Kimkim Trip Reviews for India

Kim Kim/Active India Holidays lead by Ravi Tickoo put together a great 10-day trip in the Golden Triangle Area of India for my family of 6. The trip was a big success. We had representatives meet from Active India meet us after each flight and always felt cared for and supported on the trip. Our hotels were top notch and our guides were friendly, knowledgeable. This trip would not have happened without them!

We had a large group with diverse interests. Ravi did an amazing job all through the planning and execution process. He was very patient during the planning phase offering many options. He then worked to fine tune the itinerary and respond to many change requests. During the trip itself he was always connected with us to ensure everything was going smoothly.

Ravi was not only a trip planner, but a partner during the entire process. I recommend him without reservations.

Hotel Reviews

The Oberoi, Mumbai

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shiv Niwas Palace

Excellent location and service - but extremely old and dated room facilities. Bathroom fixtures were also at least 20+ years old. Given the opportunity - the management should spend the money to upgrade the rooms and bathrooms.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, Kences Palm Beach

This hotel has huge potential given its location and the amazing beach. But they need to spend some money to upgrade their rooms and bathrooms. Also - there were a lot of mosquitoes in the room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais de Mahe - CGH Earth

Pondicherry

Everything about this hotel was amazing. Compared to the 10 hotels on our itinerary, it was the best place we stayed at.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

RAAS JODHPUR

Jodhpur

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Jaisalmer Marriott Resort & Spa

Jaisalmer

Hotel was good, but not great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Suba International

Given it is a budget oriented hotel for local travelers, it is a great hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Svatma

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heritage Madurai

Huge potential, they need to spend some money to upgrade their facilities.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tour of Mehrangarh Fort and Jaswant Thada

Jodhpur

The Mehrangarh Fort is an exceptional experience.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Walking Tour of Pondicherry

Pondicherry

Puducherry is an amazing little town

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to Brihadeeshwara Temple, an architectural masterpiece and Thanjavur Palace

Tanjore

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was very good

Transport

Udaipur Local Exploration

Udaipur

Guide was exceptional - knowledgeable, articulate, eager to share information.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided tour of Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuram is one of the best places to visit in India

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide's English was not so good so it was hard for many in the group to understand him

Transport

Because of a diplomatic situation, we were unable to obtain required visas and didn't think that we were coming until about 4 days before our trip. Ravi was able reorganize our entire trip on very short notice. We were very thankful.

Our guide in Jaipur was outstanding! He knew and shared all sorts of information but also when we asked questions where he didn't know the answers he was honest and said that he didn't know -- rather than make up something. In addition to the regular sight-seeing destinations, he helped us navigate buying a replacement phone charging cord and work out a place to go running the next morning. Our driver was also terrific although at times we felt a little too pampered. At one point he wanted us to get back into the car to drive about 300 metres down the road. I was so tired of sitting (5+ hours already that day) that I insisted on walking. And it turns out that I was faster on foot than he was in the car.

I was less impressed with the other guides. In particular, the guide from Delhi shortened the days from what was promised then asked, "if there's anything else you want to see?" but because we had just arrived, we didn't know what to suggest. So we ended up dumped back at the hotel early and feeling a bit trapped. By the end of the trip, we were more comfortable taking a Tuktuk or the metro on our own, but we needed more structure on the first few days.

I was also particularly unimpressed with the guide from Agra who asked if we wanted to see how the marble inlay work was done by craftsmen and then took us to what was essentially either a tourist scam or abusive labour practices. They told us about how many hours went into creating these beautiful tables (all supposedly by hand by workers from the families of the original crasftmen) and then wanted to sell them to us for quite low prices. They had a huge showroom of tables which would have represented millions of hours of work so either this story was untrue or they are paying some huge number of people inappropriately low (slave labour) wages. When I refused to buy anything at all, the sales pitch ratcheted up a notch and in order to leave we were led through more and more showrooms of items for sale. I would not have agreed to go to this place except that I misunderstood and thought that it was a museum where we paid for admission (not a sales scam).

The safari guides at Ranthambore were ok. The morning guide was great, but in the afternoon the guests in the front seat were from India and we were in the back seat. The guide didn't speak English well (or at least he chose to speak to them in a local language) and the Indian guests ended up translating for us. But they only translated about half of the information and we missed a lot. I kept having to ask what the guide was saying. My advice to other safari riders is to sit in the front seat and ask questions.

All the hotels on the trip were great. The one in Ranthambore and the one in Jaipur were particularly lovely and the staff were pleasant. The food was yummy. We ate most dinners in the hotels and almost always had too much food.

One of my favourite parts of the trip was the cooking class with a family in the Jaipur area. It was very special to be welcomed into someone's home and spend time together. We didn't do the market or henna (as advertised in the itinerary), but I didn't care because instead we spent a long time cooking and talking and then eating together. During our conversations, they gave us instructions and encouragement to take the metro and tuktuks ourselves to explore Jaipur that evening. We followed their advice and found our way.

