I asked earlier for input on my next trip, which at the time I thought would be in October. I've had to move it to early December and so am still debating (surprise!). DD Julie isn't not going with me this year, so I've decided to go with a group (not because I fear going alone, but because I enjoy regular companionship). I only have about 2 weeks.

Anyway, I've narrowed it to India or Vietnam, thinking that time of year would be really good for either.

Here are the itineraries, both of which are pretty standard (and which I think sound good). Both companies limit their group size to 12-15.

India (with Intrepid): Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Orchha, Khajuraho, Varanasi
Vietnam (with Gap): Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh, w/ Cu Chi tunnels

I know it's apples and oranges, but between those two, which would you choose and why?
Thanks!
Karen

The options I eliminated, by the way, were Nepal, Japan, and China. Thought it would be getting rather chilly in those places and decided to wait until I could go earlier in the year.

Well, I love both places, but they're completely different! That's a very standard itinerary for Vietnam, not quite so much for India. Is it an Intrepid Comfort? (Don't try Basix.)

I'd probably vote for India - much more diversity - and tougher traveling so more use for a group.

karen, i also vote for india as december is the very best time of year to go there and it is so unique....

this might turn out to be a teaser trip for a return with DD at a later date...

i did much of that trip a few years ago...look for my thread, "why india".... click on my name to find it...

we are doing almost the same VN trip in november for 2 weeks, except not the tunnels or halong... its very easy to do on your own...

how about a visit to the Boston GTG on oct 9 to get lots of tips from seasoned tripsters to both of those places??

Thursday, yes, it's an Intrepid Comfort trip, so it means nicer hotels and flights to/from Varanasi rather than train. So it sounds pretty nice. I especially liked the itinerary because of the combination of Golden Triangle sites plus Varanasi. For a short trip, that seems ideal.

Bob - thanks for the reminder on the GTG. Usually it doesn't work out for me because I go out to Colorado to visit my sister, and it may not again. This year, I told my sis I'd keep her cat while she takes a 2-week driving trip through New England (ha, maybe SHE could hit the GTG!). Anyway, I'll know her schedule next week. If it works out, I'll try to come. I really would like to!

althom - I see that we were both in Bangkok and Cambodia in 2006 and shared some mutual experiences. As others have recommended, I would suggest India over Vietnam, especially with a tour. It would be great to see you in Boston!

I think I've just about decided it's going to be India! I was already kind of leaning that way, and your votes are helping me firm it up. And suddenly, I'm starting to get really excited about it! Found a flight from BWI via British Air with a single stop in London, then on to Delhi, for $1300 (yes, economy), which seems pretty reasonable. I think I'm actually going to do it!

Yes, Craig, I remember we were doing trip reports around the same time in 2006. I've read a number of your reports. Burma's still on my list - but want to do it when I have a travel partner.

I'll let you all know if I can make the GTG. Thanks!

Great! Can you spend a day or two in London on the way there/back? One of my favorite cities! Try to allow a night or two extra in Delhi for jet lag, you need to be rested for India. I haven't stayed there, but this place looks good: http://delhibedandbreakfast.com/index.php

Is it this trip: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/trips/HKH ? Pity you can't have more time in Varanasi, but at least you get there, and I loved Orccha, too. That's a pretty cheap single supplement, although I've had good to great room-mates on Intrepid tours.

I'll be in India in December too, but in the south.

Thursday - no, I won't have time for extra days in London, unfortunately. I plan to arrive a day early, since my flight will arrive at 1:25 a.m., to recover from jet lag; I'll probably use the Intrepid hotel so I won't have to move - and will just arrange a transfer through them since I'm arriving so late at night and don't want to have to worry about it. And I may stay an extra day at the end for a little more time in Delhi myself. And that will use up all my time. So no stopover in London this trip.

And yes, I plan to spring for the single supplement. Although I think I'll really enjoy being with a group, I do want my own room.

I was just looking at YOUR plans. Wow - I'm impressed (and jealous)! Sounds like you have a fantastic trip planned. I'd have a hard time going alone for so long. I may try a solo trip one of these days, but I just don't think I'd like being alone... anyway, I'll be watching your plans as they shape up!

Oh, and yes, the link you provided is the trip I'm doing.

Vietnam and India are quite different, but since you have at this point narrowed it down to India I will only give some thoughts on that:

1. Weather is excellent in most parts of India in December, esp the parts on the itin. But it can be cool to cold in the mornings and evenings, so pack accordingly. Layers are important. Socks are very helpful in places where you have to remove shoes (many temples, the Taj Mahal) as stone and esp marble is colder than the ambient air temp.

