Compare India flights

You might be surprised at how affordable flights to India can be. Sure, it's a long-haul destination, but this vast and complex country is one of the most visited from the UK, so there’s a high demand for services to most major cities, and plenty of competition on seat prices.

The vast majority of scheduled flights go to New Delhi or Mumbai, but it's increasingly common to see flights to other destinations, including Dabolim, the gateway to the beaches of Goa, and tech capital Hyderabad (a biggie for business travellers).

The most choice and the cheapest deals are found on the more competitive year-round routes: New Delhi and Mumbai. You can find some good deals even on direct flights with flag carriers like British Airways.

April to September is cheapest time to go, as most tourists avoid the summer heat and the monsoon season that follows it. If you're headed to Goa, peak holiday times between October and March can actually be cheaper, as competition increases and UK airlines start up their seasonal services.

The average time for non-stop flights from UK airports to cities in the north and west of India is 9 hours, which is on the quicker side of long-haul.

Direct flights to eastern cities take slightly longer, but most still come in at about 10 hours: British Airways flies from London Heathrow Airport to Chennai on the east coast in a comfortable 9 hours and 50 minutes.

India is huge, and you could spend a lifetime exploring it. Start by thinking about how to get around, and consider including a train journey in your trip. The Mountain Railways of India – the collective name for three historic routes in different parts of the country – have World Heritage status.

The Taj Mahal in Agra is another unmissable World Heritage icon, and is a key sight on the Golden Triangle, the classic touring route that takes in Agra, New Delhi and the elegant 'pink city' of Jaipur. If you’re ticking legend boxes, you should also try to see at least one of India’s 166 National Parks. Kaziranga in Assam has earth’s largest known tiger population, while Jim Corbett National Park has everything from Indian elephants to otters (and tigers too).

Down on the west coast, explore Goa's beaches and the sleepy backwaters of Kerala, best toured by boat. Take a look at our India holiday page for more ideas and to search for package deals.