Kimkim Trip Reviews for India

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!

Incredible, once in a lifetime trip for
start to finish! Loved being able to customize our itinerary to eliminate tourist traps and see a little bit of the real
India and Nepal. The best part of our trip was our guides and drivers.

We started with Raj and Ravi in New Dehli. Ravi was such a safe and courteous driver. Especially given how chaotic the roads can be, his skills were extremely impressive!

In Kathmandu, Mugtha was an incredible guide. He knew the country in and out. He truly made each site come alive and was extremely flexible to make sure we had the best time possible. Our driver was also great!

When we returned to New Delhi, our driver Pintar drove us to Agra. He was with us the remaining days of the trip and he was so kind! He made the long drive as painless as possible and whenever we returned from touring had cold water at the ready.

Nishant in Agra and Hitesh in Jaipur were incredible guides. Both great ambassadors for their cities. They were extremely knowledgeable and made sure our needs were being met. We added an extra tour in Jaipur on our last day and insisted Hitesh be our guide. Our Mughal village tour guide in Agra was also fantastic!

Our 16-day trip was planned around a visit to the Taj Mahal, which we saved for the end. And it was even better than we imagined! Most of our time was spent visiting forts, palaces, temples and other historic sights in Rajasthan. By our request, we mostly stayed in heritage-type hotels. A highlight (among many) was seeing a mating pair of tigers in Ranthembore National Park -- up close and personal! Our excellent travel planner, Ravi Tickoo, worked with us every step of the way to insure we were getting the vacation trip we wanted. Our driver, Vinod, was fantastic. He took great care of us and knew all of the good restaurants and nice bathrooms along the way. Our guides at the historic sights were all very good, although a few had very heavy accents. Standouts were Ketan in Delhi, Raghu in Jodhpur, and Harish in Agra -- excellent guides! Overall, a fabulous trip to an enchanting country.

Just back from a wonderful Golden Triangle Tour of India with Bespoke India Holidays. We have begun referring to this trip as "India for Beginners" because we have realized that we have barely scratched the surface of this vast nation, and that's with a very full 8 days of it under our belts! Jay, who organized our trip, placed us in terrific hotels with great breakfasts and wonderful service -- shoutout to Taj Palace in Delhi, and Trident Agra in Agra. (We self-booked at the Hyatt Regency Mansarovar in Jaipur, which was also excellent though a bit out of the way.) Our local guides in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur (Mr. Kumar, Mr. Vishal) were amazing historians and great storytellers, inviting us into the region's rich history of Moghul leaders through visits to incredible sites and monuments, while answering our endless questions as we traveled along. This was a family trip with our two daughters (13 and 17), so we were glad to have some built-in "down time" for hotel pools and relaxation around some very full days. Girls especially enjoyed the shopping in Jaipur and the rickshaw ride through Delhi, and a family highlight was the Heritage Walk through the small village overlooking the Taj Mahal in Agra -- it granted a unique and unexpected perspective on our time in India. WE LOVED OUR DRIVER MR. VINOD. Seriously, he's a total rockstar of navigation and steering clear of cows in traffic, people, rickshaws, Tuk-Tuks and the constant honking of horns. A note on timing: Our trip was the week before Easter and at the very end of the tourist season for these areas because it gets HOT. Pack your hats and sunglasses and sunscreen, and wear loose linens for these hot days if you are planning for the same time frame. TIP your guides and driver generously - they work hard to make the trip amazing for you - service in India is unparalleled and we travel a lot!

Activity Reviews

Mughal Heritage Kachhpura Village walk with high tea

Agra

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Agra Sightseeing

Agra

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Agra – Jaipur (via Fatehpur Sikri)- (240 km- 5 to 6 hours by car)

India

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jaipur Sightseeing tour

Jaipur

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Galtaji Temple visit

Jaipur

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Sightseeing Tour of Delhi

New Delhi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nahargarh fort visit

Jaipur

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our family of five had the most incredible time in India. Jay crafted the perfect itinerary for us, and was always professional and highly responsive when we asked questions or made specific requests (particularly for our daughter's birthday). All three of our guides along the Golden Triangle (Raj in Delhi, Brijesh in Agra, and Hatesh in Jaipur) were so warm, engaging, and knowledgeable. And our driver for the week, Jasvinder, was always on time, waiting for us with a smile and cold bottles of water. We felt so welcomed and so well taken care of our our 10 days in India. We highly recommend the team at kimkim!

