Last month my boyfriend and I traveled to Sri Lanka. It was a fabulous experience overall. The itinerary was a perfect blend of culture, temples, nature, mountains and beaches. The food was excellent! The majority of the accommodations exceeded our expectations. What made the trip even better was the EXCELLENT service of Mr. Richard. His enthusiasm and smile never faded, despite how long a travel day may have been. I have been fortunate to usually have good guides, but Richard is hands down the best guide we have ever had. He went above and beyond to make the trip memorable and went out of his way to ensure we all had our needs met. He was understanding with all guests, patiently repeated instructions, got to know everyone and did small things to show personalized interest and meet individual needs throughout the trip. Beyond his role of hospitality, managing the itinerary, multiple personalities and general travel details, the information he shared during our journey was incredible. Richard's passion for and knowledge of Sri Lanka is apparent. It was like having a university professor accompany us--he had comprehensive knowledge of history, culture, religion, etc. that he shared in a well-paced manner throughout the trip in context and in a relatable, meaningful way. Additionally he was knowledgeable about current events, literature, art and even knew a great deal about science, wildlife and a wide variety of topics. He is personable, politely assertive when necessary and kept our diverse group focused and happy. I wish all guides were like him. He made our trip spectacular! Finally, kudos to our driver, Mr. Sudeepa who was safe, skillful and also so courteous and friendly. At one point in Kandy, there was a traffic jam on a narrow road on the way to the hotel...it took us nearly an hour to travel a quarter mile as cars were trying to travel in both directions on a road designed for one way. I wouldn't have been able to do that in my compact car--I am amazed he did it in a bus full of passengers. He was safe, cautious and would go out of his way to find places to stop for pictures. Even with some guests unjustifiably critiquing and being "back seat drivers" he never lost his cool or focus on safety as he drove, even on windy, mountainous roads. His assistant was also helpful and courteous. This is my third trip with Gate 1 and I am overall pleased with the quality, service and trip details.

Aparna was amazing and went beyond what was detailed in the trip brochure to show us and have us feel and understand India. Because of Aparna this trip was transformative. As she said being a tour guide is not a profession but a personality. I would add that a guide needs an incredible amount of knowledge which she has and shared willingly. But Aparana was not just a knowledgeable tour guide. She added an appropriate amount of humor at the right times and accepted our good-natured teasing. Additionally, I appreciated how she answered all our questions in an open and nonjudgmental manner. I felt like we could ask her anything and she knew we just wanted to comprehend the Indian culture. In summary Aparana's knowledge, openness, and personal qualities- a strong and thoughtful woman brought us, 10 strangers, together and made us a community even if only for a short time. I will always remember this trip and Arapana.

India, Nepal and Ranthambore - our guide Davinder as well our driver and his helper were absolutely outstanding in making our entire tour an incredible experience. It was during Diwali festival and the Gate 1 Itinerary, hotels- which were beyond beautiful-and every single experience made for an unbelievable journey of an explosion of colors, sights, sounds, wonderful tastes, beautiful architecture and landscapes - a true feast for all the senses. We also added on Varanasi and the Ganges River as a side trip. The people of India and Nepal, and cultural experiences we were privileged to know, and to have, were beyond measure. A true trip of a lifetime and my favorite of all in my 30 years of travel.

This was one of the best Gate 1 Discovery tours we've taken. Our tour guide was wonderful! One of the best we've had! His knowledge of the country visited and his ability to communicate and mesh with the group was excellent! The food was universally excellent and the accommodations and special stops and meals were just fantastic! Well done!!!

Just a note about the two tour leaders in our recent India/Nepal Golden Triangle Tour: September 25 to October 6. Shaleen was an extraordinary leader and human being. Translating the culture of India for Americans is not an easy task. There is stark poverty, enormous cultural/religious differences, and the organization of human activity is different. Of course this is one of the reasons we travel, but the ability of the tour leader to explain without being defensive, to communicate without being over-blown, to create empathy and understanding without pandering is necessary on a tour like this. The differences strike you in the face and assault your senses, but Shaleen engaged in a positive manner at all points. He answered all questions honestly and when necessary, he paused a bit and let us know how challenging it was to frame a good answer. He was a joy as a leader. Senjay in Nepal clearly is a religious scholar and that was so important to make the tour great.

My trip was amazing! In India our tour guide was Kapil and in Nepal our tour guide was Avash. Both were incredible fun. Very professional and knowledgeable about history and current events of the cities. I truly enjoyed the experience and by talking with other tour participants they did as well. Thank you very much, I will recommend Gate1 to anybody interested in traveling the world!

We recently got back from the Sri Lanka trip and I wanted to say it was an excellent trip. We loved the variety of sites and activities. The pace was very good and every day there was a new interesting discovery. The tour director Shaem was excellent. He kept things very interesting and moving at the right pace. He really brought his country alive to us. The driver and assistant were very excellent. The hotels were great. All in all another great trip. Thanks.

We thoroughly enjoyed everything about it. The tour guide Mancey was excellent. She was very knowledgeable, helpful, kind, considerate and thoughtful We would certainly recommend her as a guide. Hotels and food were also good.

