Taj Mahal & Agra Fort Private Guided Day Tour From Delhi

Driver fell asleep on highway

Driver fell asleep on the highway and drove into a concrete barrier. Felt scared the whole day after that. Guide was friendly but was too focused on making picture instead of explaining things.

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Overall a memorable experience

We booked via Get your guide for a private day tour. The communication details confirmation were good and we (three of us) were picked up in a comfortable car punctually and dropped back by our awesome driver Chetan (5 stars just for him!) at our hotel in Delhi. In Agra, we met up with our guide Danish who had organised tickets for the different sights (Taj Mahal, Agra Fort) and was very engaged in taking our photos from various angles and poses together with providing us interesting information and history about the various monuments. After visiting the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, we went to the 'Baby Taj' which was much calmer and also beautiful. We wrapped up our tour with a good lunch spread at the Marriott. One point of improvement could be spending more time at the Taj Mahal, we all felt afterwards that we were being a bit rushed by our guide and we would rather have spent some more time (even if was 20 minutes more) just sitting down, taking in and admiring the beauty of the magnificent structure. If time was of the essence as part of the plan beforehand, we could have also skipped the marble factory handiworks shop (even if it was interesting) in favour of spending more time at the monument. Also, continually asking us to write a review immediately dampened an otherwise good experience. Overall, we had a very good time even with the brutal heat and humidity and would definitely strongly recommend.

Response from the operator: Namaste, Greetings from Aalin Tours!!!! Thank you for writing a review for us. Your review motivates our team to continue to provide excellent level of services to our respected and valuable guest. We assure you to provide same level of services in future & also We look ahead to get recommendations from you in future.

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Only semi-good

We recently took a trip to the Taj Mahal, and our experience was a mix of both positive and negative encounters. Our driver, Irfan, was excellent. He was polite, punctual, and even arrived early but assured us he was happy to wait. He provided us with water and useful advice about our stay in India. Throughout the trip, he ensured we had appropriate breaks for restrooms or refreshments. Irfan was friendly, professional, and made the journey comfortable. We highly recommend him! Unfortunately, our guide, Abdul, did not provide the same positive experience. There is no doubt that he is very knowledgeable about the Taj Mahal and other attractions on the tour. However, his strong Indian accent made it difficult for us, as Europeans, to understand his English. He spoke very quickly and seemed irritated when we asked him to repeat anything. Compared to other guides we heard around us, his English was noticeably harder to follow. Another issue was Abdul’s attitude. We are unsure whether this was due to cultural differences or simply his personality, but he came across as pushy and at times rude. For example, during the tour, he asked us four times whether we wanted to skip the rest of the sights we had already paid for, making it seem like he was eager to finish early. Additionally, he repeatedly asked us—during the tour itself—to write a review for him. After our meal, he insisted that we sit down and write it immediately. We politely explained that we would prefer to do so after the tour, but 1-2 hours later, he asked again. When I mentioned that I had no internet access, he even insisted on sharing his internet so we could write it on the spot. We had to repeatedly emphasize that we would only do so at our hotel. Even in the car, he continued to push the importance of leaving a review. Abdul also took us to a seller under the pretense that we were simply going to see how marble pieces, similar to those at the Taj Mahal, were made. From the beginning, we suspected that this was actually a sales tactic rather than just an educational stop. Sure enough, after the initial demonstration, the seller led us into another room filled with marble pieces available for purchase. It became clear that the visit was not just about learning but also about selling, and we strongly suspect that Abdul received a commission from any purchases made. He also asked if we wanted to see how carpets were made, which we declined, as it seemed to be another attempt to lead us into a sales pitch. A similar situation occurred at the Taj Mahal when he introduced us to a photographer selling professional photo packages. When we refused, our guide still attempted to pressure us into buying the package, which we found quite unusual and uncomfortable. We fully understand that positive reviews are important, especially in a country where tourism plays a big role in the economy. However, being pressured to write a review in front of the guide, before the tour had even ended, felt inappropriate. On top of that, he directly told us that we needed to tip him. While we were already planning to tip both the driver and guide, this direct request felt unnecessary and uncomfortable. Despite these issues, we did tip him, as he was helpful at the start of the tour, for example, by taking pictures of us in front of the Taj Mahal, which we appreciated. The Taj Mahal itself is undoubtedly a must-see. However, our experience left us wondering whether many of the positive reviews are written under pressure, just as our guide attempted with us. If you take a guided tour, be prepared to firmly say no if you prefer to leave a review on your own terms.

Response from the operator: Namaste, Greetings from Aalin Tours!!!! Thank you for writing a review for us. Your review motivates our team to continue to provide excellent level of services to our respected and valuable guest. We assure you to provide same level of services in future & also We look ahead to get recommendations from you in future.

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Knowledgeable and entertaining.

Mudi our guide was very informative and polite. He was open and ready to hear what we wanted to do, regardless of the tour itinerary. He took very good photos of us. I would be happy to hire him in our next visit.

Response from the operator: Namaste, Greetings from Aalin Tours!!!! Thank you for writing a review for us. Your review motivates our team to continue to provide excellent level of services to our respected and valuable guest. We assure you to provide same level of services in future & also We look ahead to get recommendations from you in future.

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Perfect

Everything perfect with Mohsin. Súper intersesting and well organized and puntual. All the places we visited are a must if you stay in Delhi.

Response from the operator: Namaste, Greetings from Aalin Tours!!!! Thank you for writing a review for us. Your review motivates our team to continue to provide excellent level of services to our respected and valuable guest. We assure you to provide same level of services in future & also We look ahead to get recommendations from you in future. Thanks & Regards Aalin Tour

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