TTT NEWS NETWORK
MUMBAI | 27 AUGUST 2026
Raksha Bandhan is all about celebrating the bond between siblings, the people you grew up with, laughed with, argued with and eventually, chose to travel with. This year, skip the usual gift and make it a trip instead. From sleeping under the stars and discovering underwater worlds to chasing waterfalls, exploring local food trails and experiencing colourful festivals, Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel curate eleven destinations that turn a sibling getaway into an experience to remember.
India & Indian Subcontinent: For Adventures Close to Home
- Andamans – For Island Adventures & Underwater Discoveries
For siblings who would happily trade a traditional Raksha Bandhan celebration for an island escape, the Andamans offer the perfect mix of adventure and downtime. Beyond simply lounging on the beach, scuba diving together, exploring coral reefs on a snorkelling trip, kayaking through mangrove forests, taking a glass-bottom boat ride or head out on a sea-karting adventure. A sunset picnic on a secluded beach or a night spent under the stars can add an extra sense of adventure, while exploring local seafood and island cafés brings in the gastronomic element. For a distinctive stay, opt for a beachfront eco-resort or a nature-focused property on Havelock or Neil Island, where mornings begin by the sea and evenings can end around a bonfire.
- Coorg – For Coffee, Forests & Slow Adventures
Coorg offers a different kind of sibling getaway, where discovering the destination together is as important as simply getting away. Siblings and cousins can stay at a heritage bungalow or coffee-estate homestay, wake up surrounded by plantations and head out for a plantation walk and coffee-tasting experience. The more adventurous can trek through forest trails, go river rafting, explore waterfalls or try angling, while those looking for something slower can take a cooking class centred around Kodava cuisine. Evenings can be spent around a campfire, sharing stories over locally sourced food and freshly brewed coffee. A restored plantation estate or treehouse-style accommodation can add to the feeling of escaping into nature.
- Rishikesh – For Adrenaline, Camping & Riverside Experiences
Rishikesh is ideal for siblings and cousins who want their getaway to come with an adrenaline rush. Beyond white-water rafting, groups can try bungee jumping, giant swings, ziplining, kayaking and riverside trekking, or take on a multi-activity adventure day together. For something more relaxed, they can explore the city’s café and wellness scene, take a sound-healing or yoga session, explore the Beatles Ashram or spend an evening at the Ganga Aarti. Instead of a conventional hotel, siblings can make the stay part of the adventure with a luxury riverside camp, glamping tent or forest retreat, with evenings around a bonfire and mornings overlooking the Ganga.
- Goa – For Beach Adventures, Food Trails & Nightlife
Goa may be familiar, but it can still make for a memorable sibling escape when experienced differently. Instead of simply checking off beaches, charter a small boat for a private sunset cruise, try kayaking through mangroves, explore lesser-known islands, go scuba diving or take a cycling trail through villages and heritage neighbourhoods. Food can become an experience in itself, with a Goan home-cooking session, seafood trail, bakery crawl through Panjim or farm-to-table dining. For accommodation, siblings can trade a standard resort for a restored Portuguese villa, heritage homestay or boutique property tucked away in a quieter village. Those travelling during the festive season can also plan around the Goa Carnival for music, food, colour and street festivities.
- Bhutan – For Mountain Adventures, Monasteries & Slow Travel
Bhutan is an ideal choice for siblings looking to combine adventure with culture and a slower pace of travel. The group can hike to the iconic Tiger’s Nest Monastery, explore Punakha’s valleys, try traditional archery, cycle through mountain landscapes or spend an afternoon discovering local cafés and markets in Thimphu. For a more immersive experience, siblings can join a traditional Bhutanese cooking session, experience a hot-stone bath or visit a local farmhouse. Staying in a traditional Bhutanese-style property, mountain lodge or countryside farmhouse can make the trip feel even more connected to the destination. Those travelling around a local tsechu can also experience Bhutan’s vibrant masked dances, music and traditional celebrations.
- Nepal – For Mountain Adventures, Culture & Unique Stays
Nepal offers siblings the opportunity to turn a getaway into a shared adventure, with everything from mountain experiences and outdoor activities to heritage and gastronomy. In Kathmandu, explore ancient squares, hidden courtyards and local food spots before heading towards Pokhara for paragliding, boating on Phewa Lake, mountain biking or a sunrise experience overlooking the Himalayas. More adventurous groups can opt for trekking or rafting, while those looking for something unusual can take a scenic mountain flight or experience Nepal’s spiritual side through a meditation or monastery visit. Accommodation can range from heritage guesthouses in Kathmandu to boutique mountain lodges, lakeside retreats and glamping properties around Pokhara.
