We are just back from India. If I could give more stars for this tour I would. Deepak met us at the airport even though we were delayed for over 2 hours in passport control. He introduced us to our driver who stayed with us for all our holiday. The next day we were picked up in our hotel and shown the sights of Delhi by our fantastic guide. We then moved to Agra which was stunning which was enhanced by our guide. Next on to Jaipur which was also fantastic. I would like to mention our guide who went above and beyond the call of duty. When my wife became ill for this leg of our tour. Loved the Indian people and country. I would highly recommend this tour
Art and architecture
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
New Delhi, Kathmandu, Jaipur, Ag
New Delhi, Kathmandu, Jaipur, Agra, Patan
15% OFF TODAY
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Embark on a grand journey through northern India’s highlights, including one of the famed Seven Wonders of the World, street food that will make you salivate and bustling city streets next to spiritual havens. Uncover the depths of the Pink City of Jaipur by visiting the Amber fort and the lesser-known Panna Meena ka Kund, a 16th century stepwell. This 10-day trip through colourful India includes lavish palaces, vibrant bazaars and, of course, the Taj Mahal. You’ll witness the Mughal splendours of Agra, wander the Old City of Delhi and eat your fill of curries and flatbreads. It’s the ultimate India Golden Triangle trip – jam-packed yet very comfortable.
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Explore during this 10-day tour Sri Lanka high and low with this fascinating round-trip starting in the capital, Colombo, and taking an inland loop that covers all the main historic, cultural and natural attractions of this magical island. Discover a world of lushlandscapes, picturesque lakeside cities, historic temples and ancient citadels. Meet some of the friendliest and gentlest creatures in the animal kingdom andenjoy the lush green tea plantations spread through the hill county.Conclude the tour with a few relaxing days on the beautiful beaches of Bentota.
Explore the best of Rajasthan by joining our 10-day tour, which will take you to the adventure of the fascinating medieval history of North India. Get on the vibe by walking in the busy streets of Delhi, and admire its unique contrasts between the old and modern influence. Go through the real Indian adventure once you take a local train to Ajmer, this magic pilgrimage center for Muslims and Hindus. Rajasthan will display its colors while you will visit the ‘Venice of the East´, Udaipur and the pink architecture of Jaipur will wake up your romantic feelings before entering the awe-inspiring Taj Mahal, love poem in the stone. This tour will expose the gems of Rajasthan and will fulfill your expectations and inspire your senses.
Art and architecture
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
New Delhi, Pushkar, Udaipur, Jod
New Delhi, Pushkar, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaipur, Agra
15% OFF TODAY
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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.
Explore the sites of the iconic Golden Triangle before going on search for Indian tigers in Ranthambore National Park on this 10 day Indian adventure.
Your adventure starts in Delhi, where we take in both the new and old sides to the city. Old Delhi, the home of the Mughal Empire in centuries past, boasts a wealth of fascinating history, beautiful architecture and of course, great street food, while New Delhi's architecture, religious sites and modern aspects form an intriguing contrast. No visit to Delhi is complete without an exciting ride in a rickshaw or a taste of the world famous street food, that's why we've included these experiences at no additional cost!
Moving on to Agra, we'll firstly visit the Sheroes cafe for lunch, a great little NGO, supporting victims of acid attacks which we're proud to support. We'll then join a local villager who will escort us on a Mughal Heritage Walk through villages and farmland on the opposite bank of the Yamuna River to the Taj Mahal. This walking tour supports the local community and provides a fascinating insight into village life in Agra as well as providing great views of the Taj Mahal not normally seen. A sunrise tour of the Taj then follows before we head out into the countryside for a night in a converted palace and explore the village and surroundings, getting a real feel for rural Indian life.
As we move on to Jaipur, we visit the huge Step Well at Abanheri with its 3,500 steps and 13 stories (you might recognise it from the Great Exotic Marigold movie). Whilst in the 'Pink City' of Jaipur, capital of the arid state of Rajasthan, we'll visit the Amber Fort, City Palace and Jantar Mantar Observatory before exploring the city's famous craft and produce markets on foot and join a block printing workshop.
After leaving the members of the group heading back to Delhi, we move on to Ranthambore National Park.The park is one of India's most famous, and was declared one of the Project Tiger reserves in 1973. As well as the tigers, which are the main attraction for most people, there is a multitude of other wildlife including over 300 species of birds, marsh crocodiles and monitor lizards, and 30 mammals including sloth bear, wild boar, porcupines and jackals, leopards, jungle cats, monkeys and various species of deer and antelope.
Ranthambore also hosts an old fort which is interesting to pass on the way through the park. We take guided safaris through the park by canter (open backed lorry), before taking a ride on India's extensive rail network as we head back to Delhi where the tour comes to an end.