Working with Ravi was a pleasure from beginning to end. He was incredibly patient, helpful, and accommodating while we were planning the trip and making multiple changes to the itinerary. He and his team made for a super smooth experience once we got to India by providing excellent, timely service and making sure they were always available to help with our requests. All the guides, local representatives and drivers we worked with were very professional and always on time. I particularly recommend working with Yuvraj, our guide in Udaipur who was super knowledgeable and made for the most memorable experience.
Priya, one of the local representatives, also went above and beyond to take care of us (even after her services were officially over) and managed to arrange a last minute over-night car ride back to Delhi when one of our flights got rerouted due to bad weather.
India can be an overwhelming place for first time visitors like us, so if you want to ensure a smooth experience don’t hesitate to work with Ravi and his team.

Had an incredible trip to India! Jay was very attentive and listened to my needs to build an incredible itinerary for me. He was even able to include a celebration on Holi for me to attend (when people would normally not be working) which was much appreciated and a once in a lifetime experience! My trip overall was the perfect balance of activity highlights and downtime. As a solo traveler I felt safe at all times. Had great tour guides and drivers and attentive staff greeting me and making sure I had everything I needed at each new destination. Absolutely an effortless and seamless experience! Can’t wait to book another Kim Kim adventure soon :)

I cannot praise the KimKim team enough. From the very start when we were planning our trip, Ravi was not only hugely helpful, but exceptionally flexible and understanding, making multiple changes to the itinerary. Ravi was always super quick in responding to our queries.
Throughout the trip the local guides and our driver looked after us beautifully. Guides were not only knowledgeable but fun and flexible, responding to the needs of the group. Would particularly pick out Jay in Delhi who changed the whole of the itinerary for our second day based on the what the group had enjoyed on the first. Our lovely driver Vijay who got us safely across Rajasthan and again nothing was too much trouble
Finally the team back in the office (Priya, Raj and of course the amazing Ravi) were superb during the trip, checking in with us and making sure everything was working like clockwork. They even managed to book extra hotels/cars/trains for us at very short notice THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! We will be booking with you again
I have

Let's start from the beginning :)

I use KimKim for a while and had no doubt that I will use it again for India and Nepal trip.
Then I found Bespoke India Holidays and Jay :)
I can describe in a few words the service - fast , trustworthy, safe, exceeded my expectations as an agent.
The holiday was organised for may parents-in-low. They travel a lot and have high expectations.
Their opinion after the trip is:
- amazing planning
- exceptional guides. Especially in Nepal.
- great hotels
- great service
- secure / safe and worth every second of the trip

Thank you, Jay for you help and support :)

Warm Regards,
Zhenya

Activity Reviews

Free time in New Delhi

New Delhi

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Sightseeing Tour of Delhi

New Delhi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

New Delhi – Kathmandu (Flight departs at 12:25 and arrives at 14:25)

Nepal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kathmandu Sightseeing - Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Kathmandu

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kathmandu Sightseeing - Patan, Swayambhunath, Kathmandu Durbar Square

Kathmandu

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Agra Sightseeing

Agra

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mughal Heritage Kachhpura Village walk with high tea

Agra

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Old Agra City Tour

Agra

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Agra – Jaipur (via Fatehpur Sikri)- (240 km- 5 to 6 hours by car)

India

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jaipur Sightseeing tour

Jaipur

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jaipur to New Delhi - 5 to 6 Hours by car

India

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour of Akshardham and Lotus Temples

India

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had different guides, the best among them was the guide in MADURAI with the visit to the Meenakshi Amman Temple.

