Create Your Own Unique Experience

Custom made itineraries

Our custom made itineraries give you the complete freedom to choose where you want to go, what you want to see and when you want to do it. If you are interested in one of our current itineraries but don’t want to travel as part of a tour group you can request to travel independently or if you want to customise one of our trips you are able to add or remove as many elements as you like. As an alternative you can also start with a blank page and we will assist you in designing your own fully customised itinerary.

Who can we design custom itineraries for?

Over the past 12 years we have tailor made itineraries for many groups – specialising in Buddhist pilgrimages, retreats and Indian festivals. We prefer to keep our groups small and intimate so that you get the best out of the experience. This is just a selection of the groups we have collaborated with in order to design their dream adventure. Alternatively if you want to teach or learn a new skill and travel at the same time, we can organise a retreat centre in India or anywhere else in the world that caters to you or your groups’ needs. Your retreat can include yoga, meditation, cultural activities, walks and hikes, cooking and natural medicine. You may also combine it with one of our other itineraries or extensions. The choice is yours!

We are experienced in designing the following custom itineraries:

  • Buddhist Pilgrimages
  • Yoga, wellness and meditation retreats
  • Indian festivals and unique cultural activities
  • Photography, literature and music festivals
  • Bush walking and trekking groups
  • Leadership journeys
  • Writing groups
  • Volunteering (service immersion)
  • Couples/anniversary celebrations
  • Groups of friends
  • Families
  • Milestone events: birthday, graduation, honeymoon
  • Culinary groups
  • Reading clubs
  • University groups

How do I get started creating my custom made adventure?

  1. Simply contact us and let us know where you wish to travel, how many are in your group and an estimated date of departure. Our travel consultants will then give you suggestions to get you truly off the beaten track and on a once in a lifetime adventure.
  2. Once you are happy with the itinerary and inclusions, we will put together a full set of detailed trip notes outlining the daily itinerary, trip highlights, prices, inclusions and exclusions. This ensures that each member of your group has a clear idea of the trip before you set off.

TESTIMONIALS

Don’t just take our word for it – here is what some of satisfied travellers have had to say:

'The Pilgrimage to Japan was carefully thought out and planned especially to suit our group. It was amazing how much we saw and achieved in a short time. It's something I'll remember for a long time. Thank you Sharon!'

Helen

Helen

5.0
2023-11-02T09:31:34+00:00

Helen

Helen
‘The Pilgrimage to Japan was carefully thought out and planned especially to suit our group. It was amazing how much we saw and achieved in a short time. It’s something I’ll remember for a long time. Thank you Sharon!’
'I had a terrific time in the lower foothills of the Himalayas with Vikas on the Hidden Gems of the Himalayas tour. I went in May and the weather was just perfect. The accomodations was great - varied and in interesting places. We did lots of extra little things that interested us, like visiting DAR (a dog rescue enterprise) and the famous cricket ground in Dharamsala. I am looking forward to my next Indian adventure!'

Mandy

Mandy Wheatland

2023-11-02T08:55:03+00:00

Mandy Wheatland

Mandy
‘I had a terrific time in the lower foothills of the Himalayas with Vikas on the Hidden Gems of the Himalayas tour. I went in May and the weather was just perfect. The accomodations was great – varied and in interesting places. We did lots of extra little things that interested us, like visiting DAR View Full →
'It is difficult to put into words the impact of this wonderful pilgrimage. I enjoyd travelling through the magnificent landscape of Ladakh and Spiti as well as the practice time in temples with our travelling Sangha (Buddhist community). It was wonderful to have Geshe Samten and the guides Vikas and Ashish with us.'

Maxine

Maxine Ross

5.0
2023-11-02T08:50:39+00:00

Maxine Ross

Maxine
‘It is difficult to put into words the impact of this wonderful pilgrimage. I enjoyd travelling through the magnificent landscape of Ladakh and Spiti as well as the practice time in temples with our travelling Sangha (Buddhist community). It was wonderful to have Geshe Samten and the guides Vikas and Ashish with us.’
'Vikas was an excellent guide for the Hidden Gems of the Himalayas tour. He was fully informative, always patient, flexible with the client's needs and was able to adjust the itinerary as we requested. I always felt safe and well looked after. The accommodation was beyond my wildest dreams! Each hotel was a wonderful surprise, and reflected the area we were visiting. I saw a completely different India to what I have viewed before, and the trip was much more luxurious than I imagined.'

