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Overview
On this exciting adventure through Rajasthan often termed the land of kings. Agra where you will grasp the legendary Taj Mahal and some of the most ancient forts. In addition, you will experience authentic village life of India that showcases a completely different world where one can be mislaid in the aroma of simple yet interesting village life and leave behind the chaos of cities and town in and outside India. A walk through the villages will allow you to come across to various ancient communities within the rural villages. If you want to see and experience antique India, its culture, and traditions, then embark on the journey to the villages of India that still hold the glimpse of its rural form.
Tour Highlights
- Discover the imposing building of New Delhi built by British in 1920
- Bicycle Rickshaw Adventure Through the Back Lanes Old Delhi
- Visit 400 years old famous Amber Palace Fort in Jaipur
experience authentic village life of India - Meet ancient communities within the rural villages to know their day to day life
- Sunrise Boat Cruise on Holy River Ganges in Varanasi
- Cooking and Dining experience with a local family
- A Musical Play Featuring the story of Taj Mahal
Itinerary
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Day 1:
Arrival into New Delhi
Welcome to Delhi, a city that bridges two different worlds. Old Delhi, once the capital of Islamic India, is a labyrinth of narrow lanes lined with crumbling havelis and formidable mosques. In contrast, the imperial city of New Delhi created by the British Raj is composed of spacious, tree-lined avenues and imposing government buildings. On arrival at Delhi airport, you will be met upon by an Explore India representative and transferred to your hotel.
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Day 2:
Taj Mahal New Delhi
Morning at your leisure. The afternoon will start our tour with a visit to a Sikh Temple locally called Gurduwara Bangla Sahib. This is the most prominent Sikh Temple, of worship, known for its association with the eighth Sikh Guru, and the pond inside its complex, known as the “Sarovar”, whose water is considered holy by Sikhs and is known as “Amrit”. It was first built as a small temple by Sikh General, Sardar Bhagel Singh in 1783, who supervised the construction of nine Sikh shrines in Delhi in the same year, during the reign of Mughal Emperor. Gurdwara Bangla Sahib was originally a bungalow belonging to Raja Jai Singh, an Indian ruler in the seventeenth century, and was known as Jaisinghpura Palace.
Later visit Humayun’s tomb. Emperor Humayun was the second Mughal Emperor of India. The tomb was built by his widow in 1569-70, 14 years after his death, at a cost of 1.5 million rupees. It was later used for the burial of various members of the ruling family and contains some 150 graves. It has aptly been described as the necropolis of the Mughal dynasty.
Meals: Breakfast -
Day 3:
Explore Old Delhi
After Breakfast – We will start our morning tour with a visit to 17th century Old Delhi. Visit the Jama Mosque, the royal mosque built by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan in 1656. We will take a bicycle rickshaw ride through the narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk, the spine of Old Delhi that houses the spice market and jeweler’s lane.
Later visit the Red Fort, a magnificent structure of red sandstone built at the pinnacle of the Mogul empire. In 1638 Shahjahan transferred his capital from Agra to Delhi and laid the foundations of Shahjahanabad, the seventh city of Delhi. It is enclosed by a rubble stone wall, with bastions, gates, and wickets at intervals. Of its fourteen gates, the important ones are the Mori, Lahori, Ajmeri, Turkman, Kashmiri and Delhi gates, some of which have already been demolished. His famous citadel, the Lal-Qila, or the Red Fort, lying at the town’s northern end on the right bank or the Yamuna and south of Salimgarh, was begun in 1639 and completed after nine years. The Red Fort is different from the Agra Fort and is better planned, because at its back lies the experience gained by Shahjahan at Agra, and because it was the work of one hand. It is an irregular octagon, with two long sides on the east and west, and with two main gates, one on the west and the other on the south called Lahori and Delhi gates respectively. While the walls, gates and a few other structures in the fort are constructed of red sandstone, marble has been largely used in the palaces.
