdwatching or simply drifting along as the sun slips into the mangroves. The beaches, restaurants and nightlife of North Goa remain tantalisingly close, but Pilerne offers the pleasure of returning to somewhere that feels slower, and considerably less discovered.
Seven Doors House is a 1932-Portuguese-Goan estate that was rescued by Deepak and Leenika Jacob, from years of neglect. The duo restored it without stripping away its character. Today, eight bedrooms span the old house and there are two cottages, each with its own colour, name and personality.
Volcanoes National Park climbs dramatically into the misty Virunga Mountains, where five ancient volcanoes—Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabinyo—create one of Africa’s most spectacular wilderness settings. Its greatest draw is, of course, the chance to trek into the habitat of the endangered mountain gorillas. “The real magic lies in being immersed in a landscape where wildlife, culture and conservation are inseparable,” says Renuka Natu, founder, Africa with Renuka. Rwanda’s exemplary conservation efforts have helped protect its gorillas and their fragile mountain habitat.
Perched high on a forested slope overlooking Volcanoes National Park, Wilderness Bisate Reserve is possibly the most spectacular base from which to meet Rwanda’s mountain gorillas. The four villas are all about bringing the outside in, with thatched roofs, timber, intricate basket-weave details, huge living spaces, viewing decks and private hot tubs.
Beyond the design, the experience is rooted in purpose. Through its ongoing reforestation efforts, Bisate is restoring degraded land and expanding habitat for mountain gorillas. While here, trek, walk, track, drive, or simply sit back and take in the views of the dormant volcanoes.