Luxury Travel is now Purpose Driven

India's HNIs are already well-travelled, they seek experiences that help them find meaning

-  Anushka Manik

They've sipped champagne at 35,000 feet, lounged in overwater villas in the Maldives, and watched the Northern Lights from glass igloos in Finland.

But in 2025, India's most discerning travellers- the high-net-worth jetsetters aren't just chasing the next passport stamp. They're craving something deeper, rarer, and far more personal. From hyper-curated itineraries that weave in wellness and culture, to private access experiences that money alone can't buy, luxury travel is evolving into an art form of exclusivity and meaning. Read on as we speak to HNIs to uncover what's topping the wanderlust wishlists of the ultra-rich this year, and how it's a fascinating shift from opulence to intentionality.

Exclusivity to Experience

If we are to go by Luxury Travel Trend reports, luxury travel has reached the top of the Maslow's pyramid of desire. Travellers in 2025 aren't chasing velvet ropes; instead, they're seeking stories, transformations, and once-in-a-lifetime moments that money alone can't buy. For HNIs, the true privilege is access to meaning, not just marble suites.

"There are certain experiences that may only last an hour or two, but their impact is lasting", quips Shalini Passi, a Delhi-based Art Collector, Philanthropist, Artist and Founder of MASH "For me, visiting places like Venice and simply observing the architecture has that kind of effect. It's subtle, reflective, and deeply moving, and that, to me, is true luxury."