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Explorations 4.6 feefo-stars

Tours

Mysteries of India

14 DAYS
From $5,299
$4,811 pp*
Save up to $488
*Rate is per person, land and on tour air only, double occupancy.

About This Tour

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From the iconic tigers of Ranthambore to the legendary Taj Mahal, step into a world of captivating mysteries and vibrant colour. Explore Old Delhi on an exhilarating city tour, weaving through the streets on a rickshaw. Join a local family for an unforgettable home-hosted dinner. Walk on the wild side in Ranthambore National Park and seek out its most popular residents: Bengal tigers. Stand in awe before the Taj Mahal in the early morning. Ignite your spirit during the holy Ganga Aarti ceremony in Varanasi. Welcome to India - a perfect synthesis of nature, vitality, spirituality, and regal legacy.

Your Tour Includes
  • 7 Handpicked Accommodations
  • 26 Meals
  • 2 Choice on Tour Options
Included Highlights
  • Old Delhi
  • Jaipur
  • Hawa Mahal
  • Amber Fort

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Your Tour at a Glance

Stay

14 Days

13 Nights


Meals

26 Meals

13 Breakfasts

7 Lunches

6 Dinners


Activity

3 - Active

What's This?

Travel Style

Explorations

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On Tour Air

Included

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Customize Your Tour

Pre Tour Dubai

$1,400.00 pp

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Post Tour Nepal

$1,610.00 pp

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Optional Excursions

Starting at $35.00

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  • No booking fee, *no change fees
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Getting Prepared