Hotel Reviews

Francis Residence

HOME STAY is clean, cozy, with good staff and delicious food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clouds Valley

Munnar, Kerala

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel PepperVine

Thekkady, Kumily, Kerala

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Abad Whispering Palms

Kottayam, Kumarakom, Kerala

The site, the service, the people, the staff everything was wonderful. And the exemplary cleanliness must be noted

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Houseboat

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

JC Residency

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Madurai Sightseeing

Madurai

The temple and the guide to the temple was fascinating

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The driver was excellent and very pleasant, but the communication with him was partial. The accent did not allow such good communication.

Transport

Six of us wanted to see the highlights of Rajistan and Ravi put together a bespoke tour for us over 8 days. We have just finished our whirlwind tour and what an amazing experience; so
Many wonderful sights and sounds, Brilliant local guides who brought everything to life providing detailed history and description of what we’re seeing. Our driver was really friendly and stayed with us for the whole week looking after us and taking us from place to place. When two our our party were unwell, Ravi helped rearrange accommodation at the last minute for us. Communication was excellent and very timely . Thanks so much Ravi from us all - we certainly had a trip we will all remember for a very long time!

Hotel Review

Dera Rawatsar

Jaipur

I loved this hotel. Tastefully and beautifully decorated in an interestingly historical style with helpful and friendly staff. A little oasis of calm in Jaipur.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Characterful

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Old Delhi Sightseeing

Delhi

Delhi - Food Walk

Delhi

Great opportunity to try lots of different local delicacies!

Full Day Delhi Sightseeing

Delhi

A great way to see Delhi highlights especially if short on time with a wonderful guide who gives you insights into what you are seeing.

Ravi was extremely helpful in sorting out our 8 day trip between Mumbai and Delhi. He arranged for 4 different hotels, excellent guides and all transport. We never felt alone, although we also enjoyed the intrepid nature of moving from place to place. We saw fantastic temples in Khajuraho and Bhopal. The safaris were all good (although the lack of wildlife is a reality). Our drivers did their utmost to find a tiger- and we finally got lucky. Our train trips were fun, and the drivers taking us from location to location were an absolute treat. A professionally run trip from beginning to end. Ravi was contactable throughout. Exactly what we wanted.

From start to finish, Ravi and his team were totally professional and gave an excellent service. Six of us were on the tour that Ravi organised for us and the itinerary was varied and perfectly adapted to meet with our requests. A lovely combination of visiting famous sites with getting to know the cities and visiting local craftsmen. The minibus was comfortable and our driver was kind and considerate, always making sure the bus was spotlessly clean in the morning and that the cool box was full of bottles of water. Our guides in each city were interesting and incredibly knowledgeable; we leant so much from these men and appreciated their humour and friendliness. The hotels were clearly well chosen - clean, boutique style places that were well run with polite and helpful staff. Unfortunately, we suffered some ill health during our visit, but Ravi and his team went out of their way to make sure they were comfortable and made arrangements for them to travel on to meet the rest of the group when they were fit and well.
I will certainly be using KimKim for my next holiday in India!

Hotel Reviews

Devi Bhawan

Jodhpur, Rajasthan

Spacious, clean rooms in beautiful, lush gardens. The pool area was perfect for relaxing and the food was delicious.

Authenticity & Character

The beautifully decorate rooms and the lush, verdant gardens

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Udman Ferns N Petals

New Delhi, Delhi

Helpful staff, clean comfortable rooms. Excellent breakfasts

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dera Rawatsar

Jaipur

Such friendly and helpful staff. A hotel full of character and charm. A varied dinner menu and excellent breakfasts.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It is in the centre of town - perfect for exploring the markets but quite noisy at night

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Chandelao Garh

Jodhpur, Rajasthan

What a treat - this hotel in the middle of nowhere was quiet and clean with beautiful outside sitting areas and a lovely pool. A co-operative is part of the set up where women make beautiful bags from offcuts of cotton which they profit from by selling. As well as sewing, they spend an hour each day leaning to read and write. because of the location, you have to eat in the hotel - the choice was limited but delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

off the beaten track

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kotra Haveli

Udaipur, Rajasthan

The rooms were quite small and the bathrooms could have done with a bit of updating. The beds were very comfortable. The rooftop restaurant was a bit soulless and breakfast was disappointing. However, the food we ate in the evening was delicious.

