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Customer Reviews for Go Ahead Tours Grand Tour of India: North to South
Go Ahead Tours Grand Tour of India: North to South
Discover the Northern cities of Delhi and Jaipur, marvel at regal tigers at Ranthambore, discover the charming city of Kochi, and visit the exquisite Taj Mahal—all during this remarkable trip of a lifetime.
Average Customer Rating:
(41 Reviews) 41
34 out of 41 83% of customers would recommend this tour.
Customer Reviews for Grand Tour of India: North to South
Review 1 for Grand Tour of India: North to South
Overall Rating
Tour Value
5
/
5
Tour Director
4
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by SCARDEN |
Number of past tours:2
Traveled on:01/20/2012
Location:MI
Age:60+
Gender:Female
I traveled:with a group coordinator/organization
by SCARDEN |
February 25, 2012
Sensual Immersion
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India is such a saturation of the senses. Get ready for an onslaught stimuli- visual splendor and starkness, beauty and bleakness, opulence and utter simplicity. The scents and tastes are rich and pungent, fresh and brightly spicy. The people will not easily be forgotten, as they are open and warm, and eager to stop, talk, share and assist. The pace of this adventure is challenging, not in movement, but in lack thereof. We found that traveling by bus, over such a large distance, can be as hard on the body as active walking. Anyone signing up for this trip would have to have an open mind and a sense of adventure, so if you know that's you, you'll get along famously with all the other adventurers, as we did. The sights from the bus were ever-compelling. Not a moment was "downtime" or uninteresting. We were surprised at the coolness in the North in January, and should have packed warmer clothes, especially for the tiger sighting in Rathambore. Mosquitos were not a problem, even on the Kerala river cruise. Our guide was superb. He made sure we got to all the sites at the most opportune time- we were up at the crack of dawn to take advantage of the best morning light at the Taj Mahal, with minimal crowds. This is a wonderful journey, to an ancient culture and place that feels both steeped in history and on the cusp of a great cultural and economic surge. I loved the sense there that everything is exactly as it should be, that the dharma is always unfolding, and we must simply open our eyes and take the next right step forward.
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Solo Travelers, Art, History, & Culture, Trip Of A Lifetime, Experienced Travelers
+9points
9out of 9found this review helpful.
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Review 2 for Grand Tour of India: North to South
Overall Rating
Tour Value
4
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by RGIDDINGS2 |
Number of past tours:5
Traveled on:09/30/2011
Location:IL
Age:60+
Gender:Female
I traveled:with friend(s)
by RGIDDINGS2 |
October 25, 2011
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
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!
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!
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Anniversary Trips, Nature & Wildlife, Solo Travelers, Family Vacations, Art, History, & Culture, Trip Of A Lifetime, First Time Travelers, Experienced Travelers
+14points
15out of 16found this review helpful.
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Review 3 for Grand Tour of India: North to South
Overall Rating
Tour Value
5
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by VVOGEL2 |
Number of past tours:8
Traveled on:3/11/2011 12:00:00 AM
Location:TX
Age:60+
Gender:Female
I traveled:with friend(s)
by VVOGEL2 |
March 31, 2011
Land of contrasts and adventure
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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!
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Anniversary Trips, Nature & Wildlife, Solo Travelers, Trip Of A Lifetime, Honeymoons, Experienced Travelers
+17points
18out of 19found this review helpful.
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Review 4 for Grand Tour of India: North to South
Overall Rating
Tour Value
5
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by LMELANDER3 |
Number of past tours:3
Traveled on:11/05/2010
Location:MA
Age:60+
Gender:Male
I traveled:with my spouse/significant other
by LMELANDER3 |
December 31, 2010
Not what we expected!
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Our Nov. 2010, trip was truly an amazing adventure! We went mainly to see the Taj Mahal, a tiger in the wild, and Mumbai, but we saw and experienced so much more. The Taj was better than we thought it would be, which may be hard to believe. When you are close up it radiates beauty, and the fine workmanship is a wonder! We didn't see a tiger but the search was a true adventure. We experienced only a few mosquitos, no stomach problems, no overpowering smells and non-spicy foods, unless we wanted some. The most striking part of India is the explosion of colors everywhere! The women in their saris, the storefronts, the ornate architecture, and the decorated delivery trucks were only a part of this totally photogenic country! The people were warm and welcoming....and there were plenty of them, (as well as sacred cows and many other animals within the cities and towns.) The trip to the far south was a wonderful, tropical cruise experience. The Mumbai extension was a must, particularly when we added an eye-opening, educational tour of the slums. We have travelled to many countries in each of the continents, and this trip to India matches any we have ever taken. It was a delightful surprise made even better by our great guides and fabulous traveling companions! Go with an open mind and you will experience a trip of a lifetime.
