About Us

India for Beginners custom tours are especially designed for women and first time visitors to India. We want to show you the India we love – with more magic and less madness!

We create custom tours tailored to your dates, interests, preferences, and budget. We offer a premium service with hand-picked hotels, drivers, and guides to ensure you avoid the potential challenges of travel in India, and have a smooth, hassle-free trip. We will pick you up at the airport, help you get a local SIM card, and make sure we are available 24/7 via telephone/WhatsApp in case of any problem during your trip. Ensuring women travellers in India are safe and comfortable is our number one goal.

India for Beginners is a partnership between Mariellen Ward, an India-based traveller who knows what it’s like to travel as a foreign woman in India, and a local, Delhi-based travel company with many years of knowledge and experience, plus a nation-wide network of contacts. Our clients get the best of both worlds — the foreigner perspective and local expertise.

We also partner with very special, hand-picked companies run by thoughtful, dedicated people who support responsible tourism, sustainability, local communities, and women empowerment.

India for Beginners is owned and managed by BREATHEDREAMGO INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, incorporated on July 28, 2020 by Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India.

Meet our amazing team.

We’re dedicated to making sure that your trip to India is as smooth and hassle free as humanly possible.

Mariellen

Dreamer in Chief

Mariellen is a Canadian travel journalist who has spent more than 7 of the last 17 years travelling and living in India. Since 2009, she has published the award-winning India focused travel site and blog Breathedreamgo. She has traveled by train, bike, camel, taxi, foot, and autorickshaw across the length and breadth of India, and has loved (almost) every adventurous minute. Mariellen trained as a naturalist at Satpura Tiger Reserve in 2020. You can read more about Mariellen here.

Anjani Nandan

Travel Genie

Anjani grew up with stories about mystical India and was taken on long trips across the country by train and car. His passion was born. He did a Masters in Heritage Management, and studied tourism at university in Britain. With more than 8 years of professional experience, he focuses on creating dream trips for travelers that showcase the rich heritage of India — and give them a memorable journey and authentic cultural experiences.

Ujjwal Mukherjee

Head Wrangler

Ujjwal was born and brought up in Kolkata (Calcutta) and was always bewitched by the lushness and beauty of his home state, West Bengal. While at university, he started back-packing across India and enjoyed discovering places that were beyond the usual monuments and tourist attractions. With 18 years of professional experience, he is an expert at successfully operationalizing diverse destination products. Ujjwal is passion about giving customers dedicated support.

Gaurav Bhan Bhatnagar

Responsible Travel

Gaurav was born in Delhi, and started his career with a corporate job. Soon enough, he realized his calling for sustainability after travelling extensively in rural India. He now has more than 10 years of professional experience in designing and operating responsible tours that empowers local communities by incorporating their heritage into mainstream tourism.

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 45 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
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   Rachel Kelly 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Given it was our first time to India, with a short timeline, we wanted an experience that gave a taste into Indian culture, while still feeling safe as two women travelling together. The team was responsive, innovative with our schedule (and re-scheduling), and gave us the assurance and details needed to make our trip one of a lifetime! I would definitely recommend India for Beginners to anyone looking for a short or long trip to India. Our time was incredible!
  
 
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   CL Designs 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Mariellen, Ujjwal and the whole team were really responsive and supportive throughout the entire process. In just a short time, we got to experience so many different sides of India — from the vibrant colours to the delicious food and rich culture. It truly felt like a little glimpse into the heart of the country. Can’t wait to come back and explore even more!
  
 
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   Maxine Louie 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We were in New Delhi Agra Jaipur with India for Beginners, our very first custom tour.  We were taken care of so nicely from pick up at the airport to return 5 days later.  Our accommodations were budget but all wonderful.  The driver was exceptional,  despite the very scary driving of India.  all our guides were excellent in taking care of us and educating us.  Mariellen had excellent information for us to study before coming,  and she was so helpful in supporting us for doing the visa, which was was quite technical for me.
  
 
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   Abigail Myers 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We loved our trip to India with India For Beginners! We took our daughter to celebrate her 16th birthday and could not have asked for a better trip. Mariellen and her team worked with us from the very beginning to help plan the perfect itinerary that allowed us to see everything we wanted and more. This was our first trip to India and while we had initially thought about trying to figure it out on our own, we eventually decided to work with India for Beginners and after one day in India we were so glad we did. The trip was so much more enjoyable knowing that all our travel arrangements were set and taken care of for us and we could spend all of our energy taking in the sights and sounds of India. The India for Beginners team gave us peace of mind knowing that they were only a text message away to assist us or adjust our itinerary when needed. They also set us up with an excellent driver who became a dear friend for life. Our tour guides were all very kind and knowledgeable and were open to answering any questions that we had about life in India.
  
