Sleeping under a tent in India means gaining direct access to landscapes that hotels cannot reach: high Himalayan valleys, the Thar dunes, the shores of a mountain lake or a clearing at the edge of a nature reserve. The active camp concept brings together nomadic accommodation and outdoor activities — trekking, cycling, rafting, wildlife observation — in regions where conventional infrastructure gives way to raw nature.

Why choose an active camp

The active camp is not a simple bivouac. It is an organized encampment, most often pitched at altitude or in remote areas, with equipped tents (camp beds, mattresses, sometimes separate bathrooms), camp kitchen and support staff. The formula combines reasonable comfort and genuine immersion: you sleep on site, at the foot of the scenery, without daily vehicle rotation from a base town.

• Access to landscapes that hotels cannot reach (high altitude, desert, jungle).
• Integrated activities: hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, safari, depending on the region.
• Light footprint: seasonal camps are dismantled at the end of the season.
• Pace aligned with natural light, evenings around the fire, starlit skies free from light pollution.

Atmosphere and tent accommodation

The spirit varies greatly depending on the region. In Ladakh, trek camps are sober and functional: two-person tents, communal mess tent, kitchen tent. In Rajasthan, the register shifts toward glamping with spacious Berber tents, rugs, wooden furnishings and lanterns. In the national parks of central India or Assam, camps take the form of canvas safari lodges, more permanent, bordering the reserve.

In all cases, you'll find a common setting: meals served under a collective tent, full board provided by the team on site, and direct access to the landscape from the moment you open your tent flap in the morning.

Services and facilities

• Equipped tents with bedding, usually in double occupancy.
• Full board (breakfast, lunch or packed lunch, dinner).
• Support: local guide, cook, sometimes mule handlers or drivers.
• Sanitation: dry toilets or solar showers depending on the standard.
• Activities on the program depending on the region: trekking, cycling, rafting, safari, birdwatching.
• Limited electricity (solar panels, headlamps recommended).

The comfort level depends on the price: from a simple trek camp to high-end glamping, the price difference is significant. Budget entry-level pricing for a simple trek camp, and premium pricing for luxury camps in Rajasthan or wildlife reserves.

Where active camps are set up in India

Several regions concentrate the supply:

• Ladakh and Zanskar: high-altitude trek camps, Markha, Nubra, Tso Moriri valleys.
• Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand: river camps (rafting on the Ganges at Rishikesh), mountain camps in Spiti and Kumaon.
• Rajasthan: dune camps near Jaisalmer, royal tent camps during festivals (Pushkar).
• Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Karnataka: safari camps on the edge of reserves (Kanha, Kaziranga, Nagarhole).

When to go

The season depends strictly on the region. Ladakh and the high Himalayan valleys only open between June and September. Rajasthan, conversely, is visited from October to March, when desert temperatures become bearable. National parks follow their own calendar, generally from October to June, with partial closure during the monsoon.

Nearby: other accommodations in India

To complete an itinerary combining active camp and more comfortable stays:

• Wonderland Tourist Camp for another tent-based option.
• Ranthambore Heritage Haveli on the edge of Ranthambore park.
• Woodville Palace Hotel in Shimla, a charming stop before the Himalayas.
• Red Earth for a nature break in Karnataka.
• Velvet Clarks Exotica for hotel-style comfort.

Preparing your trip

The active camp rarely stands alone in an itinerary: it punctuates a larger circuit, between heritage cities and natural areas. To build your journey and choose the region suited to the season, consult our trips to India.