New Delhi Natural landmarks sightseeing Trips

Accommodation at Alchi was substandard unclean and way below the all other hotels etc on the trip (hotel Zimskang). We were in the old wing of hotel for one night. This was clearly needing a complete overhaul and cleaning within it was way below a standard. The stairs to the first floor were marble with no handrails and had a big chip out the top step. On second night we were moved to the new wing (main hotel) the fabric of the building was 100% better however there was still cleaning issues. The bin in the room had not been emptied and general cleaning was not great. The visit to Alchi was well worth it however another hotel should be used and there were some in the village. This was main reason why I gave accommodation an average score this would have been good or above if it had not been for Hotel Zimskang.

When Air India cancelled all their flights on 24 June, Explore quickly got me an alternative flight with British Airways on the following day. I and another couple were picked up at Amritsar and taken straight to Dharamsala to join the rest of the group so we only lost one day of the trip. I can't thank Explore enough for their prompt action.

Itinerary was exactly as stated. We had problems with flights as the air space had been closed down. Explore were outstanding in getting us alternative flights and we caught up with the group only a day late. Top marks explore.

I did the India and Sri Lanka combo experience and honestly had the best time in both. As my first time going away anywhere on my own it was so reassuring having intro do all the hard work, organising, planning, getting from place to place for me. In India my group leaders were Yoni and Mikes, both two absolutely beautiful human beings. It was so beautiful to see how they interacted with the locals which encouraged us and showed how we could also interact with them positively and respectfully. In Sri Lanka my group leader was Matt, who also was amazing. He was so knowledgeable on the incredible country Sri Lanka is and really helped us appreciate its beauty on a deeper level. All three of the group leaders gave a great sense of security to me allowing me to feel safe in both countries and able to relax and really appreciate and enjoy them for what they are.

I honestly can’t recommend this trip enough. From start to finish, it was full of unforgettable moments and thoughtful touches. We travelled through Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, and everything was so well organised - it was the perfect introduction to India. One of my favourite memories was being greeted with flower wreaths at a Jaipur flower market—it felt so personal and welcoming. The visit to the Taj Mahal was obviously a highlight, but there were so many other surprises too. Staying at Suroth Mahal, a 600 year old heritage hotel, was something special. After a short cooking demonstration, they even put on a traditional Indian wrestling match in the courtyard, which none of us were expecting! We also had an optional stop at Chand Baori stepwell—recognised it from the Batman film, The Dark Knight! It also wasn't just bus journeys - we were on camel carts, cycle rickshaws, and it was in these moments you really got to see the chaotic but beautiful pace of life in India. The food was another major highlight for me. I went in expecting curry and naan, but it was so much more varied and regional than I thought. The evening cooking demonstration in Jaipur was a real treat too—we learned how to make things like masala chai, lentil pakoras and korwan aloo, and it gave me a whole new appreciation for the flavours and how fresh everything is. We even got to try some street food chai and sweet jalebi!

Our trip to India and Nepal was breathtaking, and the way National Geographic and G Adventures handled the trip made it easy for us to visit a number of areas we may not have otherwise tried to visit. I also was fascinated by the various organizations that G Adventures was supporting through its Planeterra Foundation, and was glad to be able to visit this area of the world in a responsible fashion.