Kimkim Trip Reviews for India

4.7
Based on 121 ratings
Read 121 verified reviews by travelers who booked their trip to India on kimkim. You can also read reviews about kimkim on 3rd party sites including Google, TrustPilot and Yelp.

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
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
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
Dera Rawatsar

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

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Taj Mahal Sunrise Visit
Taj Mahal Sunrise Visit
Agra

A MUST SEE!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
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
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
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
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
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
Dera Rawatsar

Overall very good and very helpful staff!

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
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
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
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
Activity Reviews
Taj Mahal Sunrise Visit
Taj Mahal Sunrise Visit
Agra

Didn’t happen as closed on Fridays for cleaning

Quality of Experience
Transport
Heritage walk in Neemrana
Neemrana

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

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

India
India | Apr 18 - Apr 29, 2024

Lupe
Lupe W.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on May 01, 2024

I had an amazing time in India! I appreciated everything about our trip!
I learned about India’s rich history, religions and culture. Love, love the food and guides. I especially want to mention our driver Ram. He was always punctual, attentive and courteous. I always felt safe with him. Thank you Ram. 🙂🙏🏽

Local specialist: Jay Kajaria

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

Jam-packed Itinerary: Delhi, Agra, Ahmedabad, and tour of Kerala
India | Mar 18 - Mar 29, 2024

B
Bella P.
Hough, OH | Reviewed on Apr 01, 2024
Our trip to India went very smoothly from the time of inquiry through our return home. Ravi was very responsive to questions and feedback as we finalized the itinerary, and the Active India team was responsive while we were traveling as well. Our drivers were fabulous - kind, considerate, extremely safe. They went above and beyond to make sure our family was comfortable. The guides in each city were knowledgeable and flexible to the interests and needs of my family. Read more

Our trip to India went very smoothly from the time of inquiry through our return home. Ravi was very responsive to questions and feedback as we finalized the itinerary, and the Active India team was responsive while we were traveling as well.

Our drivers were fabulous - kind, considerate, extremely safe. They went above and beyond to make sure our family was comfortable.

The guides in each city were knowledgeable and flexible to the interests and needs of my family.

Hotel Reviews
Houseboat

The houseboat facilities were not great - no hot water, wet bathroom, a/c only in bedrooms. When the boat wasn't moving, the heat was uncomfortable. Staff was very kind and helpful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Better facilities - bathroom in particular
The Lalit Hotel, New Delhi
Delhi

Our family was amazed by this hotel - the buffet was extensive, the staff was helpful, and the rooms were wonderful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Not much in the vicinity to walk to
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The House of MG
Authenticity & Character
Location
Not a great neighborhood to be able to walk and explore
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cockroaches in our room.
Francis Residence
Location
Difficult to find, driver could not drop us at the door.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
A/C was only in bedrooms so the common space was not comfortable.
Fragrant Nature Munnar
Authenticity & Character
Location
Beautiful location but not near anything else.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Greenwoods Resort Thekkady
Authenticity & Character
Location
Walkable to some stores in our downtime.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Grand Mercure Agra
Agra
Authenticity & Character
Location
Centrally located - we were able to walk to a store for some shopping.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Taj Mahal at Sunset
Taj Mahal at Sunset
Agra

Perfect timing for our visit - wasn't too crowded and the weather was perfect!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Boat cruise in the lake and experience the wilderness.
Boat cruise in the lake and experience the wilderness.
Periyar
Participate in Cooking demonstration activity at a Local Family House
Participate in Cooking demonstration activity at a Local Family House
Cochin

Great experience to cook with Rosy, but it was very hot!

Quality of Experience
Explore the marvelous  and historic monument : Agra Fort
Explore the marvelous and historic monument : Agra Fort
Agra
Half-Day Ahmedabad Tour 
Half-Day Ahmedabad Tour 
Ahmedabad
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide was so flexible to meet the needs and interests of our family.
Transport
Cruise through the backwaters of Alleppey
Cruise through the backwaters of Alleppey
Alappuzha
Cochin sightseeing
Cochin sightseeing
India
Full Day Delhi Sightseeing
Full Day Delhi Sightseeing
Delhi

Chandni Chowk - spice market was a bit overwhelming for our first morning. Restaurant for lunch was just ok.

