Wow! Incredible North & South India!
India | Jul 6 - Aug 4, 2023

Christopher
Christopher P.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Aug 08, 2023

Wow! Incredible North & South India! Thank you so much to Ravi and his team at Active India for their exceptional organisation and exciting itinerary! My partner and I enjoyed a phenomenal 4 weeks, visiting Ladakh, Kashmir, Tamil Nadu & Kerala. Our guides, Chomphel/Abdul; and drivers, Sonam/Rafiq/Sutesh; were very friendly and highly professional; making our trip that much more magical. A highly memorable trip!

Hotel Reviews
Coconut Lagoon

Excellent stay!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Marari Beach Resort - CGH

Excellent stay!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Eight Bastion

Excellent Stay!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Houseboat

Fun stay! The captain and chef were very friendly and gracious hosts.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Helpful & Friendly.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Sangam

Pleasant stay.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Very helpful staff.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ambady Estate

Stunning rooms and beautiful estate. Wifi didn't work at all and dining area was basic. Remote and not much to do at the hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Remote and not much to do at the hotel.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Singge Palace
Ladakh

Pleasant stay!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Udman Ferns N Petals
New Delhi, Delhi

Pleasant stay!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Uley Ethnic Resort

Pleasant stay!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Karma Inn
Ladakh

Beautiful hotel but staff were not that helpful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Not so helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Highland Mountain Resort & Spa

Pleasant stay!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Grand Kaisar

Okay stay. No wifi in the rooms.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ideal Beach Resort
Mahabalipuram

Excellent buffet!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Le Pondy

Nice stay. Wifi was an issue and room was a bit basic given the fanciness of hotel. Also, the room was far from the lake so not much of a lake view.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Wifi was an issue and room was a bit basic given the fanciness of hotel. Also, the room was far from the lake so not much of a lake view.
Heritage Madurai

Stunning hotel!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Spice Village

Excellent stay!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Staff were exceptionally helpful and friendly.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Tour of Monasteries Around Leh: Shey, Thiksey, & Hemis
Tour of Monasteries Around Leh: Shey, Thiksey, & Hemis
Leh

A magical tour of some beautiful monasteries! Chomphel was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Arrival Nubra visit Diskit Monastery
Arrival Nubra visit Diskit Monastery
Nubra Valley

Incredible scenery and breath-taking Diskit!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Excursion to Gulmarg
Excursion to Gulmarg
Srinagar

Valley was beautiful but we had to abandon the cable car ride due to excessive wait times.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Spice Plantation Walk in Periyar
Spice Plantation Walk in Periyar
India

An interesting class on spices!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Enjoy Activities at Coconut Lagoon
Enjoy Activities at Coconut Lagoon
Kumarakom

Yoga was wonderful - a lovely teacher!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cruise through the backwaters of Alleppey
Cruise through the backwaters of Alleppey
Alappuzha

A stunning time exploring the backwaters or Kerala and enjoy the beautiful scenery. The Captain & Chef were very friendly and helpful.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cochin Sightseeing
Cochin Sightseeing
Cochin

We cancelled this tour due to my illness.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Excursion to Pahalgam
Excursion to Pahalgam
Srinagar

We cancelled this tour due to my illness.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Free day to relax at the hotel or for independent sightseeing
Free day to relax at the hotel or for independent sightseeing
India

N/A

Acclimatization and Orientation walk
Acclimatization and Orientation walk
Leh

A helpful orientation walk of Leh.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Arrival Uley
Arrival Uley
Uley

Beautiful spot!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit to Brihadeeshwara Temple, an architectural masterpiece & Thanjavur Palace
Visit to Brihadeeshwara Temple, an architectural masterpiece & Thanjavur Palace
Tanjore

We cancelled this tour due to my illness.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Uley - Rizong Monastery(3300m) - Yangthang (3600 m) (Walking 3 hrs)
Uley - Rizong Monastery(3300m) - Yangthang (3600 m) (Walking 3 hrs)
Yangthang

