Breathtaking India

India is a fascinating country and so much easier to travel in than it was even ten years ago.  At the same time it’s the toughest country, bar none, for which to plan an itinerary. Trains aren’t what we  imagine them to be, travelling distances in one area can be a joy while the same number of hours on the road elsewhere is a drag beyond description. Homestays and havelis that look gorgeous in photos, and for which reviews can be hugely positive, are horrendous when you get there – but there are delightful and authentic small hotels like nowhere else in the world.

Escorted tours for the first time visitor to India seem to always include the Golden Triangle but Delhi and Agra aren’t the most rewarding places to visit. Don’t get me wrong – the Taj Mahal isn’t a letdown at all. It’s just that you have to put the hours in to get there and Agra offers little else. What isn’t so well known, possibly, is that tailor made tours are as cheap as group tours. You can tell me the kinds of things you like to do and what pace you like. I will help you design an itinerary that suits the standard and style that works for you and honestly it won’t cost you any more. Plus you’ll be not just safe but really looked after.

The Rajasthan is a popular area for tourists for good reason. The landscapes are dusty but stunning, the light is special, the lakes, buildings, forts, camel fairs and palaces give the visitor a continual feast for the eyes. You can stay in luxury tents and go on game drives to see tigers in Ranthambore. Udaipur, the lake city, is serene and a few hours away the pink city of Jaipur is frenetic, intense and all that we imagine India to be. And have you heard about the Deogarh Mahal in between those two cities? Well, give me a call and let me tell you about it…..

The Himachal Pradesh is home to the old hill stations such as Shimla with their charming old colonial buildings and railways stations; a short distance from there is Dharamsala where the Tibetan refugee population, including the Dalai Lama, settled. Further south in the Himalayan foothills towns like Rishikesh, part of the old hippy trail, still provide meditation and yoga centres and peaceful retreats beside the Ganges where it’s at its clearest and freshest.

Most of us are familiar with what Goa represents – but actually some parts, especially in the South, are still real India so we shouldn’t assume that all Goa has are noisy bustle tourist traps. It definitely has the best beaches so if that’s what you like and you want to know where to stay that suits your needs we can talk about your options.

In India the unexpected happens – always – but it can be encountered in the safety and comfort of your a/c 4×4 and from beautiful hotels. Good service comes from a genuine desire to please and in India people work so hard to do exactly that.

If you’re unsure and don’t want a travel agent who’s going to say ‘go here, it’s great’ but who will listen to what you like to do and work with you then I’m your person. Don’t worry if you’re just finding out. I put together holidays for a living and not everybody books so my time is never wasted.