Authenticity & Character

It felt a bit sad - could do with some sprucing up

Location

Great location in the heart of the old town. Can only be reached by rickshaw and the little streets were hazardous with traffic

Staff

The chef was absolutely charming

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rajasthani Folk Dance Cultural Evening

Udaipur

Such fun. Great atmosphere. It was lovely to see some traditional Indian entertainment

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Old Delhi Sightseeing

Delhi

The Red Fort was stunning to look at and our visits to the temples was made so much more enjoyable because of the amazing knowledge of our guide. We got to learn so much about Indian religion, culture and history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Delhi Sightseeing

Delhi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Delhi - Food Walk

Delhi

Lovely to be taste authentic street food that you knew was safe to eat!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

New Delhi Sightseeing

Delhi

Really enjoyed the trip to the house where Gandhi spent his last days. Fascinating insight into the Indian marriage system from our lovely guide

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Heritage Walk through Lodhi Garden

Delhi

A time for some peace and tranquillity

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Delhi - Jaipur

Jaipur

It's a long journey and the jeep safari was a real disappointment

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

A guide who knew what he was talking about on the jeep safari - he hadn't got a clue

Transport

Jaipur Sightseeing Tour Including Nahargarh Fort

Jaipur

The fort was amazing, and again, our guide was superb

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jaipur - Jodhpur (5-6 hrs drive)

Jodhpur

It's a long journey - but it has to be done. You wouldn't really describe it as amazing because it isn't. BUT, it's made as comfortable as possible by being in a very comfortable minibus

Transport

Tour of Mehrangarh Fort and Jaswant Thada

Jodhpur

Another brilliant guide, another fascinating day

Quality of Experience

Food

The street food we tasted was delicious

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Udaipur Sightseeing

Udaipur

Perhaps I was a little bit cultured out by the time we got here; but the palace was interesting to see and I loved the boat trip out to the island. Enjoyed seeing the artisan painters.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was my fourth visit to India but the first for my daughter. It was my pleasure to re-visit sights I had seen before and to experience them with her. KimKim and our local specialist, Ravi, helped build a trip that provided opportunities to see the best of the Golden Triangle and Varanasi. Each place we visited we had an experienced local guide and in each location the guides provided us with rich experiences that made our visit memorable.
in addition to the most famous sights in Jaipur, our guide, Virendra, showed us the vegetable and flower markets and beautiful local temples.
In Fatehpur Sikri and Agra, our guide, Raju, gave us insight into the reign of the Mughal Empire.
In Varanasi, we were able to experience sunrise on the Ganges and enjoyed the festivities on Republic Day. Our guide provided us with the best seats for Aarti on the Ganges.
In Delhi, we enjoyed the major attractions and our guide, Jitendra, took us for a wonderful walk in Old Delhi which was a highlight.
Our driver, Vijay Singh, was with us through our trip. From the moment he picked us up until we left for home, he took very good care of us. He was professional, courteous, prompt and entertaining. He was always ready to answer any question we had along our journey.
KimKim and Ravi managed to take our list of must do's and make them a reality. They provided us with knowledge that helped us hone our ideas into a workable plan. We would highly recommend their services to anyone considering a bespoke travel experience.

Hotel Reviews

Alsisar Haveli

Jaipur

Well maintained, good service, location was good and we enjoyed our breakfasts there very much. Our only regret was that we could not use the pool because the weather was too cold!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Oberoi Amarvilas

Agra

A beautiful hotel with amazing Taj Mahal views. Impeccable service, lovely decor.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Pride Plaza Aerocity

Delhi

Convenient location -- next to entertainment and dining.