Spice Plantation Walk in Periyar
Spice Plantation Walk in Periyar
India
Early morning Jungle Walk in Periyar National Park
Early morning Jungle Walk in Periyar National Park
Periyar
Experience a different world at Elephant Junction in Thekkady
Experience a different world at Elephant Junction in Thekkady
India
Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo

India is worth visiting.
India | Feb 29 - Mar 11, 2024

E
Eliana C.
Lakewood, WA | Reviewed on Mar 28, 2024
India is a very interesting country, with lots of history and cultural traditions and also with extreme difference in social and economic classes.
The local representative from Active India Tour met us at our hotel in Delhi to greet us and provide us with paperworks for our tour. We visited Delhi for the day and the next morning we took a flight to Jaiselmar to start our tour through several cities including Jodhpur, Udaipur, Pushkar, Jaipur, Agra and return to Delhi. Rahul was our...
Read more

India is a very interesting country, with lots of history and cultural traditions and also with extreme difference in social and economic classes.
The local representative from Active India Tour met us at our hotel in Delhi to greet us and provide us with paperworks for our tour. We visited Delhi for the day and the next morning we took a flight to Jaiselmar to start our tour through several cities including Jodhpur, Udaipur, Pushkar, Jaipur, Agra and return to Delhi. Rahul was our driver for the remaining of the trip. Rahul was an amazing driver, very kind, patient and punctual. In every city we had a different tour guides. All were very competent, knowledgeable and very friendly. would recommend all of them. All the places we visited were very interesting, stunning and with history that exceeded our expectations.

According to the pictures of the Hotels sent at the time we booked our tour, they all looked clean, beautiful and we agreed on all of them. To our surprise, the hotels were not what they looked like in the pictures. The room we were assigned at the Udman hotel in Delhi, was on a floor where there were several room assigned to a wedding party so the noise was annoying. After we complained they switched our room to the suite in the hotel. I guess that room had not been used in a while, I found a spider under the sheets and the sheets were not clean. (they changed them after I called to complain again. The bathtub was stained and everything was in disrepair. The Gulaal Hotel in Jaiselmar was a total disaster, we even found a bed bug, so we run out of that hotel as soon as we could. We were surprised, disgusted and appalled that, Active India who arranged our trip in India, would book these rooms in these hotels without checking and ensuring that the facilities were clean and up to standard to any passenger.
At that point, we decided to upgrade the rest of the hotels in our booking so we would not have any more surprises. We were charged extra for the upgrades and a card payment fee, again, for having to make another payment for the upgrades.

Apparently we visited India during "wedding season", which we had no idea, so please make sure that the travel agent books hotels that are not fully occupied by a wedding party. The Radisson Blu Resort, which was one of the hotels we were upgraded to, was almost totally booked by the wedding party, 210 of the 245 room in the hotels. We had to bear with loud music during the day and at night till 3am. At the Marriot Hotel in Jaipur, we could not use the pool area due to a wedding party.

Even though we had issues with our hotels, we tried to make the best out of our trip. Rahul, our driver, and all our tour guides made our trip to India great.

Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo

Fantastic few days in Pondicherry.
India | Mar 7 - Mar 12, 2024

A
Alastair A.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Mar 14, 2024

Logan our driver was great and our guide in Pondicherry was very knowledgeable. This was a fantastic trip with lovely hotels. We didn't need a representative to meet us at the airport hotel. We could have sorted this out ourselves and actually it made us think that there might have been a problem.

Local specialist: Jay Kajaria

Amazing trip with Active India
India | Feb 24 - Feb 28, 2024

Berat
Berat O.
Turkey | Reviewed on Mar 01, 2024
Everything from the start to the end of my trip was amazing! The guides were kind, knowledgeable and helpful. My driver Puran was the best! The plan was well curated and all schedule was punctual. Everybody on the Active India team made sure my 5-day trip in India was perfect with high level of professionalism. I also had the lovely opportunity to meet Ravi and he is a genuinely kind, generous person and an excellent travel agent who went above and beyond to make sure my experience in... Read more

Everything from the start to the end of my trip was amazing!

The guides were kind, knowledgeable and helpful. My driver Puran was the best! The plan was well curated and all schedule was punctual. Everybody on the Active India team made sure my 5-day trip in India was perfect with high level of professionalism. I also had the lovely opportunity to meet Ravi and he is a genuinely kind, generous person and an excellent travel agent who went above and beyond to make sure my experience in India was spotless.

