Kimkim Trip Reviews for India

Ravi was so patient with me going back and forth one zillion times to get the trip itinerary just the way I wanted it! He was very accommodating and his quick and constant communication was greatly appreciated. We had a couple of hiccups during the trip with our driver who did not speak great English and an unnecessary detour on our route during one particularly long travel day, but overall, the trip was relatively seamless. We were traveling with our two kids (ages 11 & 12) and we always felt safe and well taken care of during our trip. We had a very large van with cold AC for the entire journey that we were very thankful for, as the days got warm. We visited the golden triangle in India, and we hiked Tiger's Nest in Bhutan. All of the guides were wonderful. Everyone showed up on time and kept things on our tight timeline. Overall, it was a bucket list trip of a lifetime, and I would recommend Ravi to plan your dream trip to India & Bhutan!

My husband, daughter and I did a 3-day tour of Delhi and Agra during Dec 2025.
While it was a very hectic trip, Ravi and his team did a wonderful job outlining the trip plan and it was executed flawlessly by the team on the ground in Delhi- Adarsh, Dharmender and in Agra- Ronit plus Rajeshji who was there throughout the trip.
We would like to redo the trip at a more leisurely pace in the near future. Looking forward to teaming up with the Active Holidays team for our next India adventure!!
Soumya

Hotel Reviews

Grand Mercure Agra

Agra, UP

Great location, food and rooms are spacious and clean!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Lalit Hotel, New Delhi

Delhi

Lalit hotel has a great location. The hotel itself is dated, dark rooms, outdated and leaky bathroom fixtures. Food is great though.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Taj Mahal at Sunset

Agra

Take a stroll through the historic garden (Mehtab Bagh) for the most magical views of the Taj Mahal by TUK-TUK

Agra

Explore the marvelous and historic monument : Agra Fort

Agra

Half-day tour of New Delhi and visit Humayun’s Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

India

Our 2025 trip was close to ten months in the planning. Working with Rajat Gupta was fantastic. Rajat was very responsive to our goals and objectives. This trip started with attending a family wedding in Lucknow and expanded to a 37-day adventure around the family function. My wife and I realized we were covering a lot of ground, but we wanted to get a sense of the places we might choose to revisit in the future for a longer period. The trip was customized for just the two of us and all our guides and drivers were wonderful. We felt very safe and in good hands every step of the way.

We especially want to thank our driver Rajinder, who carried us everywhere in the first half of the itinerary. He always had water for us and he was always there waiting for us at every site. We felt like rock stars finding Rajinder with the car door open ready to take us to the next location. We also want to thank Hemant, Rahul, Anu and Kumar for their insight and knowledge. We saw so much and feel fortunate to have experienced the wonders of the region. More UNESCO World Heritage sites than we could ever imagine. And we literally had a trip of trains, planes and automobiles.

The main sites like the Taj Mahal were of course great, but one of our favorite places visited was in Ranakpur. We stopped at the Kumbhalgarh Fort, built in 1443. It took 15 years to complete. This fortress is overwhelming with the second longest wall in the world. Our guide that day introduced us to custard apple fruit bought from a roadside vendor. He made sure it was safe and ripe and it was amazing. That day we also visited the Ranakpur Jain Temple with amazing carved marble throughout supported by 1444 unique pillars and a ton of peace, spirituality and tranquility. We also had one of our best meals at Harmony Restaurant on our way to the Jain Temple. And if you are so inclined, the owner of the restaurant guides nature adventure tours. We were also fortunate to attend the Pushkar Camel Festival. Here's where Rajat did wonders for us. Some friends highly recommended the festival. I chatted with Rajat and he adjusted our itinerary to make it happen.

Another favorite was Nepal. The grandeur of the Himalayas was breathtaking and we were able to see the Annapurna range on a clear morning at sunrise. We also enjoyed the scenic boat ride on Phewa Lake, one of Pokhara’s most iconic attractions. We made our way across the lake to start an 1100 foot hike to the top of the hill leading to the serene Buddhist stupa, perched on high overlooking the valley. Overall, we felt we got the best of everyplace we visited. After our family event, we headed south from Lucknow. Our houseboat experience in Kerala was fantastic and one night was perfect. Finishing off our trip in Mumbai was terrific and High Tea at the Taj Hotel is worth it.

We took three cooking classes on the trip. They were all different in their own way, but we learned a lot about the techniques of Indian and Nepalese cooking. As for the food in general on the trip, we never got tired of the local cuisine...both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. We did have to convince some restaurants to prepare our meals "medium spicy." However some places still gave us mild. We enjoyed many of the curated retail stops, some benefitting local women and children...and other well established family businesses known for their quality.

For those planning to follow in our footsteps, we did learn a few things. The air quality in the big cities of India is pretty bad. My wife and I suffered from upper respiratory issues for the entire trip. Make sure you bring plenty of cold remedies on your journey and wear a mask often when air quality is bad.