The trip was wonderful. Our guide Bhanu was incredible, hotels spectacular and experience exotic. Gate 1 finds a way to pack a lot of history, culture and interesting facets of the country along with amazing events that bring the group together. While not within your control, the weather was perfect! We have traveled abroad for over 20 years and are so glad we found Gate 1 just a few years ago. Gate 1 is the best.

India can only be truly comprehended by someone who has been there — the intensity, the extremes, the beauty ... Winter is the best time to go. I recommend it highly, but for seasoned travelers; it is NOT for the faint of heart! Gate 1 provided a great way to see it. Our guide Kapil was excellent, as were the brave (!!!) drivers.

The trip was fabulous. Went off without a hitch. I’ve been on several Gate 1 tours and I’d rate Raj as the best guide I’ve encountered. His energy, enthusiasm and flexibility made the trip a pleasure.

The trip was great! The guide was very professional and the driver and assistant were all very helpful. India is amazing. Thanks to Gate 1 !

My trip was wonderful! Jay was a great tour leader and gave such breath and scope to the experience. India is an incredible country to explore and the Small Group Spiritual Tour of Southern India was a perfect introduction to this vast and complex country. I don’t think my senses have ever been so stimulated. I look forward to booking another tour to explore the northern part of the country and Nepal.

It was great! Sri Lanka and her people welcomed us with open arms. Our tour guide, Heshan, along with our driver, Susantha, and his assistant, Thilina, were all excellent. Well done!!!

It was a great trip.. really enjoyed our group, our leader, Srini, and the sights and the Indian people. They were so friendly and always wanted to have their pictures taken with us. And they didn’t mind if we took pictures of them. The temples were unbelievable, and the stops we made along the way, on driving days, were great. Visited rubber farm, coconut fiber rope family business, batik making, spice garden, cashew roasting, paper making factory,... I could go on and on.. waiting for a good sale to book another trip in 2021..

It really was INCREDIBLE! Our guide Bhanu was the absolute best!! Saw more than I expected; loved the food & restaurants, was more than pleased with hotels & their locations; learned about the Indian culture and traditions. Made lots of new friends and brought home tons of wonderful memories and souvenirs!

The trip was very enjoyable and very informative. We have been on other Gate 1 trips before but may I say that our Tour Manager Bahnu was the best guide ever, He should be commanded for his knowledge and insight towards the history of India and also their beliefs.

Amazing....Radhika was an exceptional tour leader. Great accommodations and food throughout the trip. Good weather and well traveled people to make this a great experience.

I had the most rewarding holiday and have no complaints. Our guide, Kapil was outstanding, best I have ever had the pleasure to travel with. His care and people skills are outstanding. He is a great asset to Gate 1, don't lose him!!!!!!!

The trip was great! Our expectations were exceeded! Our tour managers, Aparna in India, Neraj in Nepal, and Sangay in Bhutan were fabulous. All did an extraordinary job and are very well informed. This was our second trip with Gate 1. We would recommend Gate 1 to anyone!

Trip was great. Our guide Avash was also great. One of the best tour managers' we have ever had. Really made the trip amazing.

I had an amazing trip in India. Rajesh ( Raj ) the tour guide was exceptional, knowledgeable, and fun. He was very patient, and professional with the group. He made the tour interesting and enjoyable. Siva the bus driver was fantastic, we all felt very safe with him. Bala the assistant was so helpful, making sure all of our needs were met with a smile every day. The hotels were first rate, and the food was delicious. This was my first trip with Gate 1, and I could not have imagined a better experience. With warm regards from a happy, and satisfied traveler. Can’t wait for my next trip with Gate 1.

The trip was wonderful. Our tour manager Shyam was excellent. His caring, knowledge of the country and attention to detail enhanced a wonderful experience.

It was great. I enjoyed it very much. I would recommend to anyone who is going to travel abroad for a two-week vacation. Our tourist guide was very knowledgeable and energetic. I dare to say one of the best among all the best guides in Gate 1 family.

We had a great time, Bhutan was a wonderful experience. Our tour director, Leki, was well organized with regard our daily schedule of activities and seat rotation. It was an interesting and educational tour.

India was a fantastic experience and we must admit, a real eye-opening experience. Our guide, Bnanu, was the best tour guide we have ever had! He went above and beyond the call of duty. Can’t wait to book our next adventure with Gate 1.

Just arrived back from a 10 Day Tour of India’s Golden Triangle. Gate 1 Travel took all the work out of negotiating this confusing country. Each location has been carefully selected for safety and pleasure. The bus was comfortable, air conditioned and filled with bottomless clean bottled water, a must in India! Clever seating arrangements were rotated daily. Poised, professional, and knowledgeable you should consider yourself fortunate if Mansi is your tour guide. A strong female in a male dominated culture/country, she made the entire trip enjoyable and interesting. She is gifted with total recall and a magical memory, pulling endless stats and facts during her breathless talks. She also discussed her personal life bringing us even closer to this different culture. Not sure how she remained so composed with a couple difficult travelers. However, she took care of everyone’s needs and stayed with us for the entire journey. For all this I thank you. Gate 1 Travel will now be my first choice when selecting tours for this world traveler.

The trip to India was quite an experience. No other country would have such contrasts between rich and poor, modern and very old, different religions and varying landscapes. The forts, castles and maharajas estates were fabulous. The food was good. The folks on the tour as well as the tour director were great.

What a wonderful trip to India! We enjoyed it tremendously and had a great time. The selected hotels exceeded our expectations. Vinny, our tour manager was outstanding and went way and above his way to make sure all our needs were met for the entire group. The history of India was awesome and made it so interesting during our road trips that made driving to each city such a joy. I want to also thank the driver and assistant for getting us to each destination in a safe manner and always made sure we were able to stop and take the time for the group to get pictures of the best sites along the way. Gate 1 is my only choice of travel now. You guys are the greatest! Looking forward to my next trip soon this year.

It was the best trip I ever took, only the Patagonia trip was comparable! Bhutan is such a special place and I have only superlatives to say about it, the whole world should see it! Gate 1 did a great job with the itinerary, the pace, the hotels; very smart how the hikes were placed in the program and how we had the time to acclimatize; the tour directors, both Anup and Sangay were awesome (which I have to say, is always the case with Gate 1). Looking forward to our next adventure with Discovery!

It was absolutely fantastic. The colors and the culture were amazing. Banhu was an outstanding tour manager. He kept everything informational and entertaining. I learned a lot about Hinduism, Buddhism, and the Indian/Nepal customs and way of life. Looking forward to my next trip to Kenya in July!

Our trip to India and Nepal was fantastic. The 9 days were packed with beautiful and interesting places and experiences. Our tour director, Devendar, took great care while imparting his knowledge of the history, culture and people in India and Nepal, while Suresh told us all about the places and people in Kathmandu. We did the optional Everest flight which was very beautiful and exciting. This was our 3rd Gate 1 tour, hopefully not our last.

Seeing the Taj Mahal has been on my bucket list for years. My gate one tour manager Sandeep, made India come alive for me. He provided history of the area and many stories at each site we visited which made you feel more connected. He set the stage for our visit to the Taj Mahal with the moving story of its construction. Experiencing the Taj Mahal was magical and something I will never forget thanks to Sandeep. This trip was just a taste of India but made me want to see more of the country. Thank you Gate one and Sandeep for a magical week in India.

It was a great trip. Southern India was fantastic, with such a small, intimate group, great accommodations, and fabulous guide, all went brilliantly.

Terrific, as usual! We’re now in double digits with traveling with Gate 1! Shyam, our guide, was superb. He conveyed his love of country, gave a good explanation of each day’s activities, and made sure everyone in the group was satisfied. He’s a gem. Also, his helper, Rohan, was great, and the driver did a terrific job. We were very pleased with the hotel selections and the itinerary. We have 2 more tours scheduled with Gate 1 this year. Keep up the good work!

Our trip was fantastic.The hotels, the program, the food, the security, the bus, the driver and the assistant were all excellent. However, the most amazing of all was our guide, Aparna. Unbelievable knowledge, passions and organizing skills. She made our trip unforgettable. Gate 1 did it again This was our third time with Gate 1 and all were great trips We are looking forward to the fourth in Ireland this summer.

One of the best trips of my entire life! Thank you for everything Gate 1, a truly lovely experience.

Fantastic! We loved our fellow travelers, loved the trip, and our tour manager Mansi was the best. Looking forward to our next Gate 1 trip!

Our trip was wonderful! We loved Sri Lanka. Our guide Shyam was the best. He handled everything, and made the trip very informative and fun. Gate 1 is a great company. We’ll be back!

We had a great time. Gate 1 looked after us magnificently and our guide Jimmy was so informative, funny and ever so obliging. I would definitely travel with Gate 1 again.

India was AMAZING!!! Absolutely loved it. Our guide Kapil was fantastic and had us all laughing all the time. Yet again, Gate 1 has been a really great company to travel with.

As usual, Gate 1 did not disappoint. Sri Lanka was fabulous... with an abundance of friendly people, fabulous landscape and micro climates. It was rich in history and spirituality (Budha and Hindu temples everywhere) make this island very interesting to discover. I would be interested in expanding my exploration into the Northern part of Sri Lanka sometime in the future. I need to find out where in the world I will travel to in 2020...

We had a great time in Sri Lanka! We enjoyed all the activities and learned a lot about the history and culture of the country. We look forward to our next Gate 1 trip in March.

We had a very nice holiday in Sri Lanka. This was our first trip with Gate 1 and we are 100% satisfied with the superior standard of hotels you chose for us. The itinerary was varied and interesting, changing between nature and culture. Our guide, Heshan, was excellent, very helpful and very knowledgeable about the history, flora and fauna. The coach was always clean and fresh flowers were put on our seats daily. The couch driver and the assistant were excellent, and worked well as a team to get us safely through the chaotic traffic in Sri Lanka cities. Overall, very memorable and positive experience. We will definitely use your company in the future and recommend you to our friends.

We had a great trip. Everything went perfect. The guides were excellent. Some of the best we’ve experienced. Don’t let them get away. Transportation, hotels and food were all great!