Huge thanks to each one of you for arranging a dream trip! I wish I had at least 7 days to enjoy on the Golden Triangle at a slower pace but Active India made the best out of my limited time and showed me the wonders of India! THANK YOU:)

Hotel Reviews
The Retreat
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Dera Rawatsar

This is a beautiful heritage hotel with great character and authenticity. Breakfast and food was great, all staff excellent and rooms are all uniquely decorated. This was definitely the best hotel on the trip.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Udman Ferns N Petals
New Delhi, Delhi
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Jaipur Sightseeing  Tour
Jaipur Sightseeing Tour
Jaipur

Jaipur is BEAUTIFUL. The architecture of the Mughals combined with Hindu elements was incredible. This was definitely the highlight of my trip.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Raj was great and he was energetic. He was very knowledgable and helpful.
Transport
Take a stroll through the historic garden for the most magical views of the Taj Mahal by TUK-TUK
Take a stroll through the historic garden for the most magical views of the Taj Mahal by TUK-TUK
Agra
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Guided Heritage Walk through Lodhi Garden
Guided Heritage Walk through Lodhi Garden
Delhi

This was a great place to stop by in Delhi.

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

My guide Ronit was knowledgable and kind. He made sure I had the best info out of Taj Mahal.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore the marvelous  and historic monument : Agra Fort
Explore the marvelous and historic monument : Agra Fort
Agra

This is such a beautiful heritage site. Please don't miss it out. I want to go back!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
As always, Puran was great and punctual.
Transport
Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo
Ravi
Ravi Tickoo
Local specialist in New Delhi | Replied on Mar 04, 2024

Dear Berat
Thank you so much for taking out time and sharing reviews of your recent trip to India! We are pleased to hear that you had a nice and enjoyable time while traveling with us. Thanks for your kind words and appreciation for the guides, driver, and all other Active India team members.

It was truly a pleasure meeting with you and knowing you in person.

I look forward to welcoming you again for another India experience,

Best Wishes,

Ravi & Team Active India

Daughter Mother trip to Northern India
India | Feb 18 - Feb 27, 2024

Mary
Mary R.
Pagosa Springs, CO | Reviewed on Mar 01, 2024
Our four local guides were excellent, each with the personality that suited the city. We cannot say enough nice things about Mr Pushcar, our driver! He was always on time, had water, hand sanitizer, wipes & candy. The car was immaculate. The Delhi local representative really made us feel comfortable & guided us through both the train station & the airport. Each one of the hotel properties were unique & very comfortable. Overall excellent trip!! Read more

Our four local guides were excellent, each with the personality that suited the city. We cannot say enough nice things about Mr Pushcar, our driver! He was always on time, had water, hand sanitizer, wipes & candy. The car was immaculate. The Delhi local representative really made us feel comfortable & guided us through both the train station & the airport. Each one of the hotel properties were unique & very comfortable. Overall excellent trip!!

Hotel Review
Nahargarh
Ranthambore

Beautiful property which whisked us back to the time of the Rajs coming there for safaris. The service was very good & food was tasty.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Udaipur Sightseeing
Udaipur Sightseeing
Udaipur

Wonderful experience at the Jagdish temple & Summer palace. He also went above & beyond to find a lady to do henna on our hands, something my daughter really wanted to do.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cooking Class, and Dinner with Local Family
Cooking Class, and Dinner with Local Family
Jaipur

Loved spending time with the Singh family. They were so welcoming & food was delicious!

Quality of Experience
Food
Old Delhi Sightseeing
Old Delhi Sightseeing
Delhi

Visiting Old Delhi & soaking up the sights & sounds & incredible food was a great start to our India tour. A visit to the Sikh gurdwara was one of the highlights of the day.

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

What can you say when you see one of the 7 wonders of the world when almost no one else is there? I can’t find the world to describe how beautiful this is & the testament to a great love

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Jaipur Sightseeing  Tour
Jaipur Sightseeing Tour
Jaipur

Our guide Hans really exemplifies the vibrancy of this city! Incredible architecture! Elephant ride was so much fun!!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Afternoon visit to Bagore ki Haveli and enjoy a cultural evening of Rajasthani Folk Dance
Afternoon visit to Bagore ki Haveli and enjoy a cultural evening of Rajasthani Folk Dance
Udaipur

We only went to the dance & the event was so crowded we saw almost nothing

Morning and Evening game drives at Ranthambore:
Morning and Evening game drives at Ranthambore:
Ranthambore

Park was gorgeous & while we did not see a tiger we did see a leopards as well as lots of other wildlife . Unfortunately our naturalist seemed tired & bored, not engaging us even when I have a science background & would ask questions. Morning driver did an incredible job getting us to the leopard sighting.

Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo
Ravi
Ravi Tickoo
Local specialist in New Delhi | Replied on Mar 07, 2024

Dear Mary,
Namaste!
Thank you so much for your reviews. we are happy to hear you and your daughter had a nice and enjoyable trip to India. Pleased to hear your positive impression of the itinerary/trip plan and appreciation for our local guides, Car, and driver. Your positive feedback is very motivating for me and my team to make efforts to improve further our services.

we look forward to welcoming you again in India for another adventure,

Best Regards,

Ravi

Amazing Golden Triangle Trip!
India | Feb 10 - Feb 18, 2024

J
Jesse S.
Coney Island, NY | Reviewed on Feb 21, 2024
Bespoke India Holidays and specifically Jay were great to work with. During the planning process they had great communication both via email and phone to discuss our trip and achieve our budget. All tour guides and experiences were great, especially the food tour, night tour, and bike tour in Jaipur. The hotels they selected were amazing especially the SUJÁN Sher Bagh in Ranthambhore. When there was a mishap with one of the tour companies (out of their control) they more than made up for it... Read more

Bespoke India Holidays and specifically Jay were great to work with. During the planning process they had great communication both via email and phone to discuss our trip and achieve our budget. All tour guides and experiences were great, especially the food tour, night tour, and bike tour in Jaipur. The hotels they selected were amazing especially the SUJÁN Sher Bagh in Ranthambhore. When there was a mishap with one of the tour companies (out of their control) they more than made up for it by offering two private tours (vs. shared). One of the best parts of our trip was Mr. Kumar who took us around India for our 10 days. They also arrange people at each hotel and airport to help make the check in process seamless.

Two notes of improvement. The Samode Haveli, while gorgeous, felt a little dated and you are awoken each morning at 5:30am by prayers. Also there are swarms of little bugs by the pool making it unenjoyable. To be clear, this wasn’t their initial selection however based on the photos we choose this hotel over the Marriott. The other thing is I wish they were clearer with was the start/end times of the tours as that would make any activities you want to plan on our own (massages, dinner reservations), easier to plan from the beginning.

Overall it was an amazing trip thanks to Bespoke India Holidays and I highly recommend them!

Hotel Reviews
Taj Hotel & Convention Centre, Agra
Agra
Samode Haveli
Jaipur
SUJÁN Sher Bagh, Ranthambhore
Activity Reviews
Jaipur Food and Market Tour
Jaipur Food and Market Tour
Jaipur
Cycle tour in Jaipur
Jaipur
Walking Tour – Temples & Havelis of Old Jaipur
Jaipur
Local specialist: Jay Kajaria

A Second Wonderful Trip of India Through Bespoke India Holidays
India | Jan 21 - Feb 1, 2024

Michael
Michael C.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Feb 18, 2024
This was the second trip that I worked with Jay Kajaria with Bespoke India Holidays to plan. The first trip was to Delhi and various areas around Rajasthan. It went so well and I was so pleased that I booked a trip to North Eastern India. And this was also a remarkable trip. Simply tell Bespoke what you are interested in and where you would like to go and they will take it from there. You are assisted every step of the way, from being picked up from the airport and later being dropped at... Read more

This was the second trip that I worked with Jay Kajaria with Bespoke India Holidays to plan. The first trip was to Delhi and various areas around Rajasthan. It went so well and I was so pleased that I booked a trip to North Eastern India. And this was also a remarkable trip. Simply tell Bespoke what you are interested in and where you would like to go and they will take it from there. You are assisted every step of the way, from being picked up from the airport and later being dropped at the airport and being assisted in checking in for your flight from India.

Many of the famous tourist areas of India were covered by the first trip and now I wanted something different -- and this is Northeastern India. It is a land of unusual tribes, different topography and different animals. Make sure you go to Kaziranga National Park -- and also take the elephant safari in the morning.

Also impressive were the lodgings in which I was booked and my guide and driver were top notch.

I am so pleased with this trip (and the prior one) that I am already looking talking about and looking forward to working with Jay on a third trip.

Thank you Bespoke India Holidays (and Jay and my guide "Dee-poo" and driver "Harem."

Local specialist: Jay Kajaria

Our trip to Kerala was wonderful.
India | Jan 29 - Feb 11, 2024

Karen
Karen L.
Rockville, MD | Reviewed on Feb 12, 2024
We used Active India to organize our trip to Kerala. The trip was wonderful. Ravi did a great job planning the trip to cover all the highlights of the area. Our driver, Pramod, was excellent. His expertise of the country and driving skills made the trip stress free. He coordinated all the guides at each location and made sure we met them at the appointed place and was always waiting for us when we were done. The car was roomy, comfortable and always clean. The accommodations' were... Read more

We used Active India to organize our trip to Kerala. The trip was wonderful. Ravi did a great job planning the trip to cover all the highlights of the area. Our driver, Pramod, was excellent. His expertise of the country and driving skills made the trip stress free. He coordinated all the guides at each location and made sure we met them at the appointed place and was always waiting for us when we were done. The car was roomy, comfortable and always clean. The accommodations' were top notch. Each destination had something special and unique to offer. In addition, Pramod offered additional suggestions of things to do in our "spare" time. We would highly recommend Active India.

