Looking for suggestions regarding small group (up to 18) tours of India and any recommendations about same. First Class/Deluxe Hotels and 18-21 days in country

make sure you use the services of a reputable tour operator.We made the mistake of using TOURINDIA(p)ltd,Trivandrum,Kerala.They turned out to be very unreliable,unethical and unprofessional.Also make sure that you pay by CREDIT CARD only.We prepaid by cash and did not reveive the services.Since we paid by cash,we had no recourse.Use an agent certified by Govt of India.

Try Compass Tours in Delhi. Contact [email protected].
They do private tours - not sure if you are looking for other people in your group but check with them with your specific requirements. We just finished a tour earlier this week with Compass and feel they are reputable and honest.

has anyone tried COX AND KINGS USA? Thanks to raichand and craig for their responses

Best bet is to strike a chord with a "honest" local. If that is not possible, try Thomas Cook, Cox&Kings travels. There are also some government sponsored rides, that are horribly expensive but a true luxury. For e.g. the palace on wheels, luxury train, backwater-cruise etc.

Cox and Kings, Thomas Cook et al will just hire out a local travel agent to handle the details. Best to cut out the middleman and save some rupees.

mmm, I don't think thats quite true, craig. Both Cox and Kings and Thomas Cook has Indian subsidiaries with branches in most major cities. I'm not sure, but I think they run their own tours. Cox and Kings has a better Indian network than Thomas Cook from what I've heard. More options for travel and tours too...

I just checked the Cox and Kings website for 2005 pricing for their standard 20 day/18 night tour staying in the same hotels as we did (Amarvilas, Rajvilas, Imperial) and receiving the same services - $8,000 per person. Our 12 day/11 night customized tour cost $4500 total (not per person) for two people. We did not have any airfare and only breakfast was included on our tour. Although I do believe I am wrong about them hiring out a local agent to handle the details, they obviously have a lot of overhead if they need to charge that much.

I can strongly recommend Myths and mountains. They have fabulous guides for India and have unique itineraries at very reasonable prices. You see the culture and the people -- not just airports and train stations.

craig: your notes suggest some problems with Compass Tours. Are you comfortable suggesting them for a 21 day tour with the upscale hotels mentioned as I do not want to get to the hotel and find it overbooked.

I think the situation that we had, arriving at a hotel and finding it overbooked can happen with any tour company. There are no guarantees and it is India after all. You would have to weigh, however whether a large company such as Cox and Kings would have any leverage whatsoever in that situation. I do not want to imply that we had any problems whatsoever with Compass Tours. They went above and beyond the call of duty as far as we are concerned.