Hi all--my mom and I want to spend a couple of weeks in northern India in late 2022--starting our planning early! We have been to India once before so have some idea of what we want to see. Realistically, would like to spend 3 full days in Ranthambore looking for tigers and then 10-12 days or so in some combination of Jaipur, Udaipur, Delhi, Varanasi, Jodhpur and maybe up into the more mountainous north. Don't think we can do all of that in 10-12 days but just starting to think about it. Either looking for a small group tour (or maybe 2--1 for the tigers and one for the rest) or someone to help privately plan this trip. Open to any and all suggestions about what to see, who to work with, hotels, etc. If anyone has taken the train from Jaipur or Delhi to Ranthambore, would like to hear about that too. Thank you!
Northern India trip
Message Submitted by kefelsted on Sun, 01/17/2021 - 11:30
Hello> I can heartily
Hello> I can heartily recommend Elegant Journeys India - Vivek Wadhawan's company. He is the best! I can email you my journal from our India trip which included a fabulous time at Ranthambore if you're interested.
Cathy Briner in Eugene, OR cabriner@comcast.net
Mani Mahesh Travels is an
Walkabout Journeys India is an excellent family-owned company based in Himachel Pradesh. Known for both cultural and trekking tours, the owner, Nitin Dhami can arrange anything in India.
Website: http://www.walkaboutjourneys.com
email: info@walkaboutjourneys.com
We have ben to India a number
We have ben to India a number of times and each time have used Third Eye Travel
www.thirdeyetravel.com. They are located in California and have fixed tours and have done custom tours to meet customers needs.
Their tours include English speaking drivers and guides.
I have used both Imperial
I have used both Imperial India Tours in Delhi and will be traveling next year with
Original World in California. Both have been excellent with published tours as well as custom extensions. India is worth trips to multiple areas.
Original World/Spirit of
Original World/Spirit of India is excellent. They are an ITN advertiser.
My husband went to India to
My husband went to India to photograph tigers and to do some site seeing. He was EXTREMELY happy with his guide. Butch can take you on a tiger safari and set up other things for you to do. Check out www.butchlama.com/Wild_India.
Hi all--got engrossed with
Hi all--got engrossed with work and didn't come back to the site until now--thank you all so much for the suggestions--these are great! Karen
Quite a number of people have
Quite a number of people have offered names of travel services in India. I am offering one more: Indian Panorama. It's a national company with offices throughout India. I dealt with Leena (leena@indianpanorama.in) to arrange my trip with two friends in October 2019. We went to Delhi, Agra, Ranthambore, Jaipur, Varansi, Mumbai, and several places in Kerala. Leena was always prompt in responding and always spot on with her suggestions. We had personal guides with car and driver each place we went. At night, the driver was at our disposal to take us to dinner or shopping. If you contact Leena, please tell her Dorothy Botnick recommended her and Indian Panorama. You will be pleased with what Leena can do for you.
10-12 days for Jaipur,
10-12 days for Jaipur, Udaipur, Delhi, Varanasi, Jodhpur, and hill stations will not be ideal, as you need 2 days each for Jaipur, Udaipur, Delhi, Varanasi and if you are planning to visit Shimla, Manali, Leh etc, that these also require 2 fulll days each, plus travelling time. So you should either skip some places and visit them later, like for 12 days I will suggest Delhi Arrival (day 1), Agra day 2, Jaipur day 3 & 4, Jodhpur day 5, Udaipur day 7, 8, Varanasi day 9, 10 and Manali day 11 & 12, and return to delhi on day 13. Even this itinerary not ideal as there will le lots of traveling time between Varanasi to Manali, Udaipur to Varanasi.
And the best 12 days plan which would say is ideal will be:
Day 1, Delhu arrival, and night trip to Agra (2-3 hour driver), night stay Agra
Day 2, Agra visit, Taj Mahal, Agra Fort & Fatehpur Sikri (30 minute drive from Agra), and the leave for Jaipur, 4-5 hour drive from fatehour Sikri, and if time allows, chand baori stepwell on route. Night stay Jaipur.
Day 3, Full day Jaipur city tour, night stay Jaipur
Day 4, Explore Jaipur till 6 & leave for Jodhpur, 5-6 hour drive, night stay Jodhpur
Day 5, Full day in Jodhpur
Day 6, Leave for Udaipur by morning, reach by 2-3 pm, half day sightseeing in Udaipur, night stay in Udaipur
Day 7, Full day in Udaipur.
Day 8: Catch Udaipur to Varanasi flight or train, and reach Varanasi by night: FYI, you can might or might not get direct flight from Varanasi from Udaipur, byt definitely from Ahmedabad which is 4-5 hour drive from Udaipur, or can check Jaipur Airpport too.
Day 9: Full day in Varanasi
Day 10: Leave for Delhi, night stay in Delhi.
And now even rest like a day or plan hill station tour, like all upto you. My suggestion for you will be:
Delhi > Jim Corbett (1require 1 full day) > Nainital (1 full day required) > Shimla (1-2 days) > Manali (2 full days) > Dharamshala (1 fill day) > Dalhousie (2 full days) > Come to Amritsar (1 full day), and back to Delhi.
Hope I was able to assist.