Uncovering the Wonders of India: A 26-Day Wildlife Tour

Customer Reviews

• SM

  SAM

  · December 9th, 2024
  Uncovering the Wonders of India: A 26-Day Wildlife Tour Operated By Travel Con / Tour ID 249538 09 November – 05 December 2024 The Tour was a wonderful once in a lifetime opportunity to experience not only Indian wildlife but also Indian people and their culture. Every Indian we met was kind and helpful to us. We had an absolutely wonderful time, despite the occasional unpleasant surprise, on the tour and knowing everything we know now, we would not hesitate a moment going. In our experience, the Tour was in some ways much better than advertised and in others not quite as good. But again, we both had a wonderful time. We believe that the best way to describe the Tour is with a list of Positives and Negatives in order to give as honest a review as possible. POSITIVES 1) We had the sole use of a car and driver (actually, 3 cars and 3 drivers during the Tour) to get from place to place. The driver's English ran from adequate to barely adequate, but they were all very conscientious getting us to our appointments and excellent drivers. Road and traffic conditions in India tend to be chaotic and first class driving is absolutely essential. 2) The hotels run from palatial to acceptable and generally cater to Indians with occasionally also some European tourists. We got to know Indian couples and families at the hotels and on the wildlife safaris where we shared a vehicle. Our driver in Assam took us to his home to visit with his family and have a snack. All very nice people. 3) Meals at the hotels were all Indian cuisine, except for omelets and toast at most breakfasts. One gets used to the Indian food fairly quickly since most of it is quite tasty. If expecting western food, you will be disappointed. The food at some of the less imposing hotels was the very best we had in India: small amounts of food cooked to order for us rather than buffet food. 4) Safari jeeps are designed for 6 plus a guide and driver. When we were 2 or 4 to a vehicle it was confortable. When we were 6 (3 to a row) it was tight especially if one or more was heavy set. Most of the time, we were 6, but there was significant times when we were 2 or 4. 5) We did get to see 9 tigers (5 on one day at Pench Nat'l Park) and a rarer sloth bear. We also saw Indian buffalos, bison, rhinos (only at Kaziranga Nat'l Park), jackals, a wild dog, several different kinds of deer. 6) The one hour Elephant Safari at Kaziranga will be something you will never forget. One of the best highlights of the Tour. 7) The Safari guides at National Parks were quite variable in their command of English and interest in pointing out things to us. Our very best guide was the brother of our hotel manager near Ranthambore Nat'l Park. 8) Our guides in Agra (Taj Mahal) and Jaipur had good command of English and were very knowledgeable about their subjects. There was also a third guide who was equally good. They also paid all of our entry fees) 9) The Taj Mahal is as glorious as it's supposed to be and the elephant ride up to the palace outside of Jaipur was wonderful. NEGATIVES 1) Some of our hotel reservations were changed seemly arbitrarily at the last minute resulting in logistical problems. 2) Ranthambore Nat'l Park is a world class tiger viewing park, but only in certain zones of the park. Zones 7 and 8 are pretty devoid not only of tigers but also most other animals. Zones 3, 4,, 5, 6 are good for tiger sightings. The only tiger we saw in Ranthambore was in Zone 3. We went on 2 safaris to Zone 7 and one to Zone 8 which were washouts for tigers.. A British lady we met had seen 8 tigers the day before in the lower numbered zones. We were very disappointed to have been booked for Zones 7 (twice) & 8 rather than 3 (once) thru 6. The tour operator should do better in the future. Traveler's come to see tigers, not ride around pointlessly for hours. 3) Unlike Agra and Jaipur, in Kolkata we did not have a guide to take us to the sights, just the driver, who tried, but whose English was lacking and who stayed with the car rather than accompanying us. Also, we had to pay our own entry to the Victoria Memorial, whereas in Agra and Jaipur the guides paid all of our entry fees. 4) In Assam, we were told that we would be taken to a Bio Diversity Park one evening, which was not on the schedule. When we arrived we had to pay our own entry fees even though we did not particularly want to be there. We thought it had been added to the Tour. 5) The Nature Walk at the Numeri Nat'l Park was a complete waste of time. It was a nice 5 mile walk but we saw essentially nothing but forest. WE RECOMMEND THAT A LEOPARD PARK NEAR JAIPUR BE ADDED TO THE TOUR SINCE MOST PEOPLE WANT TO SEE A LEOPARD AND WE DID NOT GET CLOSE TO ONE IN TIGER PARKS. Replacing Numeri with a Leopard Park would much improve the Tour. We hope that the foregoing gives an accurate description of what the Tour is like as we experienced it. Again, despite some problems, we had an excellent wildlife tour and would recommend it to anyone adventuresome enough to appreciate it. I am 78 years old and my wife 74 and we had no problems handling the tour. Sam & Brenda Milner Richardson, Texas USA
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  Travel Con commented on this review

  Dear Respected Sir, Greetings ! Many thanks that you have appreciated our services and enjoyed your tour. I shall follow your instructions your suggestions for the future tour. I I also offer Leopard safari tours which is basically near Jaipur but... Show more
  Trip date: November 2024
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  Grayson

  · November 25th, 2023
  If you're looking for an adventure that will take your breath away, look no further than the Uncovering the Wonders of India: A 26-Day Wildlife Tour. This tour will take you all over India, and you'll be able to see some of the country's most incredible wildlife in its natural habitat. Not only will you be able to see some of India's most iconic animals, but you'll also get a closer look at their habitats and behavior. You'll also get to learn about India's rich cultural history, which will enrich your experience even more. This is a truly amazing experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about India's wildlife.Thanks to Mr.Hemender Singh for Providing me Service.
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  Travel Con commented on this review

  Dear Sir, Greetings ! Many Thanks for taking your valuable time to write a positive feedback about our services. It means a lot for all of us a team member and positive comments help us to further excel at our services. We hope that services provided... Show more
  Trip date: November 2023
• K

  Karlo

  · November 23rd, 2023
  It was amazing trip a 26-day wildlife tour with Discover India. I must say, it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life! The tour was divided into 6 different segments, each with its own unique highlights and attractions. We saw everything from elephants and tigers to monkeys and leopards. And the best part? We got to do it all while touring around beautiful temples and scenic landscapes. The Wildlife Tour was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an exciting and educational experience. I can't wait to do it again!
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  Travel Con commented on this review

  Dear Sir, Greetings ! Many Thanks for taking your valuable time to write a positive feedback about our services. It means a lot for all of us a team member and positive comments help us to further excel at our services. We hope that services provided... Show more
  Trip date: November 2023
• L

  losilfir

  · November 7th, 2023
  We Purchase the great pleasure of taking part...
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  Travel Con commented on this review

  Dear Sir, Greetings ! Many Thanks for taking your valuable time to write a positive feedback about our services. It means a lot for all of us a team member and positive comments help us to further excel at our services. We hope that services provided... Show more
  Trip date: November 2023