...
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Anniversary Trips, Solo Travelers, Art, History, & Culture, Trip Of A Lifetime, Honeymoons, Experienced Travelers
+28points
28out of 28found this review helpful.
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Review 5 for Grand Tour of India: North to South
Overall Rating
Tour Value
5
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by JBELLITTE1 |
Number of past tours:6
Traveled on:03/09/2012
Location:FL
Age:60+
Gender:Female
I traveled:with friend(s)
by JBELLITTE1 |
April 11, 2012
Grand Tour India: North to South
Excellent overview of India
Recommended for: Active Travelers
0points
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Review 6 for Grand Tour of India: North to South
Overall Rating
Tour Value
5
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by MBURROWS8 |
Number of past tours:3
Traveled on:03/09/2012
Location:CA
Age:50-59
Gender:Female
I traveled:solo
by MBURROWS8 |
April 2, 2012
Incomparable India
If one takes the definition of poetry as "seeing the old through new eyes," then India is poetry. One cannot be unmoved with India. It is a total immersion of the senses in a wonderful experience. This trip was all that I expected and more.
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Art, History, & Culture, Trip Of A Lifetime, Food & Wine, Experienced Travelers
0points
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Review 7 for Grand Tour of India: North to South
Overall Rating
Tour Value
3
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by SRICHARDS20 |
Number of past tours:9
Traveled on:02/17/2012
Location:CO
Age:60+
Gender:Female
I traveled:with friend(s)
by SRICHARDS20 |
March 18, 2012
very interesting people
I found it was too fast a pace. Some things should have been eliminated such as the boat cruise. Since they were on stuck we could not cruise and all we could do for that afternoon was just sit on the boat. We should have been able to stay in the hotel and maybe gone swimming or to the Spa but we had to sit on a very hot boat for the day! I found the Safari not good at all. We never really saw any animal of interest and if there was one in the area it was so far away could not see it. Take the Safari off , not worth seeing.
Recommended for: Experienced Travelers
+2points
2out of 2found this review helpful.
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Review 8 for Grand Tour of India: North to South
Overall Rating
Tour Value
5
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by VHELGESON1 |
Number of past tours:2
Traveled on:02/17/2012
Location:WI
Age:60+
Gender:Female
I traveled:with friend(s)
by VHELGESON1 |
March 12, 2012
Taj Mahal and More
I mainly went to see the Taj Mahal, since it is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. But I got so much more out of it. Seeing the people in the villages, everyday rural life, driving on a road along with camels, elephants, sheep herds, cows, overloaded trucks, women working in colorful saris in the rice fields, and many more unexpected things along the way. It was truly an incredible adventure.
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Nature & Wildlife, Trip Of A Lifetime, Experienced Travelers
0points
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Review 9 for Grand Tour of India: North to South
Overall Rating
Tour Value
5
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by BABYMOE |
Number of past tours:1
Traveled on:02/10/2012
Location:OR
Age:60+
Gender:Female
I traveled:with friend(s)
by BABYMOE |
March 7, 2012
Experience of a lifetime
This tour exceeded my expectations for what I was prepared to see in terms of historic sites and cities and villages. We saw a wide variety of local people, observed daily life, and learned a lot about the history of the country. An extremely knowledgeable tour guide made the trip so much more interesting. The itinerary was what appealed to me as it included time in the Southern part of the country which other tours didn't include. Great job by the tour planners!!!!
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Experienced Travelers
0points
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Review 10 for Grand Tour of India: North to South
Overall Rating
Tour Value
4
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by DLYNCH60 |
Number of past tours:9
Traveled on:02/17/2012
Location:CO
Age:60+
Gender:Female
I traveled:with friend(s)
by DLYNCH60 |
March 5, 2012
Grand tour of India
Way too busy
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Experienced Travelers
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
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Review 11 for Grand Tour of India: North to South
Overall Rating
Tour Value
5
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by Anonymous |
Number of past tours:1
Traveled on:02/17/2012
Location:OK
Age:60+
Gender:Female
I traveled:with friend(s)
by Anonymous |
March 5, 2012
Experience India
I learned that one just doesn't travel to India, one experiences India. Our Go Ahead Tour to India was an incredible lifetime experience.. The tour director was the best. The tour, planned and unplanned, was well organized.