Know Before You Go

Enhance Your Tour

Accommodation

Arrive Earlier

Pre Night: Jaypee Vasant Continental
From $190 per night

...
Jaypee Vasant Continental

Nights 1-3

...
Radisson Jaipur City Center

Nights 4-6

...
Juna Mahal

Nights 7-8

...
Jaypee Palace Hotel

Nights 9-10

...
Radisson Jass Hotel Khajuraho

Night 11

...
Radisson Varanasi

Nights 12-13

...
Lemon Tree Premier, Delhi Airport

Night 14

Stay Longer

Post Night: Lemon Tree Premier, Delhi Airport
From $135 per night

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Trip Reviews

Live, Unedited, & Independent Traveler Reviews

Rating

96 reviews
Overall Trip Rating
4.6
Out of 5
feefo-stars
Based on 96 independent reviews
5
68
4
20
3
3
2
5
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    It was amazing and we had an amazing tour director
    Richard Hanner
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Well organised, mostly good hotels and good transfers. Tour was well paced with sufficient free time built in.
    Andrew Nelson
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    We were kept busy and fascinated every day. See the Tigers and visiting the Ganges was extremely memorable
    Abraham Tankus
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    I went on this trip of a lifetime alone as my wife stayed home with our nine year old son so I really didn't know what to expect going solo- but the entire group was friendly and felt like family after a few days. I will definitely use Collette for future trips and I want to repeat the same trip when my son is a teenager and hopefully with Vikas. Mysteries of India is definitely an active trip from morning until evening but once you return home and realize what you just experienced it can be life changing.
    Garrett Call
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    1. Dinner with an Indian family. 2. Lunch at Sheroes Hangout 3. Tigress in Ranthambore National Park
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    The Taj Mahal, watching the cremation on the Ganges River, the great group of people we had. The culture explained to us by our tour manager. The accommodations some were excellent And some were average. We wish it was easier to get our visa. The tipping for the bus driver and helper was a headache because not having the right change. I think it should be included in the price of the ticket. Lufthansa airline went on strike and we felt we were left stranded at the lemon tree hotel in Delhi. We wished we had someone there to get us tickets to get home instead of fending for ourselves to get seats to get home. It was very stressful.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Varanasi was a wonderful, educational experience.
    Sandra Schrager
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The itinerary was well thought out, the schedule full on at times but we weren't there to sit round a pool sipping cocktails, and saw and did so many wonderful things. There were many highlights, obviously the Taj Mahal which was one of the main reasons for making the trip, but we also loved the Temples at Khajuraho. Udaipur was wonderful too, Varanassi was fascinating and thought provoking, we'll never forget it.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    The tour was very enjoyable, visiting many famous and interesting sights in India. Our tour manager was excellent, very knowledgeable and helpful. However, the pace of the tour was too much, there being no rest days in the 14 day itinerary, which for senior citizens I found was extremely tiring. So much so that towards the end of the tour we were too tired to enjoy all the activities. My memorable moment was when the sun came out at the Taj Mahal after a thunderstorm. Magnificent!
    Gillian Dudley
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    To many to pick just one
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    Varanasi - needs to be experienced both early in the morning and in the evening. Taj Mahal complex is spectacular and would like another hour more time to explore. Agra Fort is interesting.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    I enjoyed learning about life in India and especially the contrast between the south and north. I would select the south anytime over the north. I have not yet put the 2600 pictures on the computer. So sorry no pictures at this time. Tour manager in the north was fantastic and very caring. Perhaps one of the best I had in all my travel. in the south, she was ok.
    Irene Schmidt
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    I would highly recommend to a first time India traveler.
    Stephanie Lenahan
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    The tour was really good. I would rate it 4 1/2 stars,
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    My highlights were observing up close tigers in Rathambore National Park, visit of a local school, visit of the Taj Mahal at sunrise, driving in rural India and walking with our tour director to visit local homes and talk with the people to understand their ay of life, the unexpected beauty of the Temple Complex in Khanjuraho and visit of the Ganges ghats in Varanasi. Most of the hotels were exceptional and some had very unique features to them.
    Joyce
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Life & death on the Ganges River will forever remain a top travel experience
    Rebecca Hewitt
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The tour was of a good standard and gave a good insight of the culture.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Pace of the tour was excellent, tour manager was wonderful. Many memorable moments, but my favorite was probably the Taj Mahal.
