From the serene white of the Taj Mahal to the spice of a Sri Lankan curry … from the sound of temple bells in the middle of the countryside to the meditative silence of Buddhist dzongs, India, Bhutan, Tibet, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, are a sensorial departure from the everyday. Here, where marigolds bloom, gentle rivers flow and warrior mountains stand sentinel, Ventours International shines as a consummate guide to it all.

Imagine hearing the stories from your ecstatic clients after they experience a grand village welcome near Jaipur, India, with elephants, horses, and camels leading them and local dancers and musicians celebrating them. Perhaps they’ll bring home photos of the camel polo match they attended, during which they had the chance to sit astride the animals for a few chukkers. From days exploring the colorful freneticism of Delhi’s Meena Bazaar, to getting an inside look into the daily life of a craftsperson, Ventours International expertly reveals the mysticism and cultures of these distant lands.

In the luxury travel space in India since 1987, Ventours is one of the largest suppliers of leisure business to leading Indian hotel groups and the market leader in private jet travel in the region. Their experience designing and handling Around the World Private Jet trips by TCS World Travel and Nat Geo have placed them at the forefront of this exceptional mode of travel. They are one of the only DMCs in India to have its own offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Varanasi, Kathmandu, Thimphu, and Colombo, ensuring that your clients will have immediate and thorough service wherever and whenever needed.

Ventours Aviation is a company within Ventours providing ground handling for non-scheduled charter flights, obtaining requisite governmental approvals to allow for flights in and out of the region, as well as flight catering, customs and immigration clearances, and more.

The experts at Ventours International like to say, “The more of it you see, the less you know.” For those travelers seeking to expand their horizons by delving into destinations new to them, Ventours offers the insider connections that make a journey far from home fruitful and inspiring. 

Beyond what you’ll read about below, Ventours can: 

• Arrange for art museum trustee trips focusing on private art collections, art collectors’ homes, and the studios of famed artists and sculptors
• Plan multigenerational celebrations for landmark birthdays and anniversaries
• Craft bespoke wildlife safaris in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka with a dedicated ranger/guide, and adventure expeditions, including hiking in the Himalayas to Everest Base Camp and whitewater rafting in India, Nepal, and Bhutan
• Coordinate private home dinners during which guests may meet notable members of the local community
• Provide access to governmental authorities (from Ministers to members of Parliament to ambassadors and royalty in India and Bhutan)
• Reserve tee times on India’s premier golf courses
• Set up cooking lessons and demonstrations, as well as private shopping excursions

Rebecca Recommends is proud to partner with Ventours International. Below they’ve provided us with insightful information about the countries in which they work, as well as tips for booking and arranging excursions. We hope you find this helpful and inspiring for your clients.

Bhutan

Quickly rising to the top spot on the luxury travelers’ wish list, Bhutan is seeing more development. Known as the last “Shangri-la,” this is a place to visit now before the secret is too widely spread. Most of the resorts and lodges with whom Ventours works have small room inventories, so booking well ahead of time is a must. Ventours can assist, connecting you with their preferred properties. They’ve also curated immersive experiences within Bhutan that offer discerning travelers the essence and ethos of this unspoiled paradise.

Visitors can immerse themselves in local culture and receive blessings during a Thimphu festival, a time when Bhutan comes into its own. These religious events are held on the tenth day of a month of the lunar calendar that corresponds to Guru Rimpoche’s birthday (the sage who brought Vajyarana Buddhism to Tibet and Bhutan). 

Take a walk through the beautiful Paro Valley to the 15th-century Paro Dzong, “The Fortress on the Heap of Jewels.” The Central Tower and the Galleries are some of the prettiest in the country, showcasing intricate woodwork and classical Buddhist cosmology paintings. Later, listen to the evening prayer chant of the monks in Paro’s ancient Choeding Temple. Finally, travelers can visit Bhutan’s Punakha dzong, surrounded by jacaranda trees and adorned in golds, reds, and blacks on carved wood.

Tibet

Having recently opened its doors to the world, Tibet is also finding itself on many travelers’ bucket lists.  All visits to Tibet must be arranged through a licensed operator and Ventours are on hand to manage the process for your clients.

The most efficient way to enter Tibet right now is through Beijing or any other major city in China with a direct flight to Lhasa.  Three weekdays are required to process each traveler’s Tibetan Visa whilst in China before their onward travel.  Ventours recommendation for Tibet is the city of Lhasa’s only upscale property, the St. Regis Hotel – this is the perfect base to explore the magical and unforgettable destination of Tibet.

On their return, clients can travel through Kathmandu in Nepal where Ventours recommends a stay at our favorite living museum,  the Dwarika’s Hotel in Kathmandu.  Alternatively, they can take a 1.5-hour transfer to the Dwarika’s Resort in Dhulikhel – their ayurvedic-inspired wellness resort in the mountains that has incredible views of the Himalayas and is the perfect place to end an epic journey.

One of the most impressive sites in Tibet, the Potala Palace atop Marpo Hill presides above the Lhasa Valley. The invigorating climb is worth it for the incredible views and the opportunity to explore the Red Palace and White Palace that make up the complex. The White Palace is home to the current and successive Dalai Lamas – from the balcony of the palace, you can see Lhasa. The Red Palace, to the west, houses the stupas that hold the remains of past Dalai Lamas. Explore the private quarters of the 13th and 14th Dalai Lamas, visit the reception hall with its hidden balcony used by the Dalai Lamas to privately watch festival dances in the courtyard below, and visit the bedroom of the Dalai Lama, with its Tsongkhapa mural above the bed. 

