India small group vacation with added comfort

Planet

This trip includes a visit to Ranthambore National Park, one of the original Project Tiger reserves – a place where nature has reclaimed ancient fortresses and temples and is teeming with wildlife. By taking our groups to this reserve, we help fund its maintenance and protection. Between 1 July and 30 September we do not take our travelers to Ranthambhore due to the monsoon floods. We instead visit the Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary, which has a hilly terrain and still great opportunities for wildlife spotting without placing any more strain on the environment at this time. We use public transport to get around Delhi, including the subway and iconic rickshaws. This trip has a maximum group size of 12, and we never exceed this. Traveling in small groups means we have a lower environmental impact on the locations visited, using fewer resource and leaving less waste behind. This trip has a large water keg on the bus, from which our travelers can fill their reusable water bottles and our tour leaders are proactive in encourage our travelers to product as little waste as possible while on the tour. This tour includes our highest rated tour leaders, who not only have incredible knowledge of local culture and history but also the local fauna and flora, acting as advocates for our style of travel and the natural environment.
Since 2018 we have been certified as a B Corp. Certified B Corporations are leaders in the global movement for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy. Unlike other certifications for businesses, B Lab is unique in our ability to measure a company’s entire social and environmental impact.

People

This trip support the local community and ensures money stays in the local community but using a local leader throughout, as well as many local guides and local eateries throughout. In Agra this tour includes a street food tour with a local expert, this takes the group away from the main tourist trail so our travelers can meet locals and learn more about Agra’s cuisine and culture. We use almost exclusively locally owned accommodation on this trip, with our groups stay in a beautiful heritage hotel in Jaipur which has been run by the same family since its opening in 1928 and retains the warm feel of a traditional family home. We also include dinner in Jaipur, where the group head to the home of a local Brahmin family for a wonderful homecooked dinner. The group get to interact with our hosts and learn about their way of life and their culinary secrets. We also include a visit to a royal haveli, where our travelers will be given a private tour by the owner of this royal mansion who will share fascinating photographs and stories of his ancestors who once ruled the nearby provinces. This local history, being shared by a local resident allows us to support his small tourism business and help ensure the preservation of this ancient building. The trip includes a two boat rides on the river Ganges in local boats, on one of these, the group is joined by local musicians and get the chance to watch a beautiful flower and candle ceremony take place – an authentic experience which allows our travelers to experience local culture and support the musicians. The last meal will take place in a beautiful haveli dating back to 1887, where the group enjoy a feast of Mughlai cuisine, street food dishes and kebabs all hosted by a local family.