Sometimes in life we connect emotionally with a company or brand. That would, I suppose, explain why I have a Diet Coke Christmas tree ornament. The same is certainly true in the travel experience, perhaps more so. Travel is emotional for so many reasons not only for the investment that we make, but thanks to the benefits as well. If done well, travel can be a transformative experience – sometimes dramatic, other times more slight. Travel is also an investment though of time and money, and it’s important that we select the right partners in order to make the most out of the experience. That is why I am so excited to once again partner with what is one of the best travel companies in the world, Abercrombie & Kent on a remarkable first introduction to the subcontinent of India. This is a hosted partnership with Abercrombie & Kent, but all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own and are the result of working with Abercrombie & Kent for several years.
Spending time traveling the world with Abercrombie & Kent, in both Tanzania and then Spain, have been two of the most extraordinary travel experiences of my life, thanks to their talent and expertise. They alone invented the concept of experiential luxury travel and have been perfecting it ever since. It’s that combination of service and creativity that in part makes them so special and the ideal partner for me as I embark on a trip that honestly makes me a little nervous.
As in Tanzania, my trip to India will be an Abercrombie & Kent Tailor Made Journey. These adventures are private trips that allow guests the opportunity to experience A&K’s famous insider access and style on an individually developed itinerary. Tailor Made experiences are perfect to fine tune a trip to one’s exact specifications and see and do more than would ordinarily be possible in a given time period. I know from experience that they transform an average trip into something extraordinary and, oftentimes, life changing.
Tailor Made India
I have been avoiding India for years, well, sort of. It’s a funny thing, talking with many people who have traveled to India, the country seems to be somewhat divisive. People either love it or hate it, there is no grey area. The supposed chaos, the cities, the heat, these are some reasons why I haven’t traveled around the subcontinent during my 42 years on this planet. I’ve been intimidated in a way that few other places manage and I have also vowed that if I do visit India, it will be in a manner that is comfortable and which I trust. That’s where Abercrombie & Kent comes in. I trust them in a way I do few other companies in this world. Based on experience, I just know that they won’t make any mistakes and, more importantly, will introduce me to an India I doubt very much that I would be able to discover on my own.
There will be many highlights on my journey, but the one I’m most excited about is to see how I change, if at all. Will my preconceptions about India prove to be true? Will I love it or hate it? India, I think, will push my comfort zone in a number of ways, and it’s that personal change I’m most curious about. Of course though, I’m visiting India for a reason and I can’t wait to experience the best that the country has to offer. Since it’s my first trip, the journey is highlighting some of the country’s most important and popular sites. It’s meant to be an overview, and I know that. It will tell me though if it’s a destination I want to revisit and explore in more depth.
Some of those highlights include:
- Spending time in, and contrasting, the county’s two largest cities – Delhi and Mumbai.
- Explore the Pink City of Jaipur and its architectural masterpiece, the Palace of the Winds.
- Get up early to see a different side of Mumbai as it wakes up at 5am.
- Marvel at the Taj Mahal both at sunrise and sunset.
- Cruise along the waters of Lake Pichola in Udaipur.
- Embark on a camel safari, complete with champagne breakfast.
- Experience some of India’s best luxury hotels including the: Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai, Oberoi Udaivilas, Taj Rambagh Palace, Oberoi Amarvilas and the Leela Palace in Delhi.
Journey With Me
This is not your average trip and I’m excited not only to visit India for the first time, but to see what that experience does to me, if anything. I’m also excited to share these experiences along the way, to show what traveling around India really looks like, as well as what Abercrombie & Kent does to transform a simple trip into a travel experience of a lifetime.
Please be sure to follow along because it’s so much more than a trip, it’s an adventure and an experience I’m sure to never forget. As you know, I’ll be on Instagram (including Stories), Twitter and Facebook and please also look out for the hashtag #AKTravel for all updates.
If you have any questions or want to know more, please leave a comment!
What a fantastic trip. It is on my one day list! I look forward to seeing this adventure through your experiences and coming with you in the virtual world!
Looking forward to your travel notes. Like you, I’m hesitant but curious about travel in India. I’ll watch for your take on the varying regions as you compare cultural differences, safety, natural and man-made wonders…Enjoy!
I’m looking forward to what you think of your first-time trip to India Matt!
I first went solo to India 13 years ago (Eek!). I went to Rajasthan and really had a most interesting time, although I really didn’t like the night train and Delhi left me exhausted!
Funnily enough, I’m going again this year, and taking my family with me. Basically, one husband and one teen! And this time, we’ll be staying in nicer places, and slowing everything down, so that we can spend at least 3 or 4 days in a single place, rather than rushing around.
And no trains unless it’s a 3 or 4 hour day-train. And far, far nicer than the one I previously went on…!
p.s. Abercrombie & Kent are a great company. You’re really going to have a very nice time!