Why India is now on my travel bucket list

September 23, 2024 | 12:00am

I had lunch last week at an Indian restaurant with Victor “Binky” Dizon, one of the founders of A2A Safaris, a company he co-founded 22 years ago with his partner, Jose Cortez. At that time, in 2002, A2A was the only company in Asia that specialized in arranging bespoke, very personalized luxury safaris to Africa.

By 2014, A2A had expanded its destination footprint to include Latin America and Antarctica. The company takes pride in curating luxurious packages which cater to the very discriminating tastes of world travelers. It also takes pride in its conservation efforts that help preserve the remote wilderness areas its guests travel to. Since A2A has acquired deep knowledge about safaris, it will only partner with carefully chosen operators who likewise have a strong conservation ethos.

After servicing these three continents, Binky believes the time is ripe to now include India among A2A’s portfolio of destinations. During our lunch, we were joined by Manjeet Singh Ghumman, a highly regarded tour manager with over 30 years of experience who has served as guide for sophisticated travelers (especially families and small niche groups) visiting India. Born in New Delhi, Manjeet holds a post-graduate degree in History from the prestigious Delhi University. This makes him a peerless travel companion whose knowledge of India’s history, faiths, culture, and hidden secrets is completely jaw-dropping! No wonder his clients include National Geographic photographers and celebrities like George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Richard Gere and Judi Dench. Manjeet even accompanied Gordon Ramsay and Rick Stein on their gastronomic journeys through India, as well as past US Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump (on separate trips, obviously).

Indeed, to converse with Manjeet is to be transported to India, as I was during our fascinating lunch conversation. According to him, India occupies a greater part of South Asia and is a vast country of over 1.3 billion people that offers 20 safari sites. And though its wildlife is beautiful and abundant, the animals are well-protected. The subcontinent has tigers, elephants, lions, black bears, foxes, peacocks (the country’s national bird), rhinoceroses, antelope, deer, black panthers and even leopards with blue eyes! Manjeet was quick to point out, however, that since these creatures are Asian, they are not as big in size as their African counterparts.

Binky says that those who book a safari in India with A2A are in for an exciting nature adventure that does come with modern comforts like air-conditioning, running water, and other top-notch amenities. Other singular A2A perks which clients can avail of are private access to the iconic Taj Mahal, exclusive access to the treasures of the Gem Palace, and even the option to go glamping in the wild!

Binky recommends that travelers allot at least three days for the safari. I was surprised by his revelation that it’s quite difficult to see tigers, which are apparently the most elusive animal in the safari. For his part, Manjeet recommends going to India between October to March so that the weather is cool and comfortable. Temperatures vary depending on where you want to go. Up north, temperatures can drop to negative zero during the winter (December and January).

After a three-day safari, there is still much to do in India. Shopping, for one, is the favorite pastime of Binky’s wife Tracie, who is always on the hunt for colorful fabrics, precious stones, and jewelry. And what’s a trip to India without visiting its historic temples and palaces? Manjeet says that some palaces have in fact been converted into luxurious hotels. As for gastronomically curious and adventurous foodies, there’s nothing quite like India’s famous spicy cuisine.

Both Binky and Manjeet suggest seven to 10 days to enjoy India’s many hidden gems. Such a tour costs between $700 to $1,000 per person per day (excluding airfare) and comes with five-star accommodations, private guides, and special access that no other tour company can match.

Binky says that getting a visa to travel to India is easy. He adds that though there are no direct flights to India from the Philippines. She recommends flying Cathay Pacific or Thai Airways.

Thank you for the evocative lunch, Binky and Manjeet! How wonderful it was to hear about your experiences of India’s spectacular wilderness, rich culture and diverse ethnicity. India is now on my travel bucket list.