Local tour specialists organised a fantastic private tour for our group in August/September 2019. We chose the Golden Triangle with Mumbai itinerary and were able to get the best value.
Having liaised with them via email in the months and weeks ahead of the tour to ensure all our queries were answered, we were greeted at Delhi airport by a representative and our driver without issue. From there we were transferred to our first hotel. We opted for 4 star hotels and overall were happy with the accommodation, although once there we would have liked to be a little more central to restaurants/shops etc outside of the hotel for evenings and free time. Our itinerary overall was pretty busy so not too much bother.
We had different guides in each city who were all welcoming and knowledgeable. The particular highlight was our driver for the golden triangle portion, Mangeram, who went out of his way to keep us happy and share his knowledge and expertise with us. His English was great which also enhanced our experienced since we spent a large amount of time in his company traveling. We felt safe with him and that he was trustworthy - especially important as an all female group.
It would have been good to spend a few more days in Mumbai and to stay somewhere central there.
Overall, I would recommend local guides and drivers, who made us feel welcome at each stage.
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
1-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
New Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Agra
New Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Agra
60% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
I must say that we had a wonderful holiday. I would like to thank you and the whole team involved with this tour so much for everything you did to ensure we had the best vacation!!!
It was so nice to have contacts to pick us up and take us where we needed to go. The Guides and Driver were really very good. All the accommodations at Jaipur and Agra were perfect.
We will not hesitate to recommend your services to our friends and relatives.
Best regards.
Stanley Holmes
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
1-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
New Delhi, The Golden Triangle
New Delhi, The Golden Triangle, Varanasi, Khajuraho, Jaipur, Agra, Orchha
Discover the natural beauty of Bali in this eight-day tour. Visit temples surrounded by the sea, lost in rainforests, on the shores of beautiful lakes and the slopes of volcanoes. Start your adventure in Ubud the art centre of Bali. Travel through breath-taking landscapes to discover rural Balinese villages and local culture. Watch colourful and exciting performances and admire local crafts. Mingle with the locals in the markets full of colour and fragrance. This trip offers the perfect balance of included and optional activities along with leisure time to enjoy Bali.
We really enjoyed this trip, our driver and guide were very professional, very friendly and fun to travel with. They made sure all our requests were met, this was the best trip so far.
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
1-79 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Jaipur, Varanasi, Agra, Delhi &
Jaipur, Varanasi, Agra, Delhi & Golden Triangle, New Delhi
Discover the wonders Vietnam on this exciting eight-day tour. From exploring the culture of the captivating capital, Hanoi to experiencing the stunning scenery of Halong Bay and unearthing the ancient history of Hue, this tour will show you the true beauty of Vietnam. This tour encapsulates the aspects which make Vietnam a unique and unmissable destination.
Join this seven-day tour to discover the best of Southern Thailand. An experience tailored for nature lovers and adventurers. Hike through fauna-filled Khao Sok National Park. Explore Tham Khao Wang Tong cave as you admire nature’s rare stalagmite and stalactite creations. Visit the ancient Wat Phra Mahathat temple and breathe in the fresh air of Baan Kiri Wong in Southern Thailand’s largest province. Sail through the majestic Thale Noi Lake. Have fun in Tham Le Khao Kob cave on this eco-touristic adventure. Hop on a boat to visit some of the most stunning islands of the world, in the Andaman Sea and witness the turquoise beaches of this pristine paradise.
Art and architecture
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort, Eco Lodge, Lodge
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
english, french, german, italian, spanish
Destinations
Phuket, Khao Sok National Park
Phuket, Khao Sok National Park, Khanom, Phatthalung, Trang, Krabi
Explore some of the best spots in China on this 17-day tour that includes Shanghai, Hong Kong, X'ian, Beijing, and beautiful Yangshuo. This tour makes a fantastic group trip for families, friends, company employees, or social clubs as there is something for everybody.
Starting in Hong Kong and ending in Shanghai, along the way you will wander along the Great Wall in Beijing, explore the shopping paradise in Hong Kong, cycle through lush Yangshuo countryside, and soak up the mystical scenery of the Li-River between Guilin and Yangshuo. Meet endangered giant pandas in Chengdu, turn back time as you witness the famed Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an, and practice Kung-fu moves in Shaolin Temple. Explore modern China in Shanghai, learn more about local culture and history, and indulge in China's best cuisines.
