MakeMyTrip has partnered with the Ministry of Tourism to make more than 350 guided travel experiences available to travellers across over 60 cities in India. The experiences went live for booking on the platform from August 15, with the collection expected to expand further.
New Delhi: The initiative is aligned with the government’s Incredible India and Dekho Apna Desh programmes and aims to encourage travellers to discover India through experiences centred on its heritage, culture, spirituality, cuisine, festivals and monuments.
Local experiences become easier to discover and book
The partnership brings locally led experiences onto a digital booking platform, addressing a long-standing challenge for travellers who have often relied on word-of-mouth recommendations or arranged guided tours after reaching their destination.
The portfolio features walking tours, cycling experiences, vehicle-based excursions and multi-day programmes. Prices start at ₹500, making the experiences accessible to a broad range of domestic travellers.
Available experiences include tea tastings across the estates of Palampur, heritage and cultural activities in Agra, the Mussoorie Ghost's Walk, and the Sacred Ganges Immersion experience in Varanasi.
Travellers can also explore a Kolkata street photography tour, a village walk followed by high tea at a local home in Saligao, Goa, and a hands-on block-printing experience with artisans in Jaipur.
The collection also includes an electric cycle experience in Salvador Do Mundo, Goa, as well as a Mumbai tour covering Dharavi, Dhobi Ghat, Dabbawallas and the Gateway of India.
Focus on local guides and communities
The initiative places local guides, experts and communities at the centre of the travel experience. By bringing their offerings online, the partnership is intended to give these stakeholders greater visibility and a direct channel to reach travellers.
Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said guides, local experts and communities play a central role in India's tourism value chain. He added that the partnership provides them with an opportunity to connect directly with travellers and share the stories behind India's destinations.
Expanding MakeMyTrip's experiences portfolio
The guided-tour initiative forms part of MakeMyTrip's wider tours and attractions business, which features museums, heritage walks, treks, safaris and cultural attractions across India.
MakeMyTrip Group CEO Rajesh Magow said the partnership would make it easier for travellers to discover and book experiences with the same convenience they associate with booking flights and hotels. He also highlighted the potential to showcase local experiences through curated and user-generated content.
With more than 350 experiences already available and additional offerings expected, the collaboration could strengthen digital discovery of India's lesser-known cultural, culinary, and community-based tourism experiences while encouraging more travellers to explore destinations through local perspectives.
#news #guidedtours #indiatours #incredibleindia #ministryoftourism
