Jan 26, 2020
Excellent guide, lunch & organization - Highly recommended this tour to Taj and Red Fort.. We had Chitti as our guide frim Delhi. He met us at the train station and accompanied us throughout the day. Just the right mix of information, conversation and quiet time on the journey. Chitti had excellent English and was flexible in how we used the time between the end of sightseeing and getting the train back to Dehli. (We chose to sitting in Costa!).
The Homestay lunch was extensive . High quality and in a lovely setting. The Taj and Red Fort guide who took us and Chitti around the sites had equally good English and gave information in a clear and interesting way. Chitti ensured we were able to get home from the station on our return at the end of the day and helped us find a taxi. Will use Reality Tours again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
May 15, 2018
Wonderful experience with wonderful guide - Our guide Shehnaz was amazing, we had a wonderful time and learned a lot from her and from the local guide.
The high light was definitely visiting the village in the morning, and the homecooked meal we shared with her befor heading home.
It's a really good grade when your guide and extra activities outshine the Taj Mahal.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Apr 1, 2018
Incredible way to see beautiful sights + very local lunch :) - We booked this tour with Reality based on a very positive experience we had on their tour in Mumbai. This tour was well worth it, and I can't think of a better way to see Agra. We were picked up from our hotel in a comfortable car and transported to Agra. Along the way our Reality Tours guide Vijay gave us very helpful information about what we would see along the way. We arrived at Agra fort where we also met a local guide (certified to give tours in Agra, which is necessary and why a local guide is required in addition to the Reality Tours guide). The local guide, Ajay, was a bit difficult to understand, and didn't have the same level of personal touch as Vijay (which, unfortunately took away from the experience- as our Reality guide Vijay was more informative about the sights, and more personable- but this reflects only on the local guide, not on Reality's staff). After touring the red fort, we checked in to our hotel which was modern, clean and comfortable. We mentioned that we were interested in getting henna done, and our driver actually arranged for it as an add on - so we stopped on the way back from the fort. We also had lunch at the home of an Agra local who runs a homestead. The lunch was fantastic and we got to enjoy his rooftop view of the city (which included a view of the Taj!) After a brief rest we went to see the Taj Mahal which is incredible to actually see in person. As many others will probably indicate, the beauty of the Taj is definitely the outside- as the inside is quite hot, crowded and not very interesting. Our local guide was able to get us in a shorter line, so we didn't have to wait in the same long line as many others which was a bonus. After the Taj, we went for dinner in the restaurant at the hotel and it was fantastic (Bon Barbecue) and a great deal for the price! We visited the Taj again at sunrise the next morning, viewing the back at a local garden, this time with our Reality guide Vijay, and it was so peaceful. We had an amazing view and there were only four of us in the garden, so felt very peaceful- a different experience from viewing the Taj from within the gates. After leaving the Taj, we set out for Mathura where we visited two temples and learned about the historic religious cities. The highlight of the entire excursion was lunch on the way home from Agra. Our guide Vijay indicated he had family in a nearby town, so instead of having lunch at another spot, at our request, Vijay took us to a village where his own family welcomed us, hosted us for lunch and tea, and showed us their homes. We had so much fun meeting the family, the children and spending time with them. It was the most incredible experience, and really, what sets Reality Tours apart from other tour groups. Reality (and our guide Vijay) provided an incredible personal touch where you truly feel as if you are spending time with local friends and learning from them, rather than sitting through a standard tour. Vijay also took endless photos of us whenever we asked to capture the wonderful experiences (and he is a great photographer to boot!) Our driver, Corvinder, was the icing on the cake for this tour. He was not only an incredibly skilled driver (necessary in India), he was caring, thoughtful and had a wonderful sense of humor. He was looking after us at every turn making sure that we were crossing streets safely, looking after our bags, and just generally making sure our trip was pleasant. He also participated in our conversations while traveling, answering questions about Indian culture and religions. While you can go see the Taj on your own, or hire a driver to take you, our trip would not have been remotely as enjoyable if we hadn't gone through Reality Tours. If you are considering an overnight in Agra, don't hesitate to book this tour- the experience was well worth it and one that we will never forget. The only thing I would do differently, if possible, would be to have a different local guide in Agra, as ours was not very personable, (again, this guide is local, and required to have in Agra, and he is not a Reality Tours employee). Our Reality Tours guide Vijay actually was more knowledgeable than the local guide! We are so grateful we booked this tour and to Vijay and Corvinder for the amazing experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dec 2, 2017
Three tours with this company- Mumbai,Agra Tour and Old Delhi-all outstanding - All three guides( Shehnaz,Vijay and Bitpit) were knowledgable, communication was clear and information/content was appropriate. We especially liked was that it was about the places and real lives- there was no hard sell or taking us to shop outlets. In Mumbai we saw temples etc that we would not have know about. The Agra trip we really liked the village visit and the homestay lunch. Shehnaz made our day in Delhi she was so helpful and knowledgable. We also like the fact that the organisation helps local people. The company was easy to communicate with and responded immediately.
Review provided by Tripadvisor