    Linda Leclair
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    It was brilliant, very well organised tour, hotels were 5 star, tour manager Ashish was the best, I couldn't find fault with anything. memorable moment was spur of the moment stopping the bus at a small village and walking through the market and Ashish showing us and buying us local produce to try and chatting with the local people who were very friendly. Of course the best was seeing the Taj Mahal of course - magical.
    Helen
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    2star
    never-ending buffet of chicken, lentils and mutton Luggage handling on arrival and departure to/from Delhi is non-existent. extremely uncomfortable “TATA” bus, with one-inch seat padding, no toilet and broken/worn-out suspension “airport hotel” Radisson is miles away and it took two hours drive to get there 4 hours of roller coaster ride in extremely uncomfortable vehicle on a bumpy road with enormous amount of trash scattered all along roadsides and NO TIGER IN SIGHT!
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    2star
    Thirty-two buffet meals of chicken and mutton …. Sightseeing was superb, but the never-ending buffet of chicken, lentils and mutton which started on Air Canada plane (the same bone-dry-chicken in a box was offered TWICE during the flight!?) and continued twice a day (every and each day!!) throughout the trip, made the trip almost unbearable. Even three Collette’s “special” dinners “welcome dinner”, “home-hosted dinner” and “farewell à la carte dinner “were ALL buffet of chicken, lentils and mutton! However, when we got fed up with Collette offerings and opened our own valets, there were delectable choices of Australian succulent rack of lamb, lobster, prawns, fettuccini, even Japanese sushi in the same hotel/restaurant! Luggage handling on arrival and departure to/from Delhi is non-existent. We had to schlep/push our luggage four times half a mile from the terminal, across parking lot, to bus parked in boonies, even when Collette advertises luggage handling included in cost of trip! We travelled ten days in a bone-jarring, extremely uncomfortable “TATA” bus, with one-inch seat padding, no toilet and broken/worn-out suspension. Then we transferred for five days into “VOLVO” bus. What a difference! What a comfortable ride that was… Hotels ranged from opulent palaces to simple cheap hole-in-a-wall “budget inns”. However, even in the most opulent Lalit Palace Udaipur hotel with breathtaking, magnificent views, Collette booked the cheapest rooms, facing inner yards, kitchen, hills, dumps, etc. Also, the so-called “airport hotel” Radisson is miles away and it took two hours drive to get there and one-hour drive to get back! There are at least seven “airport hotels” opposite of Delhi airport!? Go figure… As I said before, sightseeing was amazing! Except for the Ranthambore safari sham. Safari consisted of 4 hours of teeth jarring roller coaster ride in extremely uncomfortable vehicle driven “Indian-way” by drivers constantly honking when passing each other on bumpy road with enormous amount of trash scattered all along roadsides and in the waterways. There are no washrooms, no facilities for the duration of this 4-hour trip! There are plenty of deer, monkeys and peacocks, but no tigers! The only tiger we have seen during this four-hour ordeal was the one painted on dilapidated building wall! I believe the deer have ate all tigers, as there are so many of deer! After our “safari” we had drinks and chatted with the bartender about seeing the “tiger footprints” and no tiger, he erupted into uncontrollable laughter, then he apologised, hid behind the bar and chuckled again… After a lot of prodding and poking he awkwardly explained that it was his cousin’s job to stencil tiger footprints into the dirt-road each morning. We ordered another dry martini, assuring each other that we were not that stupid, gullible and naïve to believe in them tiger footprints to be real …. My greatest irritation throughout the entire trip was the daily reminder and tutoring about tips. I always tip, when I perceive that I received more/better and in addition to what I already have paid for. And to show my appreciation I ALWAYS TIP IN PERSON. Our guide had a habit to collect tips (after ordering us all how much to tip) and then present the tips himself to the service provider. In my book that money were not tips, it was an extortion! One day was wasted on visiting the local school. I wonder how many people visit school at home and travel many miles (spending more than $500/day) to present local children with pencils.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    We were very happy with our tour/India Experience. All hotels were very good and our tour guide was brlliant
    Jocelyne Samuel
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    See summary xxxxxxxx bbbbb
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    The Taj Mahal was the center piece of India.
    Ernest Berger
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    Tour was good, but few minor issues came about. Hotel in Delhi out of place. Hotel provided in Delhi, for the extension overnight read = airport hotel, how can airport hotel be 45 to an hour away from the airport?
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Khajuraho! an amazing and so well preserved. The local guide there was just wonderful.
    Rosalinda Turner
