Taj Mahal Overland - Only for Cruise Ships

Amazing tour with over and above support and customization

We started day 1 of our trip to the Taj from Goa at the cruise terminal. We had a driver and escort through the process basically to the gate. After the flight we were immediately picked up by another escort and got promptly to the driver. The van was perfect for our family and could have accommodated more people and luggage no problem if you had a bigger group or longer trip. The hotel booking was great comparing notes with people who stayed at other places nearby and you guessed it - yet ANOTHER person met us to make sure we were all set up and relay plans for the next day. The tour of the Taj was totally seamless and our guide was awesome. He pointed out his house over the wall and was able to fill the entire time with info that kept us and the kids engaged the whole time. The Agra fort tour was maybe even better. We would have taken much more time on our own (a bit figuring out entry probably) and not have gotten near the same level of experience. The drive back to Dheli seemed faster or maybe it was just knowing what to expect. The driver had a couple of nice spots to get out for a break. And yet AGAIN there was someone ready for us and the hotel pick was awesome. Same thing the next morning at 4:45 on the dot everyone was ready to get us loaded and back to the airport. And at the last transition we were met on the spot at the exact minute we stepped off the plane by our guide and driver and guide for a tour we put together of Mumbai. We absolutely maxed out the time and our guide was great again. We had lunch with friends who are local and things ran longer than expected, but everything was done to accommodate us and get us back to the terminal to depart at exactly when we expected. I hadn't booked a tour like this before, much less one far in advance that was pretty expensive and not part of the cruise. Add three young kids to the mix. But everything exceeded expectations. We could all just relax (mentally) and have a good time. It was physically taxing for sure, but absolutely everything was handled to a degree I could not achieve myself planning for months. You should absolutely book with Lijo.

Go with Muziris Heritage/Tours by Lijo - you will be glad you did!

My husband and I were on a cruise ship that made 3 stops in India (Cochin, Goa, and Mumbai). The cruise line offered an outrageously expensive excursion to see the Taj Mahal. This was too much for our budget, and I'm so glad to have found Muziris Heritage / Tours by Lijo. They offered a similar Taj Mahal excursion at a fraction of the cruise line's price. Even better, we were in a small group (only 6 people total, all from our ship) instead of a big bus with 40 or more people. Furthermore, the itinerary was much better, since we were able to get a glimpse of Agra at night (beautiful!) and we were able to see the Taj first thing in the morning, after a good night's sleep, with fewer crowds, and before the heat of the afternoon. The Itinerary: We started in Goa, where Lijo met us at the cruise terminal, and we were driven to the nearby airport. Lijo made sure we made it safely aboard our ~ 2 hour flight to Delhi. Upon arrival, we were met at the Delhi airport by our driver who took us in a very nice, air conditioned van (with USB charging ports!) to Agra. This took about 4 hours (with a bathroom/snack stop or two along the way). We enjoyed seeing parts of Delhi and the countryside on this drive, and it was nice to arrive in Agra at night since it was beautifully lit and people were out and about in the cooler evening hours! Our Agra hotel was lovely and we enjoyed a late evening meal. Very early the next morning, we were picked up and taken to the Taj Mahal at sunrise. Spectacular! We had a guide (just for the 6 of us) who offered excellent commentary about what we were seeing, and he patiently allowed us all of the time we needed to take (many, many!) photos. He even took photos of us throughout the day. In all, we spent about 2 hours at this site. As a photographer, I found early morning to be nice because there were fewer people and the air was nice and cool. However, I also liked photographing the "classic view" just before we left the site later in the morning (from the same way we entered). At this time, and I suspect throughout the late morning and afternoon, the Taj was better lit by the sun. We then went back to the hotel to have a delicious breakfast, pack, and check out. Next stop was Agra Fort, which was far better than I expected. This really is worth the stop, and once again, take many photos. From here, there is also a nice long distance view of the Taj Mahal. Lastly, we went to a marble inlay shop to learn about the process and have the chance to buy expensive, but exquisite marble items. If you're not looking to spend quite so much, you might want to consider street-side vendors who offer marble items that are still beautiful, but perhaps not quite as exquisite. After that, we drove back to Delhi (again, comfortable air-conditioned van with USB ports), checked into another nice hotel, and had the late afternoon/evening free to enjoy a nice dinner and reflect upon the day. Early the next morning, we caught a flight to Mumbai since our ship had moved on while we were visiting the Taj Mahal. Once in Mumbai, we had a half day city tour (also excellent and with a lovely guide) before being taken to our ship. All in all, Lijo and the Muziris Heritage team did an excellent job and we were very pleased with the whole excursion! Their pricing was reasonable and the logistics went off without any problems. Lijo took excellent care of us. The hotels (in Agra and Delhi) were very nice and of course, the Taj Mahal was spectacular! Our drivers and guides were excellent and it was a "once in a lifetime" few days. I highly recommend using this company!

Wonderful Experience

Highly recommend Lijo Jose! The land tour was flawless! Totally impressed with the the attention to detail from the minute we landed in India until takeoff. Lijo’s staff meet us at the airport guided us every step of the way on our tour. The driver was wonderful.

Amazing India trip

LOVED IT!! What a great tour of India! We got off Island Princess 2023 World Cruise ( a huge disappointment )in Sri Lanka to fly to New Delhi. The tour guide, accommodations and transportation were amazing. We didn’t have to eat at hotel tourist meals for lunch and dinner. They brought us to amazing restaurants. We would not hesitate to recommend Lijo Tours to see India. Never expected to enjoy India as much as we did. We give full credit to the exceptional tour guide and Lijo Tours. Way better than Princess cruise ship organized overland tours. We were a small group and it was great!!