Hi! My partner and I are planning a ~2 week trip to India in February 2023. We are a gay couple, so please keep this in mind based on recommendations as our safety is important (we will avoid any public displays of affection.)

We're deciding between 3 itineraries:



Option 1: Delhi [overnight stay after [flight] > Agra [1 night] > Jaipur [3 nights] > Munnar via Plane + Car [2 nights] > Alleppey [2 nights] > Goa, via overnight train [2 nights].

Option 2: Delhi [overnight stay after flight] > Agra [1 night] > Jaipur [3 nights] > Udaipur, via Plane [2 nights] > Munar via Plane + Car [2 nights] > Goa, via overnight train [2 nights].

Option 3: Delhi [overnight stay after flight] > Agra [1 night] > Jaipur [3 nights] > Udaipur, via Plane [2 nights] > Alleppey, via Plane + Train [2 nights] > Goa, via overnight train [2 nights].


Our budget per night ranges between $150-350+ USD. The key difference between the options is whether to prioritize more time in the south (Alleppey/Munnar) versus time in the north (Udaipur).


We are trying to avoid heavily congested areas during our trip, and want to balance between more formal sights (palaces, temples, etc.) and nature. We also want to feel a good level of luxury in all places we visit.



While we think Option 1 seems like the best choice, we're worried that we might get "burnt out" from the viewing of palaces and temples in the North and that we should perhaps optimize to see tea plantations and the backwaters of the south.


- What advice do you have on how to make the right choice?

- We're worried Alleppey might end up being boring beyond the backwaters and that we may even find the backwaters a little disappointing given the journey. Is that fair compared to Udaipur?

- Any other ideas?

- Do you have any specific drivers or tour guides you've worked with in these locations you'd recommend?



Thanks for your help!

You might want to lay this out again with travel times, bearing in mind that road travel can be unpredictable.

None of those places seem likely to be quiet, unless tourism in India is still suppressed. But if this is a first trip it's probably a good introduction.

Personally I would (and did) stay in Kochi as a base for the backwaters. I enjoyed a couple of nights on a boat (although I usually get bored on boats) but pre-Covid the backwaters had apparently become overrun with an excess of boats.

Can't recommend a driver, but I can advise you to avoid Savaari. Have you read this on train travel in India? https://www.seat61.com/India.htm