Recommended for: Active Travelers
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
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Review 12 for Grand Tour of India: North to South
Overall Rating
Tour Value
3
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by KKD123 |
Number of past tours:8
Traveled on:1/27/2012 12:00:00 AM
Location:WI
Age:60+
Gender:Female
I traveled:with my spouse/significant other
by KKD123 |
March 3, 2012
Expect the Unexpected
Our guide in India told us to "expect the unexpected." As we traveled through India, we found this to be excellent advice.
The Taj Mahal was the highlight of our trip. It is truly beautiful and deserves to be called one of the Wonders of the World! The Red Fort, the Amber Fort, and the Fetehpur Sikri were also highlights. The elephant ride was fun, and the Kerala Canal Cruise was a relaxing and welcome way to end the trip.
However, I was not prepared for poverty on the scale we observed in India. Staying healthy was a continual concern, and hand sanitizer was an absolute necessity. The trip was rated a "4', not because of a large amount of walking, but probably because of the long days and many hours spent in airports and on the bus. The safari in Ranthambore National Park involved a very bumpy ride over difficult roads; it was challenging for anyone with back problems, and one person on our tour was injured from the ride.
Although most of our hotels were quite nice, there was a considerable amount of variance in quality from one hotel to another.
I learned a lot about India on this trip, and that, afterall, is my reason for traveling. Just remember to expect the unexpected!
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Experienced Travelers
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
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Review 13 for Grand Tour of India: North to South
Overall Rating
Tour Value
5
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by LEIDELMAN |
Number of past tours:1
Traveled on:1/27/2012 12:00:00 AM
Location:MA
Age:60+
Gender:Female
I traveled:with a group coordinator/organization
by LEIDELMAN |
March 2, 2012
India- north to South -- Extraordinary
I had few expectations other than seeing a different culture. It was so much more. On a fast paced trip we did everything possible, forts and palaces, tiger sighting in Ranthambore and elephant ride at the Amber Fort, a cultural show in Cochin and overnight on a most relaxing houseboat. The Taj Mahal was beautiful as expected but the site of Fatehpur Sikri was unexpected and wonderful. An outdoor art exhibit in Mumbai and the slum tour we arranged was a plus. Probably needs another trip as one is not enough.
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Anniversary Trips, Nature & Wildlife, Art, History, & Culture, Trip Of A Lifetime, Experienced Travelers
0points
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Review 14 for Grand Tour of India: North to South
Overall Rating
Tour Value
5
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by ELSHEPPARD |
Number of past tours:1
Traveled on:01/27/2012
Location:TX
Age:50-59
Gender:Female
I traveled:with a group coordinator/organization
by ELSHEPPARD |
February 22, 2012
Taste of India
The Indian tour guide was outstanding. We filled every day with new sites and adventures. Maybe it was a little too structured with no time to be on our own, although we could have opted out of an activity. We had logistical problems with Go Ahead. I don't think they did a good job. I think it's better to stay in the north, rather than flying for a few days to the south, although a northern trip should include Mumbai, which is not to be missed. We could also have done without Ranthambore, as it requires a long time to access it, and the chances of seeing tigers is remote. I commend the Indian tour guide for being flexible, guiding us well, and being very patient with so many people to please.
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
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Review 15 for Grand Tour of India: North to South
Overall Rating
Tour Value
5
/
5
Tour Director
4
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by KDIDIER1 |
Number of past tours:21
Traveled on:01/27/2012
Location:NH
Age:60+
Gender:Female
I traveled:with friend(s)
by KDIDIER1 |
February 20, 2012
Outstanding Tour of India....from North to South
Hotel accommodations were top notch. Food was excellent. Everyone stayed well. Tours of historic sites were wonderful. Long active ....very full days. For me, this is a plus. We saw so and did so much. While in the Tiger Reserve, we were split into two vehicles. One group was thrilled to see a tiger in the wild. The rest of us settled for monkeys, deer, birds, and crocodile. My first time riding on the back of an elephant. Colorful setting with Amber Fort in the background. When we went South to Cochin, we spent a day and night on a house boat in the backwaters. No bugs. Pure relaxation. There were two to three bedrooms on each boat.....space for four to six participants. Beautiful scenery along the backwaters. What I like best about India is the beauty of the people. On the highways there were tuk tuks, trucks, buses, cars....and camel drawn carts. Imagine going up to a toll booth ben=hind a camel!