All in all, it was a great trip and while I've provided some negative feedback (in hopes of helping Active India improve), I am very satisfied. I would recommend Active India to other travellers who (like me) didn't have the time, experience, or confidence to arrange all the details of their trip on their own.

Hotel Review

Dera Rawatsar

Very impressed. The owners were particularly welcoming and friendly.

Authenticity & Character

We had a lovely big room with a seating room and our own balcony.

Location

close to the metro and easy to take a Tuktuk from the bus station.

Staff

Friendly. I felt a bit smothered though. I don't need 3 people to show me to my room and carry up our two small cases.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Heritage Walk through Lodhi Garden

Delhi

It was a bit too short. The guide skipped the bonsai garden and I agreed to skip it thinking that there were more other things to see. But then when we got to the other end of the garden, he said, "well that's it we'll take you back to the hotel" even though the time wasn't up. We didn't see the Lodi Colony at all either. It just felt like he was keen to dump us and be done.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

car was always clean and driver was terrific.

Taj Mahal at Sunset

Agra

We didn't go at sunset as promised. We went earlier and were there for much less than 3 hours.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

It wasn't clear what choices we had about timing etc.

Market Visit, Cooking Class, and Dinner with Local Family

Jaipur

This was the best part of my trip although we did not go the market at all. But having the time with this family was wonderful.

Food

It was delicious. She said she would send the recipes on WhatsApp and we have already been in contact.

Jaipur Sightseeing Tour

Jaipur

Guides, Drivers and Staff

guide was terrific. Best one of the trip.

Overall, we felt the trip was fine. It was nice to use a platform like Kimkim to make life easier, but for the price we paid, we did not feel that we received the quality we were expecting from the drivers & the tours. This is compared to a similar trip taken in the North of India with a different operator. The main highlight was Raj - the tour guide in Munnar. His quick thinking and adaptation honestly made the whole trip worth it. The driver was nice, but we were told that we would have full use of the driver, and it felt like each time we asked for him to take us somewhere e.g. a restaurant for dinner - there would be resistance.

Hotel Reviews

Viceroy

Not a 5* as advertised. 45 minute drive from Munnar town. Would not stay here again! To its credit, it was very clean & functional.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Eight Bastion

This was a really great hotel. It fit our criteria of a design led hotel. Great location, decent breakfast, comfortable beds. We loved the bathrooms too. Staff were friendly and welcoming!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Arrival Cochin

Cochin

We were so confused by the arrival greeting. The gentleman did not seem to know much about our itinerary or plan - he initially also only addressed the only male traveller in our group and the three female travellers had to directly ask him questions in order to get any acknowledgement. It was truly a very strange experience as we weren't sure who he was / if he was the guide for the whole trip, and it did make us very worried for the rest of the trip.....

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Cruise in Cochin

Cochin

This was a nice trip on a boat. It was massive boat, and privatised for us. Took us up and down the river, and through some of the fishing areas to see the nets. We enjoyed this.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cochin sightseeing

India

A nice opportunity to explore Kochin. The guide was knowledgeable and kind. Note, that the sightseeing tour that was written in the itinerary was not what happened in reality.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Trek through Munnar Tea Plantations , Tea tasting and Tea Factory visit

Munnar

The guided trek (that nearly didn't happen) was the best part of the trip! A massive highlight for us to hike through the plantations - so beautiful & peaceful. A massive shoutout to Raj who was instrumental in making this trek happen for us after there was poor communication between the agency and him. We wished we had more days to do more trekking. The tea factory was an interesting experience and was nice to see the production.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Incredible India and that's exactly what it was! A trip of a lifetime..... we loved every minute. Thank you Ravi and Team Active India. We will be back! Ruth, Michelle and Evie.

Ravi and the team from Active India organised a fantastic trip for my partner and I. He suggested a variety of itineraries based on our dates/interests and was able to personalise the trip to exactly what we wanted, ensuring that everywhere we stayed was LGBT friendly. He was very responsive both before and during our trip. The trip ran very smoothly throughout allowing us to do both sightseeing and trekking across a wide area of India. Mr Kewal (driver) was very reliable and ensured we were comfortable during our journeys and all our guides were extremely knowledgeable and friendly, particularly Priya in Amritsar. We would definitely recommend booking with Active India if you want a stress-free, memorable trip!

We enjoyed our trip around the Golden Triangle so much! Thank you to our guides Jain, Nish, and Vijay, who packed a ton of experiences in, and kept us laughing. Highlights were serving meals at Gurudwara Sri Bangla Sahib in Delhi, sunrise at the Taj Mahal in Agra, and touring the Amber Fort in Jaipur. Can’t wait to come back to explore more of India.

