A group of top tour operators and travel agents from the UK recently got to experience Real India with Mahindra Homestays. Hosted by Becky Sanders from Lemongrass Marketing, the group had a week long visit to explore the region of Rajasthan, visiting seven beautiful homestays from the Mahindra portfolio.

The group included James Ferguson from Scott Dunn, Sunil Metcalfe from Kirker Holidays, Christabel D’Souza from Bailey Robinson, and Suzanne Partridge from Nomadic Travel.

During their seven night trip, the group stayed at The Estate (Delhi), The Homestead (Corbett), Castle Bera (Pali) and Madhu Pushp Bhawan (Jaipur). They also had the chance to visit some other homestays along the way, to meet the hosts and enjoy some traditional home cooked Indian cuisine.

The experiences the group had, and the memories they made were unforgettable; with the homestay hosts and their stunning properties playing a huge role. From mouth-watering dishes at Karims in Delhi, to watching leopards at 5am in the silent hills of Pali, there was something to cater to all tastes. Highlights included a cultural dance show on the top of Castle Bera, the serene Jawai Bandh dam, a trip to Corbett National Park, the Amber Fort in Jaipur, and of course the hosts: their wonderful warmth, hospitality and anecdotes made the group feel like long-lost friends, instead of guests.

The feedback from the group was excellent, and we asked each operator/agent for their personal highlights:

“The scenery around Castle Bera, a truly unspoilt part of Rajasthan. The stay at Corbett was also magical and something I won’t forget, how could you feel more at home?” Sunil Metcalfe.

“The hosts were fantastic, and look after you like one of their own family” Suzanne Partridge.

“I particularly enjoyed the hospitality at the Homestead and the day we spent at Castle Bera on safari. Then a wonderful visit to the temples at Mount Abu.” James Ferguson.

“Thank you for such a well organised trip, I wish I could have had an extra day at every property to see more… I’ll just have to come back!” Christabel D’Souza.

If you are a tour operator or travel agent from the UK and want to be notified of future FAM trips please get in touch with us for more information.