Afternoon at your leisure.Meals: Breakfast -
Day 4:
Delhi – Agra
After breakfast drive to Agra.
Arrive and check in at your hotel.Meals: BreakfastAccommodation: Trident Agra Hotel, AgraTrident Agra Hotel, Agra
Fatehabad Road, Agra, Uttar Pradesh 282001, Indiahttps://www.tridenthotels.com/hotels-in-agra+91 562 223 5000Near the Taj Mahal, Trident, Agra is one of the best hotels in the city. Beautifully landscaped gardens and water fountains welcome you to this charming leisure hotel. Built in local red stone, reminiscent of the Mughal era, the hotel features 135 tastefully appointed rooms and suites, which overlook the central courtyard and gardens. Guests can also enjoy complimentary high speed Internet for up to four devices.
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Day 5:
Visit Taj Mahal
Early morning – We will start our day at sunrise with a visit to one of the most incredible monuments ever built in the world. The Taj Mahal is a monument of love built between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife. The Taj Mahal is the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the most highly revered masterpieces in the world. After breakfast, visit Agra Fort, a UNESCO world heritage site with imposing walls of red sandstone. The fort is almost two miles long and contains palaces, audience halls, and mosques.
Afternoon free for your personal activities.
Live show performance: In the early evening, you will enjoy a live fascinating play that depicts the saga of love and a memorable journey into history. The drama portrays the Mughal era in the 16th century. It is a series of plays depicting the true and immortal love of Shahjahan for Mumtaz Mahal, his beautiful wife; the lavish lifestyle of Mughal era; and the hardship of the artisans who worked for 22 years to create a most breathtaking work of craftsmanship. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Meals: BreakfastAccommodation: Trident Agra Hotel, AgraTrident Agra Hotel, Agra
Fatehabad Road, Agra, Uttar Pradesh 282001, Indiahttps://www.tridenthotels.com/hotels-in-agra+91 562 223 5000Near the Taj Mahal, Trident, Agra is one of the best hotels in the city. Beautifully landscaped gardens and water fountains welcome you to this charming leisure hotel. Built in local red stone, reminiscent of the Mughal era, the hotel features 135 tastefully appointed rooms and suites, which overlook the central courtyard and gardens. Guests can also enjoy complimentary high speed Internet for up to four devices.
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Day 6:
Agra – Ramathra Village Fortress & Fatehpur Sikri
After breakfast, drive to Ramathra, en route, visit the abandoned Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri. Built by Emperor Akbar in 1569, this was the old capital of the Moghuls, which was abandoned after 15 years due to a scarcity of water.
After lunch, continue driving to Ramathra, the quaint township of Ramathra is a virgin travel destination in the state of Rajasthan, It lies at the base of the hill, hosting the celebrated Ramathra fort that sees a trickle of tourists all year. People, who tend to visit, spend the time exploring the grandiose Ramathra lake that is excellent for bird-watching. You will also get a delightful experience and unique understanding of a simple country life in the desert township.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerAccommodation: Ramathra FortRamathra Fort
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Day 7:
Explore Ramathra Village
After breakfast we will explore Ramathra village a small hamlet of farmers and herders, you will have the opportunity to interact with these simple villagers, get a glimpse of their daily life as the farmers tend to their crops and animals. Afternoon at your leisure. The highlight of this evening is a demonstration of Rajasthani Ghumer dance, followed by dinner. Afternoon free for your personal activities.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerAccommodation: Ramathra FortRamathra Fort
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Day 8:
Ramathra – Jaipur
After breakfast leave for Jaipur. The origin of Jaipur’s nickname becomes immediately apparent as we enter the old city walls and greet the pink-colored buildings that can be seen at every turn. The city of Jaipur was founded in 1727 by Jai Singh II.
Afternoon free for your personal activities.
Optional enjoy a walking tour through the colorful Pink city of Jaipur with your personal tour guide.
