I travelled on a group tour in India (G Adventures Rajasthan & Varanasi: Ancient Temples & The Taj Mahal) and it’s not an overstatement to say that it changed me – in a good way! They call it ‘Incredible India’ and it is exactly that – incredible!
I wasn’t really expecting to like India and honestly I was a bit scared to go there. It surprised me – I absolutely loved it and have not stopped talking about it since (oh, my poor family!).
I believe that India is a country that everyone should visit at least once, because it is just so different to the western world. You will not be able to avoid learning something culturally valuable that will stay with you for life.
Thinking of visiting India? Download the Free Basics Guide
You don’t have to go it alone though – there’s a lot to be said for the security of a group tour in India!
Why choose a group tour in India?
Safety in numbers
When travelling to somewhere like India, where I had heard many a scam story, I wanted to be part of a group. There IS more safety in numbers than alone!
Ease of travelling around
India can be a little scary to navigate if you’ve not been there before. Tuk tuks, Rickshaws and Sleeper Trains are all amazing experiences, but they can be a bit of an acquired taste!
Related Post: What is a sleeper train in India really like?
On a group tour, the transport is all arranged for you by the guide. They make sure that tuk tuks or rickshaws are waiting to take you sightseeing and that you’re at the station in time to catch your train.
A decent guide
I had a brilliant guide on my group tour in India who was an amazing story-teller. A dedicated guide for your whole trip means that you essentially have a local friend. You have someone to tell you the background of the places you visit and someone on hand to answer your many many cultural questions!
I didn’t get sick in India (I repeat, I DIDN’T GET SICK IN INDIA!) and a lot of that was thanks to my guide. Having someone point to your plate and say “Try that, Carys – it’s amazing!” or “CARYS! Put that down – it will definitely make you sick!” is invaluable.
Choosing a tour company
There are a ton of tour companies offering a group tour in India, from big foreign owned corporations to simply booking a guide when you touch down in Delhi.
Personally, as a solo female adventurer, I wanted to know I would be safe and looked after from the moment I arrived in India.
For me, it was between G Adventures and Intrepid Travel because they are well known to me. I had travelled with them before and both have partnered with STA Travel, who I trust.
Plus, they both have different levels of travel style to suit different budgets – from basic to luxury.
I ended up going with G Adventures, so the rest of this post is about that trip.
The down side of a group tour in India
Of course, group tours aren’t for everyone. I don’t always travel this way – I’ve backpacked around Australia alone and arrived in Thailand without a plan.
I love the freedom that solo travel brings – to stop and stay longer in one place if you wish, or to wander a city alone. That is what is missing from a group tour, so it’s swings and roundabouts with the safety aspect!
A group tour in India can be a bit ‘whistle-stop’ – you don’t get long in each place because you are fitting a lot into just a few weeks.
You don’t get a lot of ‘me time’ either – especially if you’ve opted to share a room. But it is safer and I met some awesome people that I’m still in touch with.
Thinking of visiting India? Download the Free Basics Guide
G Adventures Rajasthan and Varanasi: Ancient Temples & The Taj Mahal
The tour I chose was the G Adventures Rajasthan and Varanasi: Trains & The Taj tour.
Check out the full itinerary on their website (…and get lost dreaming of all their amazing tours – they have so many around the world and I want to go on them ALL!)
This one is a 18-to-30-somethings tour, so the most basic type. The accommodation was WAY nicer than I was expecting! Super clean and comfortable, just the odd broken plug socket!
I chose this one because I really wanted to visit Varanasi, and it wasn’t included in the itinerary of many of the less-basic tours.
I worried that I would be hanging around with a bunch of teenagers (I’m 31) but it wasn’t like that at all. There were seven of us aged between 21 and 34.
I’m sharing some of my experiences and photos from the G Adventures Rajasthan and Varanasi: Trains & The Taj tour below to bring it to life a little!
First Stop: Delhi
The first stop was Delhi for that initial culture shock! A guided walking tour led by a former street-kid and a taxi tour to the main city sights.
I pushed my way through crowds of people buying and selling, and learned the hard way why flip-flops (thongs, or jandals – depending on where you are from!) were not the greatest idea!
20,000 Rats in a Temple in Bikaner
Yes – those are rats. Lots of rats. 20,000 in this one temple, would you believe!
We visited the Karni Mata temple in which the rats are fed and looked after. They are believed to be the descendants of an incarnation of a god.
You don’t have to go into the temple, but trust me it is a great story to tell.
Oh, by the way… it’s a temple… you can’t wear shoes!
Riding Camels in the Rajasthan Desert
Who knew that the Rajasthan desert would be so green? Apparently it isn’t always – just the result of some heavy rain.
Are camels comfortable to sit on for two hours? No.
Was it worth doing? Absolutely!
I slept outside under the stars, staring up at the milky way – which is my absolute favourite way to sleep!
Jaisalmer – The Golden City
Jaisalmer is beautiful. It’s called the Golden City because the buildings are made of yellowish sandstone. A day of wandering around the narrow alleyways of the living fort (as in, people still live and work in the fort) taking photos.
