Mysteries of India

It was amazing and we had an amazing tour director

Well organised, mostly good hotels and good transfers. Tour was well paced with sufficient free time built in.

We were kept busy and fascinated every day. See the Tigers and visiting the Ganges was extremely memorable

I went on this trip of a lifetime alone as my wife stayed home with our nine year old son so I really didn't know what to expect going solo- but the entire group was friendly and felt like family after a few days. I will definitely use Collette for future trips and I want to repeat the same trip when my son is a teenager and hopefully with Vikas. Mysteries of India is definitely an active trip from morning until evening but once you return home and realize what you just experienced it can be life changing.

1. Dinner with an Indian family. 2. Lunch at Sheroes Hangout 3. Tigress in Ranthambore National Park

The Taj Mahal, watching the cremation on the Ganges River, the great group of people we had. The culture explained to us by our tour manager. The accommodations some were excellent And some were average. We wish it was easier to get our visa. The tipping for the bus driver and helper was a headache because not having the right change. I think it should be included in the price of the ticket. Lufthansa airline went on strike and we felt we were left stranded at the lemon tree hotel in Delhi. We wished we had someone there to get us tickets to get home instead of fending for ourselves to get seats to get home. It was very stressful.

Varanasi was a wonderful, educational experience.

The itinerary was well thought out, the schedule full on at times but we weren't there to sit round a pool sipping cocktails, and saw and did so many wonderful things. There were many highlights, obviously the Taj Mahal which was one of the main reasons for making the trip, but we also loved the Temples at Khajuraho. Udaipur was wonderful too, Varanassi was fascinating and thought provoking, we'll never forget it.

The tour was very enjoyable, visiting many famous and interesting sights in India. Our tour manager was excellent, very knowledgeable and helpful. However, the pace of the tour was too much, there being no rest days in the 14 day itinerary, which for senior citizens I found was extremely tiring. So much so that towards the end of the tour we were too tired to enjoy all the activities. My memorable moment was when the sun came out at the Taj Mahal after a thunderstorm. Magnificent!

To many to pick just one

Varanasi - needs to be experienced both early in the morning and in the evening. Taj Mahal complex is spectacular and would like another hour more time to explore. Agra Fort is interesting.

I enjoyed learning about life in India and especially the contrast between the south and north. I would select the south anytime over the north. I have not yet put the 2600 pictures on the computer. So sorry no pictures at this time. Tour manager in the north was fantastic and very caring. Perhaps one of the best I had in all my travel. in the south, she was ok.

I would highly recommend to a first time India traveler.

The tour was really good. I would rate it 4 1/2 stars,

My highlights were observing up close tigers in Rathambore National Park, visit of a local school, visit of the Taj Mahal at sunrise, driving in rural India and walking with our tour director to visit local homes and talk with the people to understand their ay of life, the unexpected beauty of the Temple Complex in Khanjuraho and visit of the Ganges ghats in Varanasi. Most of the hotels were exceptional and some had very unique features to them.

Life & death on the Ganges River will forever remain a top travel experience

The tour was of a good standard and gave a good insight of the culture.

Pace of the tour was excellent, tour manager was wonderful. Many memorable moments, but my favorite was probably the Taj Mahal.

It was brilliant, very well organised tour, hotels were 5 star, tour manager Ashish was the best, I couldn't find fault with anything. memorable moment was spur of the moment stopping the bus at a small village and walking through the market and Ashish showing us and buying us local produce to try and chatting with the local people who were very friendly. Of course the best was seeing the Taj Mahal of course - magical.

never-ending buffet of chicken, lentils and mutton Luggage handling on arrival and departure to/from Delhi is non-existent. extremely uncomfortable “TATA” bus, with one-inch seat padding, no toilet and broken/worn-out suspension “airport hotel” Radisson is miles away and it took two hours drive to get there 4 hours of roller coaster ride in extremely uncomfortable vehicle on a bumpy road with enormous amount of trash scattered all along roadsides and NO TIGER IN SIGHT!