Incredible trek! And beautiful scenery! Chomphel is an excellent guide!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Yangthang - Hemis Shukpachen (3600 m) (Walking : 3 -4 hrs)
Yangthang - Hemis Shukpachen (3600 m) (Walking : 3 -4 hrs)
Hemis Shukpachan

Incredible trek! And beautiful scenery! Chomphel is an excellent guide!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hemis Shukpachan - Mebtak La (4030 m) -Themisgam (3200m)
Hemis Shukpachan - Mebtak La (4030 m) -Themisgam (3200m)
Ang

Incredible trek! And beautiful scenery! Chomphel is an excellent guide!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Themisgam - Lamayuru- Leh
Themisgam - Lamayuru- Leh
Leh

More phenomenal monasteries!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Free Evening in Leh
Free Evening in Leh
Leh

Free evening to chill.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Stay in a houseboat on Nageen Lake in Srinagar
Stay in a houseboat on Nageen Lake in Srinagar
Srinagar

Houseboat was stunning! Beautiful lounge area & roof deck. Room was excellent for a houseboat. Both hosts were very friendly and helpful. One shared dining table for all guests was impractical. On the second night, we arrived at the dinner table at our allotted time to find another guest's child playing with our food. The next morning we ate breakfast at our allotted time while other guests sat almost on top of us, watching us intently and waiting for their turn to eat breakfast. It was uncomfortable. Perhaps, it's a cultural difference here, as we prefer to have our own space when eating. Food was very basic given the fanciness of the houseboat experience. We expected better food and more variety. Also, our schedule was so busy that we only got back to the houseboat at around 8pm on both days so didn't really have time enjoy the houseboat. The Shikara ride was fun.

Quality of Experience
One shared dining table for all guests was impractical. Better food with more variety. More time at the houseboat to enjoy it's features.
Food
Food was very basic given the fanciness of the experience. We expected better food and more variety.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Super friendly and helpful staff.
Transport
Morning  Srinagar local Sightseeing
Morning Srinagar local Sightseeing
Srinagar

Pleasant exploring of Srinagar.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Free Time in Delhi
Free Time in Delhi
India

Chilled day after 2 weeks of intensive travel.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Guided tour of Mahabalipuram
Guided tour of Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram

Pleasant tour of the local temples.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
 Walking Tour of Pondicherry
Walking Tour of Pondicherry
Pondicherry

Excellent walking tour!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Free day at Pondicherry
Pondicherry

Chilled day.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Hike to Sevenmalai Hills - Tea Museum Tour
Half Day Hike to Sevenmalai Hills - Tea Museum Tour
Munnar

The hike was okay and the tea museum visit was a disappointment and not worth a visit.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Jungle Walk in Periyar National Park
Jungle Walk in Periyar National Park
India

An excellent walk in nature!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Enjoy Activities at Spice Village- Thekkady
Enjoy Activities at Spice Village- Thekkady
India

A wonderful array of activities - especially the cooking demonstration.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Free Day at Marari Beach
Free Day at Marari Beach
Marari

Chilled day.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Madurai: Discover the Tamil culture and its Hindu Temples
Madurai: Discover the Tamil culture and its Hindu Temples
Madurai

We cancelled this tour due to my illness.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Participate in Cooking demonstration activity at a Local Family House
Participate in Cooking demonstration activity at a Local Family House
Cochin

A fun time learning Kerala Cuisine from Rosy! And the food was delicious!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo
Ravi
Ravi Tickoo
Local specialist in New Delhi | Replied on Aug 11, 2023

Dear Christopher,
Namaste!
Thank you so much for your reviews. we are happy to hear you and your partner had a nice and enjoyable trip to India. It has been an equally great pleasure for us to craft and plan such a long and diverse itinerary covering the extreme north of India to the tip of the south.

Your, knowledge, travel experience, and flexibility during the trip have made it an easy and rewarding experience for me and my team.

we look forward to welcoming you again in India for another adventure,

Best Regards,

Ravi