For years, travel meant ticking off as many places as possible in a single trip. Tight schedules, packed itineraries, and rushed sightseeing were the norm. But in 2025, Indian travellers finally hit pause—and embraced a slower, more intentional way of exploring the world.
According to the Thrillophilia 2025 Multi-Day Travel Index, Indian leisure travel underwent a clear behavioural shift last year. Travellers increasingly chose fewer destinations, longer stays, and better-paced itineraries over checklist-style holidays. The result? Deeper experiences, less fatigue, and a growing preference for trips that prioritised comfort and smooth execution over discounts or destination count.
Indian travellers chose quality over quantity in 2025
The data shows that 2025 marked a turning point. Across age groups and budgets, Indian travellers began asking not how many places they could cover—but how well a trip would actually run.
Single-base itineraries with day excursions grew 36% year-on-year, while multi-city tours involving four or more stops declined 24%. Medium-length trips of 6–9 nights emerged as the most popular format, growing 19%, especially among families, couples, and wellness travellers. Overall, the index recorded a 21% rise in slower, better-paced itineraries, while over-packed schedules fell by 17%.
"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," said Abhishek Daga, Co-Founder, Thrillophilia.
Custom travel goes mainstream as group tours decline
Customisation was no longer a niche trend—it became mainstream. Custom and semi-custom trips grew 18% and 16% respectively, while large group tours declined 21%, signalling a move away from fixed-format travel.
Travellers showed a strong preference for realistic daily schedules, built-in downtime, and fewer transitions between destinations. Trips that were well-paced and clearly planned also recorded higher satisfaction levels, fewer cancellations, and stronger repeat interest.
Where Indians travelled in 2025
Domestic destinations that naturally support slower travel dominated demand. Kerala (+19%) and Rajasthan (+17%) remained consistent favourites, thanks to reliable infrastructure, diverse experiences, and strong hospitality ecosystems.
At the same time, emerging regions saw sharp growth. North East India (+31%), Kashmir (+35%), and Ladakh (+31%) gained traction, driven by improved connectivity and a growing appetite for experience-led journeys rather than sightseeing marathons.
On the international front, short-haul destinations within seven hours of flight time recorded the fastest growth. Countries such as Thailand (+21%), Singapore (+24%), Abu Dhabi (+36%), Vietnam (+31%), and the Philippines (+39%) benefited from visa ease, compact routing, and high experience density.
Long-haul travel remained lower in volume but higher in intent. Destinations like Japan (+39%), Kenya (+35%), and Iceland (+39%) saw growth driven by milestone trips and bucket-list experiences rather than frequent travel.
How different traveller segments shaped the trend
The shift to slower travel played out differently across segments.
Gen Z and young professionals showed the sharpest behavioural change. Multiple trips per year grew 51%, short breaks of 4–6 nights rose 43%, and adventure-led itineraries jumped 58%. Flexible work arrangements also drove a 39% rise in off-season travel, with destinations like Meghalaya, offbeat Himachal Pradesh, and Vietnam gaining popularity.
Families emerged as the most stable growth segment. Custom family itineraries grew 21%, comfort-first trips rose 19%, and rushed multi-city formats declined 18%. Advance planning increased 16%, with strong preference for destinations such as Rajasthan, Kerala, North East India, and Ladakh.
Couples moved away from templated honeymoon packages. Custom honeymoons rose 47%, privacy-led stays increased 42%, and shorter “minimoons” of 5–7 nights grew 29%. Alongside Kerala and Bali, offbeat destinations like Meghalaya and Vietnam gained traction.
Luxury travellers focused on precision over extravagance. Custom luxury itineraries grew 26%, trips with fewer destinations increased 28%, and wellness-led travel rose 24%, with strong demand for Kerala, Ladakh, and Rajasthan domestically, and Japan, Kenya, and Italy internationally.
The bottom line
The Thrillophilia 2025 Multi-Day Travel Index paints a picture of a maturing Indian travel market—one that values pacing, reliability, and meaningful experiences over rushing from place to place. Fewer destinations, longer stays, and thoughtful itineraries are no longer exceptions; they’re becoming the norm.
In a year where travel finally slowed down, Indian travellers discovered that seeing less can often mean experiencing more.
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