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The Taj Mahal, a tiger, evening on the Ganges, Mt Everest. The small group (12) was the perfect size and the travel mates were wonderful with some lasting friendships made.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The palace "hotel" (Lalit Laxmi Vilas), Dev Vilas in Ranthambhore, The Gateway Hotel Ganges. The Pink City. The daily sights and sounds of life in India.
    David Agena
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Taj Majhal visit, Japee hotel in Agra
    Marina Agena
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Our tour was made by the company of like minded fellow travellers and our excellent tour manager, *Personal details removed by Feefo, who I cannot praise highly enough
    John Haworth
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Bananas I, udaypur and Agra
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    3star
    Taj Mahal, on the ganges at night for cremations.
    Richard Jacobs
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Mysteries of India was an unforgettable experience. Every place we visited was fascinatingly different from anywhere else I have been. The Taj Mahal was, of course, a highlight. But so was the safari in Ranthambhore where we saw animals I have only seen in pictures and Varanasi where we walked the streets and saw life as it really is. The boat ride on the Ganges was awesome. Many of the hotels were converted palaces so were beautiful. The Lalit Laxmi Vilas hotel in Udaipur was a highlight. The staff was friendly and honest, we did yoga in the morning and had girls dancing at night. This was the trip of a lifetime.
    Deena
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    This was a great tour and our tour manager was outstanding.
    Charles
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Taj mahal sunset and sunrise
    Suzanne
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The northern India trip was delightful--much learning and not so much shopping as some are... we loved the reserve and saw three tigers in the wild. Liked that there were a couple of days in each location--makes the pace easier to deal with
    Marilyn
Reviewed on
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    India is a very unique experience, loved the history and culture. Hard to see all the poverty and needs of some of thre people.
    William
Reviewed on
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Sanjay our Tour Manager is excellent, approachable, knowledgeable, very organized and with a great sense of humor!
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    This tour was an amazing immersion in a culture that is so different from ours, and the tour director was key in making this happen. At the time we went there had to be last minute changes due to the festival, and traffic proved interesting. But we saw amazing events!
    Laura Akright
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    What a wonderful adventure and experience. Out tour guide Ashish was magnificent and always cared about our wellbeing and happiness. The Taj Mahal and Ganges river were both moving moments in my life. I have no words for the emotions I felt seeing the bengal tiger in the wild. The people were warm and friendly and the food most enjoyable. Hotels and busses were clean and comfortable. I do have one suggestion… include ALL tips in the price except the tour guide. This makes it so much easier for everyone. (this is how another tour company I travel with does it-they took our suggestion) As this is not an adventure for everyone, it has been a lifelong dream of mine to visit India . I am still on in awe reliving the journey in my mind and heart!
    Margherita Currao
Reviewed on
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The tour was excellent as a whole, so was the tour manager Anshuman Tripathi (Indie). He single-handedly made the tour much more enjoyable with his caring personalilty, always working extra to make sure our welfare was well taken care of. 3 suggestions to improve the tour are 1) add another day in Delhi so we can visit more attractions (Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, India Gate, Agrasen Ki Baoli, Lotus Temple, Qutub Minar), 2) optional night tour of Jaipur (Royal Gaitor Tumbas, Nahargarh Fort, Hawa Mahal, Birla Temple, Albert Hall Museum), and 3) the optional Nepal tour should end in Kathmandu, i.e., not requiring travellers to fly back to Delhi. Finally, I hope Collete will organize tours to the southern part of India and Sri Lanka.
    Kwong Chong
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Excellent LIFE changing tour!!! Most memorable experience was to see the way of life of the locals. SO VERY different than our own here. Wow! Unbelievable!! Tour manager, Indie, phenomenal ♥️ Just please sign and go! You WILL NOT regret it.
    Elizabeth Schultz
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    It was a tough tour. There is so much to see. The customs of the people are built on 1000s of years of traditions. There was a lot of walking and driving from city to city and flights to some of the key cities. Our guide was very good and tried to educate us in the traditions and the religious customs. We visited temples that were thousands of years old , some of the greatest religious sites in the world. The highlight was the Taj Mahal. I think that if you are going to make this trip, you need to remember that you are in India with its 1.4 billion people. Where white lines on the roads are only a suggestion to the Indian drivers and nobody stays in them. Collette had an excellent team of bus drivers that got us where we needed to be safely. Also you need to like the sound of horns, car horns, bus horns, motorcycle horns. Everybody