Hotel Reviews

LilyPool Hotel

The hotel is clean and the staff are very attentive, but there is a strong sewage smell from the area around the hotel that made it unpleasant to be in.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

ITC Mughal

Agra

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Imperial New Delhi

Delhi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Visit to Bangla Sahib Gurdudwara and Dilli Haat

Delhi

We had the opportunity to visit the temple and also see and participate in the massive volunteer-run operation serving thousands of meals each day. Amazing experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our travels were disrupted by the war in Israel. Jay put the trip together in about 4 days. Our first trip to India was amazing. Every transfer was easy. Radhe was our driver for 2 weeks. He is the best. I personally would be afraid to drive in India and I drive everywhere. Our last night in India after 19 days was a cooking class in Udiapur with Rakshita. It was the perfect ending as we learned about the food we had eaten but to visit with Rakshita and Dakshu was the best ending. We highly recommend Jay and his team.

We had a fantastic time in Kerala - it was my two daughters first trip to India and they loved it. Our guide Ganesh was super helpful and really looked after us the whole way round. We particularly enjoyed the afternoon at the elephant sanctuary as well as the evening ceremony at the temple in Madurai. Ganesh had heaps of information one everything that we saw and also managed to squeeze a couple of extra visits to local attractions on the way. He really was superb, and I would definitely recommend Ganesh to any future travellers.

Everything went according to the plan and communication with Jay at Bespoke was always reassuring. Our driver, Mahipal Singh, looked after us very well making sure we had all we needed along the way. When we arrived at our first hotel, he was very helpful and drove back to return my lost item. I always felt safe with his driving and felt he made sure we were always safe.
Our guides were well selected and respectful of our time as we are not interested in buying stuff.
All was flawless!

Excellent support from Kimkim as we enjoyed the most. Everything went smoothly as we planned with the help of kimkim.

I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for your excellent management of our 27th anniversary reunion trip to Goa. The entire experience, from trekking to the waterfall, fishing, BBQ dinner, accommodation, transport, and dining, was absolutely fantastic, and we all had an amazing time.

Your impeccable planning and attention to detail ensured that everything ran smoothly throughout the trip. The trek to the waterfall was exhilarating, and it allowed us to reconnect with nature and appreciate the beauty of Goa. The fishing experience was equally enjoyable, filled with excitement and laughter as we cast our lines and reeled in our catches.

The BBQ dinner at Calamari was exceptional. The mouthwatering food, cozy ambiance, and joyous company made for a truly remarkable evening. We savored delicious grilled delicacies while reminiscing about old memories and creating new ones. It was a delightful experience that brought us all closer together as we danced to the music

Additionally, the choice of accommodation was good. The facilities were comfortable, clean, and provided the perfect respite after our adventurous days, especially the swimming pool. The transportation arrangements were seamless, ensuring that we could easily explore different parts of Goa without any hassle. And, of course, the delightful dining experiences throughout our trip left us satisfied and eager to taste more of the local cuisine.

Your dedication to making our anniversary reunion trip unforgettable is truly commendable. Your expertise and hard work made it a stress-free experience for all of us. We appreciate your efforts in ensuring that every aspect of the trip was well-planned and executed flawlessly.

Once again, thank you, Ravi and Bhushan, for organizing such a fantastic trip. It exceeded all our expectations, and we are filled with wonderful memories that we will cherish for a lifetime. Your contribution made our 27th anniversary reunion truly memorable, and we couldn't be more grateful.

Wishing you all the best in your future endeavors.

Hotel Review

Santana Beach Resort

Santana Beach Resort is a great choice for families, couples, and groups looking for a relaxing and affordable vacation in Goa. The resort is located right on the beach, close to restaurants and bars, and has a nice pool and helpful staff. The family rooms are spacious and comfortable, with everything you need for a stay with 3 adults .The breakfast is good, with a variety of options to choose from. The pool is a great place to cool off on a hot day, and the staff are always happy to help with anything you need. The resort is an older property, but it is well-maintained and the gardens are beautiful. Overall, Santana Beach Resort is a great value for money and a great place to stay in Goa. Overall, I would recommend Santana Beach Resort to anyone looking for a relaxing and affordable vacation in Goa.

Authenticity & Character

Traditional

Location

Close to beach and restaurants

Staff

Helpful and courteous

Cleanliness & Comfort

Well maintained

Activity Reviews

Exploring a Different Side of Goa - enjoy white water Rafting in Valpoi river

Goa

The activity was closed due to seasonal restrictions.