Be prepared for flight changes when flying Indigo Airlines. In fact, I would not recommend Indigo. Make sure to check when sites are open. Some are closed on specific days. And ask your guides if you need walking sticks to help with some of the long walks.

Overall, this was an adventure to remember and we will choose KimKim for our future international travel.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Suba Palace,

Mumbai

We would not recommend this hotel for a variety of reasons. The bathroom flooded with two inches of water on the floor when using the shower. The water temperature fluctuated and at times was very hot. Our room was situated right next to the elevator on an upper floor. Members of the staff stood by outside our room carrying on conversations late into the night. The restaurant staff, while accommodating did not guide us effectively with the menu choices.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The staff was disturbing our sleep and had to be told multiple times to leave because they were keeping us awake. Generally the staff was indifferent. Should have stayed at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai...The Taj was competitively priced and so much nicer all around.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lakes And Lagoons Houseboat Cruise

Alappuzha

Very comfortable accommodations on board the houseboat. Food was very good. Very relaxing experience.

Authenticity & Character

Solid Watercraft, very safe

Location

On the river

Staff

Our three man crew was very attentive and pleasant.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Koder House

Kochi

This hotel could have potential. Unfortunately, we found our spacious room with carpets on the floor stained with cat pee. The air conditioning was inadequate. The bathroom was spacious but far detached from the bedroom. Coming in late made things a bit more difficult.

Authenticity & Character

Very authentic historical house converted to a hotel

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cat pee on carpets that staff removed. Air conditioning was inadequate.

Lemon Tree Hotel Aurangabad

Aurangabad

Lovely hotel with a nice room. We did not have a chance to enjoy the amenities.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Club Himalaya

Windy Hills, Nagarkot, Nepal 44812

Beautiful natural setting. Our room was lovely with a patio. Common areas are wonderful. Observation areas are very nice to be able to see the Himalayas. The bathroom was a bit difficult. The shower tub wall was very high making it hard to enter and exit. The single glass on the shower did not keep water from getting on the floor of the bathroom.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great views

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very comfortable except for the bathroom issues stated earlier.

Hotel Barahi Pokhara

Pokhara

Incredible hotel. The room was lovely and the grounds spectacular.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kathmandu Guest House

Kathmandu

Beautiful Hotel with a great deal of historical significance. The room was nice. Did not like the shower without a door, so water tended to get on the floor.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Well situated to shops and sites.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pristine Hotel

Varanasi

Room and bathroom were smaller than average.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very good location close to restaurants

Staff

Restaurant staff was great. Provided us Bhindi on request. But staff did not have sack breakfast ready for our departure to the airport.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ramada by Wyndham Khajuraho

Chhatarpur

The nicest Ramada we've ever stayed in. The owner often camps out in the lobby keeping tabs on quality control. He's the guy with Mala beads wrapped around his wrist.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Royale Sarovar Portico Agra

Agra

A business hotel. The food was good. The room was ample, yet smaller than other accommodations.

Authenticity & Character

Location

We had an issue with their water system. The shower temperature was disregulated and the floor was slippery marble. During the shower, the water temp would suddenly increase. Could be dangerous for some people.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Pugmark, a wildlife resort in Ranthambore

Ranthambore

Great natural setting. Not an urban hotel. Room was smaller than other accommodations.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The common area was very inviting. The staff was very helpful providing us breakfast when we were venturing out before dawn.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dera Rawatsar

Amazing hotel. Historical significance. Very large accommodations. Good food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ratan Vilas

Jodhpur

Beautiful Hotel! Fantastic room! Wonderful grounds and common areas. Great outdoor dining.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

King's Abode

Ranakpur

Wish we could have stayed longer. Beautiful public areas with a long pool beautifully landscaped. A place of real serenity. The room was spacious and clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Wish they could have exchanged currency for us.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kankarwa Haveli

We had an upgraded room (the honeymoon suite). We were at the top of the building up four flights of stairs including a spiral staircase. The view was tremendous.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Hotel was in the middle of everything.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Brahma Horizon

Pushkar

Great hotel. They gave us a room upgrade as well.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Because of the Camel Festival, it was better to be a bit out off town, than in town.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Haveli Hauz Khas

Delhi

The best feature of this house is meeting the owners. Photos of the family travels from their government postings adorned the walls. The room was comfortable and clean. Be aware, they do not take credit cards.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Pleasant neighborhood, but a car is required.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half Day Mumbai City Orientation Tour

Mumbai

Combined in one day and rated previously

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Dabbawala Trail: A Behind-the-Scenes Mumbai’s Unique Lunch Delivery System

Mumbai

We were particularly appreciative that our guide and driver, Peter and Ajai, were able to get us to a doctor to determine if Jonathan had pneumonia so he could make the flight back home. Luckily he did not and the doctor prescribed medications for him to take. Both our guide and driver helped us achieve all of this. As for the tour, Susan went on the tour while Jonathan stayed at the hotel. Because we had to go to the doctor, she missed the Box Lunch portion. But she took the train and found it interesting. She thought the laundry was very interesting. Her favorite thing on the tour was where Ghandi had stayed for a substantial part of his life. The Gateway of India was interesting and she also saw where the Taj Hotel was located so we could have High Tea at the Taj.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Serenity on the Backwaters: A Traditional Kerala Houseboat Cruise

Alappuzha

This was a wonderful experience. Our houseboat was great as was our three man crew. The accommodations were excellent and so was the food. It was a very relaxing experience indeed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Kochi Sightseeing from Cochin Airport

Kochi

Because of issues with Indigo Airlines, we had to compress the Kochi site seeing into the next day. Our driver, Raj, was excellent and very prompt picking us up at the airport and getting us to the hotel.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Raj was great!

