Amritsar Tours in Winter

This was an excellent trip that not only took us to a number of really interesting sites across northern India but also gave us the opportunity to meet and interact with the local people on the train journeys. Our guide, Vivek, was excellent, ensuring that everything ran to plan despite the trains to Varanasi being especially busy due to the Kumbh Mela. The last day in Amritsar when we visited the Golden Temple and the Beating of the Retreat/flag down ceremony at the Wagah Crossing was a superb end to a fantastic journey.

Kolkata to Amritsar: A fantastic experience. The itinerary is great, taking us to 3 major and contrasting religious centres at Bodh Gaya, Varanasi and Amritsar which were fascinating and moving. As well as experiencing the post-colonial city of Kolkata and smog-ridden Delhi, with the mad traffic that characterises India, there were lesser-known, beautiful or interesting places such as Sarnath and Fatepur Sikri. The chanting monks at Bodh Gaya were extraordinary, the Taj was of course stunning (even a second time around, for me) and Shimla was an oasis of green and stunning views, even without snow and with the roads crammed full of Christmas holiday visitors. Our guide Raj was highly experienced, entertaining and informative. He's great at dealing with last minute changes (e.g. the President of Sri Lanka suddenly arriving at Bodh Gaya so we had to visit the temple much earlier in the morning, which was a shock after a late arrival the previous night! - But: sunrise and cool temps.). Raj did sometimes stride ahead too fast, so stopping to take a photo risked losing the group, especially in crowds, but otherwise he looked after us extremely well and with great kindness. The tour is very full-on, with long travel days. I was expecting the trains to've been upgraded since I was last in India 15 years ago, but no... seating was uncomfortable, the toilets horrible and most of us felt we could have done without the overnight train, 'experience' or not. It was a relief when a journey was in a minibus. Our drivers in the various locations were pleasant and efficient. The hotels were generally comfortable and service always with a smile, though the one in Bodh Gaya was grubby. The disappointing hotel was in Delhi, which was a charmless, Travelodge-style place, clean but with no nice public spaces and no restaurant so we had to go next door to a grotty place for breakfast. They couldn't even do my laundry in 24 hours (in a city of 23million people with every service imaginable... really?). I felt Explore could've found us somewhere much better for very little extra cost. But these are small things. Overall, it was a wonderful trip and I'd recommend it highly. It really gives a feel for India in all its variety and wonder. Five stars.

I really enjoyed this trip and seeing some more of India. Highlights include the Taj Mahal, Varanasi, Shimla and temple at Amritsar. I travelled with a really nice group and the tour leader made sure we were perfectly looked after. The food was good. Warm clothes are needed for Shimla in the winter months. I would highly recommend the trip.

This was a great trip full of wonderful and varied experiences plus a number of highlights including: Bodh Gaya and important Buddhist sites, Varanasi, the Taj Mahal, Shimla and The Golden Temple at Amritsar. Travelling by train proved to be fascinating and a good way to meet people, even if it was not always totally comfortable. Pemba was an excellent tour guide, caring, well organised, knowledgeable and extremely likeable. I would certainly recommend the trip as a good way to explore this part of northern India.

On the train journeys, my friend and I were often separated, even though we had booked the holiday together. Sometimes we could swap with others, but I am surprised that we were not booked on the trains as a pair, travelling together as friends. Otherwise an excellent trip.

An enjoyable trip to India and travelling by train was interesting an authentic way to travel Itinerary needs tweaked - if it really is unwise for western tourists to head off exploring on their own then add cost of additional sightseeing in Kolkata and Varanasi to tour price. Very disappointed that we didn't have opportunity to see Ganga Aarti evening ceremony or visit Partition museum in Amritsar. Toy train to Shimla was an experience but not one I would want to experience again on the bottom numbing hard bench that was simply too small for 2 western sized bottoms. Better quality seating was available and I would willingly have paid more just to have my own seat. Hotels used were disappointing both for location and comfort. The basic hotel at Boda Gaya was understandable as the location was great and there was no choice but the hotel at Shimla was poor and too far out from centre. Final long train journey from Ambala to Amritsar was just one train journey too far as it would have been much easier to drive from Shimla direct to Amritsar rather than bus from Shimla to Ambala and then long train journey. This would also mean an extra evening in Amritsar and give time for evening ceremony at Golden Temple. Overall a good trip but could have been a great one!