Exploring India the Easy Way: Natalie’s Escorted Tour Experience

Upon landing at Delhi airport, it all felt surprisingly familiar, instantly putting me at ease, even down to spotting a Costa Coffee in the terminal. And that sense of comfort only grew stronger as we made our way through arrivals, where we were greeted by our Newmarket tour guide. His friendly welcome immediately set the tone for the trip and made me excited for the week ahead. He led us to our coach, which would be ours for the duration of the tour, and once we were all settled, he gave us an introduction to India and what to expect. It was incredibly reassuring to know we had his guidance and support throughout the entire adventure.

This tour completely opened my eyes to how diverse Northern India is! Each stop of this trip brought a new experience, essentially delivering 5 different breaks in one overall incredible trip. It was like having a city break, countryside escape, safari and luxury retreat all in one holiday. 
Beautiful architecture, rich heritage, iconic sights, wildlife, culture and mouthwatering food all blended in, making a trip to India feel very immersive and excellent value for money. Even the views from the coach evolved throughout the journey. One of my biggest surprises was just how green parts of India were, something I hadn’t expected at all.

Across this trip, we were staying in five different hotels (and visited many others), all of which are part of Newmarket’s India Touring offering. One thing that was clear throughout was the standard of hotels, each one as good as the last! Expect to be treated like VIPs at every stop; welcome drinks, flower garlands, music, and warm greetings every single time. Here’s a little glimpse into my top three of the hotels: 

India offers such genuine and heartfelt hospitality with smiles everywhere, and a real sense of connection.

We were lucky enough to meet so many wonderful locals throughout the trip. One evening, we were welcomed into a family home where they hosted us for dinner and a cooking demonstration. They were incredibly proud to share their heritage and culture, opening up about their stories and way of life in such an honest and generous way. We also had the opportunity to meet the inspiring women behind Taj City Rickshaws, an organisation that empowers local women in Agra to become entrepreneurs. We felt very privileged to spend time with them and learn more about their personal journeys, stories and achievements.

Food is such a big part of the adventure! Every dish feels thoughtfully prepared and made with care.

Breakfast in the hotels was a wide variety, so whether you wanted to start your day light, or more indulgent, they was plenty of options. Lunch and dinner consisted of an array of curries, vegetable dishes and flavoursome rice, all served with some of the best naan bread I’ve ever tasted! There was also an incredible selection of meat-free options. Even as a meat-eater, I found myself naturally leaning towards a largely vegetarian diet. 

My food highlights? Crispy fried okra, super moreish, almost like a vegetable crisp. The pineapple cake was another favourite, light and fresh with juicy pineapple chunks. I LOVED the Dal Bukhara, a rich black lentil dish with layers of flavour. And of course, a mango lassi, a traditional yoghurt-based drink, similar to a smoothie, refreshing and great for gut health.

Top Tip: One of the biggest things we learned is that “spice” doesn’t necessarily mean “spicy”, it’s about the blend of spices used to create depth of flavour.