Sri Lanka

The Resplendent Ceylon properties are already a Rebecca Recommends favorite and Ventours International has insider access to one of their newest properties along the golden sands and in the tea country of Sri Lanka. Reverie is a sister brand to Resplendent Ceylon and embraces a collection of intimate resorts that integrate slow life by way of restful and soulful stays, holistic spa therapies, and nourishing cuisine. Their Kayaam House and Ahu Bay properties are all managed by Resplendent Ceylon, featuring their high standards of service.

Kayaam House sits along Tangalle Bay on Sri Lanka’s southern coast, overlooking the vast Indian Ocean. Tranquil spaces include six Ocean Rooms, two Palm Suites, and a two-bedroom Palm Residence. Ahu Bay offers laid-back barefoot luxury during customized stays in an intimate beach house. Ask, too, about the soon-to-open new Kelbourne property, just two hours from Kayaam and Ahu Bay, making for a wonderful hotel-to-hotel trip.

One mustn’t leave Sri Lanka without a traditional tea garden experience, sipping a local brew in a manicured garden amidst exotic flowers and abundant plant life. Ventours can also add on a trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Galle, where travelers will feel they’ve stepped into the 17th century. From the Singhalese for “cliff, mountain and also a place to rest,” Galle is said to be Tarsis from the Bible, from which King Solomon got his gems and spices. In Colombo, don’t miss the Gallery Cafe, the former office of renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa. For those called to nature, Minneriya National Park is divine, with its lush jungles and grasslands that harbor wild elephants, diverse bird life, leopards, and more.  

India

In India, Six Senses Fort Barwara recently opened its doors to adventurous travelers. Located about a 50-minute drive from Ranthambore and three hours from Jaipur, this yet unknown, 14th-century fort has been restored to its past glory, nestled amid the villages around the Aravalli range. Accommodations are spread over a vast area offering sunrise or sunset views over this sparse land.

Six Senses sensibilities bring this unique fort to life, reviving traditions amid the grandeur and complemented by holistic healing treatments, the hallmark of Six Senses. Originally owned by a Rajasthani Royal family, the fort faces the Chauth ka Barwara Mandir temple. The thoughtful reimagining of the fort into a Six Senses sanctuary incorporated two palaces and two temples within the walled fort. 

Within a royal retreat of well-being, the Six Senses Spa and fitness center offer an extensive Ayurvedic whole-body healing system, meditation, and personalized wellness programs. When not indulging at the spa, guests may embark on numerous excursions organized by the resort staff, from tiger safaris to sunset drives to Aravali.

In Rajasthan’s Blue City of Jodhpur, Ventours can arrange a once-in-a-lifetime stay in one of the most gorgeous private residences in the world – Umaid Bhavan. This 365-room palace was designed by Henry Lancaster and is a vision of Buddhist, Art Deco, and Rajputana influences. In Varanasi – at times called the “City of Lights,” the “City of Learning” and the “Holiest City in India” – take a boat ride on the Ganges, the “River of Heaven.”

Discover Rashtrapati Bhawan, the Presidential Palace in Delhi, with special permission from the Presidential Secretariat, and tour the inner hallways and VIP reception rooms of this grand residence. 

Embark on a tour of the backwaters of Vembanad Lake in Kerala, glimpsing migratory birds from the Himalayas, organic spice plantations, Syrian Christian churches, houseboats, Fort Cochin, and more. In Ranthambore, explore the tiger reserves from Vanyavilas, with its jungle camp ambiance, and hope for a glimpse of a Royal Bengal Tiger in between sightings of colorful birds, leopards, and sloth bears.

Nepal

Nepal is the Himalayan Kingdom that for decades has attracted bold and daring summiteers who had a penchant to climb up to the top of Everest. More tamely minded travelers have also visited Nepal to explore this ancient Kingdom and its history, temples, and monuments.

Ventours can arrange for a robust seven-day itinerary for the intrepid traveler, closing the trip at one of our favorite spots for indulging the body and mind: Dwarika’s Resort. Imagine … breakfast on top of the world, with champagne, and spa treatments to follow back at the resort. The resort offers yoga, meditation, nourishing cuisine straight from the property’s own farms, pottery and painting classes, cooking instruction, visits with local monks, hiking in the Himalayan foothills, and more.

The uber-luxurious Shinta Mani in Jomsom opens its doors this summer, offering stunning views of the high peaks. This oasis in the remote, magical Kingdom of Mustang blends perfectly with the landscape, welcoming those who crave serenity as well as the chance for a cultural and spiritual adventure. All-inclusive stays offer one of the most remarkable ways to experience the Himalayas and this near-mythical region, hidden in the Kali Gandaki valley between the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges. Each of the 29 exquisite suites is designed in the style of a traditional Tibetan home, with open-plan bedrooms, a living area, and a separate bathroom. The views of Nilgiri Mountain, out the floor-to-ceiling windows, are divine.

If you’re not already familiar with Ventours International, allow us to introduce you. This is the very best way to plan unbelievable adventures throughout India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Tibet, and the Maldives, unlocking the sounds and colors, chaos and peace, hidden wonders, and legendary cultures of this ancient world. Their staff is on hand every step of the way; for large and important groups, advance staff will be at the destination a few days early to tie up any loose ends. You can also expect preferred rates with many of the hotels and suppliers Ventours works closely with.  Ask, too, about Ventours Aviation, which all but eliminates the red tape that can be associated with international charters of this kind. 

Questions? Please ask. We’d love to hear from you.