Travel + Leisure India & South Asia

Travel + Leisure South Asia, a stylish and authoritative guide for today’s global traveler, offers stunning photography, incisive commentary, vivid narratives and practical travel information with a strong emphasis on Asia. From the best spa’s to the tastiest street food, from the most luxurious resorts to the hottest rooftop bars, from the latest restaurants to the region’s top designers, from the quietest beaches to the busiest shopping streets – Travel + Leisure South Asia delivers, month after month.

Letter from the Editor

Travel + Leisure India & South Asia

Contributors

WEB EXCLUSIVES

Carry-On, Upgraded • For all its cult appeal, kitsch, and aesthetic charge, this generation’s “It” gear is also among the most functional and powerful we’ve seen. This month, we’re un-gatekeeping the travel tech they actually carry, where every pick must pass a brutal specs-and-personality test.

10 Destinations For Those Who Travel Off Script • Stretching from the Arctic to Asia, these under-the-radar countries offer immersive experiences, whether exploring an ancient archaeological site in the Middle East, gorilla spotting in Africa, undersea wonders along lesser-known coastlines, or a laidback holiday in Asia’s sleepiest country.

CULTURAL ODYSSEY • Beyond the predictable tourist traps of Odisha lies a landscape of quiet wonders—from a reservoir hiding an ancient civilisation to a lagoon protected by its former poachers.

AN EFFORTLESS INTERLUDE • For travellers who have already done the popular circuits of Thailand and are looking for a more meaningful exploration, Khao Lak offers a refreshing alternative.

Electric Thrills & Hybrid Highways • Discover the season’s most coveted green machines redefining road trips for India’s young drivers.

TIME TO SPARE • From landmark anniversaries to audacious engineering, here’s the ultimate timepiece edit for your next buy, inspired by the recently concluded Watches & Wonders 2026.

CHASING MORE THAN MILES

WHERE EXISTENCE SPARKS JOY • In Bhutan, happiness is not chased, it is lived in the every day. For travellers seeking emotional solace and a dose of apricity, that may be the ultimate escape, discovers Maahi Shah

Not #FromTheGram • Forget the tired bucket list. In a conversation with Rishika Singh, Tshering Denkar, Bhutan’s best-known travel voice, maps out the trails, rituals, markets, and meals that most visitors never find.

Of Spring and Stillness • In Bhutan’s lush former capital, spring unfolds through masked dances, riverside rituals, fertility temples, and moments of quiet joy.

The Coast That Stays • Inside Sanur—Bali’s unhurried coast of fewer crowds—sacred waters and days shaped by walks, swims, and memorable meals unfold before Dhruv Kapoor

A DEEP DIVE INTO THE HABITS OF INDIA’S Next-Gen PREMIUM TRAVELLERS

VOICES IN THIS REPORT

BY THE NUMBERS

Time is the New Luxury • WHAT DOES TODAY’S TIME-POOR TRAVELLER WANT MOST?

Smart Spending, Not Flash Spending • YOUNG INDIA IS WILLING TO SPEND—BUT SELECTIVELY.

India is the New Luxury Destination • DOMESTIC TRAVEL IS NO LONGER THE COMPROMISE OPTION

Boutique Beats Predictable Luxury • THERE’S A SHIFT TOWARDS CHARACTER-DRIVEN STAYS.

Social Media Inspires; It Does Not Control • IT ENCOURAGES DISCOVERY BUT DOESN’T INFLUENCE DECISIONS

Overtourism Fatigue is Real • WHY PRIVACY IS NOW THE NEW PRESTIGE

The New Premium Traveller • Today’s affluent traveller cannot be defined by age or income alone. Across the survey, distinct behavioural patterns emerged—from the experience-led splurger to the conscious explorer—revealing a generation that values flexibility, intentionality, emotional return, and personal relevance over traditional...