Iconic India (from New Delhi to Goa)

Customer Reviews

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  Tracy

  · November 27th, 2017
  I really enjoyed the tour. It was a long time in the road, 37 days, and we covered many of the must see place in India. I was glad that I saw the south as well as it is really beautiful there. Some of my feedback (I am not sure on the next pages what space I will have to write), this is for the North and South trips. - I think the camel ride into the desert should be more optional. Many people were upset as the ropes which turn the camel are frayed ropes through their nostrils, and if the camel in front goes a little faster and their nostrils and heads get pulled. If people are told, “we are going out to the desert to stay the night, you can ride on a camel or walk the 1 or 1 1/2 hours alongside them which will be the same walking pace as the camel guides”. - I think Pushkar is a waste of time. The city is not nice and far from holy. I think the time could be spent better elsewhere. - If we arrive at a location at 1pm, and we are told to meet at 4pm for an orientation walk, then dinner after that. A lot of time is wasted here and there. I think once people arrive in a hotel from an overnight train or car of whatever that they have 1 hour max for a shower then be ready to go to start the trip, if people are tired then they can nap and catch up later. There were quite a few hours here and there which could have been spent seeing the town. This was both in the north and south. - The hotels need a bit of a reminder to keep the linen cleaner, there were some dirty laundry being given out which isn’t nice. - Tuk Tuks should have one male in each one if the numbers work. And the members be told, “we are going to Hotel.....” so that is they have trouble with the driver that they are able to find their way there. - Healthier food options being available would be good. Maybe some of the 3,600 Rupees could go to getting a pineapple or watermelon rather than our dinner be biscuits and chips on the train platform. - My tour works out to be 3,600 Rupees so each day I look at that and see if I see I have got value for money. If it is a free day and I don’t see the tour leader or just for dinner and we paid for all of the activities ourselves then I wonder where my 3,600 Rupees goes. I know there is admin and advertising etc, but when we stay in accommodation which is not great and we share rooms then there is a big hole where I am not getting value for money. - I think in the first group meeting that the leader gives everyone some paper and asks them what their hobbies are. Then if there are photographers, craft type people, car fanatics, museum fans, that along the trip there can be extra things that can be customised to their hobbies/interests in the free days. - Maybe more effort could be put into each day we learn a new Hindu or local language phrase or word so that we learn more. - That on sleeper trains that people are placed together. Getting no sleep because babies are screaming all night or creepy men are staring at girls. We all have similar sleep patterns and where we get in and off so life is easier and safer if we are together. This is one of the things that angered people with sleeper trains. - That we get options for eating dinner or lunch. The restaurants at the hotels were expensive and that was a bit annoying as many people expect India to be cheap. Just because it is cheaper than our home country, doesn’t mean that is good, it should be lots cheaper. - If the tour is in areas where there are electric tuk tuks rather than petrol ones, supporting that concept where possible would look more environmentally friendly. - Maybe encourage the hotels to be more environmentally friendly. We went through a lot of water bottles and maybe say to them, “we will choose you as you recycle bottles” or similar. - something for techie dept. a Dropbox style thing for people to share and download group photos and it is active for a month or two after the trip. We did a lot of Air Dropping which is fine for Apple users but not for Android folk. - More time should be spent in Hampi, it is great there. I think this is most of what I had in my mind. I am sure I will think of more. But I enjoyed the trip. I think there is an end of tour curse as many people get sick on the last day, I was very sick in the Maldives afterwards, not good. Don’t know if this can be prevented.
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  Trip date: October 2017
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  tina

  · July 25th, 2017
  37 days on India is too long especially during off season. The north was really hot, the south was cooler but not as lively due to monsoon season. As a basic trip nothing us included but transportation and hotel. The hotels don't all have AC or wifi and cleanliness is a big issue. I had great tour leaders but being a basic trip, optional activities are always being shoved in your face. There are basic things like the Taj Mahal, forts and palaces that can be included in the price to make this trip more worthwhile. Too many sleeper trains (3 back to back in the South) and not enough hotel stays to allow you to explore a city.
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  Intrepid Travel commented on this review

  Dear Tina, Thank you for taking the time to share your comments with us. We were disappointed to read that your Iconic India trip did not meet your expectations. Our Basix trips are designed with budget travellers in mind, meaning we use local... Show more
  Trip date: June 2017
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  Anonymous

  · February 12th, 2010
  We had a great trip to India with Intrepid. Was very well organised and we had a great leader. Thank you very much
  Trip date: January 2010
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  Anonymous

  · February 28th, 2010
  Very nice trip
  Trip date: February 2010
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  Anonymous

  · January 11th, 2011
  Travellers from HRC trip were indifferent to new people joining. I\'m not sure if this was just a one-time case or an issue that needs to be looked into.
  Trip date: November 2010
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  Anonymous

  · January 26th, 2010
  This itinerary has you visiting many lovely places but there is a lot of time spent traveling.
  Trip date: January 2010
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  Anonymous

  · April 15th, 2010
  The trip was a fabulous adventure. As I expected, some areas were dirty - the buses and train stations but the accommodation was mostly good and our guide was really lovely. The towns we visted were all very interesting (except for Bharatpur).
  Trip date: March 2010
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  Anonymous

  · October 8th, 2010
  the trip (both in the north and south) was amazing - i couldn\'t have seen as much if i had travelled alone or met as many wonderful people or experienced the real india in the way that this trip allowed! thank you!
  Trip date: September 2010
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  Anonymous

  · May 17th, 2010
  The overall trip was very good but the heat played a big part in the pleasantness of the experience especially the accomodations which I will elaborate in the acccom field. This feed back is for the southern part.
  Trip date: March 2010
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  Anonymous

  · October 8th, 2010
  the north and south are so diverse - this is an amazing way to get a taste of both and really get the most out of your trip! :)
  Trip date: August 2010