Wonderful and well organized first trip to India for me. Robindro stayed in close touch with us before, during, and after the trip.
I have the fortune to travel to several countries and Serene Journeys made my trip to India one of the BEST experiences ever.
The VIP treatment it is truly a personalized VIP experience. It started with an effortless and seamless passage through the maze of people at the immigration counters followed by a beautiful surprise when I met the party that took me to the hotel. I was presented with a beautiful marigold garland.
From there on, everything went perfect. The tour guides and drivers for my trips to Agra and Jaipur were absolutely professional, nice, cordial and knowledgeable.
Robin is hands down the BEST of the BEST and his attention to detail is beyond anything I had before.
Thank you very Robin and team.
Lost in Wilderness with Serene Journeys
I arrived in Delhi on 16 Sep and was met by a representative as I stepped off the plane, something I was not expecting, but a pleasant surprise. Was escorted through immigration, assisted with luggage collection and then through customs, after which I was handed over to another representative who took me to the vehicle. This was a clean Toyota SUV and the driver was waiting for us. I was whisked to my hotel. OK maybe not whisked, as in Delhi, as elsewhere in India, the traffic is just beyond anyone’s imagination. My accommodation in Delhi was at the Hyatt Regency, a modern luxury hotel. My room was just perfect, spacious, with a large bathroom with all the amenities. The rest of my day was at leisure. I relaxed in the hotel’s spa and got over the 17 hours of travelling, by letting the jets in the Jacuzzi soothe away the aches. Next morning after a scrumptious breakfast, I was met in the foyer by a guide for my day tour. As I had been to Delhi before I stressed that I did not want to visit the same attractions twice. This was taken into account and there was no repetition. We visited a Sikh temple, where an elderly, extremely well spoke gentleman explained the doctrine of his religion, we then went to an Hindu temple and we were there in time to witness the ceremony. This involved dancing and chanting and was very interesting to see. We later visited a mosque, Swaminarayan Akshardam, a huge complex with the mist intricate, if not gaudy décor, the Bahai Lotus temple. The next day I was picked up early for my transfer to Paatlidun safari lodge, located outside Jim Corbett Tiger reserve. Although this is approx. 300kms from Delhi the journey took approx. 8 hours through some very interesting and varying landscape. The lodge is a piece of heaven. Very secluded, it can only be reached by 4×4. I was met by the entire staff, who introduced themselves and then shown to my accommodation. This consists of a huge bungalow, with a separate lounge TV room, a huge bedroom opening on its own courtyard. The bathroom is equally huge and this opens on a completely private courtyard with its own plunge pool and outside shower, and with the temperature hovering around 37 degrees and high humidity, this was most welcome and very well used. After a refreshing dip in the pool, tea, Indian style, was served under the trees. No scones or biscuits, but pakora which are vegetables fried in batter. Very tasty and much better than our sugar laden cakes. Dinner was of course a feast for the taste buds. The chef personally listed the options so that I could choose. The food is delicious but spicy so if you can’t handle that go for the MILD option. Next morning I was taken on an early morning bush walk. It turned out to be more of a hike than a walk, but was extremely enjoyable. They should warn guests that there is a bit of climbing up and down to be done, so the correct footwear is very important. Later in the morning I enjoyed a complimentary foot massage in the well appointed spa. That evening I wanted to see the sunset over the mountains, so again by 4 x4 I was taken to a place high up on the hills . Unfortunately a thick mist moved in, so no sunset, but it was still great to be up there. They set up a table with snacks and drinks and I just enjoyed the peacefulness of the place, as well as cooler temperatures. The next day I arranged a massage and in the afternoon, a safari at Jim Corbett. Because of the season, the gate nearest to the lodge was closed, so we had to drive approx. 90 minutes just to get to the entrance. There we were joined by a local ranger who escorted us for the approx. 4 hours we were in the park. The vegetation is very thick, so unfortunately there were no tiger sightings, but the landscape is beautiful, there are other animal species to be seen and an abundant bird life ( for you birdwatchers). Another excellent dinner. Unfortunately it came time to leave and face the long drive back to Delhi. I must commend the driver who managed to drive in what to most of us seems to be organized chaos without any incidents. There are no rules on Indian roads, so best is to close one eyes and pretend nothing is going on around you. Last day in Delhi, time for some shopping at Khan Market, followed by a high tea at the hotel and then transferred, in a deluge, to the airport. Again I had the services of an escort to the airport where I was handed over to another representative who helped me through check in and immigration. All arrangements were spot on, punctual and made to fit my requirements. India is a fascinating country, maybe not for everyone. Myself, I can’t wait to go back!!!
