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Ravi Tickoo

World traveller, professional mountaineer and passionate adventure entrepreneur, Ravi has over 25 years of experience conducting adventure, experiential and culture tours across the length and breadth of India.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Active India Holidays is an award-winning independent travel company offering safe, authentic and memorable India holidays for families, small groups and individual travelers. Founded by Ravi Tickoo, Active India was born out of his vision to build a dedicated, high-quality and sustainable brand for active, experiential and adventure holidays across India, Nepal and Bhutan.

Active India offers an expanding range of engaging activities and immersive experiences including soft and challenging trekking, walking tours, cycling and motor-biking adventures, experiential culture and discovery holidays, wildlife safaris and nature tours.

We conduct our trekking and walking programs in Ladakh, Zanskar and across the Himalayas, pioneering multi-activity programs (cycling, motor-biking and safaris) across the Himalayas, Rajasthan and Kerala, wildlife safaris and tiger trails in prominent national parks and tiger reserves, experiential culture and discovery tours across the length and breadth of India. In partnership with KimKim, Active India offers on-demand tailor-made India experiences designed around your needs and crafted with a clear focus on the quality of service, authenticity of experience and enriching engagement with the cultural charms, natural splendor and unparalleled diversity that defines India.
"

How did you get involved in travel?

"Being born and brought up in Kashmir valley, in the lap of great mountain ranges, tourism and in particular adventure travel has always seemed like a part of my DNA. The world-renowned natural beauty, alpine climate and the grand altitudes and outdoors have been attracting visitors to the valley for generations and shaped tourism as the dominant industry in the region. Starting out as a young, passionate tour leader back in the 80’s, I had the unique opportunity of exploring the most popular and remotest corners of the region and realizing how much I truly enjoyed my job. Very soon I joined a niche adventure company as a co-founder and spent over two decades contributing in its pioneering growth story from a local niche service provider to a multi-award winning nationwide tour operator.

Realizing the need and unmet demand for a dedicated, high quality Indian brand for active, experiential holidays, I founded Active India in 2011 to offer a wide range of safe, authentic and engaging activities with a focus on high quality, tailor-made services for truly personalized and memorable India experiences. We are proud that within a short span of our operations, Active India has seen great success and just last year was awarded the prestigious National Tourism Award for the Best Adventure Tour Operator."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"Having had the privilege to travel across Asia, Europe and North America, I have had my fair share of adventures and experiences over the years. However, the one that is truly unique and unforgettable, comes from my first attempt to summit the peak Deo Tibba (6001m) one of the highest peaks in eastern end of Pir Panjal range of Himalayas. The entire expedition, from being one of my first “serious” climbs and accompanied by my dear friend and world-renowned mountaineer, Fred Harper, was a deeply transformative experience. The scenes of unparalleled beauty and immense power of nature combined with the thrill and vulnerability of adventure and wilderness have remained so vivid until this day. Unfortunately, Fred passed away soon after in 2000, which further made this experience a unique privilege and personal honor to have shared my rope with someone I admired and learnt so much from. "

Ravi is part of the following groups: Nepal Travel Agents, India Travel Agents
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Recent trip reviews for Ravi

Experiencing A New Culture in India!
India | Aug 10 - Aug 15, 2024

Jennifer
Jennifer B.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Aug 21, 2024
Overall, our first trip to India was a memorable one! We love to experience new cultures on our trips and India has a unique one! Because my daughter and I are on a two-month, 12-country trip, we were only able to spend five nights in India. However, we experienced some of the best places India has to offer by visiting Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Our local guides in each city were professional and knowledgeable. We learned quite a bit from them! Our driver the entire time, Mr. Puran, was... Read more

Overall, our first trip to India was a memorable one! We love to experience new cultures on our trips and India has a unique one! Because my daughter and I are on a two-month, 12-country trip, we were only able to spend five nights in India. However, we experienced some of the best places India has to offer by visiting Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.