The accommodations used on this tour have been carefully selected and include a home-stay style hotel whilst in Delhi, a modern property in Agra and heritage hotels in Jaipur, Hinduan and Ranthambore.
WildlifeArt and architecture
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Home-stay
Age Range
8-95 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
New Delhi, Taj Mahal, Sawai Madh
New Delhi, Taj Mahal, Sawai Madhopur, Ranthambore National Park, Jaipur, Tordi, Keoladeo National Park
Fantastic guide! Nimal Wijeratne, Aitken Spence's Travels. Because of Nimal we have had a great holiday as he showed us his beautiful Sri Lanka in so many different ways. He was helpful, friendly and extremely knowledgeable about Sri Lanka and the trip. We have been to restaurants and places where we would never have been without Nimal. We have had a good connection with Nimal and he became a true friend.
Sri Lanka Time Tour via Aitken Spence. We met our driver and guided Sanka in Negombo for a 10 day tour of Sri Lanka. As soon as we met Sanka we knew we had made a very good decision, he was very friendly and welcoming us to continue our tour with the first events, he was prompt and very knowledgeable, and very proud of his country. Driving in Sri Lanka is crazy but Sanka was very experienced and we never felt unsafe. Safety throughout Sri Lanka is a high priority, but we never feel unsafe anywhere and encourage visitors to carry on while the tourism industry suffers. The hotels we stayed in were excellent and the staff were always friendly and very helpful. The tour is very busy with some long days, but we end with a six day break in the Maldives to recover. A truly memorable holiday with lots of laughs and banter with Sanka who made the tour so enjoyable.
Art and architecture
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort, Villa
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
english, spanish
Destinations
Colombo, Negombo, Sigiriya, Kand
Colombo, Negombo, Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Yala National Park
15% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
When our family decided to travel to India we didn't know which travel agent to use because we couldn't find a tour company in Australia to tailor our holiday, so after searching I stumbled across this tour company, it had good reviews so I went with them. We decided to go on the Golden Triangle, Mumbai and Goa Tour, we were able to choose the dates we wanted to travel and the level of accommodation. We went 3 stars for all of our accommodation which was good. We also decided to take the train from Mumbai to Goa first class and that was the best experience seeing so much from the train. Our whole trip went smoothly we had a representative every place we went, Arshad Khan in New Delhi was the best he was very engaging compared with other representatives. A driver who spoke english was sufficient we really didn't need anyone else, we received phone calls from the tour company everyday to see if everything is going well. Overall we would use and recommended this tour company in the future.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
1-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
New Delhi, Jaipur, Goa, Agra
New Delhi, Jaipur, Goa, Agra
60% OFF TODAY
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Explore Delhi, both old and new. Tour the legendary Taj Mahal in Agra as well as the beautiful Pink City of Jaipur, where you'll experience the illustrious City Palace and Jantar Mantar Space Observatory. Watch locals perform mesmerizing sunrise Hindu prayer rituals in the vibrant city of Varanasi, right on the banks of the holy Ganges.
Spiritual or religious tours
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
New Delhi, Old Delhi, Agra, Kara
New Delhi, Old Delhi, Agra, Karauli, Jaipur, Varanasi
10% OFF TODAY
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Join us on this memorable ten-day private trip that will stay with you for a lifetime!. Explore Bhutan's ancient monasteries and shrines of historical and archaeological interests in the heartland of three major towns of the Dragon Kingdom; Thimphu, Punakha and Paro. Hike across the spectacular mountain scenery of Tiger's Nest , a backdrop to pristine forests and picturesque valleys and discover Ganteng Monastery in Gangtey.
Art and architecture
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Eco Lodge, Lodge, Resort
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Paro, Thimphu, Gangtey Valley, B
Paro, Thimphu, Gangtey Valley, Bumthang, Punakha
15% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Take a journey through India's highlights: explore New and Old Delhi, visit the famed Taj Mahal, get to know Jaipur, take a jeep ride to the Amber Fort, and enjoy an unforgettable boat ride along Udaipur's incredible Lake Pichola.
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
New Delhi, Old Delhi, Agra, Kara
New Delhi, Old Delhi, Agra, Karauli, Jaipur, Udaipur
10% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Our tour was packed with amazing experiences and the destinations were just perfect. Special thanks to Narendra our Driver who was very professional and cooperative. We had a lot of fun and thoroughly enjoyed Indian Hospitality. Bingo Deepak!!
Art and architectureBeach
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
New Delhi, Goa, Jaipur, Agra
New Delhi, Goa, Jaipur, Agra
15% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