- Sri Lanka – For Road Trips, Wildlife & Tea Country
Sri Lanka is particularly well suited to a sibling road trip because its compact landscape allows travellers to move from beaches to wildlife parks and misty mountains within the same holiday. The group can set off on a chauffeur-led road trip, go on safari to spot elephants and leopards, surf along the southern coast, cycle through tea country or take the famous train journey through the hills towards Ella. For a more immersive experience, siblings can spend a morning with a local chef learning to prepare Sri Lankan curries, visit a tea estate for a tasting or explore Galle’s heritage lanes before ending the day at a beachside restaurant. Accommodation can become part of the adventure, from colonial-era tea bungalows and plantation stays in the hills to boutique villas and eco-lodges closer to wildlife reserves. Those visiting during the Kandy Esala Perahera can experience one of the country’s most spectacular cultural celebrations, with traditional dancers, drummers and processions.
International: For Bigger Adventures & New Experiences
- Maldives – For Luxury, Ocean Adventures & Quality Time
For siblings and cousins looking to turn Raksha Bandhan into a more indulgent escape, the Maldives offers the chance to slow down, reconnect and enjoy the ocean together. Beyond lounging at the resort, groups can go snorkelling and diving, take a sunset dolphin cruise, try kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding, head out on a fishing excursion or enjoy a private sandbank picnic surrounded by turquoise waters. A sunset sailing experience or a private barbecue on the beach can make the celebration feel especially memorable, while a shared spa or wellness experience offers a more relaxed way to spend time together. Accommodation can be an experience in itself, with overwater villas, private-pool villas or island resorts that offer direct access to the lagoon. For siblings who want to celebrate in style, a private island-hopping or yacht experience can add another layer of exclusivity.
- Cambodia – For Temple Adventures, Local Life & River Escapes
Cambodia offers siblings a chance to combine bucket-list sights with more immersive and offbeat experiences. Watching the sunrise at Angkor Wat is just the beginning; the group can cycle through the temple complex, explore the atmospheric ruins of Ta Prohm, take a Cambodian cooking class, visit artisan workshops, explore local markets or discover Siem Reap’s contemporary café and food scene. For a change of pace, they can venture beyond the temples to Battambang, where countryside cycling, local food trails, traditional villages and the famous Bamboo Train offer a glimpse into a quieter side of Cambodia. Those looking for an island escape can head further south to Koh Rong for white-sand beaches, snorkelling, kayaking and laid-back evenings by the sea. A stay in a boutique heritage hotel, traditional Khmer-style villa, riverside retreat or beachfront eco-resort can make the trip feel even more distinctive. If the timing works, Khmer New Year adds another dimension, with traditional games, music, dancing and community celebrations.
- Vietnam & Laos – For Two Countries, One Epic Adventure
A Vietnam and Laos combination works particularly well for siblings who want to pack two different cultures and landscapes into one holiday. In Vietnam, the group can explore Hanoi’s Old Quarter through a street-food trail, take a cooking class, cruise through Ha Long Bay, cycle through the countryside around Hoi An or discover hidden cafés and markets in Ho Chi Minh City. The journey can then continue into Laos for the slower rhythms of Luang Prabang, where siblings can explore the old town, visit Kuang Si Falls, cycle through surrounding villages, take a Mekong River cruise or join a traditional Lao cooking experience. Accommodation can make the two-country journey even more memorable — think a heritage-style boutique hotel in Hoi An, a riverside stay in Luang Prabang or a jungle lodge surrounded by nature. Travellers looking for a festival-led experience can time the trip around Tet in Vietnam or Pi Mai, the Lao New Year, for colourful celebrations, traditional rituals and local festivities.
- Thailand – For Island-Hopping, Food & Unexpected Adventures
Thailand is a natural choice for a group of siblings or cousins, but the experience can go well beyond the usual Bangkok-and-beach itinerary. Groups can charter a traditional longtail boat for a private island-hopping day, explore hidden lagoons by kayak, try a Muay Thai class, take a Thai cooking workshop in a local home or spend an evening navigating the country’s vibrant night markets. In Bangkok, siblings can explore the city by tuk-tuk after dark, discover hidden food neighborhoods or take a long-tail boat through the quieter canals. In northern Thailand, a countryside stay can open up experiences such as cycling through villages, visiting ethical elephant sanctuaries or learning about local crafts. For accommodation, the group can choose everything from a floating villa to a treehouse or jungle lodge, turning the stay itself into part of the holiday. For a more immersive getaway, siblings can also explore Thailand’s lesser-known islands and coastal communities, where the pace is slower and the experience feels more intimate than the conventional beach holiday..
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