Our local guides in each city were professional and knowledgeable. We learned quite a bit from them! Our driver the entire time, Mr. Puran, was awesome! He took care of us traveling from city to city and on all of our tours. Kudos to him for be able to navigate what we would consider ‘crazy’ traffic!

The hotels hand-picked for us in Agra and Jaipur (The Grand Imperial and the Dera Rawatsar respectively) were excellent! Highly recommend! Alternatively, in Delhi, I would likely want to stay somewhere else on a return visit. While it was clean and the staff was accommodating, the rooms were a bit tired, and some common things not provided in the rooms such as tissues and bath mats. And while the breakfast each morning was good, it was a little ‘unorganized’ if you needed/ordered something. Again, not a show-stopper, just providing some additional feedback that might be considered for clients coming from the US.

If I had to book the trip over again, I would likely not be so aggressive in trying to visit three cities that are each about 5-6 hours driving distance apart in 5 days. It was a lot of driving in such a short amount of time. It would have been helpful to know in planning the trip if this were called out so I could make a more informed decision. I may or may not have opted for something different, or even extended our stay, but at least I would have a little better idea about drive times.

Thanks to Active India for taking such good care of us while in the country and for selecting tours and sites that interested us. I would certainly recommend them to anyone traveling there!

Hotel Reviews
Dera Rawatsar

Beautiful rooms reflective of Indian culture! Very spacious and clean! All amenities needed! Very accommodating staff!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Grand Imperial
Agra

Embodies Indian culture, very nice open spaces and very roomy accommodations. Staff professional and accommodating!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Udman Ferns N Petals
New Delhi, Delhi

Clean rooms, accommodating staff. Rooms were not tired looking. Common hotel room items like tissue and bath mats were not provided. A little unorganized for breakfast in ordering or asking for items. But nice selection of breakfast items.

Authenticity & Character
Location
In a location were you really couldn’t walk out anywhere.
Staff
Professional and accommodating
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Bathe, Paint and Feed -  (Un-forgettable - experience with elephants!)
Bathe, Paint and Feed - (Un-forgettable - experience with elephants!)
Jaipur

Once in a lifetime opportunity to interact with these gentle giants!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Taj Mahal Sunrise Visit
Taj Mahal Sunrise Visit
Agra

A MUST SEE!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo
Ravi
Ravi Tickoo
Local specialist in New Delhi | Replied on Aug 24, 2024
Dear Jennifer
Thank you so much for sharing your detailed feedback about your recent trip to India! We’re thrilled to hear that you and your daughter had a memorable experience and enjoyed exploring Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur.
It’s wonderful to know that our local guides and our driver Mr. Puran made a positive impact on your journey. We’ll be sure to pass along your compliments to them! We appreciate your honest feedback about the accommodations. Your insights are invaluable, and we’ll take... Read more

Dear Jennifer
Thank you so much for sharing your detailed feedback about your recent trip to India! We’re thrilled to hear that you and your daughter had a memorable experience and enjoyed exploring Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur.

It’s wonderful to know that our local guides and our driver Mr. Puran made a positive impact on your journey. We’ll be sure to pass along your compliments to them!

We appreciate your honest feedback about the accommodations. Your insights are invaluable, and we’ll take them into account to ensure that future travelers have an even better experience. We understand that the hotel in Delhi didn’t meet your expectations, and we’ll work to improve the selection and amenities based on your comments.

We also appreciate your thoughts on the itinerary. We’re sorry to hear that the amount of driving felt a bit overwhelming. We’ll review the planning details to ensure clearer communication about travel times and help future travelers make more informed decisions.

Thank you for recommending Active India, and for your constructive feedback. We look forward to the opportunity to assist you with any future travels, and we hope your ongoing journey continues to be just as exciting and enjoyable!

