A few years ago, travel was all about ticking off boxes to make sure nothing exciting was missed. But as Naina from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani wisely said, “Life mein kuch na kuch toh chhootega hi, toh jahan hain wahin ka mazza lete hain.” Indian travellers seem to have finally taken this advice to heart. According to the Thrillophilia 2025 Multi-Day Travel Index, 2025 saw travellers slow down to truly appreciate the destinations they visited, instead of rushing through packed itineraries. Here’s more from the report.
Indian Travellers Preferred Slower Trips Over Rushed Travel In 2025
The Thrillophilia 2025 Multi-Day Travel Index noted a significant change in how India travels. Last year, travellers increasingly chose fewer destinations, longer stays and better-paced itineraries over rushed, checklist-style holidays. Compared to 2024, travellers across budgets and age groups prioritised execution reliability, comfort and experience depth over destination count or discounts in 2025.
Speaking about this change, Abhishek Daga, Co-Founder, Thrillophilia, said, “2025 was the year Indian travellers stopped asking how many places they could cover and started asking how well a trip would run. Across families, Gen Z, honeymooners and luxury travellers alike, we saw a clear preference for fewer destinations, slower pacing and customised itineraries. Peace of mind replaced price as the real definition of value.”
In 2025, single-base itineraries with day excursions increased 36% year-on-year, while multi-city tours involving four or more stops declined 24%. Indian travellers increasingly favoured longer stays per destination, realistic daily schedules and built-in downtime. Data shows a 21% rise in slower, better-paced itineraries, while over-packed schedules declined 17%!
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Destinations That Stole Travellers’ Hearts
So, where did India travel to in 2025? Domestic destinations that offer a slower pace, diverse experiences and reliable logistics won the hearts of Indian travellers. Kerala saw a 19% increase in interest while Rajasthan remained a consistent favourite.
At the same time, emerging regions saw strong growth. With 31% increase in interest, North East India saw strong growth. Kashmir (+35%) and Ladakh (+31%) also recorded rising interest in experience-led travel. On the international front, short-haul international destinations like Thailand, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Vietnam, and the Philippines were some of the most preferred destinations.
While long-haul travel remained lower in volume but higher in intent, with destinations like Japan, Kenya, and Iceland seeing a growth driven by experience-led, milestone journeys.
Also Read: MakeMyTrip Introduces AI-Based Safety & Assurance Features To Support Women Travellers
So, which destination made 2025 special for you? Let us know in the comments!
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/kitzcorner
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