Indians Embrace Early Bookings, Experience-Led Winter Stays: Zostel Report

• Indians are making early bookings for winter holidays, opting for longer, experience-led stays, with average lead times increasing from 8 to 21 days.
• Early reservations for December 2025 to February 2026 have surged by 34% year-on-year, indicating a shift towards planned, immersive travel.
• Mountain and desert destinations remain popular, with smaller hotspots like Pulga and Tosh experiencing over 40% growth in bookings.
• Travel habits are evolving towards value-oriented, local experiences, with average stays in some areas extending to 6-7 nights.
• Group travel is rising (22-27%), and plains-based cultural destinations are growing 41% faster than hill stations, reflecting a broader winter travel appetite.

Why It Matters: Indian travel is transforming, requiring early booking for desired experiences.