Thirty-two buffet meals of chicken and mutton …. Sightseeing was superb, but the never-ending buffet of chicken, lentils and mutton which started on Air Canada plane (the same bone-dry-chicken in a box was offered TWICE during the flight!?) and continued twice a day (every and each day!!) throughout the trip, made the trip almost unbearable. Even three Collette’s “special” dinners “welcome dinner”, “home-hosted dinner” and “farewell à la carte dinner “were ALL buffet of chicken, lentils and mutton! However, when we got fed up with Collette offerings and opened our own valets, there were delectable choices of Australian succulent rack of lamb, lobster, prawns, fettuccini, even Japanese sushi in the same hotel/restaurant! Luggage handling on arrival and departure to/from Delhi is non-existent. We had to schlep/push our luggage four times half a mile from the terminal, across parking lot, to bus parked in boonies, even when Collette advertises luggage handling included in cost of trip! We travelled ten days in a bone-jarring, extremely uncomfortable “TATA” bus, with one-inch seat padding, no toilet and broken/worn-out suspension. Then we transferred for five days into “VOLVO” bus. What a difference! What a comfortable ride that was… Hotels ranged from opulent palaces to simple cheap hole-in-a-wall “budget inns”. However, even in the most opulent Lalit Palace Udaipur hotel with breathtaking, magnificent views, Collette booked the cheapest rooms, facing inner yards, kitchen, hills, dumps, etc. Also, the so-called “airport hotel” Radisson is miles away and it took two hours drive to get there and one-hour drive to get back! There are at least seven “airport hotels” opposite of Delhi airport!? Go figure… As I said before, sightseeing was amazing! Except for the Ranthambore safari sham. Safari consisted of 4 hours of teeth jarring roller coaster ride in extremely uncomfortable vehicle driven “Indian-way” by drivers constantly honking when passing each other on bumpy road with enormous amount of trash scattered all along roadsides and in the waterways. There are no washrooms, no facilities for the duration of this 4-hour trip! There are plenty of deer, monkeys and peacocks, but no tigers! The only tiger we have seen during this four-hour ordeal was the one painted on dilapidated building wall! I believe the deer have ate all tigers, as there are so many of deer! After our “safari” we had drinks and chatted with the bartender about seeing the “tiger footprints” and no tiger, he erupted into uncontrollable laughter, then he apologised, hid behind the bar and chuckled again… After a lot of prodding and poking he awkwardly explained that it was his cousin’s job to stencil tiger footprints into the dirt-road each morning. We ordered another dry martini, assuring each other that we were not that stupid, gullible and naïve to believe in them tiger footprints to be real …. My greatest irritation throughout the entire trip was the daily reminder and tutoring about tips. I always tip, when I perceive that I received more/better and in addition to what I already have paid for. And to show my appreciation I ALWAYS TIP IN PERSON. Our guide had a habit to collect tips (after ordering us all how much to tip) and then present the tips himself to the service provider. In my book that money were not tips, it was an extortion! One day was wasted on visiting the local school. I wonder how many people visit school at home and travel many miles (spending more than $500/day) to present local children with pencils.

We were very happy with our tour/India Experience. All hotels were very good and our tour guide was brlliant

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The Taj Mahal was the center piece of India.

Tour was good, but few minor issues came about. Hotel in Delhi out of place. Hotel provided in Delhi, for the extension overnight read = airport hotel, how can airport hotel be 45 to an hour away from the airport?

Khajuraho! an amazing and so well preserved. The local guide there was just wonderful.

The Taj Mahal, a tiger, evening on the Ganges, Mt Everest. The small group (12) was the perfect size and the travel mates were wonderful with some lasting friendships made.

The palace "hotel" (Lalit Laxmi Vilas), Dev Vilas in Ranthambhore, The Gateway Hotel Ganges. The Pink City. The daily sights and sounds of life in India.

Taj Majhal visit, Japee hotel in Agra

Our tour was made by the company of like minded fellow travellers and our excellent tour manager, *Personal details removed by Feefo, who I cannot praise highly enough

Bananas I, udaypur and Agra

Taj Mahal, on the ganges at night for cremations.

Mysteries of India was an unforgettable experience. Every place we visited was fascinatingly different from anywhere else I have been. The Taj Mahal was, of course, a highlight. But so was the safari in Ranthambhore where we saw animals I have only seen in pictures and Varanasi where we walked the streets and saw life as it really is. The boat ride on the Ganges was awesome. Many of the hotels were converted palaces so were beautiful. The Lalit Laxmi Vilas hotel in Udaipur was a highlight. The staff was friendly and honest, we did yoga in the morning and had girls dancing at night. This was the trip of a lifetime.

This was a great tour and our tour manager was outstanding.

Taj mahal sunset and sunrise

The northern India trip was delightful--much learning and not so much shopping as some are... we loved the reserve and saw three tigers in the wild. Liked that there were a couple of days in each location--makes the pace easier to deal with

India is a very unique experience, loved the history and culture. Hard to see all the poverty and needs of some of thre people.