Warm regards,

Ravi

Family trip to South India
India | Jun 25 - Jul 1, 2024

Soumya
Soumya K.
Scotch Plains, NJ | Reviewed on Jul 08, 2024
We planned a 6 day trip covering some of the coastal and temple towns in South India.
Right from planning, answering questions and arranging for logistics- hotels, guides, car etc, Ravi and team were on top of everything.
We had a wonderful experience with our 2 guides, Sam Benjamin and Marimuthu who were extremely knowledgeable about the area and provided us a lot of insights and also recommendations on places to eat, shop etc.
Ajith, our driver for the trip was always on time and kept...
Read more

We planned a 6 day trip covering some of the coastal and temple towns in South India.
Right from planning, answering questions and arranging for logistics- hotels, guides, car etc, Ravi and team were on top of everything.
We had a wonderful experience with our 2 guides, Sam Benjamin and Marimuthu who were extremely knowledgeable about the area and provided us a lot of insights and also recommendations on places to eat, shop etc.
Ajith, our driver for the trip was always on time and kept us on schedule
Overall, a memorable experience!! Looking forward to planning our next India trip with this team!!

Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo
Ravi
Ravi Tickoo
Local specialist in New Delhi | Replied on Jul 17, 2024
Dear Soumya,
Namaste!
Thank you so much for taking out time and sharing your reviews of the recent trip. We are happy to hear that you and your family had a nice and enjoyable trip. Guest feedback is of paramount importance to us as it helps us to improver the services wherever required and also encourages our team members to wrk even harder once they receive appreciation for their hardwork.
We are very grateful to you and your family for allowing us this chance to arrange your south... Read more

Dear Soumya,
Namaste!
Thank you so much for taking out time and sharing your reviews of the recent trip. We are happy to hear that you and your family had a nice and enjoyable trip. Guest feedback is of paramount importance to us as it helps us to improver the services wherever required and also encourages our team members to wrk even harder once they receive appreciation for their hardwork.

We are very grateful to you and your family for allowing us this chance to arrange your south India holiday.

we look forward to welcome you back on another holiday is other region of India . As you know India is such a diverse country with so much to offer and every holiday is itself an experience.

Best Regards,

Ravi

Resort at Kanyakumari was not up to the mark....
India | Jun 25 - Jul 1, 2024

S
Sriram B.
India | Reviewed on Jul 02, 2024

Resort at Kanyakumari was not up to the mark.Food quality was poor .

Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo
Ravi
Ravi Tickoo
Local specialist in New Delhi | Replied on Jul 09, 2024

Dear Sriram,
Namaste!
Thank you so much for your trip review. Thanks for giving us this opportunity to design and operate your special India holiday tour.

We have noted your feedback for the Resort at Kanyakumari and have decided to no longer use this property for our future guests as your feedback is valuable to us.

We look forward to welcoming you and your family to another India adventure in the near future.

Best Regards,

Ravi

Excellent Trip to Golden Triangle
India | Jun 3 - Jun 12, 2024

Y
Yannic N.
Singapore | Reviewed on Jun 13, 2024
We really enjoyed our trip to North India (Golden Triangle). Booking/Planning was good and the team responded well to our change requests. There was a mix-up with the booking name, which was not fully resolved at the end, but did not cause any troubles. The local guides and our driver for the 10 days have been excellent and we had a superb experience. There could have been a few more activities, but this way it was a very relaxed trip. Read more

We really enjoyed our trip to North India (Golden Triangle). Booking/Planning was good and the team responded well to our change requests. There was a mix-up with the booking name, which was not fully resolved at the end, but did not cause any troubles. The local guides and our driver for the 10 days have been excellent and we had a superb experience. There could have been a few more activities, but this way it was a very relaxed trip.

Hotel Reviews
Dera Rawatsar

Overall very good and very helpful staff!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ranthambhore Heritage Haveli
Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan

Good pool, and also good food (there was no other restaurant option close to the hotel).