Quality of Experience

NA

Guides, Drivers and Staff

NA

Transport

NA

Experience Fishing in Goa and Barbecue Dinner

Goa

My friends and I went on a fishing trip with Active India and had a great time! The fishing equipment, boat, and staff were all top-notch. We patiently waited for the fish to bite, and in the end we were able to catch 3 fish and a crab. As a bonus, we also got to see a pod of dolphins swimming nearby. The sea was calm and the weather was perfect for fishing. Overall, we had a great time on our fishing trip and would definitely recommend to others

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tambdi Surla Temple and Waterfall - Offbeat Goa, an Unforgettable Experience

Goa

Trekking to the Tambdi Surla Temple and Waterfall with guide Sameer was a fun and energetic experience. The route was challenging enough for a moderately fit person, and the views along the way were stunning. Bathing in the stream of water at the waterfall was a refreshing way to cool off after the hike. Sameer was a knowledgeable and helpful guide. He shared interesting facts about the temple and waterfall, and he made sure that everyone in the group was safe and comfortable. Overall, I would highly recommend this trek to anyone looking for an adventurous and rewarding experience in Goa.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was the second time I booked my trip with KimKim and I got not disappointed at all after the expectations were super high because of my Vietnam, Cambodia trip earlier this year. So, thumbs up for the amazing concept and how KimKim manage to implement it worldwide!
First of all I want to thank Ravi Tickoo from Active India for planning our trip... Wow, that was not an easy task and he did an amazing job. After several weeks of fine tuning, we got it and where ready to go. During the whole trip, Ravi and his team where always there for us 24/7 and we really had a lot of extra wishes and tasks to fulfill.
Second of all we want to thank Sanjay our driver who was with us the entire time... What a great soul and perfect driver. He was not only our driver but gave us many insights in culture, politics and what's going on in daily life in India.
The guides...
Mr Yogi in Delhi, a perfect start for our journey exploring secret places in old town - just amazing. His personality and guidance style where exceptional.
Arriving in Agra, Mr Love showed us the hidden gems and the magic of the Taj, no question was unanswered - amazing. Moving on to Jaipur Mr JC couldn't have been a better guide to show us around and we would have loved to stay another day but Dharamshala was calling.
Mr Sonu was awaiting us with his love for nature and culture of the place where he grew up. We spent amazing days in Dharamshala and Dharamkot. Arriving in Manikaran we did some nice sight seeing and hiking with the young guide from our hotel, Jagut, which was organized on short notice by Active India thanks to Ravi. Our last leg of the journey was Rishikesh, where laid back Mr Dev was showing us around the busy pilgrim cities including Haridwar.
Heading back to Delhi by train Mr Aman, the very kind representative of Active India, was awaiting us for a comfortable transfer to the hotel - like always, all went smooth and perfectly organized.
We could have mentioned so many more things but after this long review I can only say... Book your trip with kimkim and Active India and you will have one of the most amazing trip ever!
Cheers, Susanne and Volker

Ravi made every effort to understand what we were looking for and did an amazing job planning out the itinerary in detail. I had a mix of phone/email interactions to finalize our plans.

We had a mix of city, culture and nature in Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Udaipur. Our guide Ajay was with us through the whole trip. He was very knowledgeable and keen to ensure that we got the full experience. The drivers too were experienced and professional.

The Taj Mahal in all it’s views is breathtaking! We saw a variety of animals and birds at the Sariska Tiger Reserve. The forts and mahals in Jaipur, the pink city were a great experience. Udaipur, the Venice of the East is a treat for the eyes. They were quite different memorable experiences.

Ajay made excellent restaurant recommendations so we could get our fill of the food variety we wanted to experience.

This is my fifth trip with KimKim and it reaffirms why I use them. They take away the stress of planning, safety, and dealing with situations on the ground. It allows us to really enjoy the local place, people and experiences.

I highly recommend Ravi and Active India to plan your experience.

Wow! Incredible North & South India! Thank you so much to Ravi and his team at Active India for their exceptional organisation and exciting itinerary! My partner and I enjoyed a phenomenal 4 weeks, visiting Ladakh, Kashmir, Tamil Nadu & Kerala. Our guides, Chomphel/Abdul; and drivers, Sonam/Rafiq/Sutesh; were very friendly and highly professional; making our trip that much more magical. A highly memorable trip!

Hotel Reviews

Coconut Lagoon

Excellent stay!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Marari Beach Resort - CGH

Excellent stay!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Eight Bastion

Excellent Stay!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Houseboat

Fun stay! The captain and chef were very friendly and gracious hosts.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Helpful & Friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Sangam

Pleasant stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very helpful staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ambady Estate

Stunning rooms and beautiful estate. Wifi didn't work at all and dining area was basic. Remote and not much to do at the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Remote and not much to do at the hotel.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Singge Palace

Ladakh

Pleasant stay!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Udman Ferns N Petals

New Delhi, Delhi

Pleasant stay!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Uley Ethnic Resort

Pleasant stay!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Karma Inn

Ladakh

Beautiful hotel but staff were not that helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Not so helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Highland Mountain Resort & Spa

Pleasant stay!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Grand Kaisar

Okay stay. No wifi in the rooms.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ideal Beach Resort

Excellent buffet!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le Pondy

Nice stay. Wifi was an issue and room was a bit basic given the fanciness of hotel. Also, the room was far from the lake so not much of a lake view.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wifi was an issue and room was a bit basic given the fanciness of hotel. Also, the room was far from the lake so not much of a lake view.

