We had an incredible 16‑day trip to India with Turban Adventures, covering the Golden Triangle and southern India (Kerala - Kochi, Thekkady, Backwaters and Varkala), and we couldn’t be happier with our experience.From start to finish, this itinerary was thoughtfully designed, balancing iconic highlights with meaningful cultural experiences. We especially loved our guides—Amit in Agra and Jitendra in Jaipur were outstanding. Jaipur was a true standout destination for us: the sights, the vibrant energy, and unique experiences like a workshop at Creatis, where we created our own block‑printed textiles, and a memorable dinner with a local family. These moments truly brought the city to life.Of course, the Taj Mahal was breathtaking. In Agra, we also really enjoyed visiting the local market and taking part in an impromptu mini food tour with our excellent guide—an unexpected and delightful highlight.Traveling south to Kochi, we were fortunate to have Mary as our guide. Her insights and thoughtful, women’s perspective on Indian and Kerala culture added tremendous depth to our experience. Kochi itself is a charming city—we loved the walkability of the old town and the wonderful textile shopping.In Thekkady, learning about spices was interesting, and the martial arts show was a lot of fun. We do wish we had known in advance about the beautiful hikes in the nearby national parks—had we known, we definitely would have loved to explore more.One of the most memorable parts of the trip was our stay in the Kerala backwaters on a houseboat. Cruising through this peaceful and beautiful landscape at sunset, completely off the grid for a night, with our own private cook, was an unforgettable experience.We then stayed at the luxurious Leela Ashtamudi, overlooking Ashtamudi Lake. This was pure indulgence—the spa, gym, and stunning rooms made us feel truly spoiled.Our final stop was Varkala, which was the perfect way to wind down the trip. The cliffs, beaches, relaxed atmosphere, and ringing in the New Year there made for a magical ending.Throughout the entire journey, Turban Adventures provided excellent drivers who were professional, safe, and always at our service. Manohar was incredibly responsive and supportive, both during the planning process and throughout the trip. He worked closely with us beforehand to ensure the itinerary matched what we wanted, and he remained flexible and attentive when small changes or hiccups arose along the way.Overall, we were extremely pleased with our experience and highly recommend Turban Adventures to anyone seeking a safe, well‑organized, and thoughtfully curated trip to India.A few tips for future travelers:*Consider omitting the Tiger Safari unless seeing tigers is a top priority and you can add extra days—sightings are not guaranteed. That said, the lodge was beautiful and the service and food were excellent.*We would have happily added another day or two (at least) in Jaipur, and possibly explored nearby cities.*Be mindful of driving times—traffic in India is slow and unpredictable, or perhaps predictably slow.Thank you, Turban Adventures, for an unforgettable experience. We would travel with you again in a heartbeat!
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Experiential Travel and Customised Holidays for discerning travelers to Asia and Europe. Turban Adventures specializes in tailor-made holidays and group departures for every kind of request with complete flexibility and 24x7 on-ground support. We are based in Jaipur and have branch offices at major tourist destinations in India along with associate offices in Kathmandu, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Italy, and Bali.
With a combined experience of more than 50 years, the team at Turban Adventures is always available for your support. See more