Authenticity & Character
Location
Good for the National Park, but the path to the main road is very bumpy.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Grand Mercure Agra
Agra

Excellent, gym was good! Actually the only gym on our trip, so we happily used this one.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Colonel's Retreat
Delhi

Hotel was okay, but the food options were limited and kitchen was not active during lunch time, so they told us it would take an hour to prepare food. Our driver recommended a very good restaurant instead. Another negative point was that the kitchen was on the same floor as our room, so it was quite smelly. Overall, still a very good experience; large room and clean.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo
Ravi
Ravi Tickoo
Local specialist in New Delhi | Replied on Jul 08, 2024

Dear Yannic,
Namaste!

Thank you so much for your trip reviews. We are happy to hear you had a nice and enjoyable trip to India. Thanks for giving us this opportunity to design and operate your special India holiday tour.

Apologies for the minor mix-up with the surname, We notified all the hotels beforehand, therefore not causing any check-in issues!

We look forward to welcoming you and your family to another India adventure in the near future.

Best Regards,

Ravi

Average tour
India | Apr 23 - May 2, 2024

Kathy
Kathy B.
| Reviewed on May 14, 2024
The tour was ok, 2 out of the 4 hotels were excellent , the other 2 below average.
The driver was fantastic but the tours all felt a bit bland - like the guides had delivered the same tour for 20 years - nothing spectacular.
Kimkim removed all the hassle and risk of making any decisions ,was good to know we had support if anything in India went paired shaped.
Read more

The tour was ok, 2 out of the 4 hotels were excellent , the other 2 below average.
The driver was fantastic but the tours all felt a bit bland - like the guides had delivered the same tour for 20 years - nothing spectacular.
Kimkim removed all the hassle and risk of making any decisions ,was good to know we had support if anything in India went paired shaped.

Hotel Reviews
Royal Heritage Haveli
Khatipura, Jaipur, Rajasthan

Oasis ! Excellent rooms, gardens, food and staff. Very enjoyable stay here.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Location was not a major issue as we had a driver
Staff
It was obvious the staff enjoyed their jobs - could not fault anyone from porters to the chef😀
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Grand Imperial
Agra

Hotel is tired, was a challenge to get drinking water, room not serviced - there is construction going on around it. It appears that there was no one managing the hotel or a change in management at the time we were there .

Authenticity & Character
Hotel is tired
Location
Staff
A few staff were working hard the rest sitting around
Cleanliness & Comfort
Service the rooms
Haveli Dharampura
Delhi

Hotel was excellent- beautifully renovated and authentic to historic past, excellent rooftop bar. The hotel has an excellent restaurant but had functions both nights that dominated the restaurant space. Staff were excellent and attentive

Authenticity & Character
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Heritage walk in Neemrana
Neemrana

Didn’t happen - I think the hotel has a free walk for all guests

Taj Mahal Sunrise Visit
Taj Mahal Sunrise Visit
Agra

Didn’t happen as closed on Fridays for cleaning

Quality of Experience
Transport
Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo

.
India | Apr 7 - Apr 27, 2024

J
James H.
Italy | Reviewed on May 05, 2024

The trip was very well planned out. We appreciate all the effort provided by the driver, the guides, Ravi and Aditya. Thank you!!!

Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo
Ravi
Ravi Tickoo
Local specialist in New Delhi | Replied on May 13, 2024

Dear James and Anne,
Namaste!
Thank you so much for your trip reviews. we are happy to hear you and Anne had a nice and enjoyable trip to India. Thanks for giving us this opportunity to design and operate your special India holiday tour.

We look forward to welcoming you and your family to another India adventure in the near future.