 
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   Catherine Hamlin 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. India for Beginners provided a great service to me for my first trip to India. While I have travelled alone before, it has been decades since my last solo trip. And, as a woman, I was admittedly nervous. From beginning : being picked up at the airport by the driver and local tour manager who were waiting for me holding a sign with my name, to middle : being accompanied onto my train and helped to find the correct seat, to the end : being dropped off at the airport late at night for an early morning departure; I received the help and support I needed. This helped reassure my loved ones at home that I really was OK travelling internationally by myself. I was well-prepared for the trip by reading blog posts on India for Beginners website and having a pre-departure Zoom consult with Mariellen herself. When problems did arise during the trip, I had multiple support people available to message who responded in a timely manner and supported me in addressing issues that cropped up. One example was a hotel that was disappointing. I was able to switch to a better hotel on short notice with the help of India for Beginners. All the individuals who I interacted with were friendly and helpful at all stages of my trip - from help creating my itinerary, to drivers and guides who helped me with issues that arose such as needing cash from an ATM or needing to add data to my Indian phone plan. I would also like to comment on the uniqueness of my itinerary. I started off with a stay at an eco resort that I heard Mariellen describe on a podcast about Kerala India. It was this podcast that prompted me to contact India for Beginners. I also spent several days near Periyar Tiger Preserve and enjoyed local activities including a 1/2 day trek through the Preserve. I then travelled by train for 11 hours from the India Ocean coast to the Bay of Bengal coast. With a base in Chennai, I took a side trip to Nellore where I was able to visit a Catholic charity through which I have been sponsoring a local child. It was an amazing trip from beginning to end! I can’t emphasize enough how happy I am with the service I received from India for Beginners. India exceeded my expectations. When, not if, I return; I will be using India for Beginners again.
  
 
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   Dawn Elliott 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I was travelling to India from New Zealand to join a tour but wanted to spend a couple of days getting over jet lag before I joined up with the group.  I had heard about India for Beginners from a Facebook group and contacted them to see if it was possible for them to look after me for just a couple of days when I arrived in India.  This was absolutely no problem and communication was excellent from my very first enquiry email to being dropped off to join my tour group.  In fact, even after that I was contacted to make sure all was well. India for Beginners organized my pick up from Delhi Airport and I was able to contact them at any time until I was dropped off to meet my group.  It meant I could look forward to India as I felt completely reassured that I would be well looked after from the moment I walked out of the airport (which was around 1.30am)!  My driver was easy to find and I had a smooth drop off to the lovely Homestay organised by India for Beginners. The Homestay was in a lovely part of Delhi and run by a lovely family.  I would happily have stayed there for a whole week!  The included breakfast was amazing and catering to my gluten free requirements was no problem at all. I had a guide and driver collect me for a few hours for each day which was great.  My tour included a day in Delhi so I let India for Beginners know what my group tour included and they tailored the activities I did with the guide around that.  I also had spare time to wander around the neighbour and sampled local coffee shops. I also visited a local spa recommended by the homestay owners. I absolutely loved India and would definitely like to return and would absolutely not hesitate to contact India for Beginners again.
  
 
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   Noortje van Mierlo 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Mariellen en haar team hebben ons heel goed geholpen. Ze zijn erg behulpzaam en denken goed mee met alle wensen. De communicatie loopt super! Ga je voor het eerst naar India en vind je het fijn om hulp te krijgen, dan raad ik Indiaforbeginners aan!
  
 
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   kathryn kutzer 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had the most wonderful trip to India. The team at IndiaforBeginners.com were just amazing - they were patient and responsive to all of our questions and concerns before we left, and it was wonderful to have a dedicated team to answer any questions that arose while we were in India. We spent 18 days in India, traveling from Delhi, Agra, Ranthambore for a safari (and yes, we got close to a huge tiger!), then Jaipur and down to Kerala, where we did a boat safari, spent a night on a houseboat, visited a spice plantation and spent a couple of days at a resort. At every location we were met by great drivers and amazing tour guides. We visited temples, forts, and palaces and learned so much about the history and culture of India! I wholeheartedly recommend this company for first timers and experienced travellers.
  
 
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   Florence Charau 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I travelled with my daughter in India with India for Beginners late February and early March 2025. It was a custom two-week tour based on what we wanted to see and experience in North India. The organisation of the trip by India for Beginners was really perfect. We mainly travelled by train and there was always a driver and another person waiting for us on the platform or dropping us off at the station and sometimes staying with us until our train arrives. On top of this a tour manager was always available on WhatsApp. All this allowed us to travel very safely with peace of mind without worrying about transfers from one place to another. This organisation saved us a lot of time too. We loved the accommodations chosen by India for Beginners, particularly the ashram and the lovely homestays where the meals were delicious. We could experience the life in a family in India and learn about the culture, customs and traditions. The people we met were extremely kind and we always felt very welcome. The meetings with the local guides were well organised too. It was extremely interesting to visit places and speak with them. They were very skilled and adapted to what we wanted to see and experience. We learned a lot from them. We are very grateful that we have been able to experience India that way. A big thank you to the team of India for Beginners!
  
 
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   Linda Tippett 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I highly recommend India for Beginners. I was in India in December 2024. I am an experienced traveler, however because I am 78, my large family was very concerned that I would be traveling solo for 10 days. Mariellen, Anjani and Ujjwal, who are so knowledgeable, professional, warm and caring provided me with everything I needed for an amazing tour. I provided information of where I wanted to visit. I received a detailed itinerary with arrangements such as drivers, lodgings and guides. I wanted a grand adventure and with the help of India for Beginners, I was able to focus on my adventure and not worry about the details.