Mysteries of India From $3,849 $3,649*pp

Tour manage, Vikas Sharda, is excellent - the best we have encountered of all guided group tours from various travel companies that we have been on. The hotel accommodations and meals that were in this tour were not of value - we ate similar foods, except for the farewell dinner. We get the impression that the restaurants that we went dined were "tourist traps".

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.

I enjoyed my last trip, Dubai and India north and south. However, since I was the only traveler to the south, I felt that communication of what I was supposed to receive was not well carried out. Example: the dinner was included on the first day. I ended up paying for it but argued with the driver who spoke ok English, that I was to have dinner included. After much argument the restaurant owner payed me back in Indian Rupees and apologized. The next day when I was supposed to have a lunch in a very nice restaurant on the lake, the tour guide took me to a vegetarian restaurant. Again there was an issue over not wanting to treat me to lunch. I showed them my info from the book at last the tour guide paid for the lunch. The food was bad and spicy. Later in the day I was taken to where I was supposed to have lunch, which was a very nice place and I could have had a good lunch. The menu had many choices. The vegetarian food was bad and spicy which I can't tolerate. So I only ate the steamed rice and drank tea. The tour guide also wanted me to drink their water which I refused and asked for a bottle of mineral water, the restaurant claimed that they had only big bottles. I took that. So I had enough water for the day. I was not offer a bottle of water as is the rule. I had to ask, rather aggravating. After these 2 issues, I had no more problems to get the the meals that were included. I felt that they wanted to cheat me and keep for themselves what was allotted for my expense. The boot ride I had was fine, but the boot was very dirty. I really enjoyed the last two days. A charming and beautiful place. I enjoyed the drives to the various places. Compare to the north, the south is clean and beautiful. I am pleased that I had both experiences. The driver was a very good driver. I never feared danger, the way the Indians drive, anything goes! If you have any questions, you can contact me. But I think that my message gives you the picture of some of the unpleasant experience in the south.

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.

Vikas Sharda did an excellent job guiding 24 guests through the sometimes chaotic state of India. The hotels were great. The pace was good.

I would highly recommend to a first time India traveler.

The tour was really great and the hotels were also very good. The Vivanta in Delhi is quite far from everything though. We did the Nepal extension also. This should probably be two days longer as we didn`t get the visit the countryside.

The tour was really good. I would rate it 4 1/2 stars,

I am the owner of 2 travel agencies and this was the first time I travelled with Collette. I found that it was really easy to work with them and they made sure that I was well prepared for my trip. While travelling in India our local tour director (Vikas) was exceptional and made sure that we had the best possible travel experience for the duration of our trip. He was very knowledgeable and gave us a lot of insight on Indian culture, customs and way of life. I would definitely recommend this to my clients, family and friends.

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.

Awesome tour guide who delivered an experience of a lifetime

Life & death on the Ganges River will forever remain a top travel experience

I would have rated it 5 * but for the aggravation in regards the transport from our Delhi Hotel to the Airport at the end of the tour. The tour guide had no instructions to arrange this and I had to spend an hour and a quarter getting an internet connection so I could email Thomas Cook to sort it out.

The tour was of a good standard and gave a good insight of the culture.

We have used Collette previously and were very satisfied and would definately use them again.

Pace of the tour was excellent, tour manager was wonderful. Many memorable moments, but my favorite was probably the Taj Mahal.

When trying to organise visa customer service were not very helpful and I was left to my own devices to find out, but when we landed back in Heathrow and were stranded in the snow and the car had not turned up, customer services at Collette were brilliant, it took a bit of time but they managed to find a car to take us home to south wales in the snow, and they then rang few hours later to make sure we had got home safely, many thanks

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.

Luggage handling on arrival and departure to/from Delhi is non-existent “welcome dinner”, “home-hosted dinner” and “farewell à la carte dinner “were ALL buffet of chicken, lentils travellers in Delhi had to handle their luggage four times and push the trolleys half a mile from the terminal, across parking lot, to bus trip was spent in extremely uncomfortable “TATA” bus, with one-inch seat padding, no toilet and broken/worn-out suspension Collette booked the great hotels but the cheapest rooms facing inner yards, hills, dumps “airport hotel” Radisson is miles away and it took two hours drive to get there seven “airport hotels” opposite of Delhi airport... Ranthambore safari is just a bogus sham! no tigers. Just lots of deer... 4 hours of teeth jarring roller coaster ride in extremely uncomfortable vehicle One day wasted on visiting the local school. I wonder how many travellers visit school at home and travel many miles (spending more than $500/day) to present local children with pencils. sightseeing was amazing!

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!

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.

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.

Our holiday was really very good. All hotels were excellent. The tour was well planned and our guide was Five Star

We were very happy with our tour/India Experience. All hotels were very good and our tour guide was brlliant

Great Tour Director. Hotels were very nice and comfortable. We will travel with Collette in the future.

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Great India tour director......he was the value added for the India portion of our tour. Great hotels, dining all contributed.

The Taj Mahal was the center piece of India.

Guide was great, location of the hotel in Delhi was not of the best one Res. was OK

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?

This is the second trip we have taken with Collette and continue to feel that you do an excellent job on the organization of the trip, the hotels are lovely, the shopping especially in India was above excellent! Thank you. We would not hesitate to join another tour if a destination came up.

Khajuraho! an amazing and so well preserved. The local guide there was just wonderful.

Always feel well taken care of. The guide was exceptional.

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.

Great guide and transportation along with luxurious hotel accommodations.

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.

Great itinerary, guide, on time, helpful, friendly,

Taj Majhal visit, Japee hotel in Agra

Amazing experience - *Personal details removed by Feefo* is a wonderful guide

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

Well organized tour with very good tour leader

Bananas I, udaypur and Agra

We did not get one glass of free wine with a meal

Taj Mahal, on the ganges at night for cremations.

I really enjoyed the trip to India and Dubai. It was extremely different and interesting. I have never seen anything like it. In Dubai, we had free time, but our guide, *Personal details removed by Feefo* helped us to go up to the observation tower in Burj Khalifa on one evening and to the mall the next day. I would recommend her highly and I would also urge you to make these part of the tour. The sand dunes ride and Bedouin dinner were highlights. In India we had (Vikas Sharda) the best guide I have ever had on any of my many trips. He gave us an account--in writing--of what we would do each day and what to bring with us. He warned us what to eat and not eat at various places to keep us healthy. Keep him on--he's the best! For me, the Taj Mahal, Ranthembore, and Varanasi were highlights. I would definitely recommend Collette (and have done so) for trips as I have enjoyed every one I have taken with you. We will definitely travel with you in the future. The visa company you suggested made getting a visa very difficult. I went with CIBT who has done my previous visas. I would recommend it as I applied later than Nita (who went with me), with less hastle, and got my visa the same time she did. Thanks for a great and memorable trip. Emirates airline is wonderful.

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.