Transport

Excursion to Excursion to Ajanta and Ellora Caves

Aurangabad

Sanjay was an outstanding guide. We had a great experience at both the Ajanta and Ellora Caves. He was very attentive to all our needs. When we returned to Aurangabad, he helped us find a small suitcase we needed to buy. Very helpful!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free Day

Lucknow

Family Event

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nagarkot Sightseeing

Nagarkot

The drive to Nagarkot was fun. Once we arrived at the hotel, it was an opportunity to relax in the breathtaking scenery. The next morning at sunrise, we hoped for a view of the Annapurna range of the Himalayas. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate and it was overcast.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excursion to Sarangkot & Pokhara City Tour

Pokhara

The sunrise view of the Himalayas was breathtaking and the weather cooperated. We spent a lot of quality time at Sarangkot. Later in the day, the Pokhara city tour was fascinating, especially going through Davis Falls and the Gupteshwor Cave. Thank you Kumar!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat ride at Phewa Lake

Pokhara

After a flight from Katmandu, we checked into our hotel in Pokhara. Later that afternoon we headed to Phewa Lake for a boat ride was very serene. Once across, we began our hike up 1100 feet to a Buddhist Stupa overlooking the entire valley.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience Cooking and Dinner with Local Nepali family

Kathmandu

This was our third cooking experience of the trip. For our guide Kumar, it was a personal invitation to visit his people who welcomed us with open arms and allowed us to get our hands dirty cooking food. The setting was very different in that we were cooking in a small space, but it was very intimate. We left the experience with knew knowledge and new friends.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Kathmandu City Tour

Kathmandu

The full day tour of Katmandu was amazing! Thank you Kumar!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Kathmandu City Tour

Kathmandu

We met our new guide Kumar and we transferred to our hotel after a morning flight. After lunch we started our tour to Dunbar Square and the Royal Palace of Nepalese Kings. It was a great afternoon.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunrise Boat Ride on Ganges and local Varanasi Sightseeing

Varanasi

It was very interesting being on the Ganges along with so many who do it daily or make the pilgrimage. The boat ride was worth it and placing our flame in the water was very spiritual.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visiting Ghats and attend Ganga Aarti

Varanasi

After our morning flight and checking into the hotel, we connected with our local guide. In the evening we ventured out to the Ganges River to witness the Ganga Aarti ceremony, where seven temple priests offer prayers and sacred flames to a packed crowd.

Quality of Experience

The ceremony was a wonderful experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

As stated, the guide could have ensured a better experience had we arrived earlier to actually get a seat.

Transport

Khajuraho Sightseeing

Khajuraho

We connected with our guide Anu. We were impressed with a town of only 20,000 having such a deep Hindu and Jain history. We visited the Western and Eastern temples and Anu truly made the experience compelling explaining the significance of the intricate carvings and stunning sculptures. The atmosphere was quieter and more serene.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to Agra Fort and 'Baby Taj'

Agra

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to Taj Mahal at Sunrise

Agra

The sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal was fantastic. The weather proved favorable and the sky was clear. Rahul guided us well and we took a lot of pictures. Seeing the Taj was a highlight of our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enroute Visit to Fatehpur Sikri

India

Planned itinerary went very smoothly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning and Afternoon Jeep Safari in Ranthambore National Park

Ranthambore

We enjoyed the safari experience, although we have been to Africa and spent a great deal of time in the bush. The morning safari was in a large vehicle and apparently there was a little mix up in the planning, but we went with the flow. We saw a lot of animals, but no tiger for both safaris. It was still a wonderful experience ti get out into nature.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Market Visit, Cooking Class, and Dinner with Local Family

Jaipur

This cooking experience was very different from the first in Delhi. We were invited into a private home. The owner, Himanshu Rathore runs a catering business out of his home as well as a bed and breakfast. We were welcomed into his entire family. He is also a hunting guide and we had a great deal in common. We cooked in the kitchen and helped prepare the dishes for the evening meal. We all sat together like a family and enjoyed good food and great company.