Meals: BreakfastAccommodation: Taj Jai Mahal Palace, JaipurTaj Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur
Jacob Road, Civil Lines, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302006, Indiahttps://taj.tajhotels.com/en-in/taj-jai-mahal-palace-jaipur/+91 141 660 1111Step into a 270-year-old Indo-Saracenic architectural masterpiece set amidst landscaped Mughal gardens at Taj Jai Mahal Palace in Jaipur.At this luxury heritage hotel, you experience unparalleled opulence with tantalising comforts. With its blend of heritage, elegance and luxury, you experience an exclusive royal lifestyle at this hotel.
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Day 9:
Jaipur & Private Elephant
In the morning, enjoy an excursion to the hilltop fort at Amber by jeep. Enjoy the architecture, lattice screens, and paintings colored with jewel dust. Later drive pass through the old city including and make a photo stop at the Palace of Winds. Your tour also includes a visit to the City Palace a home of the current Maharaja of Jaipur and its museum. Time to shop for exclusive gems that Jaipur is famous and some fascinating block printing fabrics.
Afternoon free per for your personal activities.Meals: BreakfastAccommodation: Taj Jai Mahal Palace, JaipurTaj Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur
Jacob Road, Civil Lines, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302006, Indiahttps://taj.tajhotels.com/en-in/taj-jai-mahal-palace-jaipur/+91 141 660 1111Step into a 270-year-old Indo-Saracenic architectural masterpiece set amidst landscaped Mughal gardens at Taj Jai Mahal Palace in Jaipur.At this luxury heritage hotel, you experience unparalleled opulence with tantalising comforts. With its blend of heritage, elegance and luxury, you experience an exclusive royal lifestyle at this hotel.
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Day 10:
Jaipur | Leisure & Colorful Bazaars
Full day in Jaipur for your leisure activities, make the use of the hotel facilities or simply enjoy the local colorful bazaars of Jaipur.
Meals: BreakfastAccommodation: Taj Jai Mahal Palace, JaipurTaj Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur
Jacob Road, Civil Lines, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302006, Indiahttps://taj.tajhotels.com/en-in/taj-jai-mahal-palace-jaipur/+91 141 660 1111Step into a 270-year-old Indo-Saracenic architectural masterpiece set amidst landscaped Mughal gardens at Taj Jai Mahal Palace in Jaipur.At this luxury heritage hotel, you experience unparalleled opulence with tantalising comforts. With its blend of heritage, elegance and luxury, you experience an exclusive royal lifestyle at this hotel.
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Day 11:
Jaipur – Jodhpur
After breakfast –We drive to Jodhpur, along the way you will experience the country with camel carts, trucks, cows, buffalos. Jodhpur a historic city whose origin dates to the year 1459 AD. Jodhpur is also known as the Blue City, an apt name as most houses in the old city are shades of blue. This is particularly noticeable on the north side of the town, known as Brahmpuri for the many Brahmins that live there. On our arrival at the hotel. Afternoon at your leisure.
Meals: BreakfastAccommodation: Vivanta by Taj – Hari Mahal, JodhpurVivanta by Taj – Hari Mahal, Jodhpur
5, Residency Road, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342001, Indiahttps://vivanta.tajhotels.com/en-in/hari-mahal-jodhpur/+91 291 243 9700We have all the entertainment and connectivity options that today’s traveller seeks. Become a part of our world. Feel the pulse of an international business and conference destination. Stroll across 6 acres of the hotel and its lush garden. Soak in this 21st century fantasy palace. Feel like you’re in an oasis in the middle of the desert. Experience the buzz.
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Day 12:
Mehrangarh Fort & Clock Tower
After Breakfast – We will start with a sightseeing tour of Jodhpur city visiting Mehrangarh Fort situated at an altitude of about 125 meters and spread over an area of 5 sq. km. The Fort crowns a rocky hill that rises 400 feet above the surrounding plain, and appears both to command and to meld with the landscape. Next visit Umaid Bhawan palace built by Maharaja Umaid Singh (1929 – 1942 ) It is a splendid example of Indo-colonial and art deco architecture of the 30s. Return to hotel. Afternoon at your leisure.
