very disappointing. Filthy houseboat Broken bath.

I went to see the Taj Mahal, and that was the only satisfying part of the trip. We did see a tiger in the wild and that was exciting. Lots of temples with stairs with no railings and holes in the stones to trip on. The food was the same at every lunch and dinner (and I used to like Indian Food). The houseboat we were assigned to was filthy. Pots and pans on the kitchen floor. Mud on the bath room floor. Broken shower(handle to turn it on was broken off), leaking on the floor and no hot water. I called the steward to empty the bucket and he threw it on the whole bathroom floor and cleaned the mud off the floor with his bare feet. It drained somewhere behind the toilet which was filthy. The bathroom faucet barely trickled cold water and would spin around when turned on. Bugs everywhere on the boat. The food was horrible on the boat. Air conditioning was turned on at 9:30 pm and did not cool anything until 11pm. No top sheet and dirty blanket. I hope for a refund on the cost of the overnight on the boat trip.

INCREDIBLE INDIA

India will amaze you, especially if you come prepared. Do your research ... then enjoy this land of contrasts and contradictions. India is so much more than elephants and camels, it's a resourceful people who do so much with so little. The itinerary is excellent - the accomodations less so. Please only join this tour if you are fit - our tour was slowed down by individuals who could not keep up with the walking.

Great tour

I travel alone twice a year. This was a very small group which made everything a bit quicker and easier. I suppose one would say I am not about to admit being old!!!! So I enjoyed Christine SO VERY MUCH on this tour. She can tell you that is true. It was a very enjoyable trip with GREAT hotels in the midst of a lot of debris!!!! I am most apprecitive of the pictures she has sent since my camera "died" on the third day. I really wanted to experience this country and view its culture a bit more. That was absolutely possible.

Great Trip To India

I have traveled with Go Ahead Tours, several times. This was one of the best Tours I have taken. I recommend this tour very highly! This was a very small group. Even though we were from various parts of two countries , our personalities seemed to blend in well. My main objective at frist was to see the Taj Mahal. However; after entering India I was open to seeing everything! The Taj Mahal is a magnificent and beautiful wonder of the world! It is truly a "bucket list ", item! There were many highlights, but two stood out for me! One was at Amber Fort, where I rode on the back of an elephant ! I thought I would be afraid, but I wasn't! The elephant was calm and the ride was enjoyable! The second highlight was the sighting of a Tiger on the Ranthambore game drive! We did not see the Tiger until the second game drive, but it was well worth the wait! The Tiger is such a bold and powerful animal! It was a great experience to see it in its natural habitat! Thanks for a great Tour!

Land of contrasts and adventure

India is a fascinating country of great contrasts - incredible beauty next to grinding poverty. It is a land that, once experienced, creates a visceral link to your core being. The swirl of colorful dress is set against a monochromatic background to produce a feast for the eyes. And speaking of feasts! The food is an exciting adventure in itself. The Taj Mahal is a building of perfection. Pictures cannot do justice to the feeling of being there in person. And to see a tiger in the wild is simply the thrill of a lifetime. Our tour was a daily adventure, and we were in the care of professionals who kept us informed, comfortable, and safe. As always, Go Ahead delivers!

Learn About India

I chose Go Ahead Tours tour of India because it was the only one that I could find that included south India as well as north India and I am glad I did. We saw a lot of India's historic past in the buildings and ruins of the "Golden Triangle" of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, but we got a better perspective of the people of India by also visiting south India. The tour was very educational and we had a great tour guide and most of the local guides were good, as well. It also helped that we were a very congenial group of nineteen travelers from different parts of the United States. India has one of the oldest cultures in the world and is the birthplace of two of the world's religions. This was a great learning experience.

India

Very challenging 12 hr. days

Excellent trip but add-on was rushed.

The tour itself was somewhat challenging at times but the add-on in Mumbai was definitely rushed. Going to Elephanta Island (which takes at least 3 hours), a visit to the Taj Mahal Hotel, lunch on your own in 45 minutes, then on to the Prince of Wales Museum, a temple, and the Hanging Gardens was exhausting. At the end, some people didn't get off to visit the gardens as they were too tired. The next day was "free time" but the hotel was more than a 45 minute ride from downtown in a taxi and some didn't know where to go or what to do with the time. It would have been better to visit Elephanta Island, the Taj Mahal Hotel, and then let people have lunch and a couple of hours on their own. The next day the Prince of Wales Museum, the temple, and the Hanging Gardens with more time on their own would have been better. The tour itself was a good value but the add-on wasn't. As it was done this time, I wouldn't recommend the add-on. I also suggest that those who are not interested in shopping not be forced to visit places where the "demonstrations" are mainly to get one to buy. At each of the businesses we visited, I felt like a captive for more than an hour and under pressure to buy something. I didn't, however, and wished I had been given a choice to either go back to the store or do something else.

Tour Director

Andre Caspary is the best tour director ever. His insight and ability to expand the mind of India as you travel is phenomenal.

Eye opener

What a surprise for a stop at small town to see the local life!