Mumbai

[easy spirit]

Taking a cruise with an overnight in Mumbai (Bombay). Want to go to the Taj Mahal. Trying to decide between a ship's escorted shore excursion for 4/3nights that includes Jaipur, Delhi & Agra or a private tour for 5/4 nights that also includes Varanasi. There are 3 sea days after the 2 days in the Mumbai port, getting to Salalah, Oman on the 6th day. That gives me plenty of time to do either one of the tours. Some concerns are planning the logistics (tour company, hotels, flight schedules) with the private tour. All that is solve with the ship's tour but they end the tour in Muscat, Oman instead of Salahah. I think the distance from Muscat to the Salahah port by bus is around 10 hours. Please any feedback/recommendations are highly appreciated.... Thanks

[paul929207]

I would do the tour to Varanasi. We found that city to be fascinating.

[Donna_In_India]

Taking a cruise with an overnight in Mumbai (Bombay). Want to go to the Taj Mahal. Trying to decide between a ship's escorted shore excursion for 4/3nights that includes Jaipur, Delhi & Agra or a private tour for 5/4 nights that also includes Varanasi. There are 3 sea days after the 2 days in the Mumbai port, getting to Salalah, Oman on the 6th day. That gives me plenty of time to do either one of the tours. Some concerns are planning the logistics (tour company, hotels, flight schedules) with the private tour. All that is solve with the ship's tour but they end the tour in Muscat, Oman instead of Salahah. I think the distance from Muscat to the Salahah port by bus is around 10 hours. Please any feedback/recommendations are highly appreciated.... Thanks

 

Wow, either one of those is a lot of running in a short amount of time! I guess the first would be a day in Delhi, travel to Agra and a day there, then travel to Jaipur and a day there. Yikes. Does it then go back to Delhi? Varanasi is completely out of the way from Delhi and unless you are flying I would definitely skip it.

 

My own suggestion would be to spend a day in Agra (Taj Mahal and Agra Fort) and then split the rest of the time between either Delhi and Mumbai or Jaipur and Mumbai. If you have to fly out of Delhi to get to Oman then you can do Mumbai, Delhi, and Agra. Yes, you can add in a day in Jaipur but you're going to be doing a lot of traveling. It's easy enough to book everything on your own (I'm sure the ships excursion costs a bundle). I prefer Jaipur over Delhi - Rajasthani forts/architect are beautiful.

[easy spirit]

Wow, either one of those is a lot of running in a short amount of time! I guess the first would be a day in Delhi, travel to Agra and a day there, then travel to Jaipur and a day there. Yikes. Does it then go back to Delhi? Varanasi is completely out of the way from Delhi and unless you are flying I would definitely skip it.

 

My own suggestion would be to spend a day in Agra (Taj Mahal and Agra Fort) and then split the rest of the time between either Delhi and Mumbai or Jaipur and Mumbai. If you have to fly out of Delhi to get to Oman then you can do Mumbai, Delhi, and Agra. Yes, you can add in a day in Jaipur but you're going to be doing a lot of traveling. It's easy enough to book everything on your own (I'm sure the ships excursion costs a bundle). I prefer Jaipur over Delhi - Rajasthani forts/architect are beautiful.

 

Really ... my main interests are the Taj & Varanasi. Arriving in Delhi from Mumbai was just from a "logistic" point of view not from any ulterior interest per se. If decide to only do Agra, Jaipur & Varanasi... IYO how will the logistics work?. Please recommend a reliable tour operator. Thanks

[Donna_In_India]

You'll have to work out the timings but...disembark Mumbai, fly to Varanasi, fly to Delhi, private car to Agra and onto Jaipur. Bus/train/private car back to Delhi for flight out.

 

So for example:

 

Day 1: Disembark Mumbai - fly to Varanasi - what time you do dock? Traffic to airport from pier esp. if it's a weekday is going to be rough. You need to be at the airport about an hour before your flight. Traffic may take 1 1/2 - 2 hours. Overnight in Varanasi.

 

Day 2: Varanasi. (early morning boat trip on the Ganges, evening boat ride & Aarti). Overnight Varanasi.

 

Day 3: Fly to Delhi and take a private car to Agra. This is where you might have some trouble. The nonstop flights to Delhi are later in the day. If you could get to Delhi early in the morning, you could take a car to see the Taj and then continue on to Jaipur in the same day. But...if you don't arrive until late afternoon, you'll most likely need to overnight in Agra.

 

Day 4: Then day 4 would be drive Agra to Jaipur. Overnight in Jaipur.

 

Day 5: Drive Jaipur to Delhi for flight out.

 

It seems very rushed to me. With that itinerary you'd be okay with the time in Varanasi but not enough time in Jaipur and I definitely think Agra Fort is worth a visit. If you drop Varanasi, you can adjust the time in Agra and have more time in Jaipur. With less than 5 full days this will be tiring. Only you can prioritize.

 

Deepa at Mumbai Magic can coordinate all the cities for you (http://www.mumbaimagic.com). She has connections in all the cities you want to visit but I don't think she'll be cheap. If you want to check things on your own take a look at http://www.makemytrip.com, especially for flight availability. The earlier you book flights the cheaper they will be. Don't book on a 3rd party site suchas makemytrip though. Book directly with the airlines in case you need to make a change or miss your flight. A lot less hassle! Cars/drivers can be hired at any hotel - and are inexpensive. Check reviews of hotels on http://www.hotels.com or makemytrip, http://www.cleartrip.com, or http://www.agoda.com. Sounds like a lot but it's easy to make your own arrangements. If it's something you really just don't want to deal with check with Deepa or post on http://www.indiamike.com. Someone over there might be able to recommend a tour operator.

