India Cruise Trips

This is an amazing trip. Reggie our tour leader was an absolute legend. instantly likeable, he was charismatic and very knowledgeable. Nothing was too much trouble. The standard of accommodation was excellent to the point that I would have liked to have stayed a bit longer at the Gokulam Grand and the Coorg Wilderness hotels. One night was not long enough!!

A 'full-on' trip, with a very knowledgeable guide, who also had a good sense of humor and was very passionate about his country. He took us on a fascinating tour of historic sites, local culture and culinary delights. Would recommend this tour to anyone!

We enjoyed a sparklingly varied two weeks in Southern India! Abhi, our guide, was a treasure. Always upbeat, great fun and he went above and beyond to make sure everyone had a good trip - reuniting travellers with lost hats, kindles, and even souvenirs they wish they had bought at previous stops! We felt safe and well informed throughout. My personal highlights included experiencing the tranquility of the ashram in Puducherry, thali in Srirangam, the martial arts display in Thekkady, and the early morning temple visit in Mysuru. The trip was fast paced, with a lot of early mornings but it was a great way to see a LOT of the region! There were moments for peace and relaxation amongst the riot of noise and colour - a beautiful ayurvedic massage, a chilled houseboat cruise, gorgeous sunsets, and a little free time for independent exploration and shopping. There was also time out between safari game drives to enjoy the pool. We didn't spot any tigers on our safari, but the scenery, elephants, and birds were wonderful to see. The bus was comfortable (the A/C was very welcome after the hot city walks), there was always fresh drinking water available, and 'TT' (tea & toilet) breaks were as frequent as required while we were on the road. Most of the hotels were great - there was the odd uncomfortable mattress/tired fixtures, but the rooms were always clean (and all except the houseboat had a kettle). The food was great - Abhi was always happy to interpret menus and give recommendations. Breakfasts were plentiful, and no Delhi belly! I'd recommend this trip to anyone looking to dip their toes into Southern India, for a taste of the culture, food, and nature in the area.

The trip met expectations and most of the hotels were of an excellent standard. I agree with some other reviewers who have said that the itinerary could be tweaked in order to allow more time at the two outstanding hotels, for example, by changing the overnight boat trip to a day trip. Highlights of the holiday were the time spent in the mountains: at Wayanad and Coorg, also the visits to the tea and coffee plantations. I would have liked more time in Coorg, particularly. The visit to the Tibetan Buddhist monastery and temples was definitely worthwhile. The food on the trip was another of the highlights for me.

Another good trip with generally excellent accommodation, apart from the first hotel in Cochin which was in need of a refresh and was a bit isolated. It would have been nice to have more time at the best hotels to make more of their facilities. I enjoyed the backwater cruise, the range of food, the highland landscape (and cooler temperatures), the coffee plantation and seeing the Indian railways in action. I would recommend a warm top for the train rides, as the air-con can be a bit variable, plus remember a suitable bag for the two times when you will be without your suitcase for a night. Most places will take a credit card, but some Rupees are useful for local taxis and tips when not doing the included activities.

This tour provides a memorable experience of the culture of SW India. There are many highlights including cruising on the backwaters, experiencing the variety of Indian cuisine, walking in the highlands, visiting a splendid Nepalese Temple, seeing tea production from picking the leaves to producing tea for sale, visiting a coffee plantation and a brief visit to Goa. The hotels are wonderful. This tour gives an good insight to the variety of life in SW India but be prepared for some long distance journeys.... India is a big country!