Meals: BreakfastAccommodation: Vivanta by Taj – Hari Mahal, JodhpurVivanta by Taj – Hari Mahal, Jodhpur
5, Residency Road, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342001, Indiahttps://vivanta.tajhotels.com/en-in/hari-mahal-jodhpur/+91 291 243 9700We have all the entertainment and connectivity options that today’s traveller seeks. Become a part of our world. Feel the pulse of an international business and conference destination. Stroll across 6 acres of the hotel and its lush garden. Soak in this 21st century fantasy palace. Feel like you’re in an oasis in the middle of the desert. Experience the buzz.
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Day 13:
Jodhpur & Sunset Camel Safari
After leisurely breakfast – We will proceed to the local market around Clock Tower area, Jodhpur’s busiest marketplace. Here we will also experience an auto rickshaw ride.
Later in the afternoon will proceed for an exclusive camel safari in the Osian village about an hour drive each way from Jodhpur followed by Kalbelia a local village dance of Rajasthan to celebrate a joyful moment in the desert followed by a dinner and campfire.
Meals: BreakfastAccommodation: Vivanta by Taj – Hari Mahal, JodhpurVivanta by Taj – Hari Mahal, Jodhpur
5, Residency Road, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342001, Indiahttps://vivanta.tajhotels.com/en-in/hari-mahal-jodhpur/+91 291 243 9700We have all the entertainment and connectivity options that today’s traveller seeks. Become a part of our world. Feel the pulse of an international business and conference destination. Stroll across 6 acres of the hotel and its lush garden. Soak in this 21st century fantasy palace. Feel like you’re in an oasis in the middle of the desert. Experience the buzz.
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Day 14:
Jodhpur – Bishnoi – Pushkar
After breakfast, we board our Jeeps and drive to Salawas village to get an experience of tribal India. Salawas is a village where we see potters and learn how earthen pots are made. Then we drive to Bishnoi village & Roop Raj (weaver) and learn about living in the villages of India and traditional social life. While we are on the jeeps we may encounter en route black bucks deer moving freely around this village.
Later we will proceed with our lunch a Chandelao Garh built in 1744. After lunch, we continue driving to Pushkar. Upon arrival check in to your resort.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner -
Day 15:
Pushkar
After breakfast drive to Pushkar and spend the next two days experiencing the bustling Pushkar
During your two days explore Pushkar and its vibrant markets and temples, 11 km from Ajmer on the edge of the desert lie the tiny tranquil town of Pushkar along the bank of the picturesque Pushkar Lake – an important pilgrimage spot for the Hindus. No pilgrimage is considered complete without a dip in the holy Pushkar Lake. Pushkar has as many as 400 temples and 52 Ghats and the only temple in the country that is dedicated to Brahama. While Pushkar is a haven for the religiously inclined, it is also the venue of one of the country’s most colorful cattle fairs – the Pushkar Fair.
During your stay, visit the local markets and one of the major thriving temple of Lord Brahma, can be identified by it red spire and by the image of Hans (the swan considered sacred to Lord Brahma). This temple built with the marble is decorated with silver coins.Meals: Breakfast, Dinner -
Day 16:
Pushkar – Ajmer - Delhi
In the afternoon you are escorted to Ajmer railway station to bard your rain for New Delhi. Meet and assist upon arrival and transfer to your hotel for overnight stay.
Meals: DinnerAccommodation: Holiday Inn New Delhi International AirportHoliday Inn New Delhi International Airport
Asset Area 12 Hospitality District, Aerocity, New Delhi, Delhi 110037, Indiahttps://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/new-delhi/delap/hoteldetail?cm_mmc=GoogleMaps-_-HI-_-IN-_-DELAP+91-11-4222-2000Stay at Holiday Inn New Delhi International Airport, a highly recommended 5-star hotel near IGI Airport. Located just minutes from Terminal 3, the 5-star hotel in Aerocity New Delhi offers complimentary Wi-Fi & Airport transfers at select rates. Travelers love our seamless connectivity to the premier business hubs like Worldmark, DLF Cybercity, Udyog Vihar, and Gurgaon. The Aerocity metro station, located just a 2-minute walk away, provides quick and easy access to various parts of the city.
