Westcliffe House

The scent of cardamom tea drifts through shuttered windows, and ceiling fans tick slowly overhead in the tropical warmth of Pondicherry's French Quarter.

Westcliffe House offers both camping pods and guest house rooms, so you've got options whether you fancy something under canvas-ish or proper four walls — handy for couples testing the waters of outdoor stays, or groups where not everyone's keen on sleeping outside. It's in Pondicherry, that curious Tamil Nadu coast town where colonial French architecture meets Indian beach culture, so you're well placed for seafront promenades, Tamil temples, and the experimental community at Auroville just up the road. Worth asking about dogs when you book if you're bringing one along.

The facilities aren't detailed in their listing, so best to check what's actually onsite when you arrive — same goes for campfires, which you'll need to confirm on the day. It's open year-round, which makes sense this close to the Bay of Bengal, and the setup feels more guest house with a camping option than full campsite, so expect something relaxed and a bit different from your standard UK pitch.