I think I remember your saying a while back that you had good experience with Intrepid Travel in India. I'm organising a trip with my Japanese friend so it needs to be super efficient, clean and comfortable. I'm looking at Intrepid's HKR trip. Have you any comment to make about Intrepid?
Thanks

I have traveled with Intrepid, but not to India. There is a TR here about an Intrepid India trip - http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...tanbul.cfm?118

In my experience Intrepid has excellent itineraries, using local transport and often going off the beaten track. They also have excellent prices, but that is because their leaders are not guides, and their accommodation tends to the basic. This is a Comfort level trip, but so was my Morocco trip, and one of those hotels was really bad. Of course, one was really good, too.

I have mostly enjoyed my trips with Intrepid, but I would not say the trips were "super efficient, clean and comfortable". India is really quite easy to do on your own, using planes, trains and/or a car and driver (and possibly guide). There are several TRs here from people who have traveled that way (mine is at www.wihelmswords.com/asia2001 ). Aside possibly for Shekhawati (which you can do by car and driver hired locally), the HKR itinerary is a standard N. India itinerary which many people do independently.

If you really want a tour you could also look at Adventures Abroad (I haven't used them, but I believe they have a good reputation), or go more upmarket to Cox and Kings - their UK site has much better prices than the US one.

Correction - www.wilhelmswords.com/asia2001 - this TR includes an Intrepid trip from Beijing to Islamabad.

Thanks. Much appreciated. Back to the research!

You're welcome. But, now I think about it, "super efficient, clean and comfortable" is not a phrase I associate with India in general, Intrepid or not. You will definitely need to travel at the high end of the price range if that's what you want, and you should be prepared for delays and the need to change plans.

Yes I can see that. Japanese travelling companions need lots of comfort and cossetting. I myself am intending to travel in south India before meeting up and will be doing that solo and independently. Haven't got around to thinking about it yet.
I have discovered your website so may contact you directly through that in future as Fodors doesn't seem to have a private message function.
Thank again.