Best Regards,

Ravi

A great way to travel!
India | Mar 23 - Apr 5, 2024

J
Jean W.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Apr 27, 2024
We are so happy with our experience with Kimkim/Active India. Everything was well organized, which made our trip hassle-free. In particular, our two drivers (Mr. Puran and Mr. Sherin) were excellent. They made sure we were safe and comfortable the entire time we were with them, which was nice since they were the "constants" on our trip. While all our guides were good, Mr. Devinder in New Dehli and Mr. Virendra in Jaipur were superb. Devinder did a great job of being flexible with our... Read more

We are so happy with our experience with Kimkim/Active India. Everything was well organized, which made our trip hassle-free. In particular, our two drivers (Mr. Puran and Mr. Sherin) were excellent. They made sure we were safe and comfortable the entire time we were with them, which was nice since they were the "constants" on our trip. While all our guides were good, Mr. Devinder in New Dehli and Mr. Virendra in Jaipur were superb. Devinder did a great job of being flexible with our schedule to make sure all of our time with him was used to its full potential. Virendra's historical and current knowledge of Jaipur made our tours with him very interesting and informative.

One thing to note: the guides will take you to vendors where they will receive a commission on sales. In general, the vendors offer quality items, but you have to be firm and comfortable putting your foot down to say 'no thank you' to your guide and vendor if you aren't interested in purchasing anything.

Hotel Reviews
Airlink Castle

We only stayed one short night while being transferred from Rajasthan to Muunar. The hotel was clean, and the staff was friendly. The best part of the hotel is the rooftop bar/pool area with a large-screen TV. Breakfast offered both traditional Indian and Western fare.

Authenticity & Character
Nothing unusual, but it's a nice, clean hotel.
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Fragrant Nature Munnar

The hotel was great, but we were here at the tail end of the prime season, so it was quiet (not necessarily a bad thing). In fact, we were redirected from one of the restaurants that was supposed to be open. The hotel sits perched on the side of one of the mountains and is viewable from the tea plantations and town below. The views from this hotel are AMAZING, and the massages are good also. The rooms were just the right size, and the staff was friendly.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Houseboat

We were told the houseboat would travel through the canals, allowing you to see the small villages. What actually happens is you boat out from where you board for about an hour with about 10-15 other boats, some of which passed within touching distance. Then, you boat the hour back and dock next to a house where the boat can connect to their electricity. While our cook and captain were friendly enough, they spoke little to no English, so my husband and I couldn't really ask any questions about what we were seeing, what we were eating, etc. Also, while there are lights on the boat deck, they're quite dim and a funny color (pinkish?). As a result, we ended up going to be quite early. If we were to choose again, we wouldn't do this again.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Forte Cochi (Heritage Hotel)

This was our last stay for our two-week visit to India. Forte Cochi is such a cute hotel with a lot of character! Our room was spacious and clean, the beds were very comfortable, and the staff was outstanding! The hotel is also located in a cute part of the city with shops all around. We will definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Metropolitan Hotel & Spa

We stayed two nights at the Metropolitan Hotel & Spa while in Dehli. The hotel was clean, and the employees were nice and attentive without being overbearing. We ate breakfast each morning at the restaurant, which had plenty of Indian and Western options. The only negative aspect of this hotel is that the Wi-Fi connection was adequate in the common areas but spotty in the rooms.

Authenticity & Character
Nothing was wrong per se - it was just a hotel.
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Wifi connection in the room was spotty.
ITC Mughal
Agra

Our stay at the ITC Mughal was very nice. The hotel & rooms were clean, comfortable, and spacious, with many options in common areas for exploring and lounging. The staff was friendly, and the breakfast included in our stay was a massive buffet with Indian and Western options. We also got a massage while staying here, and it was well-priced and good.

Authenticity & Character
Nothing in particular, but it's a very nice hotel.
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Chokhi Dhani Resort

Several friends from India recommended Chokhi Dhani to us. So, in fairness, I don't think we had the right expectations when we arrived. We just trusted their recommendation without much research. Chokhi Dhani is a resort modeled after a traditional Rajasthani village. Each room is designed as an individual "hut/house." In the evening, the grounds around the rooms were dimly lit, and few people were eating in the restaurant or outdoor buffet area. I'm guessing that most guests were next door where the shows, activities, shopping, and traditional Rajasthani restaurants are located. However, the dim lights and sparsely populated grounds were offputting. Regarding the activities next door, they were okay, but they seemed kind of cheesy. If you were visiting with children, I think it would have been more fun and interesting. Also, when we entered, we were told not to tip the performers, yet we had several who directly asked us for tips. The activities and shows are free, but it's an additional cost if you want to eat. It wasn't terrible - the rooms were clean, and the service was good. It just not what we had anticipated or wanted.