[easy spirit]

You'll have to work out the timings but...disembark Mumbai, fly to Varanasi, fly to Delhi, private car to Agra and onto Jaipur. Bus/train/private car back to Delhi for flight out.

 

So for example:

 

Day 1: Disembark Mumbai - fly to Varanasi - what time you do dock? Traffic to airport from pier esp. if it's a weekday is going to be rough. You need to be at the airport about an hour before your flight. Traffic may take 1 1/2 - 2 hours. Overnight in Varanasi.

 

Day 2: Varanasi. (early morning boat trip on the Ganges, evening boat ride & Aarti). Overnight Varanasi.

 

Day 3: Fly to Delhi and take a private car to Agra. This is where you might have some trouble. The nonstop flights to Delhi are later in the day. If you could get to Delhi early in the morning, you could take a car to see the Taj and then continue on to Jaipur in the same day. But...if you don't arrive until late afternoon, you'll most likely need to overnight in Agra.

 

Day 4: Then day 4 would be drive Agra to Jaipur. Overnight in Jaipur.

 

Day 5: Drive Jaipur to Delhi for flight out.

 

It seems very rushed to me. With that itinerary you'd be okay with the time in Varanasi but not enough time in Jaipur and I definitely think Agra Fort is worth a visit. If you drop Varanasi, you can adjust the time in Agra and have more time in Jaipur. With less than 5 full days this will be tiring. Only you can prioritize.

 

Deepa at Mumbai Magic can coordinate all the cities for you (http://www.mumbaimagic.com). She has connections in all the cities you want to visit but I don't think she'll be cheap. If you want to check things on your own take a look at http://www.makemytrip.com, especially for flight availability. The earlier you book flights the cheaper they will be. Don't book on a 3rd party site suchas makemytrip though. Book directly with the airlines in case you need to make a change or miss your flight. A lot less hassle! Cars/drivers can be hired at any hotel - and are inexpensive. Check reviews of hotels on http://www.hotels.com or makemytrip, http://www.cleartrip.com, or http://www.agoda.com. Sounds like a lot but it's easy to make your own arrangements. If it's something you really just don't want to deal with check with Deepa or post on http://www.indiamike.com. Someone over there might be able to recommend a tour operator.

 

Thanks so much... a wealth of info. Flying to Varanasi from Mumbai was my first choice but the latest flight will be at 8:30 AM. We dock at 6:00 AM. Not enough time to catch that flight. Will have to work the tour from another angle due to flight schedules. TRUE.... Mumbai Magic will be the most expensive. I will ck. other tour operators like http://www.realitytoursandtravel.com/ http://www.grandmumbai.com & legends and palaces. Thanks again :)

[Donna_In_India]

Thanks so much... a wealth of info. Flying to Varanasi from Mumbai was my first choice but the latest flight will be at 8:30 AM. We dock at 6:00 AM. Not enough time to catch that flight. Will have to work the tour from another angle due to flight schedules. TRUE.... Mumbai Magic will be the most expensive. I will ck. other tour operators like http://www.realitytoursandtravel.com/ http://www.grandmumbai.com & legends and palaces. Thanks again :)

 

I love Reality Tours - if they can plan the trip, I'd definitely consider them. I just checked makemytrip.com for Mumbai to Varanasi flights for different days of the week and there flights all day long but they all stop/connect. Check SpiceJet, Jet Konnect, and Air India. If you can get into Varanasi before the evening Aarti that first day, you can fly back to Delhi the next night if there are flights... Indian authorities are not known for their efficiency, so I'm wondering if you dock at 6 a.m. what time you'd be cleared to leave the ship? And what day of the week will you arrive?

[Donna_In_India]

P.S. If you're interested, I have written a lot of info about these places....

 

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/8295b/108bb3/

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/8295b/10ce6e/

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/8295b/10bd12/

[easy spirit]

P.S. If you're interested, I have written a lot of info about these places....

 

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/8295b/108bb3/

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/8295b/10ce6e/

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/8295b/10bd12/

 

Donna.... thanks so much for sharing the sites. Loved the second one where you share your memories.... very touching.

 

Will have time to plan the trip very carefully as decided to change the cruise for the 2015 season.... now it will be a bit rushed, plus the international airfare was way too expensive.

 

Later on when plans are more firm will touch base for a follow/feedback.

Doris

[easy spirit]

Donna.... thanks so much for sharing the sites. Loved the second one where you share your memories.... very touching.

 

Will have time to plan the trip very carefully as decided to change the cruise for the 2015 season.... now it will be a bit rushed, plus the international airfare was way too expensive.

 

Later on when plans are more firm will touch base for a follow/feedback.

Doris

 

LOVED your photos of Old San Juan.... that's where we live :)

[Donna_In_India]

LOVED your photos of Old San Juan.... that's where we live :)

 

Now I'm jealous! Totally LOVE Old San Juan!

 

That's good that you'll have extra time to plan. It would be great if you could squeak out a little more time in India.