More than 350 guided experiences across 60-plus cities will be available on MakeMyTrip from Independence Day, with tours starting at Rs 500
MakeMyTrip has partnered with the Ministry of Tourism to promote guided tours and cultural experiences across India, bringing more than 350 tours across 60-plus cities onto its platform from August 15, Independence Day.
The partnership seeks to put guided experiences at the centre of the discovery and booking of India’s cultural heritage, aligned with the government’s ‘Incredible India’ and ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ initiatives. The catalogue is expected to expand further.
The initiative aims to encourage Indian travellers to explore the country through its heritage, culture, spirituality, cuisine, festivals and monuments, while giving local guides and experts greater visibility and direct access to travellers.
Historically, guided local experiences have often been difficult to discover and book in advance, with travellers relying on word-of-mouth recommendations or arranging tours after reaching their destination. The new offering seeks to bring these experiences onto a digital platform, making them easier to discover and book.
The experiences cover a range of formats, including walking, cycling, vehicle-based and multi-day tours, with prices starting from Rs 500.
Among the experiences available are tea tasting sessions across Palampur’s tea estates, heritage and cultural experiences in Agra, a colonial-era walking tour in Mussoorie, and the Sacred Ganges Immersion experience in Varanasi, which includes sunrise views over the Ganges and the evening Aarti.
Travellers can also explore local experiences such as a Kolkata Street Photography Tour, a village walking tour and high tea at a local home in Saligao, Goa, and a block-printing session with artisans in Jaipur.
The catalogue also includes experiences such as an electric cycle tour in Goa and tours covering Mumbai’s Dharavi, Dhobi Ghat, Dabbawallas and Gateway of India.
The initiative forms part of MakeMyTrip’s broader tours and attractions business, which brings museums, heritage walks, treks, safaris and cultural sites onto its platform. The offerings range from stargazing and barbecue experiences in Ladakh’s Nubra Valley to shikara rides in Srinagar.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Tourism and Culture, said guides, local experts and communities are the backbone of India’s tourism value chain, adding that the partnership would give them an opportunity to reach travellers directly and share the country’s stories.
Rajesh Magow, Executive Director and Group CEO, MakeMyTrip, said the partnership addresses the gap between India’s wealth of local stories and travellers’ ability to discover and book such experiences as easily as flights or hotels.
The two organisations have also launched a joint campaign to promote the initiative, beginning on Independence Day. A master film highlighting the partnership is being released alongside the announcement.