Authenticity & Character
Location
While it's still considered in Jaipur, it is a bit further out from city center.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Royal Heritage Haveli
Khatipura, Jaipur, Rajasthan

We stayed two nights at the Royal Heritage Haveli, and our room was HUGE! Built in the 18th century, they have done a very nice job of remodeling the building while keeping its integrity. The hotel is quiet and tranquil because there are only 18 rooms - a nice retreat after sightseeing all day! We ate one dinner and two breakfasts at the hotel, all of which were tasty.

Authenticity & Character
The hotel has been nicely remodeled and modernized while keeping the integrity of the building.
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo
Ravi
Ravi Tickoo
Local specialist in New Delhi | Replied on May 08, 2024
Dear Jean,
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts about your recent trip to India! We are pleased to hear that your experience in India was wonderful and that both you and your wife enjoyed every moment of this journey. We truly appreciate your kind words and appreciation of our team.
On behalf of the entire Active India team, we thank you for trusting and choosing us to organize your India tour.
We hope you visit India again in the future and explore even more of what our...
Read more

Dear Jean,
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts about your recent trip to India! We are pleased to hear that your experience in India was wonderful and that both you and your wife enjoyed every moment of this journey. We truly appreciate your kind words and appreciation of our team.

On behalf of the entire Active India team, we thank you for trusting and choosing us to organize your India tour.
We hope you visit India again in the future and explore even more of what our Incredible country has to offer.

We look forward to welcoming you to another India experiential tour in the coming future,

Best regards,

Ravi

I already filled this out elsewhere and think...
India | Mar 25 - Apr 9, 2024

D
Dorothy S.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Apr 21, 2024
I already filled this out elsewhere and think it was a wonderful trip and am still high from it. Thank you. I did want to say a few things that I would keep in mind for future trips. The schedule was great, but it would have been good to have a planned down day in the middle of the trip. I realize this was hard with the Jennifers coming and going. The husband of the woman that did the cooking class was also wonderful. He does food tours and other kinds of tours. It would be great to have... Read more

I already filled this out elsewhere and think it was a wonderful trip and am still high from it. Thank you. I did want to say a few things that I would keep in mind for future trips. The schedule was great, but it would have been good to have a planned down day in the middle of the trip. I realize this was hard with the Jennifers coming and going. The husband of the woman that did the cooking class was also wonderful. He does food tours and other kinds of tours. It would be great to have include his work as an option to split up the visits to temples and historic sites. Thanks for all. Best, Dorothy

Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo
Ravi
Ravi Tickoo
Local specialist in New Delhi | Replied on May 08, 2024

Dear Dorothy,
Many thanks for taking out time and sending us your trip feedback. Glad to hear you have enjoyed the overall trip and your suggestion of splitting sightseeing with an offer of optional activities is well noted.

We look forward to welcoming you on another Indian experience,

Best Regards,

Ravi

Active India and Ravi were awesome!
India | Mar 25 - Apr 4, 2024

D
Dorothy S.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Apr 15, 2024

We had a seamless trip put together in a short timeframe. Besides the amazing sites and people in India, we especially were grateful for transfer agents, guides, and drivers. They were all well versed in what we were doing, easy to commicate with, and made our trip to India very enjoyable.

Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo
Ravi
Ravi Tickoo
Local specialist in New Delhi | Replied on May 13, 2024

Dear Dorothy,
Thank you so much for taking out time to share reviews of your recent trip with us! We're happy to hear that you and your friends have enjoyed the holiday and we have met your expectations.