Heritage Madurai

Stunning hotel!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spice Village

Excellent stay!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Staff were exceptionally helpful and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tour of Monasteries Around Leh: Shey, Thiksey, & Hemis

Leh

A magical tour of some beautiful monasteries! Chomphel was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arrival Nubra visit Diskit Monastery

Nubra Valley

Incredible scenery and breath-taking Diskit!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excursion to Gulmarg

Srinagar

Valley was beautiful but we had to abandon the cable car ride due to excessive wait times.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Spice Plantation Walk in Periyar

India

An interesting class on spices!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy Activities at Coconut Lagoon

Kumarakom

Yoga was wonderful - a lovely teacher!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cruise through the backwaters of Alleppey

Alappuzha

A stunning time exploring the backwaters or Kerala and enjoy the beautiful scenery. The Captain & Chef were very friendly and helpful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cochin Sightseeing

Cochin

We cancelled this tour due to my illness.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excursion to Pahalgam

Srinagar

We cancelled this tour due to my illness.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free day to relax at the hotel or for independent sightseeing

India

N/A

Acclimatization and Orientation walk

Leh

A helpful orientation walk of Leh.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arrival Uley

Uley

Beautiful spot!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to Brihadeeshwara Temple, an architectural masterpiece & Thanjavur Palace

Tanjore

We cancelled this tour due to my illness.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Uley - Rizong Monastery(3300m) - Yangthang (3600 m) (Walking 3 hrs)

Yangthang

Incredible trek! And beautiful scenery! Chomphel is an excellent guide!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Yangthang - Hemis Shukpachen (3600 m) (Walking : 3 -4 hrs)

Hemis Shukpachan

Incredible trek! And beautiful scenery! Chomphel is an excellent guide!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hemis Shukpachan - Mebtak La (4030 m) -Themisgam (3200m)

Ang

Incredible trek! And beautiful scenery! Chomphel is an excellent guide!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Themisgam - Lamayuru- Leh

Leh

More phenomenal monasteries!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free Evening in Leh

Leh

Free evening to chill.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stay in a houseboat on Nageen Lake in Srinagar

Srinagar

Houseboat was stunning! Beautiful lounge area & roof deck. Room was excellent for a houseboat. Both hosts were very friendly and helpful. One shared dining table for all guests was impractical. On the second night, we arrived at the dinner table at our allotted time to find another guest's child playing with our food. The next morning we ate breakfast at our allotted time while other guests sat almost on top of us, watching us intently and waiting for their turn to eat breakfast. It was uncomfortable. Perhaps, it's a cultural difference here, as we prefer to have our own space when eating. Food was very basic given the fanciness of the houseboat experience. We expected better food and more variety. Also, our schedule was so busy that we only got back to the houseboat at around 8pm on both days so didn't really have time enjoy the houseboat. The Shikara ride was fun.

Quality of Experience

One shared dining table for all guests was impractical. Better food with more variety. More time at the houseboat to enjoy it's features.

Food

Food was very basic given the fanciness of the experience. We expected better food and more variety.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Super friendly and helpful staff.

Transport

Morning Srinagar local Sightseeing

Srinagar

Pleasant exploring of Srinagar.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free Time in Delhi

India

Chilled day after 2 weeks of intensive travel.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided tour of Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuram

Pleasant tour of the local temples.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking Tour of Pondicherry

Pondicherry

Excellent walking tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free day at Pondicherry

Pondicherry

Chilled day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Madurai: Discover the Tamil culture and its Hindu Temples

Madurai

We cancelled this tour due to my illness.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Hike to Sevenmalai Hills - Tea Museum Tour

Munnar

The hike was okay and the tea museum visit was a disappointment and not worth a visit.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jungle Walk in Periyar National Park

India

An excellent walk in nature!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy Activities at Spice Village- Thekkady

India

A wonderful array of activities - especially the cooking demonstration.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free Day at Marari Beach

Marari

Chilled day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Participate in Cooking demonstration activity at a Local Family House

Cochin

A fun time learning Kerala Cuisine from Rosy! And the food was delicious!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to India was amazing. A once in a lifetime experience. We visited Agra, Jaipur, and Delhi over 8 days. Our driver, Prakash, was excellent. I don't know how he managed to dodge all the autorickshaws, motorcycles, pedestrians, and assorted animals without a scratch on the car! We loved the Taj Mahal, the stepwells, and the Amber Fort. Shopping in Jaipur was outstanding - we probably spent too much! The hotels were all excellent. Thank you Ravi and team for putting this together!