is blowing horns. There were some downsides like the food. We did stay in nice hotels, but they were more geared for the the local Indian travelers. Rooms were nice, not 5 star quality but probably the best in the area. We happen to travel during wedding season, which meant that all nice hotels were booked with wedding parties. Thats OK but when they started to shoot off rockets at 2 am in the morning it did not allow for much sleep. However they were great to watch. Our trip also included Nepal. We were 25 miles from the tallest mountain in the world. We did not take the optional plane ride around the mountain because we had been in Tibet and was actually able to get to the foot of the mountain. It was another great tour mostly of religious sites. Once again the infrastructure of the country needs work. There were many times that bumps and road conditions threw you off your seat. Once again great bus drivers. I do believe that the Nepal trip was probably a day to long. There was to much down time and to much time to shop for all the junk you ever thought you would need at great prices. In both places it was fun to bargain. But then you would say to yourself why did I buy this? Because it was a great price, but what is it? I would not do this trip again. I would use Collette again if they were going somewhere that I wanted to visit. The one thing I did not like was the tipping. You had to tip everyone. We spent more money on tips than junk and treasures. I think you need to be aware of the extra costs. Let me end by saying if you are interested in seeing and learning about a real culture change, and you like learning about the great religions of the world, then this is the trip for you. Just make sure you take a few power bars with you.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    My most memorable thing was the experience of being in India and learning about the culture and traditions of the people. It was very interesting to see how the people travelled around on mopeds with multiple people on very crowded roads, and how they respected the cows and all of the animals that walked around freely on the streets and highways. The country was full of colorful clothing and jewelry. There were all types of transportation mopeds, motorcycles, tuk tuk, camels, cars and plenty of horns blowing nonstop. The food was good and included a variety of different dishes. I’m glad I had the opportunity to experience the India.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    2star
    Seeing Bengale Tiger Accommodations were poor for money paid. Dirty, moldy smelling, vents not cleaned in a million years! Poor food selections for breakfast Too much pollution, trash, people, cows:, traffic, lack of privacy. Even for an experienced traveler India is hard to enjoy,
    Jean Coria McMichael
Reviewed on
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The trip was a memorable experience. We seen the old and the new of India. The people and how they live. Our tour manager was great got to meet his family.
    Carol Shepherd
Reviewed on
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    My tour manager was very experienced and provided additional inclusions which were wonderful. We had a great time and all did go very good.
    Linda Tolbert
Reviewed on
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    3star
    Taj Mahal and Mt. Everest
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Ashish was the person who made the whole trip !
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    Tour and Nepal extension were great, the tour guides were awesome. What prevents me from giving an excellent rating was the poor support and incorrect information provided by Collette in RI and the awful visit to Ranthambore, three of 15 days spent with little to see or do and four hours in a park where there was a 30 percent chance of seeing a tiger. There is so much to see in India...this was a wasted three days.
Reviewed on
Reviewed on
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    It was amazing and we had an amazing tour director
    Richard Hanner
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Well organised, mostly good hotels and good transfers. Tour was well paced with sufficient free time built in.
    Andrew Nelson
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    We were kept busy and fascinated every day. See the Tigers and visiting the Ganges was extremely memorable
    Abraham Tankus
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    I went on this trip of a lifetime alone as my wife stayed home with our nine year old son so I really didn't know what to expect going solo- but the entire group was friendly and felt like family after a few days. I will definitely use Collette for future trips and I want to repeat the same trip when my son is a teenager and hopefully with Vikas. Mysteries of India is definitely an active trip from morning until evening but once you return home and realize what you just experienced it can be life changing.
    Garrett Call
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    1. Dinner with an Indian family. 2. Lunch at Sheroes Hangout 3. Tigress in Ranthambore National Park
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    The Taj Mahal, watching the cremation on the Ganges River, the great group of people we had. The culture explained to us by our tour manager. The accommodations some were excellent And some were average. We wish it was easier to get our visa. The tipping for the bus driver and helper was a headache because not having the right change. I think it should be included in the price of the ticket. Lufthansa airline went on strike and we felt we were left stranded at the lemon tree hotel in Delhi. We wished we had someone there to get us tickets to get home instead of fending for ourselves to get seats to get home. It was very stressful.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Varanasi was a wonderful, educational experience.
