Golden Chariot Train

Has anyone been on the Golden Chariot train and what was it like?I have searched but have found no reviews of the train since May.Is it running?

Golden Chariot Train

I saw a tv feature about it not long ago, so I suspect it must have started, but don%26#39;t know for sure.

Golden Chariot Train

Travelled on the train during early October. Truly amazing train. Five star accomodation (for a train), spa, business centre, wonderful cuisine and professional, friendly and attentive staff.

Price includes full board and all the excursions and is great value for money. We left the train in Goa to spend two nights recovering from all the excursions and flew home to the UK via Mumbai.

Criticisms? You have to think hard to come up with any but here are a couple.The accomodation for the overnight stay at the safari lodge was pretty basic. But OK had we been told in advance. Unless you are an ardent culture vulture you could OD on temple visits, although since on two days you will return the the train for lunch, you do have the option of spending the afternoon relaxing on the train and making use of the spa instead.Exactly what my wife did.

And no one suffered from ';Delhi Belly.'; On the day trips when we had lunch in a restaurant/hotel our catering manager and /or our senior chef was on hand to check that the food was fresh, washed in purified water and of top quality.

I, my wife and the friends who accompanied us are a huge fan of this train and the whole excursion, which for 7 nights costs less than one night on the Orient Express.

Reg, West Sussex

Thanks Reg.Really helpful as we can%26#39;t find out any information at all.Is there anything else that you suggest we do/don%26#39;t do or need to prepare for

A few things I can think about.

1. Book direct. As compared to buying a package through a UK agent, we saved a considerable amount of money booking flights with BA and with the Taj Hotel Group (for Goa) on their official websites. As for the train, you can email the company, Luxury Trains of India. In our case they phoned us within 20 minutes and were very helpful.

2. The BA flight arrives in Banaglaore very early in the morning. We booked a hotel for a rest and a shower before checking in with the train for lunch.

3. Because it is new and because it was ';mid season';, the train started with just a dozen or so paying passengers and 52 staff! We were thoroughly spoilt. Although we picked up additional passengers during the journey, the train was far from full. So I cannot say how they will cope when full - some 80 passengers, requiring two coaches. Best advice would be to go in October, when the train may well be less full and just after the end of the monsoons but before the start of high season in November.

Take a chance. You will enjoy it.

Reg

I travelled on the Golden Chariot beginning of February 2009 and it was the best trip I ever had! The train was absolutely clean (not a single stain on any linnen ...), the food was absolutely delicious (especially the deserts!)and the crew on the train was simply wonderful. We were 34 guests on the train (60 guests are the maximum possible). May-be due to fear of bombs (Mumbai...) and the economic crisis it was not sold out - for sure not because of a lack of quality on the train. The trip, the excursions and everything was perfectly organized.The only thing: you should refuse cabin D on the coaches, because the ac is very loud in there (I only mentioned the problem and the crew immediatly organized another cabin for me). Dont麓t miss an ayurvedic massage on the train - it was outstanding. The only critical point may-be the prizes of beer and other alcoholic drinks. They are really expensive (e.g. 300 Rupie for a beer). But, in any case: it was heaven !! Don麓t miss it, if you can afford it