If you want all the adventure and being-one-with-nature feeling of camping but are not particularly keen on roughing it out (and we hear you), glamping aka glamorous camping is for you. It’s the perfect way to enjoy the great outdoors without compromising on creature comforts. Equipped with beds with pristine linens, en-suite bathrooms (even bathtubs!), high-quality amenities and offering curated experiences, these glamping retreats across India pull out all the stops.
1. Leopard spotting at Brij Jawai, Rajasthan
With just four tented suites, Brij Jawai is an intimate glamping retreat in the heart of Rajasthan’s leopard country. Each apartment-sized tent comes with a 25-foot canopied ceiling, chandeliers, floor-to-ceiling doors and windows, an open-to-sky shower area (plus indoor cubicle), and four al fresco sit-outs. The decor celebrates local materials and crafts—think hand block-printed fabrics from a local artisan, marble and stone from Banswara, Kota or Karauli, locally sourced one-piece stone bathtubs in each suite, and more.
Pro-tip: Book one of the two tents with a private plunge pool and endless views of the rugged landscape—guests have even spotted leopards on the opposite hill from here, so keep your eyes peeled! After your morning swim, ask for a floating breakfast tray to be delivered straight to your pool.
Prachi Joshi
2. Beach bumming at Otter Creek Tents, Goa
If you think North Goa is too crowded, touristy, and filled with party people, Elsewhere will probably change your mind. Flanked by the sea and a saltwater creek, this secluded boutique retreat in Mandrem offers Portuguese-style beach villas and tents, all set amidst swaying coconut trees. Otter Creek Tents is a collection of three idyllic tents, each outfitted with a four-poster bed, en-suite bath, a sit-out with easy chairs, and a bamboo jetty jutting over the creek. The resort is open only between October and May.
