Unforgettable trip to India - excellently organized and absolutely safe
We have just completed an unforgettable 8 day tour of Northern India and couldn't be happier with the experience. As two women traveling alone, we felt completely safe, well looked after and warmly welcomed at all times.
A big part of the reason why this trip was so special is our fantastic driver Raju. From the moment he picked us up at the airport to the end of the trip, he was always punctual, attentive, friendly and extremely courteous. Not only is he a very safe and experienced driver, but he always made sure that we wanted for nothing. He helped us check into the hotels, answered all our questions, made sure we always had enough water with us and even helped us with small errands or spontaneous stops. His commitment went far beyond the usual - we felt completely at ease and safe.
We were accompanied by a different German-speaking guide in each city. All of them were very competent, spoke excellent German and impressed us with their extensive knowledge of the impressive monuments and the long history of India. They also informed us about the country's diverse culture and religion. They also protected us from overly pushy salespeople and diligently took photos of us at the most beautiful places - perfect memories included. They were always eager to support us and fulfill our wishes immediately.
The trip was excellently organized by Joyful Holidays, a women-run company that works with local suppliers and places particular emphasis on safety and comfort - especially for women travelling alone. Even before the trip, Sonia from Joyful Holidays was available to answer any questions we had, always responding quickly and helpfully and also providing us with important information about the trip, Indian culture and practical tips.
We can wholeheartedly recommend Joyful Holidays - especially for women traveling alone or small groups of women. We would like to wholeheartedly thank all the wonderful guides and especially Raju, our driver, who made this trip an unforgettable experience. Thank you so much - we will carry these memories with us forever!
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Dear Karolin Mam,
Thank you for your heartfelt review! We're thrilled that your 8-day journey through Northern India was unforgettable and that you felt safe, well cared for, and warmly welcomed throughout. Raju’s dedication, along with our expert...
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Annemarie
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May 29th, 2025
Unforgettable India Journey – Exceptionally Well Organized and Safe
We recently completed an unforgettable 8-day private tour through Northern India and we couldn’t be happier with the experience. As two women traveling alone, we always felt completely safe, well cared for, and genuinely welcomed.
A huge part of why this journey was so enjoyable is thanks to our amazing driver, Raju. From the moment he picked us up at the airport until the very end of the trip, he was always punctual, extremely attentive, kind, and courteous. Not only is he an excellent and cautious driver, but he also made every effort to ensure we were comfortable at all times. He supported us during hotel check-ins, answered any questions we had, ensured we always had enough drinking water, and even helped us with small errands and spontaneous activities along the way. His dedication went above and beyond, and we felt truly taken care of.
In each city, we were accompanied by a local German-speaking guide. All of them were incredibly knowledgeable, passionate about their country’s rich history, and very informative about India’s diverse culture and religions. They made sure we felt safe, protected us from overly eager vendors, and were always ready to take beautiful photos of us at every scenic spot. Their warm and engaging manner made every tour special, and they were very responsive to our wishes.
The tour itself was excellently organized by Joyful Holidays, a women-led company that partners with local businesses and emphasizes safety and comfort—especially for female travelers. From the beginning, Sonia from Joyful Holidays was always available to answer our many questions and responded quickly and helpfully. Before the trip, she provided us with detailed information about the itinerary, Indian culture, and helpful travel tips, which made us feel well-prepared.
We wholeheartedly recommend Joyful Holidays to anyone planning a trip to India, especially to solo female travelers or small groups of women. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all of our wonderful guides, and especially to Raju, for making this trip so memorable and meaningful. Thank you for everything – we’ll carry these beautiful memories with us forever!
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Dear Mam, Thank you for your incredible review! We're delighted that your 8-day journey through Northern India was safe, well-organized, and truly unforgettable. Raju’s dedication, along with our expert guides, made your experience seamless and special....
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Karen
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January 8th, 2025
Each place has been very interesting and we have so many photos. My favourite place was the Taj Mahal, somewhere I have dreamed of seeing for a long time, it didn’t disappoint.
The people are very friendly and English is widely spoken
The food has been very good throughout and it helps that your driver/guides know of good local restaurants if you don’t always want to eat at the hotel.
It has also been interesting to see how people go about their daily lives.
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Dear Karen Mam,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that each place was interesting and that you captured so many memorable photos. It's fantastic to know that the Taj Mahal lived up to your expectations and that you enjoyed the...
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Jeremy
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January 7th, 2025
From start to finish the communication's from Joyful Holidays have been outstanding, very useful info and messages almost every day making sure everything was going well.