    Trusted Customer
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The itinerary was well thought out, the schedule full on at times but we weren't there to sit round a pool sipping cocktails, and saw and did so many wonderful things. There were many highlights, obviously the Taj Mahal which was one of the main reasons for making the trip, but we also loved the Temples at Khajuraho. Udaipur was wonderful too, Varanassi was fascinating and thought provoking, we'll never forget it.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    The tour was very enjoyable, visiting many famous and interesting sights in India. Our tour manager was excellent, very knowledgeable and helpful. However, the pace of the tour was too much, there being no rest days in the 14 day itinerary, which for senior citizens I found was extremely tiring. So much so that towards the end of the tour we were too tired to enjoy all the activities. My memorable moment was when the sun came out at the Taj Mahal after a thunderstorm. Magnificent!
    Gillian Dudley
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    To many to pick just one
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    Varanasi - needs to be experienced both early in the morning and in the evening. Taj Mahal complex is spectacular and would like another hour more time to explore. Agra Fort is interesting.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    I enjoyed learning about life in India and especially the contrast between the south and north. I would select the south anytime over the north. I have not yet put the 2600 pictures on the computer. So sorry no pictures at this time. Tour manager in the north was fantastic and very caring. Perhaps one of the best I had in all my travel. in the south, she was ok.
    Trusted Customer
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    I would highly recommend to a first time India traveler.
    Trusted Customer
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    The tour was really good. I would rate it 4 1/2 stars,
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    My highlights were observing up close tigers in Rathambore National Park, visit of a local school, visit of the Taj Mahal at sunrise, driving in rural India and walking with our tour director to visit local homes and talk with the people to understand their ay of life, the unexpected beauty of the Temple Complex in Khanjuraho and visit of the Ganges ghats in Varanasi. Most of the hotels were exceptional and some had very unique features to them.
    Joyce
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Life & death on the Ganges River will forever remain a top travel experience
    Trusted Customer
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The tour was of a good standard and gave a good insight of the culture.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Pace of the tour was excellent, tour manager was wonderful. Many memorable moments, but my favorite was probably the Taj Mahal.
    Trusted Customer
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    It was brilliant, very well organised tour, hotels were 5 star, tour manager Ashish was the best, I couldn't find fault with anything. memorable moment was spur of the moment stopping the bus at a small village and walking through the market and Ashish showing us and buying us local produce to try and chatting with the local people who were very friendly. Of course the best was seeing the Taj Mahal of course - magical.
    Helen
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    2star
    never-ending buffet of chicken, lentils and mutton Luggage handling on arrival and departure to/from Delhi is non-existent. extremely uncomfortable “TATA” bus, with one-inch seat padding, no toilet and broken/worn-out suspension “airport hotel” Radisson is miles away and it took two hours drive to get there 4 hours of roller coaster ride in extremely uncomfortable vehicle on a bumpy road with enormous amount of trash scattered all along roadsides and NO TIGER IN SIGHT!
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    2star
    Thirty-two buffet meals of chicken and mutton …. Sightseeing was superb, but the never-ending buffet of chicken, lentils and mutton which started on Air Canada plane (the same bone-dry-chicken in a box was offered TWICE during the flight!?) and continued twice a day (every and each day!!) throughout the trip, made the trip almost unbearable. Even three Collette’s “special” dinners “welcome dinner”, “home-hosted dinner” and “farewell à la carte dinner “were ALL buffet of chicken, lentils and mutton! However, when we got fed up with Collette offerings and opened our own valets, there were delectable choices of Australian succulent rack of lamb, lobster, prawns, fettuccini, even Japanese sushi in the same hotel/restaurant! Luggage handling on arrival and departure to/from Delhi is non-existent. We had to schlep/push our luggage four times half a mile from the terminal, across parking lot, to bus parked in boonies, even when Collette advertises luggage handling included in cost of trip! We travelled ten days in a bone-jarring, extremely uncomfortable “TATA” bus, with one-inch seat padding, no toilet and broken/worn-out suspension. Then we transferred for five days into “VOLVO” bus. What a