Local culture
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Guest House, Hotel
Age Range
1-79 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Ch
Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Chengdu, Xian, Yangshuo, Suzhou, Xi'an, Shaolin
Discover the richness of India and its glorious past during this 11-day tour. Starting from Delhi, where we will pick you up upon arrival, this tour takes you through Jaipur, Agra, Khajuraho and Varanasi, where it comes to an end.
See the majestic Mughal monuments of Delhi and Agra, including the Taj Mahal, during guided sightseeing tours. Discover the ornate temples of Khajuraho, known for their intricate sculptures, explore the holy city of Varanasi and learn more about the Rajput era in Jaipur.
In addition to the sightseeing tours, you will also get to enjoy three activities: a rickshaw ride in Chandani Chowk (Delhi), elephant ride at Amber Fort (Jaipur) and a boat ride in the River Ganges in Varanasi. This tour comes to an end in Varanasi, where we will drop you off at the airport on the last day. For more details, please go through the itinerary below.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
10-90 yrs
Operated in
english, french, german, italian, spanish
Destinations
New Delhi, Jaipur, Varanasi, Kha
New Delhi, Jaipur, Varanasi, Khajuraho, Agra
10% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Our guides made sure that we were informed about the people and culture of Indonesia. Since we were already somewhat familiar with Bali, the Lombok/Gili parts of the tour were an excellent addition, for a broader understanding of the country, For us, there was the right mix of busy days of touring the sights, and days of rest, relaxation and time to explore on our own. Ending the tour with the beaches of Lombok and the Gilis ensured that we returned home relaxed and sun-kissed.
Begin this Thai journey discovering the best of Bangkok, Thailand’s bustling capital city. Then see a different side of this beautiful country as you explore the north of Thailand and discover its main cultural attractions during four magical days, travelling from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. This region is overflowing with historic monuments, dreamlike landscapes, gastronomic delights and wonderful wildlife.Leaving Chiang Mai, travel to magical Southern Thailand, boasting all types of impressive scenery, from awe-inspiring beaches to tropical forests packed with flora and fauna. Giving a rich mix of cultures, wildly different from the northern regions, from their traditional cuisine to landscapes, and even language.
This off the beaten path tour is for those who are adventurous but who maybe are not up to long treks. It explores the remote far north of Vietnam, often close to the Chinese border. This is the land of the ethnic minorities, and it is one of the few places left in this global world where one's family and locality can be identified by dress alone. Prepare yourself for a riot of colour, from the ethnic clothes to the rice paddies. You will have a chance to interrelate with the locals by staying in Homestays, in a variety of villages and mountainous regions.
AdventureArt and architecture
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hostel, Hotel, Home-stay
Age Range
10-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Hanoi, Ha Giang, Nghia Lo, Mu Ca
Hanoi, Ha Giang, Nghia Lo, Mu Cang Chai, Sapa, Hoang Su Phi, Meo Vac, Cao Bang, Ba Be Lake
We booked the Classic Ceylon Sri Lanka Tour for our honeymoon. The tour agent was Aitken Spence Travels. Day 1: Arriving at Colombo airport, we were greeted by our guide/driver named Rane (guide and driver are the same person throughout the tour). Our first stop was the Ramada Hotel in Columbo, where we checked in. You can take advantage of the afternoon to explore the city or relax at the hotel. We have reviewed each hotel separately in this thread if you want to learn more about each hotel review in detail. Our guide agrees on a time for you to be picked up the next morni g, which was ours at 8am. to start on time. Colombo is a busy city so traffic can be very busy. Day 2: Drive from Colombo to Dambulla, which is approximately a 4-hour drive away. Your guide will make a rest stop for a drink if you wish. Once we reach Dambulla we visit the Temple of the Rock. This fascinating temple is built on the side of a rock with some historical monuments of Buddhas and paintings. Once we had visited the temple, we stopped for lunch at one of the various Sri Lankan tourist restaurants. The food is in keeping with the country and there are usually rice, potatoes, various meats and salads on the menu. We were never disappointed. Lunch is not included in the tour price so it is extra, but at approx 600 rupees it is very reasonable in terms of cost. Some days we didn't fancy lunch and you can skip this if you want. Your driver will be very accommodating. We were then taken to our hotel which would be home for the next 3 nights: Amaara Forest Hotel (review available separately). The following days consisted of: Day 3 - Drive from Sigiriya to Polonnaruwa to visit the 2nd Heritage of the Capital City. This is an amazing experience that offers a fantastic insight into Sri Lankan history. After this we reached Minneriya to the national park. The opportunity to see elephants in the wild is something not to be missed. There are also