A smooth departure from Delhi, a long flight, and a final reflection on an unforgettable journey across India.
Delhi to London.
Today, I left Delhi for my flight back to the UK and an overnight stay at Heathrow. We were transferred from the hotel to the airport quite early, and once we were dropped off outside the terminal, that was the last we saw of our guides.
Leaving India Behind.
Inside Delhi Airport, we all seemed to be directed to different check‑in desks, even though most of us were on the same flight back to Heathrow. I checked in straight away and then had to walk the full length of the enormous check‑in hall to reach the Disability Help Desk. From there, I was wheeled through security and guided to the departures area.
Once through the final security check, I sat at the gate with one of the ladies from my tour who had accompanied me through the airport. She kindly bought me a coffee, and we sat together until I was taken through to board the plane early.
The flight was long but comfortable. I watched a couple of films and read my Kindle, but as usual, I couldn’t get any sleep before we arrived in London.
India Holiday Summary.
I was glad I did this incredible tour of India. It was tiring, but it was also deeply fulfilling. I saw amazing places, met wonderful people, and had unforgettable experiences at the Taj Mahal, the Ganges River, the Attari–Wagah border, and Ranthambore National Park.
Our tour guides were, on the whole, excellent, some exceptional, others not quite as good. The hotels were all fine, though not always the ones I had been led to believe I would be staying in when I booked the tour with the JustYou sales rep in the UK. The hotels looked impressive from the outside and at their main entrances, but the surrounding areas were always bustling. I was kept awake in every hotel except the one at Ranthambore by music, parties, and fireworks until midnight, when the noise finally stopped.
I can’t remember a single day that didn’t start early. Some, like the sunrise cruise on the Ganges, were early for good reason. I managed the early mornings well enough; I’ve always been an early riser, but others struggled and occasionally skipped parts of the trip to rest.
The food was the only real disappointment for me. Apart from two restaurant meals, one that gave me food poisoning and one that served the best curry I’ve ever had, everything was buffet style. The buffets weren’t bad, but they were repetitive. The curries varied, but the meat and fish dishes were full of bones and offered very little actual meat or fish. The fruit was good, and some desserts were decent, but by the third day, I was craving plain food, free of curry flavouring. Whether everything was curried or whether my mouth had been coated in curry for days, everything tasted the same. I found myself eating less and less.
Would I do this tour again?
Probably not. Not because I didn’t enjoy it, but because there are many other places I want to see while I still can. I would go to India again, but to regions I haven’t explored yet. Would I recommend this tour to others? Absolutely, with the warning that it is tiring and involves a lot of travel. The memories I made on this trip will stay with me forever. The friends I made will remain in my thoughts for as long as I live.
To my travelling companions, I say Namaste. Namaste is a Sanskrit term meaning “I bow to you” or “salutations to you.” It is a customary Hindu greeting used to honour and show respect, often accompanied by the Anjali mudra, in which palms are pressed together at the heart. The word combines namah (“praise” or “honour”) and te (“to you”).
You all have my gratitude and respect for your company and help on this trip of a lifetime. If any of you want to keep in touch, please do. If you’ve lost my contact details, you can email me through the contact section of my website. If you have any photos from our trip that I could use, please send them with a description. I’ll try to add them to my photo albums.
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