Explore India’s Top Travel Destinations In A Defender, Without Owning One

There are road trips, and then there are Defender road trips, where rugged mountain passes, coastal curves, and desert dunes open up as front-row seats to India’s grandest landscapes. Defender Journeys is back with its fourth edition featuring 23 meticulously curated itineraries that invite travellers to see the country the way it deserves to be experienced; slowly, deeply, and with an irresistible pull of wanderlust.And if you’ve always dreamt of driving a Defender through India’s most dramatic routes without actually owning one, here’s the good news: these journeys hand you the keys. Each journey puts you behind the wheel of a Defender 110, ready to tackle the country’s most spectacular terrains through experiences designed to be both thrilling and effortlessly seamless.With so many routes to choose from, each more dramatic than the last, Defender Journeys can feel like a treasure map of India’s wildest corners. Here are ten standout destinations from across their 2026 edition—places where the landscapes are vast, the stories run deep, and Defender feels completely in its element.Kaza, Spiti ValleyKaza is where the Himalayas stop feeling like mountains and start feeling like another planet altogether. The Spiti Himalayan Journey takes you from Chandigarh to this high-altitude desert, where monasteries cling to cliffs and the sky looks bluer simply because the air is too thin for nonsense. The route is rugged, unpredictable, and unbelievably cinematic—perfect terrain for Defender 110 to show off its mountain manners. One minute you’re rolling over gravel, the next you’re cruising past ancient villages that feel carved out of time.Lo Manthang, Upper Mustang (Nepal)On the Upper Mustang Journey, you cross into a region that feels mythic with walled kingdoms, ochre cliffs, windswept valleys, and monasteries glowing in the sun. Lo Manthang sits at the heart of it all, a fortress city that whispers centuries of stories. The drive from Gorakhpur to Mustang is a lesson in contrasts: flat plains giving way to some of the most dramatic off-road terrain you’ll ever take on. Here, Defender’s Terrain Response shines—switchbacks, riverbeds, and rocky plateaus feel like invitations rather than obstacles.Nubra Valley, LadakhPerhaps one of India’s most surreal landscapes, Nubra is all silver dunes, turquoise streams, and apple orchards wedged between jagged mountains. The Umling La Himalayan Journey or the classic Ladakh Himalayan circuit both lead you here. One minute you’re cruising past ancient monasteries; the next, you’re navigating cold desert terrain that feels tailor-made for Defender 110’s all-wheel prowess. Nubra is where the idea of “luxury adventure” begins to make sense—your surroundings are wild, your ride is calm, your heart rate is somewhere in between.Thimphu, BhutanThe Druk Yul Journey begins in Siliguri and winds its way toward Bhutan’s soulful capital, Thimphu. It’s not just a border crossing, it’s a mindset shift. Forested hills, rivers that race alongside the road, and monasteries perched in impossible places turn the drive into something meditative. Thimphu brings culture, quiet sophistication, and Himalayan charm in equal measure. And through it all, Defender gives you the freedom to slow down, take detours, and lean into every curve of the Eastern Himalayas.Udaipur, RajasthanOn the Kutch Journey, Udaipur is your starting note—a city of palaces, shimmering lakes, and golden sunsets. It eases you in, almost as if preparing you for the starkness of the Great Rann that follows. Before the desert takes over, you get to savour Udaipur’s soft glamour: heritage hotels, mirror-like lakes, and that unmistakable Rajasthani warmth. Defender feels almost decadent here, gliding through boulevards before shifting gears for the off-road intensity ahead.The Great Rann Of KutchNothing prepares you for the Great Rann. It’s not a desert; it’s a salt ocean—a white expanse so vast it blurs the idea of distance. On the Udaipur to Great Rann and Ahmedabad circuit, this moment is your turning point. Here, Defender 110 finally gets to stretch its legs on terrain that’s equal parts tricky and exhilarating. The horizon shimmers, the landscape feels infinite, and you suddenly understand why explorers lose track of time here.Manali, Himachal PradeshPart of the Zanskar Himalayan Journey, Manali is your transition from the familiar to the uncharted. Apple orchards, pine forests, and crisp mountain air ease you into the expedition before the roads begin to twist, narrow, and climb into wilder altitudes. Defender handles the climb with a quiet confidence—precisely the kind you’ll need when the terrain begins to test you. Manali is the calm before the breathtaking storm that is Zanskar.Leh, LadakhLeh is the pulse of high-altitude adventure—and nearly every Defender Journeys itinerary brings you here. Whether you’re on the Umling La circuit or the Leh-to-Manali route, this mountain town is where altitude becomes a character of its own. Monasteries glow at twilight, markets hum softly, and every road out of Leh leads to a new kind of awe. Driving a Defender here feels like slipping into the region’s natural rhythm: unhurried, rugged, and wide open.Tawang, Arunachal PradeshOn the Brahmaputra Journey, Tawang is the crown jewel—a world of towering monasteries, rolling fog, sharp bends, and mountain passes that feel straight out of folklore. The Eastern Himalayas have a way of making you feel small in the best possible way. And with rain, mist, and winding roads thrown into the mix, this is where Defender’s sure-footed grip becomes your greatest ally. Tawang is wild, spiritual, and unforgettable.Siliguri, West BengalEvery journey needs a gateway, and Siliguri is exactly that for both the Bhutan and Brahmaputra expeditions. It’s where plains meet mountains, where the pace changes, where anticipation begins to build. The drive out of Siliguri—tea gardens, forested ridges, winding highways—sets the tone for what lies ahead. Think of it as the prologue to your Himalayan chapter, written with the hum of a Defender engine in the background.From high-altitude deserts to misty mountain passes, Defender Journeys turns every route into an unforgettable adventure. With Defender 110, expert guidance, and seamless planning, all you need is your sense of adventure.Reservations for Defender Journeys 2026 are now open at www.landrover.in/experiences/defender-journeys. Pack your bags, hit the road, and let India’s grandest landscapes unfold before you.10 Epic Road Trips In India This Winter 2025