7 independent reviews for History, culture & wildlife of India vacation
Reviews for History, culture & wildlife of India vacation
Sue Gray review 16 Aug 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing tigers. Local people. Untouristy parts of India. The care and diligence of our tour operator and Rajat Kumar. Special mention should be made to Rajat and his team, our guide Manju and the manager at the ground company, the medical help at Ranjit’s Svaasa in Amritsar as well our guide Gagan. Gagan not only a help in Amritsar but also in Delhi where he went out his way to show us the 2 step wells.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Take note of advice given on tipping. Get small denomination Rupees for tipping from ATMs. Be aware of levels of walks, ours in Shimla ‘Pen to Brush’ was very strenuous even for 2 fit walkers, 43deg. terrain not made clear in leaflet.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Our tour operator was in India and therefore gave good advice and helped considerably when issues arose with local knowledge and support. Small local hotels Red Earth and Pench Tree House employed local people in all aspects of hospitality and as guides in the reserves. The 2 reserves were Tadoba and Pench who employed local trained guides to not only find tigers but other fantastic animals. The Tree House had a policy of reducing single use plastic and gave free aluminium bottles to fill up at hotel coolers. Shimla had banned plastic bags.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Excellent overall. On planning Rajat was excellent at adapting and advising to suit what we wanted in our itinerary going out to visit the new hotel on our itinerary. In addition he had to deal with the collapse of Jet Air, keeping us informed and giving us options to keep on track. In Mumbai, our new airline Kuwait, left our luggage behind in Kuwait, again Rajat’s team monitored this problem and after with the help of the hotel manager at Red Earth we received the luggage on the 3rd day. As this was our first time using a local tour company we were very impressed.Jill Wild review 25 Nov 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
From start to finish our bespoke trip ran like clockwork. It’s hard to work out the most memorable part as there were so many,Kerala backwaters on a traditional canoe, a traditional houseboat, two days hiking in the Westarn Ghats, plantations of tea, coffee, cardamom and more, ancient temples, maharajah’s places, eerily deserted mansions of Chettinad, small enterprises, ex colonial grandeur, crumbling poverty, varied local cuisine and the kindest friendliest people. Our storytelling guides brought places to life in a way that we would otherwise have walked by, our driver kept calm in the busiest of streets, our trekking guide oozed passion for the mountains and rare wildlife and hotel staff were eager that we should try another local delicacy. For sheer excitement our number one was unexpectedly seeing wild elephants grazing in the dappled sunlight of a Munnar forest. Our second choice as mountain lovers would be the trekking, shy wildlife, not another person in sight, varied terrain and breath taking views from the top.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
The operator took great care to build the trip around the things we wanted to do, so think carefully and do your research to get the trip that you want. Though not a lover of Crocs they would have been a better alternative to sandals, then sandy grit doesn’t rub your feet sore and if it rains you are a little higher of the ground. If you are wondering whether you really need boots for the trekking in the Western Ghats...yes you do.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
The trip was designed around local initiatives and environmentally aware projects culminating in a relaxing stay in an eco lodge with an organic farm for vegetables and milk, solar power and water conservation/ filtration.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
We had a wonderful vacation, varied, exciting with delicious food and passionate guides. It far surpassed our expectations and we must thank Rajat for constructing a vacation of a lifetime.Alessandra Spera review 26 Aug 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The Kerala boat trip and both the land and boat safaris in Karnataka.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Traveling from one place to the next can be tiring and time consuming, as the roads are not always good3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
It benefited local people as all business that were used were local.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
It was a very good vacation, people were welcoming, helpful and friendly. Rajat was very efficient and helpful.Trevor Wright review 23 Aug 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The contrast between the the Nilgiris and the lowlands of southern India. The food almost everywhere was an order of magnitude better than we've had anywhere else. Life in the towns, villages and streets was fascinating. Our home stays were all superb.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Plan well ahead and decide on the things you 'must do' and the things you'd 'like to do'. There is so much to see, a list of priorities is essential. In fact, in choosing our itinerary, we changed our minds half a dozen times and, each time, Rajat accommodated our changes without any problems at all.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
The trip involved conservation through contributions to wildlife parks, the use of local guides and drivers. Local home stays helped small rural businesses.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Excellent. We got exactly what we wanted! I hesitate to call it a 2-week vacation in southern India. It was an immersive, fulfilling and rewarding travel experience which we'd happily do again.Lynn Crowe review 6 Feb 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Probably the most exciting thing was seeing two tigers (on separate visits - one on the boat safari and one on a land safari) in Nagarhole National Park - astonishing. But equally memorable was the temple tour in Madurai - it felt a privilege to visit when so many pilgrims were also worshipping at the temple.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Try to avoid the large, noisy buses in Nagarhole National Park (they are truly dreadful) - and arrange a tour by jeep. And ask if a guide will be accompanying you - as we didn't get one on any of our safaris. We can highly recommend our tour operator - their organisation and recommendations were all excellent - and their homestay in the hills above Ooty was also a highlight of the whole trip.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I hope so - we tried to eat at local restaurants and we used a lot of local guides (who were all excellent - particularly the city `story telling` tours and food tours) - and visited local workshops.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Absolutely excellent - and we hope to return. We just wish we could have spend twice as long at every destination.Liz Mcmanus review 5 Dec 2016
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
My stay at the Wild Mahseer in Assam was very special. Great hospitality, beautiful lodgings and interesting environmental projects. In Shillong I had an excellent guide and driver who made the trip interesting and gave me an insight into the local area. They were both very helpful and attentive. I was sorry I didn't have enough time to trek out to see the root bridges in Meghalaya or visit the Kaziranga National Park in Assam.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Bring warm clothing if going to Shillong. At night it's cold in November.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Excellent.Joel Montague review 26 Apr 2016
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Nagarhole National Park well managed , carefully done trips to see animals etc2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Read !! Read !!! Read !!! If go without reading first you will be blind .Nothing will make sense . Good books on India are out there . Travel guides need to be digested before leaving .3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
No I do not feel that it did much OTHER than we employed local people , asked questions , tried to understand what we saw , tipped properly etc4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
I have told the vacation provider that they do a great job .Holiday Reviews
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