Please speak to our travel desk to visit the premier attractions in and around Delhi, such as Qutub Minar, Red Fort, and Lotus Temple, the Taj Mahal in Agra, and the historical palaces and forts of Jaipur. The hotel’s proximity to premium shopping hubs like Central Aerocity, DLF Promenade, and Ambience Mall makes it a preferred choice for discerning business & leisure travelers.
All 265 guest rooms and suites are elegantly designed and feature an LED satellite TV, a pillow menu, an iPod docking station, and triple glazed windows for a peaceful sleep experience. Embark on a diverse culinary journey with our award-winning on-site restaurants & bar, offering the finest cuisine. Other facilities include round-the-clock in-room dining, Spa & Salon, a fitness center, & an outdoor pool. The hotel’s 8000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting and banquet space can accommodate 400 guests.
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Day 17:
Delhi – Home
In time you are transferred to the international airport to board your flight for home.
What’s included
- Round-trip International airfare
- Accommodation at 5-star hotels and best available in Resorts
- Internal Airfare as per the program
- Escorted transfers (airport to hotel, hotel to airport)
- Meals as specified per the program
- Extensive sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees
- Services of an English speaking tour guide during sightseeing
- Air Conditioned Private Toyota Innova transportation throughout your trip
- Bottled water during sightseeing tours and long drives
- Entrance fees to all the monuments including all activities mentioned in the program
What’s excluded
Additional taxes $388
You choose when to go
This is a privately guided journey. Contact us on how to book this tour.You May Also Like
Recent Reviews
Val and I had a wonderful time in India. We thought the tour was great and we managed to see a lot in the given time. The guides and drivers were very professional, knowledgeable and pleasant to be with. Our guide was adaptable when we wanted to change certain aspects of the program.The hotels we stayed in were fantastic. It was nice coming back to them after a day of touring. Highlights for me included Pushkar, Varanasi and the elephant and camel rides. I thought there was a good balance of city/rural life, history, culture and modern information and sites.
Val and Kathy
Vancouver, BC, Canada
I am writing to say thanks, again, for guiding our wonderful tour of what is, indeed, magical India! Your ever cheerful and upbeat presence, along with your vast knowledge of the subjects and objects of our tour, was absolutely key. It is such a cliche to say but you certainly made it a trip of a lifetime for us; we will treasure the memories forever. (And it may take forever to get through all the pictures, too!) I will be spending a lot of time this winter looking up more information on the sites you showed us, and adding to the excellent information you already provided. Lo Chen, I hope I have spelled his name correctly, had the dubious pleasure of guiding us in Darjeeling before we had really become accustomed to your universe. Please send him my thanks as well; he was very patient with us newbies! When I close my eyes I can still evoke the surreal experience of being driven along those roads, switchbacking up and down mountainsides and watching in amazement as people went about their daily business on, and next to, the nearly sheer drops between buildings. Fortunately, I can also still evoke the entrancingly delicate, flowery scent of fresh tea leaves; having a nice cup of tea in real time whilst recalling that scent is wonderfully soothing after reliving the roller-coaster, stop-start-dodge ride over the Darjeeling roads! Mr. Singh, our excellently competent bus driver, will live long in Spitzke legends for his affable sociability and superb driving skills. I did not write down the name of our Darjeeling driver but he, too, (along with his comrades) deserves praise. You could not pay me any amount of money to drive in India, certainly not a big bus, and ESPECIALLY not anything on those Darjeeling roads!
