Destinations
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Discover some of Not In The Guidebooks’ most popular destinations, from the lush Pacific coast of Costa Rica to the snow-covered pine forests of Lapland.
Experiences
Experience Collections
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From winter sun escapes in the Maldives to bucket list adventures in Peru, explore our experience collections of local authentic experiences.
Off the Beaten Track Holidays
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Not In The Guidebooks adventures take you to the places other tourists miss – explore our offbeat, authentic and local itineraries here.
Foodie Holidays
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We find that the fastest route to the heart of a culture is through its cuisine. Whether that’s cooking in Italy or exploring markets in Vietnam.
Creative Holidays
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For a holiday that creates more than memories, explore our range of painting, photography, and art & crafts holidays.
Active Holidays
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The best way to explore a landscape is to immerse yourself in it on an adventure, whether hiking the Spanish Pyrenees or kayaking in Montenegro.
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Explore the world on your terms by meeting like-minded travellers who share your passion for discovering new places and experiencing new cultures.
Wellness Holidays
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Take the opportunity to refresh, recharge and revatilise on a wellness holiday that also takes you to experience a new culture.
Wildlife Holidays
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From the Masai Mara to Corcovado National Park, with NITGB you can witness some of the most spectacular wildlife on earth in a responsible manner.
Unique Accommodation
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Discover unique accommodation that turns an ordinary weekend escape into a memorable, offbeat experience, whether in the UK or further afield.
How does seeing Jaipur’s fascinating sites from a perspective most won’t sound? How about suspended over 1000 feet in the air sound? Great, right? Well that’s exactly what you’ll be doing with this hot air balloon ride above the ‘Pink City.’
Absorb Jaipur's pulsating colours, sounds and sights as your pilot will fly you above the city's spectacular forts, local villages, breathtaking landscapes and hidden palaces.
I’ve been in the travel industry for 18 years, and although I’m an economics graduate I was bitten by the travel bug and have led tour groups in many different parts of the world, from many different nationalities.
I’ve led tours across India and many different parts of the subcontinent, and in doing so have learned so much about India as a country and a destination. It also taught me a huge amount about how other nationalities feel about other countries, and all of this together has helped me in my current role in curating experiences that are truly memorable.
What inspired you to work in the travel industry?
My family used to take us on big vacations, exploring new areas almost every month and thi... Read All
I’ve been in the travel industry for 18 years, and although I’m an economics graduate I was bitten by the travel bug and have led tour groups in many different parts of the world, from many different nationalities.
I’ve led tours across India and many different parts of the subcontinent, and in doing so have learned so much about India as a country and a destination. It also taught me a huge amount about how other nationalities feel about other countries, and all of this together has helped me in my current role in curating experiences that are truly memorable.
What inspired you to work in the travel industry?
My family used to take us on big vacations, exploring new areas almost every month and this is what really got me bitten by the bug.
When seeing India you realise the diversity in culture, in cuisine and in people is just so huge, and the people are still very emotive and really value human emotions and human connections. It is this sense we endeavour to get across in our tours.
If you had to choose one, what would be your favourite place in India?
Of all the places I have been to if I had to choose a favourite place it would be Uttarakhand. A hill state in the Himalayas, there aren’t too many tourists and it has such a well-preserved culture, it is a piece of real India. Of course in the Himalayas, there are so many hikes and the scenery is so beautiful.
What makes HI Tours different?
Our tours are made different by the very fact that we have a real emphasis on experiencing a destination, rather than just seeing it, to the extent that we actually have a separate experience division.
We are very keen on sustainability and all our experiences have a focus on the right practices and social sustainability. Our ticket sizes aren’t huge, we’re more about bringing value to customers and communities rather than just about making money.
All our experiences are more about people rather than places, as this helps customers really connect and understand the place they’re visiting.
All this is reflected in Hi Tours as a company. We are medium-sized and family-run, and we focus on giving our business to smaller places, which not only gives our customers more authentic experiences but helps to give back to communities.
What do you love most about Delhi?
Delhi is a place with an amazing history, it’s the only city that has been established and raised to the ground seven times, so the version of Delhi you see today is actually in its 8th state! It is the gateway to all cultures in India, Hinduism, Islam, and this results in amazing vibrancy and amazing stories.
In many ways, it is a ‘mini-India’. It keeps evolving, it keeps bouncing back, it’s chaotic, but makes it through everything and just seems to work.
What are the ‘must-sees’? Where would you take a first-time visitor?
You have to see the obvious places, the Taj Mahal, Parliament Street, but the best ways to introduce a newcomer to India is by taking them on an experience where they really learn about the people and the culture of Delhi.
Having someone that can connect what you are seeing to the history of Delhi and how it has come about is so important. Seeing the other side to what normal tourists see really helps you get an idea of what a place its really like.
When you cycle round the back of the Taj, you see the people who live there and what they experience day-to-day. The inside view is so important to really experience a place.
What makes sustainable travel important to you?
It’s high time we make travel more sustainable. If people are going to travel, it has to be as sustainable as possible now. The idea of sustainable travel is not only for ecology but for communities also. Money can seep down to the lowest level, it’s a cycle and tourism can be used as a great tool for getting benefits to the poorest communities.
It’s also an opportunity for us as a business. We have been working with our partners for more than two decades now, so there is an understanding of mutual trust between us and the communities. People recognise the efforts we make to give back to the community, and that has helped us carve out a niche in Delhi of really authentic experiences.
At Not in the Guidebooks we’re committed to empowering the local communities in Costa Rica. We work closely with the local people and their businesses to make sure that they receive a fair percentage of the money you spend on your holiday there. By partnering with local guides and suppliers, we’re able to create meaningful, authentic experiences that directly benefit the people who call this incredible country home.
Flights are operated at Sunrise which is between 0545am – 645am.
All passengers are required to have a basic level of general health and physical well-being, this includes:
No recent surgery.
No known significant hip, knee, neck or back problems.
No recently broken bones.
Not currently pregnant.
Ability to stand for at least 1 hour without rest.
Must be at least 5 years of age.
Get off the beaten track and support local communities that you visit.
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