India Natural landmarks sightseeing Trips

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.

The rail trip across north India with Explore was undoubtedly a magical and once in a lifetime experience. The itinerary was jam packed and whilst exhausting with early starts and long rail journeys, it ensured we made the most of the 14 days . The accommodation was varied, sometimes underwhelming but on the whole acceptable. For the price we paid, Explore could make improvements, as It’s so cheap in India . Amritsar was my highlight, the golden temple and the border crossing was a glorious end to an incredible adventure. Extend your stay here if possible , we had an extra day and loved wandering around, exploring the winding streets close by the temple.

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!

On the whole a great itinerary. I would drop the Sunderbans though, since the chance of seeing any wildlife while sailing for hours up and down the middle of the river is unlikely, especially since the animals are behind a fence. We had an excellent tour leader, Kiran who is warm, very informed and energetic and who certainly went that extra mile in solving problems and caring for everyone. The local guides who travelled with us were also great, as were the drivers. The hotels in India were the Summit hotels, an Indian chain. They are clean and quite well organised. However since those in Sikkim were out of town we were forced to eat dinner in the hotels which produced the identical menu. It would have been better to have spent the bits of free time we had in Sikkim in the towns themselves.

This was a busy itinerary with some early starts and long transfers, but it meant we saw so many amazing places every day. Our memory of the first week in the north, was of the noisy mayhem that is India, with quite a lot of sightseeing to monuments. In contrast the week in Kerala was more relaxed either by the sea or in the mountains. Being a 'Premium Adventure' meant we were in good standard hotels, and about half the dinners and some lunches were included in the price, which was appreciated. Also, our leader saw to all the tipping for the whole trip, so we didn't have to have a kitty (a bit of a bugbear on previous Exodus trips).

A fascinating trip with visits to high profile hot spots as you cross India to the Pakistan border and learn about the country’s history. The journeys in between use various classes on the excellent railways, so you see how the locals travel by joining them. Hotels were fine, dining interesting and local motorised transport in Autos (tuctucs) and cars, exhilarating. The trips are long so not for the fainthearted. All this led by an excellent local guide. Make it an excellent experience for hardy travellers.