One opportunity for improvement - we would like to have had the expectation to tip the driver and tour guides explained ahead of time. As it was, we didn't tip the Agra guide and we used up all our rupees at the end to tip the driver.

Ravi did an amazing job creating the ideal experience for our trip. We wanted: mountains, nature, tea, and history. And that is exactly what we got. Amritsar and staying at Ranjit’s Svaasa is a must do in order to learn and see the Golden Temple and Community Kitchen. I will also add visiting the India-Pakistan Border Ceremony as a truly unique experience. Next, McLeodganj is an oasis of peace and serenity. The mountains, monastic life, and connection to nature are unparalleled. Sonu, the local tour guide, gave an excellent tour and made our experience personal and connected. Stopping for a day in Palampur to visit Wah tea and stay at the Wah Lodge was well worth the time. The Lodge is gorgeous, the staff absolutely pleasant, and peaceful was the property. Afterwards we traveled to Shimla. This summer capital boasts of unique history as well as dramatic views. Stop at the Indian Coffee Cafe for a delightful cuppa and local experience. After a long train ride and then flight the next morning, we arrived in Darjeeling. The tea tour (Makaibari) and tasting (Mayukh) were exceptional. The local guide, Bipen, was attentive, kind, and well informed. Although our time of year to visit was rainy and foggy in Darjeeling, it was absolutely worth the trip to Northeast India. On our final day back in Dehli, we did a tour of Old Dehli. The Red Fort is a must see as well as walking the Chandni Chowk market. Yogi, our guide, did a great job adding personal touches such as stopping at the oldest Jalebi and Parantha stands for lunch.

Overall, our India experience was exactly what we wanted, and we have Ravi and kimkim to thank for it. We marveled at the past, present, and future of this remarkable country.

Hotel Reviews

Udaan Dekeling Resort

Amazing hotel! Beautiful property, excellent view, attentive staff.

Authenticity & Character

The architecture of the building is beautiful as well as the upkeep of the interiors.

Location

Very close to the market while being distant enough that the property is calm.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ranjit Svaasa

A must stay place for Amritsar! An oasis in a bustling city. Beautiful grounds, unique architecture, attentive staff, and delicious food.

Authenticity & Character

Absolutely unmatched in its unique rooms and layout. We loved the patios and gardens spread throughout. All of the flowers and plants made it serene.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Taj Princess

The hotel was fine, but the wallpaper was coming off of the wall, and different metal pieces were starting to rust.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wallpaper, metal fixings

Activity Reviews

Amritsar Sightseeing

Amritsar

We loved getting to see Golden Temple and the Community Kitchen. We got an up close view of how the kitchen operates, which was really cool. We also added on the Indi-Pakistan Border Ceremony and while extremely hot outside, it was definitely worth seeing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kora Walk- Visit to Dalai Lama Temple

Dharamshala

The guide, Sonu, explained clearly the meaning behind each part of the Kora Walk. He was cognizant of the pace and needs of the group. Seeing Dalai Lama’s Temple is a highlight.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mcleodganj – day hike to Dharamkot & Naddi Village

Dharamshala

One of our favorite activities. Not a strenuous hike at all, more like a beautiful nature walk. Sonu, the guide, pointed out plants and birds local to the area along the way. It only takes about 1.5 hours to complete. I wish it were longer!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Norbulinka Institute

Dharamshala

Norbulingka is great to learn more about Tibetan History and Arts. Seeing up close how they paint, wood carve, and do appliqué was unique to see. I appreciated that they have created a space where people can watch and learn the arts.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tea Tour ; Visit to Tea Factory and Tea tasting

Palampur

We were given a tour by the owner of Wah. His history, personal experience, and investment were evident. We enjoyed getting to see the tea process in action. And the tea was delicious!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Shimla - Heritage Walk

Shimla

This was a great day learning about the history of the summer capital. We especially liked visiting India Institute for Advanced Studies (IIAS). Be sure to take the inside tour too!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tea Garden and Factory visit at Makaibari Tea Estate

Darjeeling

It was unique to see and talk with the women harvesting leaves! The tour was great. We learned so much and what makes Darjeeling Tea so unique in comparison to other teas around the world.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Darjeeling – Full Day Sightseeing

Darjeeling

We love Darjeeling! The zoo and mountaineering institute were well worth the stop. Groom Monastery is beautiful and Bipen, the local guide, gives an excellent description of Buddhism and its philosophy.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Delhi full day sightseeing

India

Although scorching hot, Old Dehli was worth seeing. We switched our tour to a half day, Old Dehli only, trip due to the heat, which was the right call. Red Fort and Chandni Chowk are highlights of the city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

AMAZING!!! We knew when our daughter said she wanted to take her senior trip to India that it was going to be a trip of a lifetime... but we never imagined it would be as amazing as it was! This was in HUGE part to Jay!!! Jay was incredible during the entire booking process. He listened to feedback, gave wonderful recommendations and everything he booked was perfect. During the trip he was equally as responsive when we added excursions. I would recommend Jay and Bespoke India Holidays to everyone!!!