2. You need a visa for India, so you may want to get started on that. See : www.indiagov.org

3. While I don’t like organized tours, I can see if you are alone where it might be attractive. But if you can work up the courage, doing India on your own is quite easy. It’s very safe, English is widely and well spoken, signage is in English at airports and other transport centres. It’s quite easy and inexpensive to hire a car and driver. Planes and trains work for longer distances. So you can do it on your own if you want. I see from your profile that you have been in other countries in SE Asia, so while India is more intense travelling, as it is not your first foray into Asia I think you could do this on your own.

4. The itin is quite a typical first-time tourist route. Many itins would also include Udaipur. However, it’s a little bit on the dull side, IMO as the stops are on the very well-worn tourist path. You don’t state your interests, so it’s hard to advise with specificity. For example, if you are a fan of Le Corbusier architecture, you could go to Chandigarh (3 hours by train) and spend a day or more in a city filled with his work. If you want mountains and Buddishm (like Nepal), you could go to Ladakh, or to Dharamshala to try to get a peek at the Dali Lama. Or a hill station like Shimla with Himalaya views. If you like wildlife, there would be national parks for game rides. There are many options other than this typical itin.

I do think it is rather rushed as you only have 10 days, and in most places you are there for only one day or just half a day, bookended by what will be longish train/bus rides or a good bit of time spent in airports. (The drive from Orcha to Khajuraho esp is on not great roads.) This is not how I personally like to travel in India or elsewhere, as a slowr pace and more time in a place, is my preference.

If I may, some drawbacks I see to this tour itin are as follows: You only have two afternoons in Delhi on each end of the trip, so if you can spend more time there on your own that would be good. Delhi has marvelous museums and many interesting sights not to mention good shopping and restaurants. All of the trips seem to start on a Friday afternoon in Delhi, when you will most likely find that the Jama Masid Mosque is closed to visitors, so one of the itin items on the tour may not be possible, another reason to stay longer and see the mosque on your own. In Jaipur, your tour is not going to the City Palace, which is a wonderful museum in addition to a palace. There is no indication that on the way from Jaipur to Agra you will stop to see Fatephur Sikri, which is a shame. It appears you will not have time to see sunrise at the Taj, which is even more of a shame. (From Agra, you will take an early morning express train to Jhansi and then a short drive to Orchha. I believe that the train will be a Shatabdi Express departing just after 8 am. My guess is that the tour will leave the hotel around 7:30 am or perhaps earlier. Sunrise in December in north India is not until 7 am. I think this will rule out your being able to see sunrise at the Taj, but it may be possible. I would check with the tour. I would if nothing else make an effort to get there for sunset. ) I personally do not find Khajurahro interesting. It is not significant from a historic, religious or architectural standpoint, esp compared to the treasures in other parts of India. I don’t feel it is worth the time, esp on such a short trip. Finally, the actual hotels which are part of the itin do not seem to be listed on the website, which would be helpful to know. “Heritage Properties” is a very broad class of hotels, and while some are charming, others are not.

You also are not going to south India, which is in many ways more interesting, IMO. It offers many significant temples/religious sites if that is an interest.

All of the above is by way of saying that you could do the interesting parts of this itin on your own, and spend more time in places. Or perhaps Intrepid offers a more custom tour that lets you pick the itin and hotels and they provide transport and guides. (And Intrepid appears to have tours which would include places like Ladakh, Darjeeling and the south.)

Cicerone, thanks so much for all the good advice. I hadn't even thought about the visa. Most places I've traveled previously enabled you to get it when you arrived (except Russia), so I'm glad to know that.

Regarding doing it myself vs with a group, I think you're right that I could do it on my own. It's not that I lack the courage, but that I think I'd enjoy the group. With DD, it was great doing Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia without a tour group, but on my own, even if I got guides some places, I think I'd be lonely. So I'm pretty well set on a tour group, as long as it's a small group.

Ladakh does interest me - I've considered it. I was afraid, though, that December would be too cold for that. The other problem is that I'm really limited to a short window for this trip because of work. So it's either a somewhat rushed trip or none at all (and I've opted for a rushed one!). I do hope to add at least one day to Delhi, probably at the beginning. Thanks for the tip on the Taj and at least asking about sunrise.

You've given me much to think about. It sounds as if I'll want to return for another visit. And Nepal is still very high on my list. There's a slim possibility that I may be able to go at the beginning of November, after all, which would mean that Nepal would be back on the list. I'm wanting to get it firmed up so I can book the air.

I'll keep everyone posted and will have more questions once it's a reality. Would of course, welcome any additional thoughts.

Karen

Hey again would recommend India... Plan Delhi first being its capital... And delhi no doubt is a great place.... and then you can plan short trips to other places... and october is the time when most of the 5 Star Hotels are giving Good packages and offers... Take Taj Palace hotel, new Delhi for an example which is just 10 Kms from the Airport... and many more...

i think for you a group tour the first time would be best, as india is hard to do and understand at first, but on subsequent trips, maybe with DD, a trip without a group would be memorable...

hope to see you in boston--let me know if you are coming: [email protected]