India Tours in Winter

This was a wonderful journey through beautiful Kerala and Tamil Nadu…so bright, so colourful, so vibrant. We had such amazing experiences, from strolling through the streets of Fort Kochi, to trekking through the beautiful tea plantations of Munnar and seeing elephants in the mist of an early morning walk at Periyar. We learnt so much about Hindu culture from our lovely guide Biju, and visited some beautiful temples along the way…a real highlight of the trip. I loved the contrasts between vibrant buzzy cities, with thrilling tuk tuk rides, and the peaceful backwaters of Alleppey…drifting along the tranquil waters watching Kingfishers and Egrets. Just lovely. I would thoroughly recommend this tour of the Tropical South.

A wonderful two weeks in exciting, chaotic, stimulating Rajasthan. A perfect cure for the winter blues. This trip is very busy but ensures some wonderful experiences and insights into Indian history and culture. The two days in Ranthambore provide a more tranquil setting and opportunity to spot Indian mammals and birds. Our group were not fortunate enough to see a tiger but we did see a sloth bear and lots of other wildlife in a beautiful setting.

Was a jam packed tour which managed to fit in so many highlights. India is a country full of contrasts which didn’t disappoint. Particular highlights were the Taj Mahal and Fatephur Sikri. What made it extra special was our tour leader Veeru, who really looked after us and made sure we had everything we needed, including a range of dietary needs a number of our group had. He worked tirelessly to make our visit!

We had an amazing trip to Northen India, with the best guide, Kartike. There were so many highlights from out trip. Visiting the Taj Mahal at sunrise was magical, seeing such an iconic building in real life was a really special moment. The forts and palaces we visited were huge, something you don’t realise until you are in these special places. In Ranthambore National Park we were lucky enough to see a tiger, leopard and sloth bear on our safari and when we were in Chambal Sanctury we saw pink river dolphins , memories of these moments will stay with us forever. Pushcar city had a great market to explore and the lake was beautiful, we felt like we had stepped into traditional Indian life. Varanasi was like stepping back in time and experience we will never forget.

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.