In Delhi, our guide, Raj, was very knowledgable and it felt like we were walking the streets, riding tuk tuks, and visiting temples/sites with a friend. He was easy to talk to and answered all our questions. He took us to an absolutely delicious lunch and we even convinced him to eat with us! We loved all the sites in Delhi, and our favorite was the incredible Qutb Minar. Our teenage daughter was also very grateful to Raj for making her feel safe at this monument while several other Indian tourists were wanting to take photos with her and following her. We also loved immediately getting to see an Islamic Mosque and Hindu Temple in the same day. The trip would have been incomplete without our walking tour of Chandni Chowk - a must for any visitor to Delhi. Our hotel was wonderful in Delhi also.

We also were very glad to have our driver, Raj, with us from Delhi through Jaipur. Raj was very knowledgable on the drives about the different cities, crops and interesting things we didn't know. He made sure to stop for us at very nice restrooms and eateries. We felt like we were leaving a friend behind when we said goodbye to him in Jaipur.

In Agra, our guide, Kumar, was also very knowledgable about everything we saw. We loved having guides that were local to the area and knew and loved their rich history. Kumar took us to Agra Fort - which blew our minds. We were so excited to see the Taj Mahal, that seeing this was just awe inspiring. We loved learning all the history of Agra and it's incredible sites. Agra Fort was followed by "baby Taj" which was so stunning that we kept wondering how everything could get better and better... but it did! Kumar took us to see the Taj Mahal during sunset and then sunrise the next morning. I would tell everyone to do the same. Seeing and walking around the Taj Mahal is a breathtaking experience on it's own - but having Kumar there to talk about the history and take the perfect photos for us was perfect!! I could have stayed at the Taj Mahal all day... for days. It was almost a spiritual experience to learn the history all day... and then to see it and touch it and go inside. It was a top experience in India for me. After seeing the Taj at sunrise (which was the best time), Kumar took us to Fatehpur Sikri, which we hadn't given much thought to... but it blew our minds again! We loved all the history of the wives' palaces and the view of the village too. It was an amazing addition in Agra! Our hotel in Agra was great!

We next went to Ranthambore for the night. We felt like royalty when we arrived at our hotel (palace)!! The hotel was literally one of the most incredible places we have ever stayed! It was nice to relax that afternoon/evening also. We went for an early morning safari - and while we didn't see a tiger... there is no way we could complain about the spectacular views and animals we did see. The guide and driver were great.

We drove to Jaipur after the safari. In Jaipur, which was so different than Delhi and Agra, we went for a wonderful night tour of the bazaar with our guide, Hitesh. Hitesh was a wonderful guide and provided interesting cultural insights! He took us to see many unique places in the bazaar and bought us a delicious Jaipur treat!! The next day he took us to the Amber Fort, Panna Meena ka Kund and Jaigarh Fort. We really liked how he would explain all the history and then let us explore before the next location. He also took wonderful photos of us. Amber Fort was also an incredible gem in Jaipur - it blew us away, especially the painting that has survived. We went to Jantar Mantar which was very unique and cool. The City Palace tour was also wonderful. We wish we would have spent more time in the bazaar's in Jaipur. It was so different from Delhi and was very pleasant to walk around in. The hotel was great in Jaipur.

We flew to Udaipur the next day - and I must say that we took four flights domestically in India on IndiGo, and they were spectacular. What a great airline!! All of our flights were on time and all IndiGo employees were professional and kind. They handled and diffused difficult situations with grace and made all the flights relaxing.

In Udaipur, we were again blown away by our hotel! It was right on Lake Pichola!! Our driver, Umesh, and guide, Mukesh, were both great in Udaipur. Mukesh took us through Udaipur to see Jagdish Temple, a beautiful garden and City Palace. City Palace was amazing as well as the temple. The boat ride was so relaxing and wonderful too. We were treated to a great show in Udaipur where we saw traditional Indian dances and music. It was thrilling. The special part of our hotel was the AMAZING view of the nightly flight of thousands of fruit bats close enough to see their fangs!!! It was also in a great part of the city that we felt very safe walking around and shopping in. We added a tour the next day to a Ranakpur Jain temple... and that was literally one of the other mind blowing sites on the trip! I would tell anyone going to India that it's a must see!!! The drive was beautiful and totally worth it. Mukesh made sure to stop at great restrooms and a delicious restaurant for lunch afterwards. The temple was absolutely amazing for so many reasons and we couldn't believe it's rich and long history.