We look forward to welcoming you on another India adventure,

Best Regards

Ravi

Kim Kim made our trip easy to plan, smooth to execute and we were well cared for the entire trip!
India | Mar 25 - Apr 4, 2024

Jennifer
Jennifer H.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Apr 05, 2024
Three of us were traveling to India with little time to plan, so we have a few parameters to Kim Kim who connected us with Active India Holidays and our travel planner, Ravi and his team put together an excellent itinerary for a 3-week trip with 3 different people coming and going at various dates and times. The platform is easy to use, we had smooth communication throughout the planning and travel. We were warmly welcomed and cared for the entire trip from Day 1 all the way through... Read more

Three of us were traveling to India with little time to plan, so we have a few parameters to Kim Kim who connected us with Active India Holidays and our travel planner, Ravi and his team put together an excellent itinerary for a 3-week trip with 3 different people coming and going at various dates and times. The platform is easy to use, we had smooth communication throughout the planning and travel. We were warmly welcomed and cared for the entire trip from Day 1 all the way through departure, with guides meeting us at airports for transfers, safe drivers (with clean AC cars) for every destination, and knowledgeable local guides who showed us the local sites and were able to provide top notch information, history and local insight everywhere we went. Our hotels were lovely and exactly as we asked for (mid-range, clean and locally owned). Our favorite places were Amritsar and the Golden Temple, the border ceremony, hiking to local villages in Dharmashala, and the boat ride on the Ganges with the Aarti Ceremony in the evening with excellent viewing seats. Our guides were flexible, patient with all our endless questions and coconut water diversions, and we had an amazing time. I would highly recommend working with Kim Kim and their local in-country companies - you won’t be disappointed! We will definitely use their services again!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Udman Ferns N Petals
New Delhi, Delhi

Loved the decor or the hotel, the comfy beds and great breakfast buffet. We enjoyed sitting outside on the patio garden area for breakfast. Staff were friendly, rooms very clean and the hotel was in a nice residential neighborhood close to the metro.

Authenticity & Character
Great breakfast buffet, loved the wall of Buddhas
Location
Nearby a nice park, but not many restaurants nearby and on a busy road.
Staff
Friendly staff in the restaurant
Cleanliness & Comfort
Beds were comfy, rooms kept nice and clean and waters refilled
Hotel Ritz Plaza

Hotel was nice with a nice garden outside, decent breakfast buffet. The hallways were a bit dark and the door lock on our room was a bit loose. The rooms could use a bit of updating and the walls were thin so there was a lot of noise from adjoining rooms.

Authenticity & Character
Was a very local place
Location
Was farther from the main attractions than we had hoped
Staff
Reception desk staff were very friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms were clean and waters refilled daily
Chonor House
Dharamsala

Great location near the temple, nice restaurant patio and beautifully decorated rooms. We loved our little balcony and the bathrooms were large. The dogs barking all night were a major distraction and the breakfast buffet was pretty limited. Some of the wait staff were incommunicado but seemed to take the orders, they just didn’t say anything to acknowledge what you said. The entrance is on a steep hill with lots of stairs, so guests should be prepared physically to access the hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Very Tibetan in character and lovely welcome tea upon arrival
Location
Very near the temple and easy to walk to town and shops
Staff
Staff did not seem super friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean and comfortable
Surya Kaiser Palace

We really enjoyed our time at the Palace! It was a nice respite from the hustle and bustle of the Ghats. The breakfast buffet was delicious and food was great on the restaurant. We loved the gardens and the pool and appreciated that our balcony opened and we could sit outside. Only complaint was the mosquitos!🦟

Authenticity & Character
Loved the palace grandeur feel and lovely gardens. The pool was a treat and very refreshing in the heat.
Location
Was set back off the road so quiet and the gardens, pool and restaurant were very nice
Staff
We had an amazing housekeeper who made cute towel animals and was super sweet, the restaurant staff were also very helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Our room was not super spicy and span when we arrived but after introducing herself our housekeeper paid special attention to keeping our room neat and clean
Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo