01 Mar 2020
We were a group of 4 on our first ever visit to India and decided on Abby & Scout Tours after extensive online research (huge shoutout with thanks to fellow reviewers!).
The challenge: Hit all highlights of the Golden Triangle in 7 days plus shopping and foodie tryouts on the side. Transporting from one city to another took around 20 hours even though we took the flight from Jodhpur to Delhi. During the trip we developed a taste for Ayurvedic treatments and wanted to squeeze that into the schedule. Our visit coincided with Mr. Trump's visit to the great Taj Mahal hence itinerary was changed to accommodate the closure of the city blocks.
The highlights: Not the sights, shopping or food (though important), but our guide Mr. Sabir Sheikh. He gave new definition to the term "super guide" as he went the extra mile to accommodate every little request we made, from the iconic pictures and must-try street food to the unique experiences, such as tuk tuk around the markets, riding in an open jeep to the Tiger Fort (sunscreen and scarf recommended), dropping in unannounced to a wedding (inspired by the 3 Idiots movie) and shopping at every opportunity we get (showcasing the bargaining powers of Mr. Sabir). Note VAT charges on clothing items and food vary but can add up to 20% of the total costs.
Also special thanks to our driver, Mr. Jaypal-ji, a man of few words and very steady hands on the wheel, and our guide Mr. Suresh in Jodhpur, who took obvious pride in his city and the beautiful Mehrangarh Fort.
The tour is highly recommended only if you're looking for sterling service and outstanding experiences in the Golden Triangle.
To answer a question I frequently get: Is a tour guide necessary? For this particular trip, my short answer is yes because a) we did not have the luxury of time, b) we did not have the local knowledge nor speak the local language. Having an experienced tour guide and strong follow-up from Abby & Scout (which checked on our progress with Mr. Sabir constantly) afforded us peace of mind.