Sanders Travel Centre

One of our advisors, Ashley, recently got the opportunity to visit India. Here is her account of the amazing trip:

Thanks to Kurtzhalers and our local host Banyan Tours, I just returned from a trip of a lifetime in India.

We began our journey in Delhi with two nights at the fabulous Lodhi. All of the rooms have private plunge pools. The property has a very unique private dining venue surrounded by water. It makes you feel as if you are dining in a private oasis. The highlight of Delhi was riding through Old City on rickshaws to get a first-hand feel for the small side streets (what they referred to as lanes), where we learned that each lane was dedicated to a particular item (such as weddings).

The next morning we headed to Agra, where we had an afternoon guided tour of the Taj Mahal. Oberoi Amarvilas, our hotel, is just a quick golf cart ride from the Taj Mahal, which allows you to see the Taj Mahal at sunrise and/or sunset. Because the Oberoi Amarvilas is so close, we were able to skip the crowds. This was a true bucket list moment!

After our lunch at Oberoi Amarvillas and a sight inspection, we continued on our drive to Ranthambore National Park, where we spent two nights at Sher Bagh, a tented camp. This was my first “glamping” experience which I will remember for a lifetime, not only because of the amazing property itself but because we were able to see one of the tigers in the park, Krishna. She was incredible to watch and extremely regal.

We left our new friends in Ranthambore National Park and drove to our next destination, Jaipur (the pink city) for a two-night stay at Rajmahal Palace (the palace the rulers stayed in when they downsized). We did a little shopping and I bought my first Kurta! However, the true highlight here was when we visited the elephant sanctuary and played camel polo. Yes you read this correctly my friends, I climbed on a camel and played camel polo (with the guidance of a camel polo pro of course!) and then ended our evening with a quick elephant ride up to a campsite for dinner.

We bid Jaipur goodbye and flew to Dehra Dan where we ended our journey at the “oh so amazing” Ananda Spa located in the shadows of the Himalayan Foothills. At this destination spa you choose the level of activity that fits your mood. If you wish to be active there are plenty of opportunities including yoga, hiking, and scheduled workouts. However, if you are looking to be fully relaxed, this is the perfect place to do so. Ananda will tailor your experience to meet your needs/wants, whether it is mind, body or both.

Each guest is given white kurta pajamas to wear. They are optional, but you will find yourself wearing them during your entire stay so you can truly relax. From the moment I arrived to Ananda until the moment I left, I found myself in a completely different mindset. It doesn’t hurt that the views are phenomenal.

From camel polo and the tigers to the many friends I met along the way I fell in love with India.

Banyan Tours was incredible (from the guides, drivers, to our fabulous hosts). Every time we stopped and got back in the car (at any point with Banyan Tours) we were given fresh cool towels. This was such a simple gesture but meant so much.

India has my heart. I look forward to going back and would love to send you there as well.

To book your incredible journey to India contact Ashley at Ashley@sanderstravel.com or your Sanders Travel Advisor.