Akbran Tour
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"A single disaster."
Unfortunately, the entire process didn’t work out as expected. I had read that the ticket would be provided with the voucher directly at the ticket office, but that wasn’t the case. The information about where to get the ticket was unclear—sometimes it mentioned the hotel, other times the entrance. This lack of clarity was frustrating, and overall, I’m quite disappointed.
"Taj Mahal at sunrise? I don’t think so!"
My friend and I booked the "Private Day Tour of Agra: Taj Mahal at sunrise, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort, and Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah." Initially, our confirmation stated a 6 a.m. pickup, but shortly after booking months in advance, Sumit called to change it to 7 a.m. When we arrived in Agra, hotel staff warned us that 7 a.m. was too late to see the Taj at sunrise. We contacted Sumit again, who adjusted the pickup time to 6:30 a.m., then 6:45 a.m., assuring us it was early enough. Despite this, we weren’t picked up until 7 a.m. and arrived well after sunrise. Our guide’s explanation that the gates didn’t open until 6:55 and that we couldn’t have gotten in earlier was unconvincing, especially seeing thousands already inside. When we expressed our disappointment to Sumit later, he offered excuses and misrepresentations that did not satisfy us. Our guide appeared unsure about the itinerary. Although we visited Agra Fort, we never saw the Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah as planned. After the fort tour, our guide left us to meet a different guide at Fatehpur Sikri, who was excellent, as was our driver. It would have been helpful to have a guide during the drives to and from Fatehpur Sikri to explain the sights along the way. While Sumit asked what he could do to make amends, missing the Taj sunrise cannot be compensated with a coffee or light show. I regret not asking for a refund. Due to the driver and the second guide, I rate the experience a 3, but I cannot recommend this tour or company.
"5 Reasons NOT to book with Akbran Tours"
Our experience with the company was marred primarily by the owner, Sumit Upadhyay, whose customer service was extremely poor. When we raised our concerns, he laughed and dismissed them. When we asked about reimbursement for accommodations that were promised but never delivered, he flatly refused and then ceased communication for the remainder of the trip. The hotels booked were far from the advertised 5-star standard. While I had reasonable expectations, cleanliness was not one of them—both hotels had mold and mildew issues, even after being moved to different rooms. Requests for alternative hotels or compensation were denied. The website stated "all meals included" and also mentioned "breakfast and lunch per itinerary." I assumed this meant breakfast and lunch only, which would have been acceptable. However, breakfast was not provided on the first day, and lunch was missing on the last day. When questioned, the owner said these meals were “not part of the itinerary,” though this was never documented. I understand that commission-based shopping stops are common in tours, but the team was not upfront about this and refused to offer alternatives when asked. On a positive note, the tours and guides themselves were good, which I appreciated. I don’t usually complain or write reviews, but given the overall experience, I felt it was important to share this feedback.
"Worst tour in India, and possibly the world ‼️"
This tour was one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had. I booked through Travelocity, expecting a driver to pick me up at 8 a.m., but no one showed up until an hour later. The phone support was unhelpful and seemed unaware of the arrangement. From the start, the driver made inappropriate comments about drinking beer after the tour and repeatedly pressured me about tipping, saying people usually give $50 USD. Then, the driver and tour guide teamed up to pressure me into visiting a nearby shop where they would earn a commission from overpriced sales. I even used Google Translate to understand their plans while en route. During the Taj Mahal visit, the guide pressured me to buy photos from a sketchy vendor at outrageous prices and pushed me repeatedly to buy rugs, jewels, and stones at a shop. After I refused multiple times, the tour was cut short and we didn’t get to see all the buildings inside the monument. It was impossible to enjoy the tour with constant pressure to spend money. Afterward, despite my clear request to return to my hotel (I had an early flight), the driver and guide drove around slowly and insisted on staying in Agra for another hour. I felt unsafe as my requests were ignored. The driver then stopped at a suspicious motel area, where I witnessed what seemed like illicit exchanges of cash. I had to threaten to leave the car to get back to my hotel safely. This experience was stressful, unprofessional, and far from the magical tour I expected. I strongly warn tourists not to book this tour with this company. It’s far better to visit the Taj Mahal independently, where you won’t be harassed as much as by the people who are supposed to guide you. I will be requesting a full refund and compensation for this terrible experience.
"The Most Wonderful Tour – The Most Terrifying Drive"
I would have rated this tour 5 stars thanks to our fantastic guide, Sandeep. He was personable, knowledgeable, and took amazing photos. Although he mentioned a shopping stop common on many India tours, he respected our decision not to visit. The meal at Pinch of Spice was delicious. Sumit, the company owner, was also helpful and easy to contact via WhatsApp. However, a major issue seriously impacted our experience—our driver, Vijay. On the way to Agra, he drove well and was timely, though his English was limited. But on the return trip to Delhi, he was visibly dozing off while driving on the expressway for about 30 minutes during a 3-hour drive. Despite confronting him, he denied being tired. After several alarming moments, we had him pull off at an exit and called Sumit. I’ve never felt so scared for my safety. While Sumit was kind and tried to help over the phone, this dangerous situation overshadowed our trip. For travelers visiting India, I strongly recommend requesting a different driver, taking a train, or booking through a larger company to avoid such risks.