The extension in Mumbai....needs some tweaking. There is no one from GoAhead present to give assistance for the two and a half days. This worked out okay for me as I had made plans for the free day.before I went to India. I and my friends enjoyed a Slum and Market Tour. The guided tour provided by an affiliate of GoAhead on our first day was excellent. I liked it so much, that I will return to Mumbai , next year. In Mumbai, we stayed at the most upscale hotel that anyone had ever experienced. GoAhead provides excellent accommodations!!
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Anniversary Trips, Solo Travelers, Art, History, & Culture, Trip Of A Lifetime, First Time Travelers, Experienced Travelers
+2points
2out of 2found this review helpful.
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Review 16 for Grand Tour of India: North to South
Overall Rating
Tour Value
4
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by DRMEAD |
Number of past tours:1
Traveled on:01/20/2012
Location:MI
Age:40-49
Gender:Female
I traveled:with friend(s)
by DRMEAD |
February 17, 2012
Best international trip
Awesome sightseeing combined with great food and accommodations. Boathouse trip in Colchine was the best. Own cook and captain.
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Art, History, & Culture, Experienced Travelers
0points
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Review 17 for Grand Tour of India: North to South
Overall Rating
Tour Value
4
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by MITCHELL |
Number of past tours:1
Traveled on:01/20/2012
Location:MI
Age:Under 30
Gender:Male
I traveled:with friend(s)
by MITCHELL |
February 17, 2012
best international trip
Sight seeing was out of this world and the food and accommodations were first class
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Art, History, & Culture, Experienced Travelers
0points
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Review 18 for Grand Tour of India: North to South
Overall Rating
Tour Value
5
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by MADELEINE |
Number of past tours:1
Traveled on:01/20/2012
Location:CA
Age:60+
Gender:Female
I traveled:with friend(s)
by MADELEINE |
February 16, 2012
Grand Tour of India: North to South
An unforgettable, life changing experience with an exceptional leader, Rajat Singh.
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Art, History, & Culture, Trip Of A Lifetime, Experienced Travelers
0points
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Review 19 for Grand Tour of India: North to South
Overall Rating
Tour Value
3
/
5
Tour Director
4
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by BONNIEA |
Number of past tours:1
Traveled on:01/20/2012
Location:MI
Age:40-49
Gender:Female
I traveled:with friend(s)
by BONNIEA |
February 14, 2012
Needs some work
Our tour guide was very knowledegeable and friendly. The pace of travel was not enjoyable. Over a 4 day period, I calculated that we were in a bus for 20 hours. This was physcially uncomfortable as the bus did not have restrooms and the seats were not adjustable.
I would remove Delhi from the trip, when we were there the places we were scheduled to visit were shut down for holiday prep. Go Ahead should have known that & planned accordingly. I would add more time in Mumbai.
The hotel in Jaipur was awful, no hot water and the hotel staff was yelling to each other in the hallways at 4am.
I didn't feel that we were well prepared for each days events. It would have been helpful the night before if we had been told that flights had been changed and meals were changed so buy food or, bring snacks, etc.
Although downtime was scheduled in the trip, we never really had any because things had to be changed or traffic was intense. And if we would have had downtime there really wasn't much to do near any of the hotels we were staying at. This was a little disappointing.
I like Rajat and Lael, great guys, did the best they could in the situation but I think more training on what Americans expect would be good. Or more training for the Americans on what to expect. So, to sum it up: better communication.
I would remove Delhi from the trip, when we were there the places we were scheduled to visit were shut down for holiday prep. Go Ahead should have known that & planned accordingly. I would add more time in Mumbai.
The hotel in Jaipur was awful, no hot water and the hotel staff was yelling to each other in the hallways at 4am.
I didn't feel that we were well prepared for each days events. It would have been helpful the night before if we had been told that flights had been changed and meals were changed so buy food or, bring snacks, etc.
Although downtime was scheduled in the trip, we never really had any because things had to be changed or traffic was intense. And if we would have had downtime there really wasn't much to do near any of the hotels we were staying at. This was a little disappointing.
I like Rajat and Lael, great guys, did the best they could in the situation but I think more training on what Americans expect would be good. Or more training for the Americans on what to expect. So, to sum it up: better communication.
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
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Review 20 for Grand Tour of India: North to South
Overall Rating
Tour Value
5
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by MCHRISTOFFERSEN1 |
Number of past tours:1
Traveled on:01/20/2012
Location:NJ
Age:50-59
Gender:Female
I traveled:solo
by MCHRISTOFFERSEN1 |
February 13, 2012
rich variety
If you have only two weeks to spend in India and want to sample a rich variety of landscapes in a short time, this is an excellent itinerary.
Recommended for: Art, History, & Culture
0points
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