Highlights of Northern India Discovery Holiday

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 113 reviews.

Linda Martin

HIGHLIGHTS OF NORTHERN INDIA

Written February 2013
All your senses hit. Colour! Noise! Taste! The energy and positivity of the people outweigh what you anticipated would be the negatives. You feel enlivened being there.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The dignity of The Ganges at sunset and sunrise. Observing the quiet diligence of those coming to its banks. A tiger striding across the track passing the truck with a casual glance towards us - supremely self assured and indifferent. It's markings so vivid it seemed alien on the dusty track. The insanity of the traffic in any of the places we travelled - constant movement, like a finely choreographed dance that only goes forward at speed.
What did you think of your group leader?
Badam: a serene presence, calmly coordinating, keeping us to task,
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take a sleeping bag liner for the overnight trains. You need some warm layers for the early morning starts on winter departures Enjoy the haggling over prices - get in the spirit - sellers will never sell at a loss to themselves! Accept that rubbish is everywhere.
Angela Page

HIGHLIGHTS OF NORTHERN INDIA

Written January 2013
An amazing, exhausting week. Although I was much the oldest in our group, everyone was supportive & helpful & friendly. I am so glad I went, because I learned a lot about India and we really saw the highlights as promised as well as meeting some lovely people, both Indian & in the group, and finding out a bit more every day.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Probably seeing not one, but two tigers at Ranthambore, which I really hadn't expected. One was hunting about 100 yards away, but the other just ambled out of the bush, walked along beside our jeep, crossed the track and ambled off. She was almost close enough to stroke: I could see the texture of her fur. After that, I allowed myself not to go on the early morning drive next day, but people came back having seen another, elderly tiger, as well as a very rare leopard.
The Taj Mahal, even at midday with crowds, lived up to expectations and reduced some of us to tears. And the Ganges in the early morning with the sun rising through the mist seen from a rowing boat was completely timeless and breathtaking. Brilliant saris, wonderful architecture, new experiences, conversations..
What did you think of your group leader?
Yaddu was/is unfailingly patient, kind, informative, resourceful and creative. We were very lucky!
His support when our return BA flight was cancelled was invaluable; he didn't leave the six of us affected until he knew we were booked on another flight and had accommodation, dinner and transport provided.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
This tour is described as leisurely/moderate. I found that I could make it more leisurely by occasionally opting out of an activity - and nobody made me feel guilty about that. The distances are long, although the highlights are many and rewarding. We covered a lot of ground in just over a week, in more ways than one. I do wonder if I should have been advised to consider a more leisurely tour, given that Exodus knew about my age and limitations, but that is my only reservation.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I was glad I'd arrived early in Delhi and didn't have to cope with what turned out to be a seven hour journey to Jaipur straight after an overnight plane flight. Also, two overnight train journeys in three days could surely be avoided for those of us who do not sleep well on trains. So I'm saying the tour was tiring, but worth it!
Alexander Woodcraft

HIGHLIGHTS OF NORTHERN INDIA

Written January 2013
Great fun, very busy.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Releasing candles into the Ganges after sunset in Varanasi.
What did you think of your group leader?
Knowledgable and likeable.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
A good tour, quite a lot of time in the bus at the start and very busy but also rewarding.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We saw three tigers
Colin Wight
Blurred tigers, wonky Taj: fabulous memories