Toddy

Toddy Whittle

5.0
2023-11-02T08:44:21+00:00

Toddy Whittle

Toddy
‘Vikas was an excellent guide for the Hidden Gems of the Himalayas tour. He was fully informative, always patient, flexible with the client’s needs and was able to adjust the itinerary as we requested. I always felt safe and well looked after. The accommodation was beyond my wildest dreams! Each hotel was a wonderful surprise, View Full →



Vikas was our local guide when I went to India in 2013. He is the loveliest of people and looked after is really well. If I ever go back (and I am thinking about it) I would definitely want him as my guide again.




HaleyJones-1

Haley Jones, Australia

5.0
2019-01-29T06:06:54+00:00

Haley Jones, Australia

HaleyJones-1
Vikas was our local guide when I went to India in 2013. He is the loveliest of people and looked after is really well. If I ever go back (and I am thinking about it) I would definitely want him as my guide again.
I decided to go on the Great Ocean Walk for a personal challenge - never having done long distance walking before. Surrounded in magnificent scenery of rugged coastline, good weather and a comfy bed with hot showers , it was an ideal and enjoyable short break with a difference and all the arrangements taken care of by Sharon.

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Katie

Katie, Gold Coast, May 2018

5.0
2018-12-06T11:11:49+00:00

Katie, Gold Coast, May 2018

Katie
I decided to go on the Great Ocean Walk for a personal challenge – never having done long distance walking before. Surrounded in magnificent scenery of rugged coastline, good weather and a comfy bed with hot showers , it was an ideal and enjoyable short break with a difference and all the arrangements taken care View Full →
I thoroughly recommend doing the Great Ocean Walk with Ekno Travels. Sharon has organised the trip so that you walk the best bits and return at the end of the day to a lovely cottage with hot showers and warm beds. A spectacular walk and no worries!

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Tracey

Tracey, Brisbane, May 2018

5.0
2018-12-06T11:02:59+00:00

Tracey, Brisbane, May 2018

Tracey
I thoroughly recommend doing the Great Ocean Walk with Ekno Travels. Sharon has organised the trip so that you walk the best bits and return at the end of the day to a lovely cottage with hot showers and warm beds. A spectacular walk and no worries! read more
Local guide Vikas was also a brilliant choice, always open to chat about India and arrange some extra wishes. He was tireless, always living the slogan – ‘In India, everything is possible!’ It was just an amazing, brilliant, fantastic journey every hour of the way. I really fell in love with the country and I can’t wait to return!

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Mario

Mario Becker, Switzerland

5.0
2018-06-07T07:52:15+00:00

Mario Becker, Switzerland

Mario
Local guide Vikas was also a brilliant choice, always open to chat about India and arrange some extra wishes. He was tireless, always living the slogan – ‘In India, everything is possible!’ It was just an amazing, brilliant, fantastic journey every hour of the way. I really fell in love with the country and I View Full →
Vikas is a remarkable tour guide. Well organised, fun and with such an inspirational life story! It was great to have him interpret and explain situations, history and culture. I can’t actually speak highly enough of him – one gem of a tour guide.

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Rosa

Rosalyn Johnson, New Zealand

5.0
2018-06-07T07:49:45+00:00

Rosalyn Johnson, New Zealand

Rosa
Vikas is a remarkable tour guide. Well organised, fun and with such an inspirational life story! It was great to have him interpret and explain situations, history and culture. I can’t actually speak highly enough of him – one gem of a tour guide. read more
What a way to finish our trip in India. Thanks Sharon Thrupp and Shiv for organizing everything so perfectly for us. The drivers and guides have always been on time and have treated us with the utmost respect. We enjoyed our stays at the hotels and haveli.
We were overwhelmed walking into the Taj Mahal this morning. Feeling very blessed and lucky to have had this privilege.

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Tracy & Neil Taj Mahal (1)

Tracy & Neil, Australia

5.0
2017-11-07T18:27:13+00:00

Tracy & Neil, Australia

Tracy & Neil Taj Mahal (1)
What a way to finish our trip in India. Thanks Sharon Thrupp and Shiv for organizing everything so perfectly for us. The drivers and guides have always been on time and have treated us with the utmost respect. We enjoyed our stays at the hotels and haveli. We were overwhelmed walking into the Taj Mahal View Full →
4.0
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