Sarah Meikle has visited India 40 times now (no, that’s not a typo – FORTY times!!) and it’s a place she reckons you need to visit at least just once. In fact, she says it’s the PERFECT destination for a girls trip. Let her convince you…
There comes a point in your travel life when another beach holiday starts to feel a little predictable. The resort is lovely, the cocktails are cold and the massage is easing out the kinks, but you’re looking for more. It’s not that you want something too intrepid, harder or more adventurous for the sake of it, but a trip that feels fresh, exciting and genuinely memorable.
This is where India comes in.
I know what you might be thinking because I’ve heard it many times before. India? For a girls’ trip? Isn’t it chaotic? Intense? A destination you save for when you’re feeling particularly brave? After travelling there close to 40 times over the past two decades, I’d argue the opposite. India is one of the most rewarding destinations in the world for women travelling together, particularly those who have already ticked off many of the usual suspects.
What surprises most first-time visitors is how stylish India is. We tend to think about the big-ticket attractions like the Taj Mahal, palaces and forts, but modern India is also home to incredible creativity. There are fantastic fashion designers, independent jewellers crafting contemporary pieces, artisan workshops preserving centuries-old traditions and boutique hotels that wouldn’t look out of place in the pages of an interiors magazine.
For women who love discovering beautiful things, India is an absolute feast and each piece you pick up has a story attached. You’ll find hand-block printed textiles, handmade jewellery, embroidered jackets, bespoke clothing and homewares crafted by people whose families have been practising their art for generations. More than once I’ve watched someone arrive with half an empty suitcase and as they leave wonder how they’ll fit everything in.
The hotel scene is another reason India works so well for a girls’ getaway. Some of the most memorable places I’ve stayed anywhere in the world have been in India. Think restored heritage mansions, intimate boutique hotels and beautifully designed properties where every detail feels thoughtful – the kind of places where breakfast is served in a leafy courtyard, staff know your name and you find yourself taking photographs of the interiors because they’re simply too beautiful not to.
And then there is the food. If your understanding of Indian cuisine begins and ends with Chicken Tikka Masala, prepare to have your world expanded. India’s food culture is incredibly regional and endlessly fascinating. One day you might be eating delicate dosas in the south, the next enjoying vibrant street food in Rajasthan or dining in a contemporary restaurant in Delhi that rivals anything you’d find in London or New York. Food isn’t just part of the travel experience in India – it IS the experience.
What I particularly love about travelling through India with groups of women is how quickly the country gets under their skin. Somewhere between the rooftop cocktails, colourful markets, beautiful hotels and unexpected encounters, women who arrived slightly nervous become completely captivated. The dynamics of a small, tailored style of group travel also mean there’s time together without the usual stress that comes with organising every detail yourselves. Conversations deepen, friendships strengthen and before long people are already talking about when they might come back.
India is also the birthplace of wellness, offering a balance that’s increasingly difficult to find elsewhere. You can spend the morning exploring a bustling market, the afternoon indulging in a spa treatment and the evening enjoying a wonderful meal under the stars. Yoga, Ayurveda and traditional healing philosophies are woven into everyday life, rather than adopted for a tourist brochure, which creates countless opportunities to slow down and just breathe.
And then there is Holi. If there is one experience that perfectly captures the spirit of India, it is this extraordinary Festival of Colour. Every street, courtyard and community erupt in a celebration of colour, music, laughter and joy. Strangers become friends, everyone is covered in vibrant, brightly pigmented powders and for a few hours the world feels wonderfully carefree. It is impossible not to have a ball!
Perhaps that’s what I love most about India. It surprises people. It exceeds expectations. It offers beauty, creativity, luxury, culture, incredible value and the sort of travel stories that stay with you months after you’ve unpacked your suitcase and found places for all those new treasures
So yes, Queenstown will always be fabulous. Fiji remains a favourite. Bali isn’t going anywhere.
But if you’re looking for your next great girls’ trip, one filled with colour, character, style and soul, it might be time to look a little further afield.
India is waiting.
Join Sarah in March 2027 for the ultimate India girls’ trip – Holi Chic / 16-28 March / colourful bazaars, gorgeous textiles, handcrafted homewares, tailor-made clothing, custom shoes, sparkling gems, artisan workshops, incredible food and the absolute magic of Holi!