I highly recommend Serene Journeys if you are looking for a bespoke tour to India. www.serenejourneys.co
Even though I am an independent traveler and usually make all of my own travel plans, I decided to find a travel agent for my first trip to visit India. I was looking for someone to make the most of my time as I would only have 4 days to visit Delhi and Agra. Robin prepared a detailed daily itinerary that covered the highlights of the city along with private tour guides. I had the same driver from the time I arrived until I was dropped back off at the airport. He was very friendly and knowledgeable on the drive to and from Agra. The tour guides had pre-purchased tickets for every venue so we never had to wait in line. A representative met me at the airport when I arrived and again on my departure. Robin negotiated great rates at the 4 star hotels which were conveniently located. The complete tour package was less than I expected and I will definitely use Serene Journey’s again for my next trip to India.
I took the Serene Journey Rajasthan Tour in October 2016 with my regular travelling companion. I am wary of tours because I fear finding myself ‘trapped’ with rigid itineraries or irritating travel companions. However, I was blown away by Robin’s tour. Not only did he choose remarkable hotels and forts that gave us an authentic but luxurious taste of Indian life, but he added in many free optional activities tailored to suit our interests and tastes. Nothing was too much trouble. The pace was perfect. No exhausting journeys, no very early starts, plenty of time to settle, relax and explore. Our other travel companions were also a delight. It seems that Serene Journeys attracts a discerning and sophisticated clientele. Robin is a true professional Tour Operator, but more than that he is an outstanding host. His charm and humour were enough to make the trip worthwhile. I hired a Tour Operator and ended up with a cherished friend. I intend to travel again with Robin. Meanwhile, I heartily recommend Serene Journeys and their bespoke tours.
We had a wonderful 18 day tour of Rajasthan designed by Robin of Serene Journeys. This was our first visit to this spectacular area and it could not have been better organised. The driver and tour guides selected were all excellent and we were given the time and information to appreciate the wonders of the main cities that we visited.A highlight of our stay was the inspired choice of accommodation, often outside but close to the main tourist centres. The hotels we experienced were eclectic and wonderful – ranging from the rather eccentric joys of the hotel used to film the ‘Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ to a stunning Relais & Chateau property and a magnificent fort overlooking the spectacular Chambal River. Our hosts were often members of the families who had ruled the areas in which we stayed. They were knowledgable and gracious and we were afforded a wonderful insight into the lives of the local villagers – who turned out to be the absolute highlight of the trip.Rajasthan is a visual paradise and I have never before taken so many photographs on a holiday. Robin, being a great photographer in his own right, knew how to take us to the places that were the most visually interesting as well as culturally fascinating. The whole trip was overwhelmingly wonderful and I can happily recommend Robin’s company Serene Journeys to any other travellers seeking a carefully tailored tour of India.
Just home and settling back to normality after 3 magical weeks in India with Bee Thompson mostly touring Rajasthan with excursions to Amritsar and Agra. I cannot complement Serene Journeys and Robin enough for the immaculate organisation of every single detail as it was flawless.There was not a single issue with any of the arrangements and we had exceptional guides and a wonderful driver in Ram. In addition, for where we stayed and what was included, the trip was exceptionally good value. We saw the great sites but also the day to day life of India. The pace was measured so we never felt overly hurried but I would certainly recommend a few days rest and relaxation towards the end of a long tour. We had 4 nights at Mihir Gahr in absolute luxury to recharge batteries, absorb and discuss all we had seen and done and prepare for our UK return.Without a doubt we will be back as we have only scratched the surface of this truly amazing country and whenever we do return there is no question that we will again put our complete trust in Robin and Serene Journeys to organise another amazing adventure. Thank you Robin – it was truly exceptional and I only wish I could return each time you organise a tour!
Robin with Serene Journeys did an excellent job planning our week long trip in India. Robin did a great job making sure we saw all the beautiful sites with great guides and a fantastic driver for our week long trip. Robin checked in with us often and took care of any concerns we had. It was truly a fantastic experience. Thank you Robin.
Traveling with Serene Journeys was an excellent experience for us. Each stop was a wonderful surprise with so many unique experiences (the sunset elephant ride, historic home stay in Palakkad, tea picking experience, etc.). The hotels were fantastic and each one unique. It was a treat meeting so many local guides and staff who were experts in their home regions. There was only 1 or two bumps which were solved within hours. We’re so appreciative of Robin‘s gift to us of a lifetime experience in India.