Pam Gale
Letbridge, Canada
Hi Nazir, Just to let you know Doris and I are home safe and sound, although both suffering from Jet Lag......What a trip - it was action-packed, full of adventure and beautiful. What a wonderous country and what fabulous people that are India. We had the great good fortune to meet Rajiv in New Delhi and to travel with Sandeep Singh for 16 days - never a dull moment and the first time we have been almost too busy to shop. We saw the sunrise from Tiger Hill and I have a video of Arrowhead, a beautiful female Bengal Tiger in Ranthambore. Sandeep was excellent, knowledgeable and kept everyone informed and on track. He had many issues to deal with that were not the norm, the devaluation of the 500 and 1000 rupee, the switch from Kashmir to Darjeeling and stayed on top of it all. Darjeeling was one of the highlights for both of us - what a trip and the people are fantastic - enjoyed the whole experience. The Hotels were all 5 star, food excellent for most (I have allergies, so stuck to mostly bland items), transportation was all great. The driver Mr. Singh and helper whom we called Baby Deep drove us from Delhi to Jaipur and back were really great - thanks to them also. The group that we traveled with were great - made many new friends and now share a common bond. Thank you to yourself, Mandira, Rajiv and especially Sandeep (for the 16 days he was our friend, guide and father). He truly loves his country, his people and sharing all his knowledge with his groups. A wonderful experience - Thank You
Karen Reid and Doris O’Brien
Calgary, Canada
Dear Nazir, I took your 13 day Imperial Rajasthan Tour with my sister on September 18, 2016. I meant to email earlier to tell you how highly we think of your Explore India organization. We had the BEST time. We wanted you to know that we appreciated all your assistance in arranging the trip. We were impressed by the service we received prior to our departure and during our trip. Your assistant Mandira was very helpful with advice and the material your company provides was invaluable in helping us with our planning. Once we got to India, we were well taken care of from the moment we arrived in Delhi. Our tour guide, Sundeep Singh, was excellent. We were a small group but he took the time to accommodate requests and ensure that everyone was happy. He was extremely knowledgeable about India. The history that he was able to provide at the different sites was great. He also ensured that we had the best "photo" moments, made recommendations for food (the chai tea at the market and the samosas at the rest stop were delicious!), taught us a few Hindi words and gave us (primarily the ladies on our tour) sufficient time to shop. There are some truly spectacular places to visit in India and this tour was definitely able to showcase them. We loved the extras that were included and that made this trip truly special. The accommodations were all 5 star but I loved that we stayed in some unique places like the tents in the Green Resort in Pushkar. Thank you again for everything.
Nancy Cheng
Edmonton, Canada
Explore India, October 26 – November 8, 2016, Magical India The trip was wonderful, interesting and educational. Most important we had an amazing Tour Guide in “Arvind Sharma”. We have done many tours while traveling to 108 countries around the world and Arvind is the best we have ever had. He is passionate about his country, religion, beliefs, Indian history and all the different religious groups that live in India. One of the highlights of the trip was the last minute visit to meet his family. Rajeev Sharma did an excellent job on making last minute arrangements for some of our tour members while making sure we are all happy. He does a great job of singing “Jingle Bells”. Hotels: We were pleased with all the hotels. Bus Drivers were excellent. The places we visited were very enlightening with history; the country's infrastructure, roads, and bridges are way behind other countries. Thank you for an amazing trip
Bill and Shelley
Courtice, Canada
Hi Nazir, Just a note on behalf of my wife and I regarding our recent trip to India. First we would like to commend you on running a very good operation in India even though you are based in Canada. Our India experience started out by being greeted by a very professional gentleman who picked us up at the airport. He made us feel very welcome at 1:00 in the morning while having to wait for over 2 hrs for us to get out of the Airport. Later in the morning at the hotel we were greeted by Rajeev who helped make our first day in Delhi very enjoyable by making various arrangements that were not part of the itinerary. Our overall India experience exceeded our expectations mostly because of the people you have on the ground in India. We always felt that we were getting the best treatment from everyone in your organization. We want to commend the people who spent many hours with us because they deserve a big thank you and a pat on the back. We appreciate the