DISCOVER INDIA WITH GOOD FOOD JOURNEYS, A KIWI COMPANY WITH A STRONG BASE IN INDIA
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TESTIMONIALS

There were so many highlights of my trip. Most memorable was celebrating Holi at a private family home where we were welcomed into a family home and shared a tradition with a family surrounded by love warmth and an array of colours and music. My other highlight was a cooking class in the kitchen of St Regis alongside Sid. To balance a culinary tour was sightseeing and shopping with Chand, what more could a girl ask for!!!

If asked to describe India, I would say it’s a kaleidoscope of colours and flavours. It is mystical and magical and that’s how I would describe this entire trip. Another highlight was meeting a group of strangers and coming away with wonderful new friendships.

-Varsha Patel

Celebrating Holi in India with Sid and Chand. March 2026

What made our tour special was to be hosted by Sid and Chand – someone we knew of by reputation and whose restaurants we have eaten at for years so very special to have that personal experience and a total delight to meet them both.

Seeing the Taj Mahal at sunrise from the Agra Fort was stunning.

-Sheelagh James

Celebrating Holi in India with Sid and Chand. March 2026

This was our first escorted tour as we usually travel independently. It was great having all the logistics organised and dining decisions made for us. Amaresh is an awesome person and the local guides were all very knowledgeable.

The lunch in Delhi at Sid’s friend’s restaurant (Nisaba) was outstanding. All the meals were amazing, but I loved the meal we ate with our hands on the banana leaf in Kovalam. The setting of the outdoor dinner we had there on arrival day was spectacular (I thought it was set up for a wedding dinner!)

-Kate Watson

Celebrating Holi in India with Sid and Chand. March 2026

It is hard to single out a highlight of the tour for me. The final night farewell feast at The Leela in Kovalam was something to remember. This was two of the best weeks’ vacation I have spent overseas in many years.

-Len Ward

Celebrating Holi in India with Sid and Chand. March 2026

My family and I traveled to India (Delhi, Agra, and Udaipur) with Good Food Journeys and had an amazing experience. A highlight was touring Agra Fort and seeing the Taj Mahal. Despite the crowds, our guides navigated everything seamlessly and made sure we truly took in the beauty of the sights. They also took us to a local sweet shop to try authentic Agra pani puri, which was fantastic.
Good Food Journeys organized everything – tours, transportation, and logistics, which made the trip feel easy and relaxed. They were thoughtful about our feedback and even shared great tips for Goa, which wasn’t part of our itinerary. They also went out of their way to help us get tickets to the Taj Hotel’s New Year’s Eve party. An incredibly special trip overall.

-Ashwini, USA. December 2025

Sid Sahrawat was an outstanding host, making exceptional experiences even better. For example, his flexibility to add special meals on the fly, (like the chaat restaurant in Mumbai because we had all expressed an interest in street food) and to talk us through what we were eating (who knew butter chicken really is a thing in India but oh so different to the NZ version).
From simple local restaurants to the best in the country, we experienced it all, including an incredible array of breads. You will try more food than you would think possible and if you are up for sharing – our group was – then even better! Sid’s knowledge, accommodating nature, constant good humour and extremely fun personality made every moment special.

- Lynette W.
Culinary tour with Sid Sahrawat. April 2025

Travelling with Sid Sahrawat to India to sample the many and varied cuisines of India was an amazing experience. Sid’s deep knowledge of food and down-to-earth approach to travelling made for a lively, fascinating and fun trip. From one of the world’s top restaurants, to street food and local eateries (and everything in between) we sampled it all; and loved it all, while staying in excellent accommodation.
If you love Indian food but want to explore more deeply the many and varied cultures and foods that make up this extraordinary country, then this trip is for you. Enjoyed our other travelers – all had the right attitude and good sense of humour.

- Simon K.
Culinary tour with Sid Sahrawat. April 2025

It was wonderful taking this culinary adventure with Auckland Chef Sid Sahrawat. He was extremely generous with his time, and it was wonderful learning about Indian cuisine from such an expert.

- Linda and Michael
Culinary tour with Sid Sahrawat. April 2025

This trip was special for our family. It had forced six separate schedules to align briefly for a highly anticipated and relatively short vacation to experience the charm of Jaipur-Udaipur and to witness the wintery magnificence of the Taj Mahal in Agra. We’re so incredibly glad that we chose Good Food Journeys to guide us through all of it.
Right from the planning stage, the GFJ team was very attentive to our wishes, very knowledgeable with lodging, transportation, and dining options, and thorough with addressing details that would make our travel smooth and enjoyable. During the actual week of travel, the team was easily accessible and timely in their responses to our questions and very accommodating of new requests. What we appreciated most was the attention to small details like having one point person for the entire trip in addition to local contacts in each city that we visited, receiving our boarding passes directly without having to stand in line to check-in for flights, and having friendly drivers and guides who engaged with our group for lively informative conversations. If we had had the time, we would’ve likely accepted an invitation to tea from our guide in Udaipur (we did view the Palace from the terrace of his home though) and another invite to a home-cooked authentic Rajasthani meal from our driver in Jaipur. We also appreciated how the GFJ team proactively checked in with us from time to time to see if our travel was living up to our expectations. More often than not, our experiences exceeded them.
The highlights of the trip, all of which were curated specially for us, was the dinner (featuring the traditional Laal Maas preparation) at 1135AD in Amer Fort in Jaipur, the stay at Fatehgarh Resort (with a breath-taking sunrise each morning literally at our fingertips) in Udaipur, and the grand viewing of the Taj Mahal on the last day of the trip. By then, we were convinced that the GFJ team probably had a hand in lifting the legendary winter fog for exactly that hour and a half when we were on the premises so that the mystery and romance of the Taj was even more stunning than what we had imagined. It was such a fitting finale to a fabulous trip. Thank you Good Food Journeys for this memorable holiday! We’re looking forward to working with you again, and again, in the future.

- Priya, USA.

I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to India than with Good Food Journeys! The experience exceeded all my expectations. Visiting India during Diwali made the trip extra special – it’s truly a magical time to explore the country. The food was an absolute highlight, with incredible variety reflecting the unique flavours of each region we visited. Of course, seeing the Taj Mahal was unforgettable – a true bucket list moment!
The logistics were seamless, from accommodation to transport, with fantastic guides and drivers who made us feel informed, safe, and cared for throughout the journey. Having Chandni as our leader elevated the experience immensely. Her ability to communicate in the languages of both North and South India, coupled with her passion for food and her unparalleled knowledge, added so much depth to the trip. Beyond food, her insights into religion and history enriched every moment. Good Food Journeys provided a truly immersive and memorable adventure – I can’t recommend them highly enough!

- Jodi, Auckland. Diwali tour with Chand, 2024

India was so much more than I could have imagined. Experiencing India at DIwali was a highlight with all the festivities. The transportation, hosts, and our tour guides were amazing. The ITC hotels are super luxurious, you need to take time to explore the hotels as they are all unique properties. Definitely add this tour to your bucket list and highly recommend Good Food Journeys.

- Hannah, Auckland. Diwali tour with Chand, 2024