We specialize in curated, all-women tours and treks across India, designed for travellers who want to go beyond sightseeing and truly experience the country. Our journeys blend culture, nature, wellness, and wildlife, offering a deeper connection to the places we visit and the people we meet.
We focus on meaningful cultural exchange, giving travellers a deeper understanding of India’s heritage, traditions, and the everyday lives of Indian women.
From historic cities and vibrant villages to wildlife reserves and the breath taking Indian Himalayas, each itinerary is thoughtfully designed to go beyond typical tourist experiences.
Rainbow Journeys also offers fully supported Himalayan treks for women, led by experienced women trek leaders, trained in wilderness first aid. These treks provide a safe and inspiring environment for women looking to experience the beauty and challenge of Himalayan trekking in India.
Sheetal Thakur
Founder | Tour & Trek Leader
“I believe the best journeys are the ones that connect us — to nature, to culture, and to each other.”
Sheetal Thakur founded Rainbow Journeys in 2014 with the vision of creating meaningful travel experiences for women exploring India. With over two decades of experience in the Leisure & Adventure tour industry, she has designed and led cultural journeys, hiking tours, and trekking expeditions across the country.
Sheetal grew up in a military family, where frequent moves and travel shaped her love for exploration and adaptability. She is a graduate in History, a subject that has proved invaluable in her work in the tour industry. But much of her learning also came outside the classroom — trekking in the mountains, exploring forests, and discovering remote corners of India.
She is a certified mountaineer from NIM and enjoys exploring the Himalayas. Today, Sheetal lives in the peaceful Kumaon Himalayas, where she shares her mountain home with her dogs and a small community of like-minded people. From here, she continues to lead journeys and design experiences that invite travellers to explore India at a slower pace.
Dhruv Swamini
Mountaineer | Expedition Leader
Rainbow Journeys is proud to have Dhruv Swamini leading and co-leading our high-altitude Himalayan treks and expeditions.
Dhruv is an accomplished mountaineer who has summited four peaks above 6000 meters in the Indian Himalayas and completed numerous challenging treks across the Himalayas in India and Nepal.
She studied at IIT Delhi and INSEAD (France) and spent more than five years at McKinsey & Company before founding DUPLAYS Gurgaon, a sports events company. Over time, her passion for the mountains led her deeper into the world of trekking and mountaineering.
Dhruv is a certified mountaineer from the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling and brings strong leadership, technical expertise, and a deep love for the mountains to our trekking programs.
Our Philosophy
- Tailor-Made Journeys : Every traveler is different. That’s why we design custom tours and treks based on your interests, pace, and travel style — from selecting accommodations to arranging unique cultural experiences such as village stays or local celebrations.
- Small Groups : We believe smaller groups create better travel experiences. They allow deeper connections, greater flexibility, and a lighter footprint on the places we visit.
- Meaningful Local Connections : We believe travel should be about people, not just places. Whether it’s sharing tea with a family, enjoying a home-cooked meal, or learning about daily life, we create opportunities for genuine cultural exchange.
- Supporting Local Women : Whenever possible, we work with local women guides and leaders who bring invaluable knowledge of their region. Tourism can create meaningful opportunities for communities, and we are proud to support this.
- Responsible & Sustainable Tourism : We encourage guests to travel thoughtfully, respect local cultures, and protect the natural environment. Our philosophy is simple: Your holiday is someone else’s home — leave nothing but footprints.
Testimonials
Probably due to the small group size, we arrived as strangers and parted as friends. The accommodation always seemed to be well thought out and contributed greatly to the relaxing factor of the trip. Eating daily bliss. And the places visited were more than what seems possible.