Authenticity & Character

It was a basic airport property

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel had a very odd smell--there were signs of deferred maintenance throughout the hotel

Brijrama Palace

Dashashwamedh, Uttar Pradesh

LOCATION! Historic hotel with incredible service. Truly a special place. There were so many perks to staying here, special snacks in room, free high tea daily, free henna tatoos, free yoga, traditional dance performance...

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Taj Palace Delhi

New Delhi

Good location, beautiful modern luxury hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Arrival Delhi and Drive to Jaipur

Jaipur

Great service by entertaining driver, Vijay Singh. The long drive was made enjoyable because he clearly loves his work and his country.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The staff at Active India was helpful, polite and when we encountered a small glitch they were proactive and really quick to work out a solution. Guides were all very good--each one was able to show me something or tell me something new. Since I have visited India three times before that is not an easy task. Our driver, Vijay Singh, was such a joy to be around. He always was making sure we were comfortable, he helped us capture the best photos along the way, he found delicious meals on the road and in the cities we visited. He answered all of our questions about life in India, the customs and the people. The trip was enhanced by the time we spent in his car. We appreciated his command of English.

Transport

The car was immaculate and comfortable.

Jaipur Sightseeing Tour Including Nahargarh Fort

Jaipur

Traveling with a guide and driver helps make sightseeing very efficient. This allows for seeing lots of sights (and there are many in Jaipur!) Also, the guide and driver know how to group activities so no time is wasted.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jaipur Exploration

Jaipur

We were able to see several temples and learned so much. Also, we were able to see the local markets and experience street food. These are activities made much richer when you have a local guide and driver.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jaipur - Agra via Abhaneri and Fatehpur Sikri

Agra

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Taj Mahal at Sunrise and Drive to Delhi

Agra

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Delhi to Varanasi (Indigo Flight - 10:55/12:25 Hrs)

Varanasi

Indigo is a great airline--good service.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The driver and the person who accompanied us to the hotel were very good. It was nice to have an English speaker take us on the boat to the hotel. We could have managed it but this was an added benefit.

Varanasi Sightseeing With Sarnaath

Varanasi

Great experience--walk in the old city, seeing Banaras University and enjoying the Republic Day celebrations. Sarnath was wonderful to see. We also enjoyed the Aarti on the Ganges.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Varanasi - Delhi (Flight - 12:55/ 14:30 Hrs)

Delhi

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Delhi Sightseeing

Delhi

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Delhi Sightseeing and Departure

New Delhi International Airport (DEL)

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great trip, unforgettable experiences and perfect organization by Jay and Bespoke Team.

Spent a whole day in Delhi . The highlight were Chandni Chowk, or ‘the Moonlight Square', with the amazing rikshaw ride and visit to Qutub Minar.
Spent two days in Varanasi. Our guide Mr Singh did a fantastic job showing us all temples and finding the best seats for us during the Aarti.
Agra - our guide Brijesh Joshi did a phenomenal job introducing us to Taj Mahal and everything that Agra has to offer. The best thing was visiting a local village, not far from Taj Mahal. What an experience!
Ranthambore National Park - this was something that I had been waiting my whole life. Seeing a tiger in the nature, just couple feets away from you is a once in a lifetime event. This is the MUST see if you are visiting Golden Triangle.
Finally Jaipur - the purple city. Fantastic guide Mr. Ajit Singh. We really enjoyed seeing sites in this city.

I have to say one thing. We had the best driver ever. Mr. Balbir Singh Rana was an absolute dream of a driver and we could not thank him enough for making this trip perfect. He was always smiling, so peaceful, pleasant and calm while navigating the insanity of Indian driving/traffic/animals and all forms of transportation found on the roads. He kept the car clean and guided up to wonderful rest stops while en route to all the sights.

A very pleasant trip, made all the more pleasant by all of the attention given to us by our local, Ravi Tickoo and Active India.