Quality of Experience

Very home spun experience

Food

Outstanding!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Jaipur City Tour

Jaipur

Great day! Covered everything planned in the itinerary. Rahul shared a lot with us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Prayer Ceremony in Birla Temple at Sunset & Local Market Visit

Jaipur

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Walk at Clock Tower and Sadar Market

Jodhpur

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jodhpur Sightseeing

Jodhpur

In Jodhpur, we met up with our new guide Rahul. He would be with us through Agra. After checking into our hotel, we had a wonderful tour of the Blue City as planned. We really liked Rahul and of course Rajinder was terrific too.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ranakpur & Kumabhalgarh Sightseeing

Ranakpur

We said goodbye to Hemant. Rajinder drove us to Ranakpur. We connected with our new guide who escorted us to the Fort, the Jain Temple and we had a great lunch on the road at the Harmony Restaurant.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Udaipur Sightseeing with Boat Ride on Lake Pichola

Udaipur

Great Day!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cultural Performance at Bagore - Ki - Haveli

Udaipur

We made our way to Udaipur. We checked into our hotel. That evening, Hemant escorted us to the Bagore-Ki-Haveli and the dance performance. Great fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Day at the Pushkar Camel Fair: Culture, Tradition, and Festivities

Pushkar

We hd a fantastic time at the Camel Fair. The sites and smells were amazing. We had a chance to be invited into a special horse breeder's tent to get to know Indian Horses. His stock was magnificent. At this time, My wife Susan was showing signs of a bad cold. Hemant and Rajinder helped us find medication to help Susan.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pushkar Sightseeing

Pushkar

After an early morning train ride, we arrived in Pushkar. Hemant showed us the planned sites and we checked into the hotel to relax for the rest of the night.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Indian Cooking Class with Local Market Tour – A Culinary Experience in Delhi

Delhi

Wonderful cooking experience. It started with touring the market for local ingredients. There were two others in the class with us (a brother and sister from Sweden). so the experience was very intimate. Anchal of Tastsutra was excellent and we enjoyed learning the ins and outs of Indian cooking...of course enjoying what we cooked was great. The best, was Anchal sending us a full array of recipes to try when we returned home.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rajinder was always there when we needed him.

New Delhi Sightseeing

Delhi

Great Day! Thank you Hemant and Rejinder.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Old Delhi Sightseeing

Delhi

First day of site seeing was great. Connect with out guide Hemant and driver Rajinder. Had a wonderful old market experience and Hemant helped us try some of the best delicacies. Unfortunately we did not make it to the Red Fort because there was a private event taking place there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Arrival Transfer: Delhi Airport to Hotel

India

We arrived very early in the morning. Had the pleasure of meeting Rajat Gupta, our trip organizer. Got to the hotel and unfortunately had to wake up staff to check in.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Departure Transfer: Istanbul City to Istanbul Airport

İstanbul

Great tour of the new city along the waterfront. Everything was timed well and we made our transfer to the airport cleanly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Istanbul New City Tour with Lunch (Customized)

İstanbul

Great experience of Istanbul. Haghia Sophia was a bit dissapointing because of its disrepair. The palace was wonderful. Sadik was an excellent guide.

Quality of Experience

Food

Lunch was very authentic and wonderful. A lot of locals eating there

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Istanbul Old City Interior Tour with Lunch (customized)

İstanbul

Fantastic! No lunch because we arrived late.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was truly an amazing trip. Ravi and his team ensured we didn’t have to worry about a thing — everything was taken care of from start to finish. From the moment we arrived, we were immersed in rich culture, vibrant colours, and incredible history. Each city offered something unique, from stunning palaces and impressive forts to bustling markets and beautifully detailed architecture.

Activity Review

Jaipur Sightseeing Tour

Jaipur

India is a fascinating country and we will never forget our experiences there. Many of the guides that were provided to us were outstanding. These included Shafali in Agra, Mr. Singh and Sanjay in Jaipur. Our driver Sachin was also excellent. Not only was he a fabulous driver, but he acted as a tour guide during our trips between cities. He was very accommodating and took us to all of the places we requested. The most thrilling parts of our trip were our safari in Ranthambore, where we were fortunate enough to see a tiger, and our visit to the Taj Mahal. We also enjoyed the markets and shopping everywhere we went. India is truly a country of contrasts, some amazing and some disturbing, but all are worth seeing. The local people we met were delightful and were truly a highlight of our trip.

Fabulous Golden Triangle Trip
Loved seeing all the sites and experiencing India's Gold Triangle. Our guide in Agra, Mr. Jugnu, was funny, entertaining, full of information and a great photographer.