We flew to Madurai next - and just like in America, the south is different. Not better or worse, just different - and wonderful!! I am so glad our daughter wanted to see the Meenakshi Temple - it was her favorite site! Our guide, Vasand, took us on an epic trip the first night. We rode tuk tuks into the temple (that was a real thrill) and were able to witness a very special religious Aarti ceremony inside the temple. We felt honored to be able to witness that and have time before the ceremony to learn from Vasand about the different statues and rituals. Vasand was another guide that we felt like we were walking around town with a friend. He was comfortable and knowledgable and very easy to talk to.

In the morning, we met our driver, Sujidh, who would drive us for the remainder of our trip. He was a wonderful driver, knowledgable and kind as well. He went above and beyond even trying to make me aware of a sporting event he knew I wanted to see since we connected as fans of the same EPL club team!

Vasand took us through a flower market and banana market in the morning, going slow enough to let us interact with the vendors and even buying us flowers and bananas!! He went at our pace (which was slowing down by this time in the trip) and took us for a walk around the Meenakshi Temple in the daytime so we could see all the incredible workmanship. We drove by the biggest water tank in Tamil Nadu and then visited a temple and the Gandhi Museum. The hotel in Madurai was another marvel to us! We felt like we were in a jungle, yet just off the road!

The next day we drove into the mountains to Thekkady. What a little piece of paradise!! The drive in and out of the mountains was absolutely gorgeous and our driver, Sujidh, knew so much about all the crops and cities along the way. We went to a wonderful spice plantation with our guide, Cedu, who knew everything about all the spices. We went on an unforgettable boat ride inside the Periyar National Park and saw many elephants, water buffalo, deer, wild boar, and birds. It was perfect!

The next day we drove through the clouds on our way to Alleppey in the backwaters of Kerala. This was another experience that blew our minds. We needed the day to relax, but the beauty was just awe inspiring. We saw a new lifestyle and we just loved to see a part of their lives on this totally unique journey. The boat and its crew were just all amazing and we wish we could have stayed another day there too! This was a really nice relaxing point in the trip and provided a break from the rest of the tour. The cooking was especially delicious on the boat.

We went to Cochin the next day, and this was definitely the most humid of all the locations! We were shocked actually, as we were driving down from Thekkady, we could already see some Christian influence, but Cochin was full of Christian influence. It was fun to see the Jewish area and then all the different buildings with influence from China, Holland, Portugal and England. The Chinese Fishing Nets were a highlight for me. I loved the history and watching them work today. We also loved the old dance form of Kathakali and martial art form of Kalarippayattu.

We very much appreciated and loved each guide/driver talking to us about their religion, families, and the history of their individual states in India. Our daughter wanted to come to India because she loves Indian food and wanted to learn about their history, religions and culture. We all fell deeply in love with the people we met, the culture and even more of the food! We hope we make it back to India again and when we do, we will absolutely be connecting with Jay and Bespoke India Holidays!

Active India - Golden Triangle
June 2023
Active India was assigned responsibility for our five day tour of India (from Delhi to Jaipur to Karauli and Agra) after I contacted Kim Kim ton help arrange our visit. The Active India team, led by Ravi Tickoo, jumped right on the assignment and with just a couple of emails, we had our itinerary all set. As promised, our driver and another Active India staff member met us at our hotel in Delhi and in no time, we were off to our first destination. Our driver was incredibly skilled at navigating considerable traffic and always had cold water available, stopped at rest stops as needed and accommodated every request we had. The hotels we stayed at we quaint and culturally unique (including staying at the king’s home in Karauli!) and we were treated like royalty throughout. We had great and knowledgeable guides throughout and everyone was on time, fully informed and totally coordinated.

Nothing’s ever perfect but when we made a request for a change, it was accommodated immediately. We enjoyed the culture of every city and historic site, ate extremely well (and inexpensively) and were driven in an extremely (and well air conditioned) car.

We heartily recommend Active India for any of your India travel and tour needs and especially want call out Ravi, Priya, Vidon and our wonderful guides for their attention to our every needs. Ravi contacted me regularly throughout the trip to make sure we were enjoying ourselves and had every need met. I’ve been in the hospitality business for many years and never experience such wonderful service.

The professionalism and hospitality of all the staff from Active India Holidays, including tour guides, driver and itinerary designers are top notch and exceeded my expectations. I felt treated like royalty everyday with the utter most consideration and care. Ravi and Priya planned an unforgettable two weeks Golden Triangle - Rajasthan tour for me that allowed me to gain a deep appreciation and admiration for India's rich history and cultural contribution to our humanity! They were were also very flexible and accommodating with providing me professional photographers at major sight seeing spots and left me with great memories both in the mind and in print! The tour guides were all very knowledgeable and did their best to ensure I had an amazing time.
Finally I had the best driver Venud who took such good care of me every day and enjoyed our conversations from long drives from city to city.
I highly recommend Active India Holiday to anyone planning a trip to India, whether for their first time or return visits. I myself will be planning more trips with them!