Hotel Reviews
Fragrant Nature Kochi
Kochi

Beautiful hotel in a good location.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Philipkutty's Farm

This was a wonderful unique experience.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo
Ravi
Ravi Tickoo
Local specialist in New Delhi | Replied on Feb 13, 2024

Dear Karen,
Thank you so much for taking out time and sharing trip reviews of your recent tour. we are happy to hear that you had a nice and enjoyable time while traveling with us in the southern part of India - Kerala.
We look forward to welcoming you for another unforgettable journey in India,
Best Regards,

Ravi

Best Regards
Ravi

ACTIVE INDIA helped us plan the trip of a lifetime
India | Dec 27 - Jan 3, 2024

John
John G.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Feb 04, 2024
My friends invited us to their wedding in New Delhi this past holiday season. We were overjoyed to go, so we began the planning process. We decided that after the wedding, we wanted to travel around India to see some of what it had to offer. A good friend mentioned a site called KimKim.com, which is a fantastic aggregator for vetted travel agencies. We were presented with ACTIVE INDIA. We were quickly introduced to Ravi. We were impressed with his constant professionalism, flexibility, and... Read more

My friends invited us to their wedding in New Delhi this past holiday season. We were overjoyed to go, so we began the planning process. We decided that after the wedding, we wanted to travel around India to see some of what it had to offer. A good friend mentioned a site called KimKim.com, which is a fantastic aggregator for vetted travel agencies. We were presented with ACTIVE INDIA. We were quickly introduced to Ravi. We were impressed with his constant professionalism, flexibility, and attentiveness. We changed our plans a few times due to changing circumstances and some indecisiveness, and everything was always handled graciously.

When we got to India, we attended the wedding, which was incredible! After the wedding, our adventure began with the help of Active India. We traveled from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur, then from Jaipur to Agra, and then back to New Delhi. Below is a partial list of everything we loved about our trip.

- The tour GUIDES were terrific! At each stop, we had tour guides who were extremely knowledgeable, courteous, and kind. They took pictures of us anytime we asked. We even became friends with one of them. (Some pictures above are with our guides.)

- The DESTINATIONS were well curated. We felt like we saw the best attractions in each city. India is so rich, so clearly, we couldn't see everything, but we didn't feel like we missed out on anything either.

- Our DRIVER was superb. Driving in India is daunting, and Mahesh was always professional, on time, safe, and caring. We liked him and were sad when we had to say goodbye. (He is also pictured above.)

- The HOTELS that were curated all had a unique flare to them and were consistently well run, safe, comfortable, and clean.

- There is MUCH more to list, but you get the idea. We highly recommend ACTIVE INDIA to anyone looking to adventure and experience India. They went out of their way to ensure we had a great experience and were warm and wonderful every step of the way.

Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo
Ravi
Ravi Tickoo
Local specialist in New Delhi | Replied on Feb 06, 2024
Dear John and Marissa,
Thank you so much for taking out time to share your detailed reviews about your recent holiday trip to India! We are delighted to hear that your experience in India was wonderful and that you both enjoyed every moment of your holiday.
We are pleased to hear that you have found our guides, drivers, and operational team very knowledgeable, professional, and friendly. The hospitality of our people is something we greatly value, and it's great that you had such a positive... Read more

Dear John and Marissa,
Thank you so much for taking out time to share your detailed reviews about your recent holiday trip to India! We are delighted to hear that your experience in India was wonderful and that you both enjoyed every moment of your holiday.

We are pleased to hear that you have found our guides, drivers, and operational team very knowledgeable, professional, and friendly. The hospitality of our people is something we greatly value, and it's great that you had such a positive experience. And, of course, Indian food and delicacies are unparalleled, and we're pleased that you enjoyed them.

On behalf of our entire Active India team, we want to thank you for choosing us to organize your trip. We truly appreciate your kind words and appreciation.

We hope you can visit India again in the future and explore even more of what our country has to offer. If you decide to do so, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us again.

Thank you for trusting us with your vacation!

Warm regards,

Ravi Tickoo & Team Active India