Review: Intrepid Travel's Northern India Family Holiday Comfort Tour

I've successfully traveled to more than 80 countries without ever joining a group tour lasting more than a few hours, but when an unexpected event last year forced me to cancel a previously planned trip, I decided to book a small-group tour with Intrepid Travel.

I wasn’t sure how I would feel about ceding control over my trip to someone else; after all, I enjoy being able to change my plans if I hear about something new from a local, or if my kids (ages 10 and 14) are cranky and need a day to relax by the pool.

However, my kids and I loved our 14-day Northern India Family Holiday Comfort itinerary so much, we’ve already booked two more tours with the operator.

Here’s what families can expect.

Hands-On Experiences

I chose Intrepid’s Northern India tour because I had always wanted to see the Taj Mahal and experience Indian culture firsthand, but found the destination too intimidating to tackle on my own.

I was relieved that I would have a guide to help me navigate the chaos and crowds and, because Intrepid always uses local guides for its tours, I knew there would always be someone available to answer questions about Indian culture and history — and which foods were safe to eat.

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Our guide, Ravi, wasn’t just knowledgeable, but was also great with kids. He quizzed them on facts about India throughout the tour, making sure they remembered how many people live in Delhi, or who is buried in the Taj Majal. One afternoon, he took the kids to our hotel’s large lawn to fly kites, a favorite Indian pastime. And another time, he suggested bringing the kids to see a Bollywood movie in one of India’s classic movie theaters, an experience my family will always remember.

Ravi expertly guided us through visits to Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Ranthambhore National Park and a few smaller towns.

Flexible Scheduling

While Intrepid’s tour included several planned activities on most days (we saw the Taj Mahal, went on a tiger safari, took a Bollywood dance class and visited several impressive forts as part of the scheduled itinerary), there was also plenty of time for the kids to play soccer, swim or explore on their own. Ravi also helped my family arrange a visit to Karni Mata Temple (also known as the Temple of Rats), which is off-the-beaten-path and not a standard part of Intrepid’s itinerary. All we had to do was hop in a car that was pre-arranged for us, while the rest of the group participated in an alternative activity.

Having other families on the trip — another component of Intrepid’s small-group family tours — also offered a great support system.

Occasionally, parents traded off watching each other’s kids. And whenever a family wanted to have dinner on their own, or wander off at a temple by themselves, no one batted an eye.

By the end of the trip, the other families on our tour felt like old friends. I had worried that two weeks with the same group would feel too long, but when the trip ended, none of us were ready to leave.