US / UK Based Tour Operators
 

I'm a 39 year old single man planning on joining a moderately-priced 14-21 day escorted group tour to India sometime in November to December. This is my first trip to India and given what I've learned from research, friends and families, I've decided that an escorted tour is the way to go.

My planned itinerary includes: Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Khajuraho, Varanasi, Mumbai (and depending upon price, a possible extension to Cochin, Kolkata or Chennai). Not really interested in Katmandu.

I've found some great trips in both the budget and luxury / deluxe high-end category, but am most interested in a "First Class/ Superior" experience. I'm willing to pay a single supplement as being a gay man might make sharing accomodation with another single guy a bit awkward (for him).

I'm very interested in hearing about particularly positive or negative experiences from those in the 30-40 something age range who have traveled to India with one of the following:

On The Go India (UK based)
Adventure Center (Explore, Exodus)
Intrepid

Also found some slightly more expensive corresponding routings on:

Globus
Indus Travels
Enchanted-India
Orient Flex-Pass
Toto Tours
Easy Tours of India
Travel Indochina

If money were no object, this would be an easy decision going with SITA, Abercrombie & Kent and others.

I'm also 0pen to other suggestions, but really would appreciate honest and credible feedback on those listed above.

Thanks all.

Can't say for India but my mother (she was by far the oldest) reckons her China trip with Intrepid (in April 2007) was the best tour she has ever done. The one thing she says they do really well, is they don't separate you from the general public. There's not tour guides with flags etc.

I love Intrepid's itineraries and prices, but I wouldn't call them First Class/Superior, at least in their original incarnation. I think they are now offering some more expensive tours, but I haven't taken any of them. Also, they are "required share" i.e. no single supplement required or offered. I think the same may be true of Explore and Exodus. Have you looked at Adventures Abroad?

Anyone else out there have any suggestions? I want to book the trip by the end of August.

Hi,

I've only travelled in India independently and winging it. But I'm a travel junkie so am always thinking of going somewhere and often check out the sites of adventure travel companies such as exodus, explore, intrepid.

But one company you didn't mention and which has an amazing array of choices is Imaginative Traveller.

If it were me, and I'd never been to India, and wanted a modicum of comfort I'd be seriously interested in their "Rajasthan in Style" trip.

http://www.imaginative-traveller.com...=moreinfo-link

This is one of their top of the range options - there are plenty of others of varying durations and styles/prices.

Once you had been introduced to India gently on such a trip you could visit Varanasi and Khajuraho under your own steam. Seems like you can fly between them and to/from either to Delhi. I'd suggest flying Delhi to Khajuraho; then fly from there to Varanasi .. and by then you should be up for taking an overnight train back to Delhi.

Every visitor to India should make one long journey by train IMHO!

Can I say that you shouldn't try and do North and South India on the same trip? Far too much rushing around. Far better to go slowly, savour the smaller things (waste time!!!) and go back and visit Kerala and Tamil Nadu another time.

Happy travels.

Thanks Chimani. I really appreciate your insights and advice, especially about trying to take in too much. Completely consistent with what my cousin and his family who lived in Kolkata for four years during the 1980's; as well as Indian coworkers and friends.

I have looked at Imaginative Traveler too and they are on my "short list." They offer several nice itineraries at reasonable prices. From all my research it seems that there are far more Budget/Economy companies (I.e. mainly younger travelers, adventuring, hiking, camping and homestays) and high-end operators (I.e. deluxe, luxury 5 Star hotels and transport only) than the type of mid-range operator I'm looking for (I.e. 3-4 star, first/superior), given my budget.

Right now, I'm waiting for quotes and info. from several operators before I make my decision and resevrations (hopefully by 8/31).

Regards

Budget/economy isn't only younger travelers. My Intrepid Silk Road trip in 2001 (Beijing to Islamabad) had a woman in her eighties traveling with her daughter. The last Intrepid trip I took (Lombok) I was in my late fifties.

BTW, other companies to check - Myths and Mountains, Peregrine. Note that Imaginative Traveler doesn't have single supplements available on all trips.

Agree that India is very doable on your own. I spent 10 weeks traveling round by train on my own, and while it can get old dealing with beggars, vendors and rickshaw drivers, the place is fascinating and the diversity amazing.

I totally agree that India is doable alone but... for your first trip I think a tour is a good idea. India is a fantasic place I love it but it really is sensory overload on on your first trip if you are travelling alone that could be overwhelming. I have never travelled with Intrepid but have heard very good reports about them. They have comfort class trips which look as though they stay in some nice places. Peregrine has recently split its operations so that the Gekko side is budget and Peregrine does a little more style. GAP adventures may have something. Again a company I have heard good things about. I did actually use them a few years ago to book a Galapagos Islands trip and they were good but that is different to a land based trip where you are travelling from place to place. They do focus on small group travel.
Let us know what you decide India is incredible. We have to find time to go back there!
J

I don't know if it is exactly what you are looking for, but Smartours offers what seems like a nice tour of India. I read somebody's review of it when I was researching Smartours. We have booked their trip to Thailand. They seem to use nice but luxury hotels. Good luck finding what you want.

Thank you Thursdaysd, jules39 and dianemom2. I really appreciate your tips and recommendations.

Look into overseas adventure travel. I had a great time last november with them. Thought the guide was amazing, stayed at very good hotels, had a chance to meet local families and at a reasonable price. Also a small group which is such a plus.

Search the board before thinking about OAT. Some people like them, others of us hate them. Plus, the Better Business Bureau has dropped their parent company.

I would give a second vote to Imaginative Traveller. We did their Japan trip a few years ago. Otherwise we have always traveled independently. I highly recommend that trip and have done so previously on this board. We had a great group, the details were well taken care of but we had lots of free time too. I made my final decision by looking at what hotels they proposed and using that to gauge the comfort and value of the trip. For that IT trip in India recommended above it says they stay in the following:

Mumbai: Gordon House
Dungarpur: Udai Bilas
Ranakpur: Fateh Bagh

Have fun planning!

I'd check out Kuoni
www.Kuoni.co.uk