Hotel Reviews

The Lalit Hotel, New Delhi

Delhi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

ITC Mughal

Agra

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

ITC Rajputana

Jaipur

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

ITC Grand Central

Safe, Comfortable, Friendly Staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

New Delhi Sightseeing

India

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jaipur Sightseeing Tour

Jaipur

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Old Delhi Sightseeing

Delhi

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the marvelous and historic monument : Agra Fort

Agra

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Taj Mahal Sunrise Visit

Agra

Unique perspective when contrasting with the sunset visit the night before.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Take a stroll through the historic garden (Mehtab Bagh) for the most magical views of the Taj Mahal by TUK-TUK

Agra

Loved seeing the Taj Mahal at sunset, providing a perspective on the enormity of the Mahal.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Spiritual Walk in Jaipur

Jaipur

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Mumbai With a Private Guide

Mumbai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mumbai - Elephanta Caves

Mumbai

Spiritual history, our guide was friendly and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I can't say enough about Ravi and how responsive he was to our every need! Given the 12 hour time difference between Colorado and India, it was amazing how quickly he responded to emails. Because our trip focused on our grandson's wedding, this was a somewhat complicated itinerary but Ravi handled it flawlessly. We also very much enjoyed Kevin, who met our flight and welcomed us to India and made sure everything went smoothly. We give high marks to kim kim!

Overall we give this trip 5 stars. The arrangement with private chauffeur and guides was superior to any group tours we encountered during the 5 days. We will recommend KimKim, Active India, and others for travel in India. We found this tour to be perfect for us, but could be physically challenging for the average tourist.

Arrival in Deli was relatively stress free. Our guide was welcoming and patient. LaLit hotel excellent accommodations and an excellent restaurant for both breakfast and supper. Our soft-spoken driver for that first free day was helpful with New Deli sights.

Mr. Sing our driver for the entire week was awesome, keeping us safe and secure. 5 stars for him too.

Day 1 Guide was very very good with superb english and encyclopedic knowledge. Highlights were Rickshaw ride, the Six temple, and th Gahndi Memorial, Humans Tomb. We did not see Red Fort or Lotus Temple.

Day 2 & 3 The new guide was equally awesome. Highlights were the Agrta Fort and, of course, the Taj Mahal both after noon from across the river and sunrise in the Taj Mahal. We enjoyed the bazaar and the roads surrounding Agra which had an incredible number of wedding venues with human drawn carriages and camel drawn carriages.
Chand Baori step well was the #2 most amazing site that we visited (#1 was Taj Mahal). The guide at Chand
Baori was mediocre (not bad) probably frustrated that we did not speak his native language. We make out OK.

Day 4 & 5 Guide was marvelous. Highlights were Amer Fort and Sheesh Mahal.

We appreciated the shopping opportunities and the lunching restaurants. All of the hotels were great.

Complaints: None.

Hotel Reviews

ITC Rajputana

Jaipur

Wonderful stay. Beautiful clean rooms. Fabulous service.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Deep within the city.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

ITC Mughal

Agra

Fantastic accommodations and service.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Lalit Hotel, New Delhi

Delhi

Everything you could want for rooms and for service. Good location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Free Time in Delhi

India

Fun and impressive, but we weren't sure where to go or how to get started.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jaipur Sightseeing Tour

Jaipur

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Taj Mahal Sunrise Visit

Agra

Unbelievable. Fabulous. No description or photograph can adequately portray this experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Take a stroll through the historic garden for the most magical views of the Taj Mahal by TUK-TUK

Agra

Explore the marvelous and historic monument : Agra Fort

Agra

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

New Delhi Sightseeing

India

Old Delhi Sightseeing

Delhi

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our guide in Jaipur was our favorite and our driver for Agra and kochi were our favorites by far they went above and beyond

Hotel Review

Houseboat

Looks nothing like the photos looks like they took a ferry and put a bed on it

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Bathe, Paint and Feed- A life-time experience with elephants at Elefantastic

Jaipur

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ravi and Active India were excellent in putting together a perfect trip for us to India. He was super responsive in the planning stages and kept us fully informed. During the trip, the coordination between our various drivers and guides was seamless. A WhatsApp group let us stay in touch throughout the trip. Ravi made sure that our wedding anniversary was celebrated by the hotels during the trip.

Ravi put together an amazing trip. The accommodations were all fantastic. Guides and drivers were terrific.

I had only two issues with Ravi. The first and most significant I shared blame for. He never informed me in the chat thst a visa was required for the trip. Obviously I should have checked. I only found out when I went to check in for my flight. Apparently the info had been in the document package he had provided. It was in stark contrast to the chat I had for my trip to Sri Lanka at the same time. I'm that chat your travel specialist, Dhanushka, informed me immed that a visa was required for a trip to Sri Lanka.

My second concern, which was minor, was the failure to let me know that we needed cold weather clothing for the Safaris. It would have been nice to have some heavier clothes and a ski hat for our morning journeys into the jungle.

I do want to emphasize how wonderful the trip was and that I would be happy to use Active India again in the future.

One final comment related to the Kimkim interface is related to multiple chats. It would have been far more convenient to have one chat instead of uploading documents multiple times in addition to all of the plane reservations.

Happy to discuss further

Mark

Hotel Reviews

Pench Tree Lodge

Absolutely fantastic! The Pugdundde Safaris were awesome. They treated it like their own vacation. Our safari guides worked hard to insure us the best viewing experience. The hotel was fantastic as was the food. Staff was friendly and helpful. I'm Pench we stayed in a treehouse. It was amazing Would love to stay in other Pugdundde resorts in the future. Special shout out to Omkar who guided us on Safari.