Inside the fort you feel you’ve left the hustle and bustle of the city well behind.
The Blue City – Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Jodhpur is known as the ‘Blue City’ – I’ll leave you to hazard a guess as to why!
I visited the Mehrangarh Fort, which is stunning and contains a museum of local heritage. I took a headphone tour which was worthwhile.
Prepare to be treated like a minor celebrity though – most other tourists are from other parts of India and everybody (just everybody) will want a selfie with you!
Relaxing a bit in Udaipur
Udaipur is known as the ‘Venice of the East’. It’s just lovely. Set amongst a series of huge lakes, the scenery is beautiful.
Udaipur was the first place on my trip that it was possible to grab a decent coffee and sandwich (if you fancied a change from curry). It felt almost European sitting on a restaurant balcony looking over the lakes.
I did most of my souvenir shopping in Udaipur – a great spot for silver jewellery, leather bags, and pretty notebooks.
Related post: Udaipur Monsoon Palace, India: Beware of the Monkeys
I also took a visit to the Udaipur Monsoon Palace which has stunning views – just watch out for the monkeys!
Resetting your Karma in Pushkar
One of the more touristy spots, Pushkar was the place I saw the most western tourists. It’s developed a bit of a hippy vibe so you’ll see a lot of dreadlocked backpackers.
The holy lake is beautiful though and it’s worth taking the option to reset your Karma in a ceremony at the lake. I’m not sure whether it worked, but what the heck!
Seeing Village Life in Tordi Sagar
One of the things I like about G Adventures tours is that they normally take you off the beaten track. We visited a tiny village in the middle of nowhere, named Tordi.
The village itself – just a normal tiny village. The houses were little more than huts and the people were some of the poorest you will find. But super friendly.
I didn’t take any photos here – it didn’t really feel right. Too much like being in someone’s home.
We stayed just a few minutes, so as not to disrupt too much.
Checking out Jaipur
Jaipur felt like just another Indian city to me – it’s more about the City Palace and the Amer Fort. Both really interesting places and worth a visit.
I watched my first Bollywood movie here which, bizarrely, was set in my hometown!? I’m sure I might have felt homesick, had they not clearly muddled Cambridge UK with Cambridge, MA!
One fascinating place I visited was Jantar Mantar – a collection of large astronomical instruments. It’s home to the worlds largest sundial (it really tells the time – I checked!) and an instrument for each star sign.
Seeing the Taj Mahal in Agra
Jaipur is the last stop in Rajasthan, after which the Rajasthan and Varanasi tour takes you into the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Agra itself was, honestly, a bit of a dive. The only place on my trip that I was warned, very seriously, to keep a special eye on my personal belongings. We all removed our necklaces, as it’s known for people to snatch them as you walk by.
Besides that though, Agra is home to some of the most beautiful buildings in the world! The Taj Mahal is one of the real highlights of the G Adventures tours. I visited the Taj Mahal for two photo opportunities – a sunset from a distance and a sunrise at the site itself. It really is breath-taking.
The Taj Mahal gets busy as the day wears on, so we left to visit the Baby Taj. Here, there were just a handful of tourists – so it was super easy to get a great shot!
Exploring Varanasi and the Ganges
Varanasi is an incredible experience. Situated on the banks of the holy Ganges river, it is like no other place I have been.
If you imagine India, this is probably the closest to what you are imagining. The streets are crammed full of people, cows, rickshaws, rubbish and beggars tugging at your trouser leg.
On a sunrise boat trip I watched people wash and clean their teeth in the brown, murky water at the Ghats (steps on the river bank), where I frankly wouldn’t dip my toe.
A sunset boat trip showed me where the dead are cremated on bonfires on the banks of the holy river – ensuring their place in heaven.
In the narrow alleyways you will need to step aside as men carry silk-shrouded bodies down to the river.
On the lighter side, there is an amazing candle ceremony every evening on the Ghats, which is a spectacle not to be missed! I watched from a boat on the river, alongside hundreds of other boats.
Would I say I liked Varanasi? Perhaps not exactly. But it was an experience that I am glad to have had.
Finish the G Adventures Rajasthan and Varanasi: Ancient Temples & The Taj Mahal tour in Delhi
Finally, I returned to Delhi – tired but safe in the knowledge that I had and experience of a lifetime and never had to worry about my safety. I would definitely recommend taking the G Adventures Rajasthan and Varanasi: Ancient Temples & The Taj Mahal tour if you are travelling alone.
Other India tours
I thoroughly enjoyed the G Adventures Rajasthan and Varanasi: Ancient Temples & The Taj Mahal tour, but if you’re worried about the ‘basic’ travel style there are heaps of other options for a group tour in India!
Thinking of visiting India? Download the Free Basics Guide
No matter how you choose to travel, do visit India – it will change you for the better.
This article contains affiliate links, which means I will get a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you decide to buy. Integrity is really important to me, so I only recommend products that I really love! Of course, do your own research and if you have any questions about the tour itself or need some advice, please feel free to get in touch – I’d be happy to help a fellow traveller!
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