wild buffaloes, monkeys, birds, and many more animals to witness. We also visited a silk shop where silk was made, and we were dressed in traditional Sri Lankan clothing, where you can take photos of each other. The ladies at this store were wonderful and we bought a few items. The woodcarving factory is also a good stop, where you can watch how they make traditional Raksha masks and other items. We really wanted to buy a pair of these and the factory store on site had plenty to choose from at reasonable prices. Day 4 - Sigiriya Rock Fortress (Lion Rock). This spectacular rock of approximately 200 m high has impressive views. The only way to achieve this is through lots of steep steps so you will need to wear some good trainers as flip flops will wreck your feet. It can get quite busy on the stairs for the first part as there are historical paintings to see a third of the way which causes the delay, but it picks up soon after. Don't let this delay put you off, I almost decided not to bother you, but the wife talked me into it and I'm glad I did. When you get to about 2/3 of this way, this is where the Lions entrance is. At one point this one had a huge rock lion face on it which is sadly gone. From this point you can reach the top and the view of Sri Lanka can be seen for miles. Word of advice to all of you, there are people who offer to "show" you the rock, they will expect payment for their services, so you politely say no or agree to a cost up front. Also when on the stairs there will be men offering to help him up (at one point taking my wife's hand and escorting her down the stairs which I soon said no to) in all fairness once I say no they will leave you alone, so don't do it. Don't let this discourage you, but be prepared. This day you also have a tour of a rural town in a carriage and a boat ride. You may be offered lunch here which is a great experience and at 600 rupees well worth it. A local lady prepares dinner in her cabin in the woods, and there is a good choice to have. You won't get a chance to experience this again so totally recommend it. Day 5 - Kandy. The journey from the hotel above to here is around 2.5 hours, but it breaks down to an intermediate stop at Spice Garden, where you can see how various spices grow and are shown how to make curry mixes from scratch. The day also included a visit to a gem museum. Generally these places have a room or two showing the history of the gems etc but then a shop at the end. We found the gem shop too expensive for what we wanted to get out of our souvenir shopping, so we didn't buy anything. Again, you don't have to buy anything if you just want to look around. After you transfer to another hotel, we stopped at Earls Regent in Kandy. Day 6 - We visit the Botanical Garden which is a lovely relaxing day where you can walk slowly and take in the surroundings. After this, you can have lunch or return to the hotel to relax. Day 7: We visit a tea plantation on this day where you can see the process from tea leaf picking to the final product. We were allowed to pick tea leaves in the hills as well as visit the shop on site to pick up some reasonably priced local tea/souvenirs. From this point, you can return to the final hotel of the tour to rest in Nuwara Eliya. You can, if you wish, take a walk in the area near the hotel. Day 8 _ This is the route back to the airport, which takes around 7 hours in total, but is broken down by the different sights offering opportunities for waterfalls and a few breaks at local cafes and restaurants. As a guide, we leave at 8:30 am and arrive at the airport at 3:30 pm. Overall the tour was amazing but very tiring. It's not a relaxing vacation, so if you can get a second week in a row somewhere, you can relax. We went to the Maldives which is a 1 hour flight to Male airport. Some final points:
We were advised to tip the driver between $5-10 per person per day as an example, but you can tip what you feel was worth. Your guide will offer to take you to other places that are not listed on the tour and will be charged. If you don't want to do this, just say no thanks and they won't accept you. We almost fell for this and arrived at a spa which we were told would cost 5,000 rupees each for an hour which works out to a total of �40 so not a huge cost but we really didn't want a spa visit So we politely said we weren't interested. On the last day you will also be asked if you want to go rafting, which we didn't do as the last thing we wanted was to get wet en route to the airport. Overall, a worthwhile trip to an amazing country.
Journey back in time to the ancient kingdoms of Thailand with this enchanting eight-day tour. Start your adventure in Chiang Mai, the beautiful former capital of the Lanna kingdom, mingle with the locals in the night market and, be amazed by the beauty of the ancient Buddhist temples. Then, continue to Sukhothai and Ayutthaya, two UNESCO World Heritage Sites that both served as capitals of Siam. Your odyssey ends in bustling Bangkok, the capital known as the ‘City of Angels’. Join this tour and learn about Thailand´s past, understand its culture, and catch a glimpse of its mesmerising natural beauty.
Art and architecture
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
english, italian, french, spanish, german
Destinations
Chiang Mai, Sukhothai, Ayutthaya
Chiang Mai, Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, Bangkok
