Alsager travel advisor, Sara Dickenson, has just returned from two weeks touring the Golden Triangle in India, from Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, and Kerala. Here is her advice to ensure your trip is on you will talk about for years for all the right reasons.

"India is one of those places people either dream of visiting or worry about, and often a bit of both. I have just spent two weeks there, from Delhi and a tiger reserve in Ranthambore to the Taj Mahal and the backwaters of Kerala, visiting hotels, camps and houseboats as a travel advisor.

"It was brilliant. It was also busy, noisy and occasionally chaotic, and I would not want anyone to go in blind. The good news is that most of what makes or breaks a trip comes down to a handful of decisions you can get right before you leave."

Here are Sara's top tips:

1. Don't go it alone

Every time I mention India to anyone, the first thing they mention is the dreaded 'Delhi Belly'. There was 12 travel consultants on this trip and not one got a tummy upset or food poisoning.

Why? Because we had the most amazing guide who showed us what to eat and drink and what not to touch. Then there's the markets, the old towns and the train stations.

Having a guide who handles the arrangements and navigates the craziness is, to my mind, where the real luxury in an India trip lies. It is not the marble bathroom, it is someone who deals with the chaos so you can enjoy the place.

2. Print everything

Even with an E-sim, you can't rely on being connected. There is no Wi-Fi when you land at Delhi airport, so print your e-visa, arrival card and any health forms, and check the current entry requirements before you fly.

3. Pick the season for what you want to see

The best time to see tigers in Ranthambore is March to May. I went off season, and while we saw a leopard, deer, antelope, a mongoose, an owl and fresh footprints, we did not see a tiger. If the Taj Mahal is on your list, remember it is closed on Fridays.

4. Go small on safari

If you're heading on a safari be sure to book a small jeep, called a gypsy, with four to six seats. People we met who went in the big 16-seat bus were sent to a different part of the park and spent ages waiting behind other buses for a glimpse of something small and found the experience underwhelming. Ours, as a group of four people, was spectacular.

5. Match the hotel to your needs

India has everything from tented camps to centuries-old havelis, and the best hotel is the one that suits you, not the one with the most stars or necessarily the best reviews.

A tented camp near Ranthambore was the most luxurious place I saw. A nature lodge I stayed at was wonderful for wildlife lovers but not for anyone wanting luxury.

Heritage hotels have bags of character, but old buildings can mean a little damp in some rooms. Know what you are booking and you will not be disappointed.

6. Do not pack too much in

Distances are big. Delhi to Ranthambore is about five and a half hours by road, mostly farmland. Jet lag is real too. Build in quiet time, and treat the long drives as part of the journey.

On the way up to Munnar in Kerala, a stop for sugarcane juice from a roadside seller turned out to be a highlight – again, guided by an expert, these opportunities to experience local life were opened up to me – without the guide I wouldn't have dared to try this delicious drink.

7. Respect local customs

Greet people with namaste, hands together and a slight bow. My guide explained it as 'I bow to the divine in you'. At places of worship, cover your head and be ready to take your shoes off. Being respectful with photography is essential. I asked permission to take every single photograph of a person simply by holding up my phone and pointing to it or by saying 'photo le loon'.

8. Go local with a guide you trust

Some of my best moments were the simplest. A rickshaw ride through Old Delhi and its spice market, led by two young guides trained by Salaam Baalak Trust, a charity that supports children who have left home and ended up on the city's streets.

A village walk on the edge of Agra, among millet fields, where the Taj Mahal appeared in the mist and we finished with pakoras and chai made over a small fire.

A tea shack on a Kerala backwater where the men of the village gather. Nobody pressured us to buy anything. Go with someone who knows the place, and always ask before you step into a home or photograph someone.

A great guide will open these opportunities to you in a way where you feel confident to enjoy them, without feeling like you're stepping on any toes or invading someone's personal space.

India rewards preparation and the willingness to let someone who knows the place guide you. Get the season, the support and the accommodation right, and the rest tends to take care of itself.

I came home with a phone full of voice notes, a head full of memories and a long list of reasons to go back.

Sara Dickenson is an independent travel advisor with Travel Counsellors, based in Alsager, specialising in premium and luxury travel for families, couples and experience-led travellers.

She also runs The Earthed Retreat Co., which helps UK wellness professionals host retreats abroad. Contact her at [email protected] or call 01270 917091.Follow Sara's trip: Instagram: here

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