It has worked like clockwork, no hiccups at all.
Our driver Raju has been excellent. The first few days saw thick fog and long drives, his driving was perfect. At no time were I or my wife concerned or worried.
Raju looked after us so well, at every hotel he came in to make sure check in went smoothly, his recommendations for restaurants were great.
The guides we had at each destination have also been very good, knowledgable and friendly.
All the hotels have been of a good standard and the reception and service outstanding.
All I can say is a big thank you to joyful tours for an excellent well thought out and faultlessly executed tour.
I would highly recommend this company to anyone, I hope you are lucky enough to get Raju as your driver.
Thank you Joyful holidays and Raju exceptional service.
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Dear Jeremy,
Thank you so much for your glowing review! We're delighted to hear that your experience with Joyful Holidays was outstanding from start to finish. It's wonderful to know that Raju and our guides made your journey smooth, safe, and enjoyable...
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Anna
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December 22nd, 2024
Our 7-day trip in India was perfectly organized by "Joyful Holidays". Its founder Ms. Sonia reacted quick and professionally to all our requests per e-mail. During the whole trip we enjoyed comfortable and safe driving by Mr. Raju on Toyota Rumion with precise timing. It was especially important in a very challenging and specific traffic. We visited Delhi, Agra, Jaipur und Ranthambore, had professional guides in every point who showed us the most interesting sightseeings, assisted in taking pictures, explained all details and answered all our questions.
We thank the team of "Joyful Holidays" for the wonderful time we spent in India enjoying its culture, history and spirit.
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Dear Anna,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that your 7-day journey with Joyful Holidays was so perfectly organized and seamless. Sonia's professionalism and responsiveness, along with Mr. Raju's precise and safe driving,...
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In February 2024 we made the Golden Triangle Tour with Joyful Holidays and we enjoyed our private driver Shiv Kumar who was very friendly, always exactly on time and helpful. He is a well experienced, professional and safe driver that we can really recommend to entrust in his care. Barbara and Horst
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Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience, Barbara and Horst! We're delighted to hear that your Golden Triangle Tour in February 2024 was so enjoyable. It's fantastic to know that Shiv Kumar's professionalism, punctuality, and friendliness made...
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Hannah
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February 3rd, 2024
Sonia arranged a tour for me, my spouse and our two kids (7 and 9) through Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and included a stop at Ranthambore National park and Bharatpur bird sanctuary. We had a fabulous time! Everything went smoothly, we always felt safe, and we saw/learned much more that we ever would have on our own. Jaipur was an absolute highlight for us and we cannot speak highly enough about our tour guide Vijay. He was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and great with the kids. Bharatpur was also fascinating and definitely worth a stop. Thank you to Sonia and team for an unforgettable visit to the golden triangle!
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Dear Hannah,
Thank you for your fantastic review! We’re delighted to hear that your family had a fabulous and enriching experience touring Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Ranthambore, and Bharatpur. It’s wonderful to know that everything ran smoothly and that you...
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We were truly fortunate to have Vivek's guiding services as we explored just a tiny part of the Indian subcontinent.
History, ecology, comparative religion, geology, cuisine and linguistics: Vivek provides context to the incredible sights of India. He is patient and makes the study of these topics accessible to Westerners. His team colleagues, including the drivers are skilled and reliable.
Vivek is professional and accommodating, he quickly learns what types of sights and experiences the traveler enjoys. We especially enjoyed the boat trip in Udaipur, elephant ride in Jaipur, and the tour of the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Thank you again, Vivek!
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Dear G Meckley,
Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful and detailed review! It’s fantastic to hear that Vivek provided such a rich and engaging experience, weaving together history, ecology, comparative religion, and more to truly bring India’s sights...
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Annette
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January 26th, 2024
Very happy with our experience with Joyful Holidays. Excellent communication from our first email to in-person visit. Tour is well planned with opportunities to personalize, Great hotels and guides. Must give extra credit to our driver, excellent driving and care throughout our stay. Thank you Sonia
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Dear Annette Warburton,
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled to hear that your experience with Joyful Holidays was so smooth and enjoyable. Excellent communication, well-planned tours, and personalization options are exactly what we...
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Uattam
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August 23rd, 2023
They have great team. Our guide and driver were the best. I highly recommend you everyone want to book thii
Stour.
Show moreJoyful Holidays commented on this review
It sounds like you had a wonderful time on your tour of The Golden Triangle With Ranthambore India with Vivek Handa and Gulab. Thank you for sharing your positive feedback with us. We are thrilled to hear that you appreciated the professionalism and...
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