"Private day tour of Agra: Taj Mahal and sunrise, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort and Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah"
Our visit to the Taj Mahal was very disappointing because, contrary to what we were promised, we did not arrive in time to see the sunrise on the mausoleum. Our guide—who initially introduced himself as Sandy but later said his name was Sunny—was late picking us up, and by the time we arrived, there was a long line. The guide seemed somewhat unfamiliar with the published itinerary. He didn’t mention the tomb of Itmad; instead, after visiting the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, we proceeded to Fatehpur Sikri. By then, it was around 10:30 a.m. Since we were supposed to be picked up at 6:45 a.m., we had missed breakfast at the hotel and had only eaten some cookies and fruit. Although lunch was included, the restaurant didn’t open until 12:30 p.m. and was located in Agra. Fatehpur Sikri itself was wonderful, and the local guide there, as well as our driver, were excellent. We finally returned to Agra and had lunch around 2:45 p.m. Shortly afterward, we met with Sumit, who had arranged the tour. Unfortunately, as described by my traveling companion, the conversation with him was unsatisfactory.
"Amazing taj tour"
The tour began wonderfully—visiting the Taj Mahal was incredible, and the guide shared a wealth of fascinating information. I also appreciated having some time to explore on my own. The Agra Fort tour was interesting, though a bit brief. At Fatehpur Sikri, a different guide took over and was also very knowledgeable, though it would have been helpful if we’d been informed about the change. The original guide left without explanation, and I initially thought I’d be on my own for that portion. Lunch back in Agra was included and absolutely amazing! However, the visit to the Baby Taj was a disappointment. The guide seemed unsure whether it was part of the tour and had to call for confirmation. By that point, he appeared somewhat disengaged and annoyed. Overall, it was a very good tour. While perhaps not the best option for budget travelers, I still enjoyed the experience.
"Nice trip to Taj Mahal and Agra fort"
Our tour guide and driver were very kind, picking us up from Delhi and taking us to the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort with care. The customer service agent was also helpful and responsive, promptly answering our WhatsApp messages even late at night. Overall, a pleasant experience thanks to their attentiveness and kindness.
"We missed some things on the tour???"
Let me start with the positive—the Taj Mahal is absolutely stunning. Walking up to it gave me a real “wow” moment, and I took countless pictures. It was an incredibly hot day—around 115 degrees—and thankfully the guide was kind enough to take my mom back to their office to rest while my friend and I continued the tour. However, I had several issues with the tour itself. Our guide seemed somewhat disorganized from the start. He was oddly particular about the type of credit card we used to pay for tickets and was chatting in another language with people in line while holding my card, which made me uncomfortable. In my previous tours, payment was handled more smoothly. He also offered professional photos on the spot, which felt awkward and pressured—something I wish had been mentioned upfront. Overall, there was no clear game plan. The guide provided minimal information about the Taj Mahal and often needed prompting. After we explored the Taj area ourselves, the guide took us to a “demonstration” that was basically a sales pitch. We wanted to see the garden, Agra Fort, and the Baby Taj—key parts of the itinerary—but the guide seemed dismissive. Eventually, we did visit Agra Fort, though not fully, and both the guide and we felt worn out. Additionally, he insisted on keeping our tickets, which I found odd since I like to keep them as souvenirs. On the plus side, the company took great care of my mom, which I appreciate. On the downside, the tour felt disorganized and a bit shady, even if unintentionally. It’s an affordable tour and you’ll be safe, so I don’t outright recommend against it, but I probably wouldn’t book with them again.
"A very good trip"
We had a very good trip, with Sunny as our tour guide who was exceptional. His deep knowledge of the Taj Mahal complex and the Red Fort made the experience truly enriching.
"Did not meet expectations"
I’m a bit surprised this excursion has 5 stars because I would not recommend it. Our driver was prompt and kind, and he even took care of a group member overwhelmed by the heat by bringing her to the company’s air-conditioned office to rest. However, the guide (Sunny) was not very informative, and much of the tour seemed to focus on two “demonstrations” that turned out to be visits to jewelry shops rather than educational stops about the Taj Mahal’s construction or marble work. We never visited the Baby Taj, and there were no sunset views since we returned to Delhi by 6 p.m. after a long van ride. The tour was poorly organized and not properly branded. We only went to Agra Fort after requesting it ourselves, and while we wanted to see Baby Taj as well, the guide seemed disengaged, making the experience exhausting. A heads-up for travelers: there appears to be a discount for purchasing combined tickets to Taj Mahal and Agra Fort on the same day. Our guide kept hold of our tickets, supposedly to prevent loss, but then charged us full price for Agra Fort admission. It seems likely he pocketed the difference, which is disappointing given the importance of monument preservation. While seeing one of the wonders of the world was incredible, you should be prepared to lead the guide and clarify what’s included in the tour to get the most out of it. This tour would be better described as a day-trip to Agra with optional monument visits and shopping stops, so guests aren’t misled. For a more professional and informative experience with transparent communication, consider reputable local companies like A Star Tours instead.
"Taj Mahal"
Sandeep was an incredibly helpful tour guide—knowledgeable and full of interesting information about the Taj Mahal. He constantly reminded us to watch our belongings and took great care of us throughout the trip. Plus, he took fantastic pictures! We were truly happy to have him with us. Thank you, Sandeep!
Akbran Tour
– A trusted operator offering Golden Triangle, Rajasthan, Taj Mahal, and wildlife tours. Known for 24/7 support, instant confirmations, and value-for-money pricing. Ideal for international travelers from the US, Dubai, and beyond.
Address
Fatehabad Rd, Impeypura, Tajganj, Agra, Uttar Pradesh 282001, India
Website
http://www.akbrantours.com/
Email
[email protected]
Telephone
+919758327283