enthusiasm of our tour guide Harry who made our India experience unforgettable. He went beyond what we expect of a travel guide and as a result we all benefited tremendously from his knowledge of India as well as his interest in wanting us to have the best travel experience, and not just see India from the bus. This was tremendously appreciated by Leslie and I. We have already been sharing our unique daily “Harry” experiences with family and friends back in Canada. He is truly a GEM. I still do not know how he can look so good every day and have a different coordinated outfit that fits with the theme of the day, or event. Operations Manager, Rajeev seemed to genuinely care about making sure that we were enjoying our time in India and he handled the currency issue willingly to make sure that we had some local currency in spite of the challenges. He showed up often and kept in touch frequently with our group as we travelled through India. He genuinely cared that we were enjoying our time in India. I personally appreciate how he coordinated the tailor from CCCI to meet with me to do a fitting and final delivery at the hotels. This was above and beyond what was expected. Lastly we would like to thank our bus driver Mr. Rakesh and his assistant. These guys truly know how to manoeuver a vehicle with great proficiency. They were also always smiling after long days. Thank you to all of your other staff who had a hand in making our India experience truly memorable. We will be sure to refer Explore India as we tell our stories to our friends and family. P.S The hotels, transportation and arranged meals were all very good as well. Keep well and all the best.
Ricky Singh
Surrey, Canada
Dear Nazir and Rajeev: It is now nearly a month since my return from my memorable trip to India with my friends, Jodi and Susan, organized by your firm. I wanted to be sure to convey my thanks for the good advice, excellent service and superior organization that you and your team provided. I particularly appreciated your attention to detail and responsiveness to our requests and needs as situations arose or conditions changed. I also wanted to more formally recognize some of the people in your team who made a significant difference in our enjoyment of the trip. I must say that generally we have only the highest regard for all of the individual drivers who so graciously and expertly managed the challenges of Indian traffic and our particular needs with some mobility challenges, motion sickness and other occasional maladies picked up along the way. I would say that your choice of Hira Singh to provide our major travel segment from Delhi to Udaipur was brilliant -- befitting the observation that Hira means Diamond in English. Not only is Hira an excellent driver under all conditions but he is also a very special gentleman. He was thoughtful and caring in every regard: always attentive and responsive to our needs with the anticipation of what would be most safe and comfortable for us in terms of rest stops and places to park near the attractions to deal with mobility challenges and waiting, departures, etc.. He went above and beyond all expectations as he took care of us when we were not feeling well by buying us beverages and snacks (and not accepting any reimbursement) and checking in to make sure we were fine. He even worried that we might be hungry and gave us snacks on the longer drives that were necessary to make our ambitious itinerary. Hira is a tremendous asset to your firm and a wonderful ambassador for the beauty of the spirit of India. One of our guides made the joke that we were the "Three Canadian Maharanis" (we loved this observation and felt it summed up how much we were loving our trip and treatment). Hira ensured that we were made to feel like Maharanis throughout our time together. We wish every success for him in the future. I would also like to commend the calibre of local guides who your firm engages with special recognition of a couple of them. Our first days in Delhi had an excellent start with Harry who provided interesting information and insights as well as shepherding us well through the tangles of Delhi's Chandni Chowk streets as well as other sights. I would say that Shelley, our guide during our day in Varanasi, was exceptional in being able to convey information regarding the spiritual significance of the sights we were experiencing both with respect to Hinduism but also Buddhism at Sarnath. His very clear explanations and great depth of knowledge really helped to put meaningful perspective on not only our experiences in Varanasi but also our previous experiences in Bodhgaya. I would be remiss to not mention Pablo in Agra and Giriraj in Jaipur as very good, considerate and adaptable guides. We also really enjoyed the two most atmospheric hotel choices of the Shahpura House in Jaipur and the Shiv Niwas Palace Hotel in Udaipur -- absolutely magical. For the segments on my own, I want to really thank you, Rajeev, for being able to accommodate