As wellness travel defines 2026 and India tops global wellness destination rankings, the vacation home brand’s nature led expansion signals where the restorative holiday is headed
EkoStay Private Villas are emerging as a natural answer to the defining travel story of 2026: the pursuit of calm. Leading lifestyle and travel media have spotlighted the rise of the calmcation, a slow, restorative holiday built around rest, privacy and deliberate disconnection rather than packed itineraries. The shift is being read not as indulgence but as a response to urban exhaustion and rising stress levels in India’s cities. It comes at a moment when industry estimates place global wellness tourism at nearly a trillion dollars, and global travel industry rankings have named India the world’s leading wellness destination for 2026. EkoStay, one of India’s fastest growing professionally managed vacation home brands, believes the country already has a homegrown answer to the calmcation: the private villa stay.
EkoStay Private Villas Redefine the Calmcation in India
Where the traditional holiday was measured in sightseeing checklists, the calmcation is measured in slow mornings, unhurried meals and unstructured time. What distinguishes it is intent, fewer choices, minimal schedules and the freedom to do nothing at all. Private villas lend themselves naturally to this format, offering travellers an entire home to themselves, with space to rest, cook, swim or read, away from the crowds and rhythms of conventional hospitality. EkoStay Private Villas are increasingly aligned with travellers seeking hills, forests, privacy and slower, more restorative holidays.
EkoStay Private Villas Expand Across Nature-Led Destinations
EkoStay Private Villas’ growth this year reads like a map of where India is going to find its calm. Established in 2018 by Husain Khatumdi, Sohail Mirchandani, Varun Arora and Zishan Khan, the brand today manages over 160 villas across more than 15 destinations, and its 2026 expansion has been weighted decisively toward nature led geographies. The company has announced a targeted 40 villa boutique cluster across the Nilgiris, spanning Ooty, Coonoor and Kotagiri, entered Karnataka with the Forest Cube Villa in Chikmagalur, and launched new homes across Nashik, Wada, Igatpuri and Lonavala, including Wada Crest, a retreat designed expressly around wellness, slow living and intimate getaways. Alongside, the brand’s EKO Gold and EKO Luxe collections and its membership programme cater to travellers who return to villa living as a habit, not a one off.
Why EkoStay Private Villas Fit the Rise of Wellness Travel
“The most telling change in Indian travel is what guests are no longer asking for,” said Husain Khatumdi, Co Founder, EkoStay. “Five years ago, the first question was what is there to do nearby. Today guests ask whether the villa has a quiet view, a private pool, a space to truly unwind. The holiday is no longer about the destination. It is about how rested you feel when you leave, and that is exactly what a private home is designed to deliver.”
“Our expansion choices this year are a direct reading of this demand,” said Varun Arora, Co Founder and CEO, EkoStay. “The Nilgiris cluster, our entry into Chikmagalur, homes like Wada Crest built around slow living, none of this is accidental. Travellers are seeking hills, forests, coastlines and quiet, and we are deliberately building a portfolio of design led homes in exactly those geographies, restored thoughtfully so each villa keeps the character of its region.”
“Operationally, the calmcation guest behaves very differently, and we have built for it,” said Sohail Mirchandani, Co Founder and COO, EkoStay. “These travellers value seamlessness above all, smooth check ins, curated meals and support that is responsive without ever intruding on their privacy. Our proprietary backend, app driven guest services and real time maintenance ecosystem exist precisely so the guest experiences calm while the operations work quietly behind the scenes.”
“The calmcation is also changing how people book, not just where they go,” said Zishan Khan, Co Founder, EkoStay. “We see families and friend groups adopting one villa as their recurring escape, guests extending stays once they arrive, and travellers blending work and rest in the same trip. As we invest in AI driven personalisation, smart lock integrations and an upgraded app, the goal is simple, to remove every point of friction so the only thing a guest has to focus on is switching off.”
EkoStay Private Villas Look Ahead to the Future of Calmcations
With wellness travel expected to maintain momentum through the festive season and beyond, EkoStay Private Villas are positioned to serve travellers looking for private, nature-led and restorative escapes. With wellness travel expected to hold momentum through the festive season and beyond, EkoStay plans to continue expanding across emerging leisure destinations while deepening its food and experience verticals, ensuring that as India seeks calm, there is a well managed home waiting wherever it looks.