Authenticity & Character

The resort fit in perfectly

Location

Just outside the National Park on a gorgeous piece of property

Staff

Everyone was great. Food was excellent.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were super comfortable

Kanha Earth Lodge

Absolutely fantastic! The Pugdundde Safaris were awesome. They treated it like their own vacation. Our safari guides worked hard to insure us the best viewing experience. The hotel was fantastic as was the food. Staff was friendly and helpful. Would love to stay in other Pugdundde resorts in the future

Authenticity & Character

Charming

Location

Just outside the National Park. Loved the Lemurs crawling on our cottage as well as hearing the animal calls at night

Staff

Everyone was friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Lalit Hotel, New Delhi

Delhi

A solid hotel. Nothing special.

Authenticity & Character

Just a big hotel

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

A walk through villages in Kanha

Kanha

Very interesting to see how the people live

Unearthing Delhi’s hidden gems

Delhi

Interesting tour of the older buildings in the city

Old Delhi Sightseeing

Delhi

Didn't do this because of the terrorist attack

Explore Pench National Park – Morning and Afternoon safari

Pench

Omcar was a fantastic guide and found us an amazing variety of animals

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pench Free day

Pench

The Pench Safari was awesome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning and afternoon safaris at the Kanha National Park

Kanha

Absolutely fantastic

Quality of Experience

Seeing the Bengal Tiger was an incredible experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

To Rajat (Agent), Hermant (Guide) and Mr Singh (Driver), thank you all so much for creating an amazing experience for us in India.

As a family travelling with kids aged 9 and 7, we wanted culture and adventure (plus a bit of time to unwind) and that is exactly what we got.

The itinerary creation and execution were flawless and KimKim nailed the brief.

A massive shout out to Hermant and Mr Singh who made our travel immensely comfortable and allowed us to flex our trip on the fly - as life is not always clockwise work with kids in tow.

The transport was super comfortable and always safe, and our heads are stuffed with more facts than we could ever hope to remember. Hermant is my phone a friend. Little touches like water and treats for the kids were provided and the hotels treated us impeccably.

There were great (authentic) food recommendations, cultural stops and simply. An awesome time.

Beautiful country, beautiful people - we hope to see you one day again.

Nathan, Ruth, Audra and Wilf x

Our 3 guides were informative, well prepared, kind, friendly and accommodating. And our driver was amazing as he navigated the busy streets of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. The hotels also were all clean and comfortable. Thank you, Lim Kim for helping us plan a wonderful trip to India.

Hotel Review

ITC Mughal

Agra

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Jaipur Sightseeing Tour

Jaipur

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day visit to Akshardham!

Delhi

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day New Delhi Tour!

India

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day sightseeing - Old Delhi

Delhi

Quality of Experience

Transport

Unearthing Delhi’s hidden gems (Half Day Tour)

Delhi

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From my first interaction with Ravi Tickoo through every subsequent interaction - whether virtual or in-person - with him, his administrative colleague, Aditya, or Adarsh, who met us upon arrival at Delhi, was top notch! Equally superb were our guides - Mr. Dharmender (Delhi), Mr. Ronit Sharma (Agra), and Mr. Sanjay Safaya (Jaipur). Each was engaging, informative, considerate of our requests; wonderful gentlemen! Each site visit was delightful and educational - thanks to their expertise and generous engagement with us!

Mr. Brijesh, our driver for the week, was no less than spectacular. The very epitome of thoughtful, considerate, cautious, concerned for our comfort. Mr. Brijesh spoke to us only occasionally; however, when he did, he was very engaging, interesting, informative. We were fast to appreciate his professionalism and commitment to excellence in his responsibilities.

Hotel Reviews

ITC Rajputana

Jaipur

ITC Rajputana in Jaipur exceeded our expectations. The quality of the accommodations was first-rate, with excellent services that made our stay memorable. Everything from the room to the hospitality was top-notch.

ITC Mughal

Agra

ITC Mughal in Agra was a highlight of our trip. The service was impeccable, and the accommodations were nothing short of excellent. We truly enjoyed our stay, with comfortable rooms and excellent service throughout.

The Lalit Hotel, New Delhi

Delhi

Our stay at The Lalit Hotel in New Delhi was excellent. The accommodations were super, starting with our arrival. The security was great, and the staff was very helpful, right from the bellmen who assisted with our luggage to the inviting lobby and comfortable rooms. The food served was good, and overall, everything met our expectations. It was a very comfortable stay.

Activity Reviews

Spiritual Walk in Jaipur

Jaipur

Mr. Sanjay Safaya, too, was at our hotel to greet us when we arrived a bit later than scheduled at Jaipur. Soon thereafter, we were off to see the magnificence of The Pink City into the early evening during pretty intense heat and heavy rainfall. Well after nightfall and likely navigating some flooded roads, he returned to his home, a considerable distance away, on his scooter. Right back at it the next day, we took in the magnificent history of the city and surrounding area.