Written January 2013
A very good, exciting and varied introduction to Northern India, taking in architecture, wildlife and culture. Suitable for flexible people in reasonably good health who don't mind 6am starts (half the time). It really is not possible to do any more in the time allowed. Group age was approx. 35 - 65, and we all got along fine.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
You think you know what the Taj Mahal looks like, but you really haven't until you have seen it for yourself. The details are exquisite and the dome itself is enormous.
Seeing a tiger (two in fact) in the Ranthambhore Park was an amazing bonus that no-one really expected. Justified the early start in the freezing cold.
Evening boat trip on the Ganges at Varanasi was incredibly atmospheric.
As a treat: magnificent 3-hour brunch at the Imperial Hotel, New Delhi - not included in the package!
What did you think of your group leader?
Bhupesh was a likeable and resourceful tour leader who coped extremely well in very difficult circumstances: the huge delays to train and bus services owing to thick morning fog. I wonder how he managed to get any sleep at all.
The first thing he said to us was: 'in India, nothing goes to plan'.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Bring a scarf, hat and coat if you are going in January. It will be genuinely cold at night (at low as 3C in Delhi) but it will be pleasant in the afternoon.
Also antiseptic handwash, binoculars.
Hotels can be a bit stingy with the toilet roll. Take one with you.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The overnight train from Varanasi to Delhi in fact took 26 hours! But for £70 or less you can fly in 90 mins with Spice Jet. I would suggest this is good value. 26 hours on a train in the fog is not a romantic option.
The hotels were not luxurious but absolutely fine.
Some photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/cwight/sets/72157632490517427/
Elizabeth Goyder

HIGHLIGHTS OF NORTHERN INDIA

Written December 2012
Definitely the ideal trip for anyone with limited time who wants to pack in as much as possible into a short holiday.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Highlights included tiger spotting and arriving in Varanasi station after a long day (and night!) on the train - and seeing the Taj Mahal appearing in the mist was pretty amazing.
What did you think of your group leader?
We were very lucky to have an experienced guide who clearly loves his country and wants every single visitor to feel the same way. Chandra organised some fantastic additional trips around the street markets and temples of Varanasi and Delhi. He also really looked after us when things didn't go according to plan and when our first 12 hour train journey was delayed by thick fog and took closer to 20 hours, he made sure we were well supplied with food and drink and kept us entertained with stories and card tricks - and when some of the group then preferred to fly back to Delhi than risk missing onward flights, he went out of his way to facilitate travel arrangements to suit the whole party. It was a great experience to be travelling with someone who had such a fund of local, historical and cultural insights and very relaxing to have a guide who did all the negotiating to ensure every day ran smoothly.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Just relax and enjoy the whirlwind nature of the experience.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Having previously travelled independently and on my own in India, I'd recommend travel with Exodus to anyone who is planning a first trip to India or just wants to experience India without hassle and in excellent company.
Jean Goyder

HIGHLIGHTS OF NORTHERN INDIA

Written December 2012
Not a chill out holiday but the most amazing roller-coaster of experiences. A wonderful introduction to the magic of India.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Seeing a tiger in the wild, as I had persuaded myself that the chances of this were minimal! Experiencing some of "real India" from the street markets and tricycle rickshaws through amazing historical sites to a gleaming modrn metro station and 5star hotel where we dined one evening.
What did you think of your group leader?
Chandrajeet was a very big part in the success of this trip. He kept a party with a fifty year age spread happy and together, giving us confidence at all times that all would be well. He was a fund of information, always given clearly and, when things did not always go to plan through no fault of his, smoothed the problems. He gave us he feling he enjoyed his job and wanted us to go home with a love of India.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If taking this trip in December or January take sreiously the warning that it can be cold - woolly hat and down jacket would have been sensible wear for our dawn trips.
If you cannot start the day without breakfast take muesli bars for the dawn trips!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I would recommend this trip to anyone even if India is not on their wish list. Exodus has put together a full and varied programme and, from reading other reviews, with a series of excellent local guides.
david scott

HIGHLIGHTS OF NORTHERN INDIA

Written December 2012
This was a trip full of new experiences as well as providing the opportunity to see world famous buildings and iconic sights.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There were many inspirational moments: those that stand out are seeing tiger, my first view of the Taj Mahal and drinking masala tea out of a clay cup on a sleeper train.
What did you think of your group leader?
Chandra, our group leader, was fantastic and guided us with great skill through a very full schedule without ever making us feel rushed. He clearly wanted us to experience the best India had to offer and went out of his way to ensure everybody got what they wanted out of the trip if it was at all possible. He was always ready with interesting stories and explanations of how things were done in India. He made the whole holiday into a cultural experience not just a "sightseeing trip"
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Just enjoy the experience.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This was a truly enjoyable holiday that I would recommend to anybody