my spur-of-the-moment request for assistance and assigning Kuldeep Sandhu as my driver for the first weekend -- he was a great problem-solver and thoughtful guide, especially at the Old Fort! In Mumbai, I appreciated both of the women guides who accompanied me on the City tours: Tami and Lena. They were the first women guides for this trip and it was interesting to chat with them about their lives as a woman from Canada, especially since one was from the Parsee community and one was from the Jain community so I could ask questions about the visit to Ranakpur and the broader Parsee community that we know about internationally through the arts. I also want to acknowledge, Nazir, that your advice to include the non-profit led tour to Dharvali with Siddhi as my guide was absolutely correct. It was critically important to gaining an inkling of an understanding of the tremendous dignity of Indian people working so hard to improve their lives and that of their families and communities. I keep talking about this experience as a lasting impression when friends ask me about my trip. I recognize that this is a lengthy email; however, I wanted to highlight the excellent service that you and your team provided to us -- truly making this trip an exceptional and memorable life experience to treasure. I also want to thank each of you for the tremendous effort that you each put into ensuring that everything was well-planned and executed. Rajeev, your willingness to problem-solve and provide assurances and extra services make a huge difference. Thanks again to you and all of your team. I will be pleased to recommend your firm to anyone who is contemplating a trip to India. Sincerely,
Deb Day
Victoria, Canada
Namaste Nazir, Thank you for your email and welcome home. My trip to India was " incredible" indeed! It is hard to put the experience into words as it is another world there. Explore India met all my expectations and makes it clear that they aim to please their guests. I would not hesitate to recommend your company to anyone. Is it excellent value too. Keep up the good work. Best wishes,
Colleen Sinclair
Toronto, Canada
Now that we are back from India and Australia we wanted to follow up and let you know how much we enjoyed the tour. It truly was a ‘Journey of the Senses’. It was an amazing experience, thanks to you and your staff for such an excellent job, everything was well organized and seemed to go off without a hitch. I’m sure that’s because of all your hard work. Donna and I were talking about the trip and how much we enjoyed the variety of experiences on the tour right from the Taj Mahal to riding elephants in Jaipur to playing elephant polo tp the camel ride and dinner in the desert. The history, the culture, the cuisine was all amazing. We thought the trip exceeded our expectations, we believe it was one of the best value for money tours we have done and would certainly recommend the trip to anyone. We look forward to sharing our photos and video with everyone.
Barry and Donna Davis
Vancouver, Canada
We are safely back from India which is quite a feat seeing the driving there is hard to believe. We had a great time, saw lots, ate and drank lots and met some really nice people. It really was quite an experience. I wanted to let you know that we really appreciated your staff in India. They were all wonderful. We could not have asked for better.
Lori & Ron
Surrey, Canada
Tour Extensions
Check & Compare
You can read hundreds of online reviews of destinations and hotels, but with our up-to-date first-hand knowledge, we will be able to compare and contrast different options and ensure we find something that is just right for you.
You will travel to India like a member of our own family. Our deep love and passion for India and its people, we are a family owned and operated luxury travel company.
Planning a trip needs careful care and attention to detail and that is where Explore India comes in with the passion to make every tour a hassle-free and memorable one for each of our guests.
Be sure to take notice of our standard of accommodation, the specialized sightseeing trips, the seamless flow of the itinerary, the comfort of the coach you will travel in, the customized dining experiences, and much more.
FEEL CONFIDENT TRAVELING WITH EXPLORE INDIA
No company is big or small when you have 100% capability of exceeding guest expectations. A rating of 10 out of 10 does not adequately reflect the level of the experience and value of the tour that we provide to India especially for the first time visitors. Explore India’s success can be traced all the way back to those early days of learning what it means to be a host and to this day, our motto is to treat the guest like a member of the family. A sure testimonial to the business, given the fact that many Canadians have travelled not one, not twice, but three times with Explore India, the early teachings seem to have paid off, as touring to India with us is a sought-after experience in Canada and beyond.