Best time to go on an India tailor made vacation

Integrating a wildlife safari into a tailor made tour of India is a great way to disappear for a few days into the tiger-friendly terrain of Kanha, Ranthambore and Bandhavgarh National Parks. Accompanied by a local naturalist you'll search for monkeys, mongoose and migratory birds, aware that big cats could be stalking nearby, before retiring to your jungle lodge to listen to nocturnal hoots and hollers.

Indian hospitality is all about those little luxury touches that help you unwind and smile with much less effort. Just as smooth as silk, you'll find authentic accommodation lovingly restored to former glory. The grandeur of a first-class sleeper train; experiencing fine food and fine arts; watching wildlife in a privately owned animal sanctuary; private river boat tours; you know the sort of thing.

If you’re really hoping to unearth 'real' India as part of a tailor made tour then a homestay is certain to bring you much closer to the culture and the lifestyles that lie beyond the tread of tourists. Often located in out of the way settings, staying with a family, in their own home, gives you a real sense of India, how it used to be, with home cooking, kids and cricket always adding to the experience.

Don’t rush, don’t cram and definitely don’t tick one temple off after the next if you’re hoping for a vacation that’s going to stick in the memory for all the right reasons. Think about exploring one region at a time. Keep Kerala for a relaxing break on the backwaters. Tour the Golden Triangle and embrace Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, on their own merits. Hike in the Western Ghats or in the Himalayan foothills. Whatever you do, don’t try to do it all in one go.

The great thing about tailor made vacations is that you get to explore on your own, if you want, with the added bonus of expert advice and recommendations along the way. Visit India with an open mind but don’t ignore advice that’s intended to increase enjoyment and deepen experiences and leave you effortlessly enlightened.

Poverty exists in India, especially in the major slum districts of Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata. Rural communities too, away from the tourist rupees, are greatly affected, especially in places prone to floods or suffering from water shortages. Don’t sweep India’s poor under the carpet. Build guided, responsible slum tours into a tailor made itinerary. Learn what you can do to help. Find out more about caste systems and stay in remote rural regions where your rupees will go to those that need them most.

“Follow the advice given by the experts regarding health care and visas. To save on bulk, take some clothes that can be laundered, the standard of our laundry service was fantastic. Wear closed-in shoes in the streets for hygiene reasons. Read up about the history of India before you go, it adds depth to the visits and helped me to understand a little of the way society worked. Don't go if you are a compulsive cleaner. I'm a celiac and I had no problem eating.” - Liz Mitchell

“Think about what kind of vacation you want. We were happy to spend some days chilling out and didn't want to race from place to place. When we stayed longer in one place we made a point of visiting the local community and asking lots of questions.” - Jane Bay

“Give yourself time in the itinerary to do nothing which we did at the end with four days at a beach homestay; also, pack less than you think you need.” -William Avery

“Our trip was a tailor made 3 week tour of Rajasthan staying in heritage properties. It is imperative that before traveling you research the area you want to visit along with the properties you are going to stay in. Work closely with the tour company that you are booking through. India is a huge country; we toured Rajasthan for 3 weeks and only covered a small proportion of it. You also need to remember that India is a poor country; so do not expect the standards of the UK.” - Sylvia Shilliam

“Be prepared for cultural differences. For example, it appears to be polite for someone to watch you eat every mouthful, wait for feedback and be on hand to refill your plate immediately. Secondly, the Ayurvedic massages are nothing like a massage in the UK. They are not soothing and do not use aromatherapy oils, just lots of oil. They could be described as an intense rub down and invigorating, you are always naked and sometimes two masseuses work on you in tandem!” - Daphne Donkin

“We only stayed for 2 nights at each location. With hindsight, maybe 3 nights and fewer stops would have been better to really get a feel for each place.” - Brian Summers