Taj Mahal Sunrise Visit

Agra

We were at the Taj Mahal at sunrise and returned to see its magnificence from across the river, late in the very hot afternoon. Two days of wonderful history, religion, culture and more!

Agra beyond Taj: Leave for a Mughal Heritage walk

Agra

In Agra, Ronit Sharma met us on arrival at the hotel, gave us time to settle in and we were off and running for two long and fabulous days of sights and learning.

New Delhi Sightseeing

India

The New Delhi Sightseeing was equally superb. Like the Old Delhi tour, our experience was enriched by our fabulous guide, Mr. Dharmender, who was full of knowledge and so professional. He made the experience memorable and personable. Again, our driver, Mr. Bajesh, got us there efficiently and safely, adding to the pleasure of the tour. An excellent activity that we thoroughly enjoyed. We felt like parting from friends at the end.

Old Delhi Sightseeing

Delhi

The Old Delhi Sightseeing tour was magnificent. We had an extraordinary experience, largely thanks to our driver, Mr. Bajesh, and our guide, Mr. Dharmender. Mr. Bajesh was incredibly considerate, always on time, and ensured we arrived at each destination safely. Mr. Dharmender, our guide, was absolutely wonderful. He was professional, friendly, and knowledgeable. It felt like we left with a friend at the end of the tour. It was a brilliantly organized and executed sightseeing tour.

Our recent trip to India exceeded our expectations and this was primarily due to the great service and organisation by Active India. When we started to plan the holiday, Ravi was very professional, responsive, and attentive to our many questions and put in place an itinerary that worked for us in the time period we had an enabled to see a diverse range of places and sites.

Upon arrival, the entire Active India team on the ground proved to be both professional and very knowledgeable. Each destination brought us in contact with high quality local guides who added depth, culture, and warmth to our experience. A special mention to Ardish in Delhi for his fabulous insights, Sanjay in Dharamshala for his welcoming spirit, and Davindra in Varanasi, who helped us connect deeply with the spiritual essence of the city. Our guide in Agra was equally impressive, providing a rich history of the iconic Taj Mahal and beyond.

One of the true stars of our trip was our driver, Sukhjinder. Navigating through India’s famously hectic traffic with ease and skill, he kept us safe and comfortable and got us to our airports on time!

This journey was an enriching, seamless experience, and we owe it to the wonderful team at Active India. Highly recommended for anyone seeking an expertly curated and heartfelt Indian adventure.

My wife and I had an unforgettable 8-day stay in India, and we’d like to thank everyone who helped make it so special.
First, a big thank you to Ravi, who did a fantastic job organizing everything from start to finish.

Our journey began on a high note when we arrived at our hotel in New Delhi and were surprised to find traditional outfits waiting for us—ones we would later wear during the Holi festival in Jaipur. Celebrating Holi was an absolute highlight—throwing colored powder, dancing to traditional music, and being surrounded by so much joy and energy was an experience we’ll never forget.

We felt safe and well taken care of the entire time, thanks to our driver Arvind.
We were also fortunate to have knowledgeable and passionate guides in each city—Varun in Delhi, Manish in Agra, and Vinod in Jaipur. Each of them brought the history and culture of these incredible places to life in their own unique way.

Of course, seeing the Taj Mahal was a dream come true, but another deeply memorable moment was visiting Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib, where we had the opportunity to help serve free meals to visitors. It was a humbling and rewarding experience that left a lasting impact on both of us.
India welcomed us with warmth, color, and kindness. We return home with full hearts and unforgettable memories.

We’ve just returned home from our trip to India under the care of Active India Tours (booked via Kim Kim,) and have nothing but positive things to report. My husband and I are usually backpackers who arrange all our own travel, but because we had no idea what to expect of our 1st trip to India, we opted for a more guided experience. Ravi and his team at Active India DELIVERED. From the moment we landed at Delhi airport, we were constantly given guidance and clear expectations of what was to come. Each city guide was kind, capable, and communicative. Misters Singh in Delhi (Ardesh and Dharmendra), Mr. Ronit in Agra, Mr. Sanjay in Jaipur, and our faithful driver Mr. Ajay all took incredible care in hosting us in their cities. The hotels selected for our stays were all spectacular, and were the mix of historical, cultural, and luxury value that I asked of Ravi and kimkim. I wouldn’t hesitate to book a tour to India with Ravi and his team again, and highly recommend it to others, as well.

Activity Reviews

Taj Mahal Sunrise Visit

Agra

Sunrise is absolutely the best time to see the Taj, no question. Better weather, fewer people, amazing views!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Old Delhi Sightseeing

Delhi

Great walking tour, got to try jalebi for the first time! Was charmed by the spice market in particular.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had the most amazing week in Jaipur, Agra and Delhi. Our driver, Girish, was FANTASTIC! He had cold bottled water for us, snacks, was punctual and friendly. All of our guides and escorts were excellent and the itinerary was so complete!
We were celebrating our anniversary and my birthday, and Ravi spoiled us completely. The hotels were beautiful and the attention we received was like non other.
I asked to have our rooms be on the top floor, and we were accommodated with rooms with a breathtaking view of the Taj Mahal.
From start to finish, Ravi was communicative and detailed. We will have one more day in Delhi at the end of our trip in a few weeks. I’m sure that it will be as wonderful as the first seven days. I recommend that everyone definitely use Active India and Ravi as your travel agent!