difference! What a comfortable ride that was… Hotels ranged from opulent palaces to simple cheap hole-in-a-wall “budget inns”. However, even in the most opulent Lalit Palace Udaipur hotel with breathtaking, magnificent views, Collette booked the cheapest rooms, facing inner yards, kitchen, hills, dumps, etc. Also, the so-called “airport hotel” Radisson is miles away and it took two hours drive to get there and one-hour drive to get back! There are at least seven “airport hotels” opposite of Delhi airport!? Go figure… As I said before, sightseeing was amazing! Except for the Ranthambore safari sham. Safari consisted of 4 hours of teeth jarring roller coaster ride in extremely uncomfortable vehicle driven “Indian-way” by drivers constantly honking when passing each other on bumpy road with enormous amount of trash scattered all along roadsides and in the waterways. There are no washrooms, no facilities for the duration of this 4-hour trip! There are plenty of deer, monkeys and peacocks, but no tigers! The only tiger we have seen during this four-hour ordeal was the one painted on dilapidated building wall! I believe the deer have ate all tigers, as there are so many of deer! After our “safari” we had drinks and chatted with the bartender about seeing the “tiger footprints” and no tiger, he erupted into uncontrollable laughter, then he apologised, hid behind the bar and chuckled again… After a lot of prodding and poking he awkwardly explained that it was his cousin’s job to stencil tiger footprints into the dirt-road each morning. We ordered another dry martini, assuring each other that we were not that stupid, gullible and naïve to believe in them tiger footprints to be real …. My greatest irritation throughout the entire trip was the daily reminder and tutoring about tips. I always tip, when I perceive that I received more/better and in addition to what I already have paid for. And to show my appreciation I ALWAYS TIP IN PERSON. Our guide had a habit to collect tips (after ordering us all how much to tip) and then present the tips himself to the service provider. In my book that money were not tips, it was an extortion! One day was wasted on visiting the local school. I wonder how many people visit school at home and travel many miles (spending more than $500/day) to present local children with pencils.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    We were very happy with our tour/India Experience. All hotels were very good and our tour guide was brlliant
    Jocelyne Samuel
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    See summary xxxxxxxx bbbbb
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    The Taj Mahal was the center piece of India.
    Trusted Customer
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    Tour was good, but few minor issues came about. Hotel in Delhi out of place. Hotel provided in Delhi, for the extension overnight read = airport hotel, how can airport hotel be 45 to an hour away from the airport?
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Khajuraho! an amazing and so well preserved. The local guide there was just wonderful.
    Trusted Customer
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The Taj Mahal, a tiger, evening on the Ganges, Mt Everest. The small group (12) was the perfect size and the travel mates were wonderful with some lasting friendships made.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Our tour was made by the company of like minded fellow travellers and our excellent tour manager, *Personal details removed by Feefo, who I cannot praise highly enough
    John Haworth
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The palace "hotel" (Lalit Laxmi Vilas), Dev Vilas in Ranthambhore, The Gateway Hotel Ganges. The Pink City. The daily sights and sounds of life in India.
    Trusted Customer
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Taj Majhal visit, Japee hotel in Agra
    Trusted Customer
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Mysteries of India was an unforgettable experience. Every place we visited was fascinatingly different from anywhere else I have been. The Taj Mahal was, of course, a highlight. But so was the safari in Ranthambhore where we saw animals I have only seen in pictures and Varanasi where we walked the streets and saw life as it really is. The boat ride on the Ganges was awesome. Many of the hotels were converted palaces so were beautiful. The Lalit Laxmi Vilas hotel in Udaipur was a highlight. The staff was friendly and honest, we did yoga in the morning and had girls dancing at night. This was the trip of a lifetime.
    Trusted Customer
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Bananas I, udaypur and Agra
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    3star
    Taj Mahal, on the ganges at night for cremations.
    Trusted Customer
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    This was a great tour and our tour manager was outstanding.
    Trusted Customer
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Taj mahal sunset and sunrise
    Trusted Customer
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The northern India trip was delightful--much learning and not so much shopping as some are... we loved the reserve and saw three tigers in the wild. Liked that there were a couple of days in each location--makes the pace easier to deal with
    Trusted Customer
Reviewed on
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    India is a very unique experience, loved the history and culture. Hard to see all the poverty and needs of some of thre people.
    Trusted Customer

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