Hotel Reviews

Dera Rawatsar

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

I

Cleanliness & Comfort

Novotel New Delhi Aerocity Hotel

New Delhi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Mercure Agra

Agra, UP

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ranthambhore Heritage Haveli

Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

New Delhi Sightseeing

Delhi

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Agra beyond Taj: Leave for a Mughal Heritage walk

Agra

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the marvelous and historic monument : Agra Fort

Agra

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning and Evening game drives at Ranthambore (Sharing Jeep)

Ranthambore

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bathe, Paint and Feed - (Un-forgettable - experience with elephants!)

Jaipur

Quality of Experience

No

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jaipur Sightseeing Tour

Jaipur

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Taj Mahal at Sunset

Agra

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We can never put into words how happy we are with our holiday in India. We began planning the trip 2 years in advance, and Ravi and his team worked tirelessly and patiently with us until the itinerary was perfect. The hotels we selected together exceeded our expectations, and thanks to Active India's requests, we received several upgrades.
From the moment we exited the airport, until being dropped back off, we were treated like esteemed VIP guests. We had the "BEST" local experienced guides in every town. And our drivers managed to keep us calm and cool while dodging cows, goats, motorcycles, potholes, and crazy traffic. Driving in India is an experience all unto itself!
Our holiday included a lot of rural time. We were in forests and jungles tracking tigers and leopards. We visited small off the grid villages to meet locals and learn about their customs. And we visited many temples and sites miles away from the hustling cities. This made our trip feel less chaotic, as spending only time in cities will not allow you to chill and recharge.
KIMKIM made sure we balanced history, food, culture, nature, spirituality, and fun fun fun. Our photos clearly show this.
We cannot thank our agent and his wonderful team of professionals enough, they made this a trip of a lifetime. Thank you India for welcoming us with open arms, kindness, and sharing all of your treasures with us. We leave India knowing so much more about you, the West has gotten the messaging all wrong. We look forward to visiting your beautiful country again!
Steven and Stephane.

This was truly a memorable trip. We absolutely loved it. We requested a very busy and fast-paced trip and KimKim delivered! We came home exhausted, but it was so worth it. (This was per our request, of course. There are many very relaxing places to visit in India too.)
Highlights were:
Our guide Ritam Sur in Kolkata. Super accommodating, very personable guide who listens to what you are interested in and changes plans to suit you. He even plyed the guitar for us, introduced us to some of his friends, and much more.
Our cooking class with Diya at Harsolihaveli in Jaipur. She is hilarious, super fun and easy to talk to. We had a fabulous time!
Our guide Peter in Mumbai was also amazing. He also adjusted things to suit us and was very accommodating! He is eternally patient! I had very specific ideas for souvenirs I wanted to purchase for gifts, and he took me all over town to find them. If only my husband was so patient!!! 😂
The number one 5 star review goes to Sanjay Safaya! I am a hobby potter in the U.S. and I really wanted to throw some pottery pieces while in India. Mr Sanjay made it happen for me! He called around until he found a family who would let me use their clay and wheel. They were the sweetest family and it was an all around fabulous experience for me! He really went out of his way to set this up and it made the trip for me. I will forever be grateful.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Suba Palace,

Mumbai

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Houseboat

Not our favorite. Staff was sketchy and not very friendly. Cook wasn’t really a chef. They told us we couldn’t use the air conditioning until evening and it was over 90 degrees outside!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Abad Dutch Bungalow

Kochi, Kerala

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Elgin Fairlawn

Kolkata

Honestly, this was not the best hotel. This is definitely not the fault of the staff! The service and breakfast were great, but the building is old Kolkata just doesn’t have the same standard overall. I would advise anyone opting for 3-4 star hotels to request a 5 star hotel in Kolkata.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Alsisar Haveli

Jaipur

One of our top 3 experiences in India! Fabulous place, fabulous cooking class, fabulous people.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Grand Imperial

Agra

Absolutely beautiful and we got to watch a wedding from our balcony.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ambassador - IHCL SeleQtions

Activity Reviews

Dharavi Tour!

Mumbai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking class in Cochin

Cochin

Very detailed and hands on instruction. Our host is a real teacher, and I have a much better understanding of India spices now!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jaipur Sightseeing Tour

Jaipur

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Class, and Dinner with Local Family

Jaipur

One of our beat experiences in India. Diya did an amazing job teaching us and is super fun! She is very easy to talk to. I wondered if it would be awkward, but it wasn’t at all. 5 stars!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Old Delhi Sightseeing

Delhi

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport