Alternative Tours
Alternative Tours
5
City ToursCultural ToursHistorical & Heritage ToursPrivate ToursDay Trips
Full view

About
Alternative tours india - private day tours organizes day tours in bhubaneswar to see ancient temples and conducts tours to chilika lake , Puri and Konark. The company is recognized by the ministry of Tourism , government of India and Odisha.
Bhubaneswar, India
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingSimilar Experiences
Travellers talk about

Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
130 reviews
Excellent
122
Very good
7
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
1
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.
Tourist24837576256
1 contribution
Nov 2023 • Business
Upon returning from a beautiful Orissa trip (there were 13 of us) I must say that the “Alternative Tour “punctually respected all agreements. All the staff who accompanied us were always extremely punctual for appointments, professional and precise regarding assistance to the group. Jagabandhu Pradhan known as Jaga was our guide for the 12 day tour of Orissa. Friendly, definitely prepared, always ready to satisfy the needs of the group. He knows well all the various villages and the ways to come into contact with the people. He speaks excellent English and provided comprehensive explanations in a simple but professional manner, answering all our questions, but he is also very helpful and patient. A particular mention to the excellent driver Santosh, tireless and extremely professional. Attentive and prudent driver with smooth, precise and safe driving even over long distances and he knows every road in the region perfectly.
Written 6 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
funtyone
London, UK293 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
I have just returned from a truly outstanding trip to visit the vanishing tribal peoples across Odisha and Chattisgargh with a couple of friends. We set a pretty strict set of conditions for where we wanted to go and what we wanted to see and I can honestly say that they delivered on every level and more.
Our guide Jaga was absolutely exceptional, quickly learning what interested us most adapting his style to suit. He took us to remote locations where the community knows him well from many years of visiting and where we felt welcomed and truly privileged to be there. He rang ahead to hotels to make sure that conditions were up to scratch; checked out kitchens before ordering and bent over backwards to deliver on each and every one of our requests throughout the trip. And through all this Bulu, our brilliant driver, was a smiling and charming presence, delivering us safely throughout the journey.
We stayed at hotels predominantly but one of the highlights was getting away from it all to stay at Alternative Tours own small eco camp set in the jungle and staffed by local people. Simple, set in nature and wonderfully relaxing it was a welcome escape from the noise and bustle of the towns.I simply cannot praise Ashish, his father who has been travelling these remote areas for years and all the team at Alternative Tours more highly. Their service was superb and what they delivered by way of a holiday was truly outstanding.
Thank you to you all for a feast of wonderful memories.
Our guide Jaga was absolutely exceptional, quickly learning what interested us most adapting his style to suit. He took us to remote locations where the community knows him well from many years of visiting and where we felt welcomed and truly privileged to be there. He rang ahead to hotels to make sure that conditions were up to scratch; checked out kitchens before ordering and bent over backwards to deliver on each and every one of our requests throughout the trip. And through all this Bulu, our brilliant driver, was a smiling and charming presence, delivering us safely throughout the journey.
We stayed at hotels predominantly but one of the highlights was getting away from it all to stay at Alternative Tours own small eco camp set in the jungle and staffed by local people. Simple, set in nature and wonderfully relaxing it was a welcome escape from the noise and bustle of the towns.I simply cannot praise Ashish, his father who has been travelling these remote areas for years and all the team at Alternative Tours more highly. Their service was superb and what they delivered by way of a holiday was truly outstanding.
Thank you to you all for a feast of wonderful memories.
Written 16 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MTDR
1 contribution
Apr 2023 • Solo
I can only recommend Alternative Tours as I had a wonderful private 3 day solo tour with an excellent and experienced guide, Mr Jagabandhu Pragan. As a trained official guide, he was eager to inform me on the history, mythology and social life of any place we visited, enriching the itinerary according to my interests. His schedule and timings were perfect and also the suggestions for places for lunch breaks. I am also grateful to Alternative Tours for having arranged a reliable and flexible private driver for the whole tour.
Written 1 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear madam
Thank you for choosing our agency in Odisha
we look forward to serve you agin
Written 18 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Carol T
5 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
It gives me great pleasure to add to the string of excellent reviews for the services of Ashish and his team at Alternative Tours in Bhubaneswar. Right from the start Ashish was immediately responsive, helpful and obliging, putting together a wonderful tour of Orissa and Chhattisgarh to see the tribal people. We were made to feel so welcome and it seemed that nothing was too much trouble for our enjoyment of our visit. Our experience of the many different tribes could not have been more informed or more successful, thanks to our expert guide, Jaga, who is a much respected friend to these people, so we could not have been in better hands.
A highlight of our travels was the pleasure of two nights spent at the company’s own Petta eco camp in its peaceful setting in the hills (see photos), a wonderful place to really relax and sleep soundlessly! We travelled by car in great comfort and trust in Bulu, truly the best driver I have ever had in India.
My thanks to Ashish, his father and his team for the joy of a fabulous experience.
A highlight of our travels was the pleasure of two nights spent at the company’s own Petta eco camp in its peaceful setting in the hills (see photos), a wonderful place to really relax and sleep soundlessly! We travelled by car in great comfort and trust in Bulu, truly the best driver I have ever had in India.
My thanks to Ashish, his father and his team for the joy of a fabulous experience.
Written 13 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emanuela A
Venice, Italy5 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
We arrived in Bhubaneswar with an idea, but without a specific plan.
Alternative Tour welcomed us kindly even though it was the eve of Diwali and promptly organized a tour of the tribal markets and a visit to some villages and, on our return, a tour of the most significant temples of Konark, Puri and Bhubaneswar. The driver, competent and very attentive to our needs, was also a guide for us.
We thank Ashish very much for his availability, professionalism, intelligence and courtesy. We definitely recommend Alternative Tour for any trip to the wonderful land of India.
Alternative Tour welcomed us kindly even though it was the eve of Diwali and promptly organized a tour of the tribal markets and a visit to some villages and, on our return, a tour of the most significant temples of Konark, Puri and Bhubaneswar. The driver, competent and very attentive to our needs, was also a guide for us.
We thank Ashish very much for his availability, professionalism, intelligence and courtesy. We definitely recommend Alternative Tour for any trip to the wonderful land of India.

Written 30 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Giovanni S
Milan, Italy14 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
We have just returned from the wonderful 12-day customized tour of Northern India very professionally organized by Alternative Tour. Special trip and of great emotional value for our family as it was our wish to retrace the places where our father spent as a prisoner of war six long years in the town of Yol, in the Kangra valley, off the best known tourist routes. This goal was achieved thanks to the support of our guide Sanjay, whose excellent Italian was a real asset.
In a second part of the trip we had the opportunity to visit Delhi, Amritsar, Dharamsala, Jaipur and Agra, again accompanied by Mr. Sanjay; and then Varanasi, followed by the excellent guide Rajesh, who was also very knowledgeable and with excellent Italian. Drivers always attentive and very punctual.
Many thanks to Alternative Tours (Mr. Srikant and Mr. Ashish), to the Delhi Office Manager Mr. Mamlesh. We will definitely refer to them to organize our next trips to India. Highly recommended.
INCREDIBLE INDIA!
In a second part of the trip we had the opportunity to visit Delhi, Amritsar, Dharamsala, Jaipur and Agra, again accompanied by Mr. Sanjay; and then Varanasi, followed by the excellent guide Rajesh, who was also very knowledgeable and with excellent Italian. Drivers always attentive and very punctual.
Many thanks to Alternative Tours (Mr. Srikant and Mr. Ashish), to the Delhi Office Manager Mr. Mamlesh. We will definitely refer to them to organize our next trips to India. Highly recommended.
INCREDIBLE INDIA!
Written 22 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Natasha Tereshchenko
2 contributions
Nov 2021
I contacted Ashish and Srikant on Friday and by Sunday I was greeted at the airport as the first foreign tourist in Odisha with Alternative Tours after Covid. Ashish and Srikant both did an incredible job in challenging circumstances.
The organisation and running of this solo tour were perfect from the start to the very end. My guide, Jaga, was extremely knowledgeable, hospitable, and was going out of his way to make this trip a memorable one, adjusting the itinerary to my liking. Can't recommend him highly enough! The driver, Naba, was amazing and kept us safe and the vehicle clean every day. He even organised the wrapping of a broom I bought on the way.
Covid regulations were followed throughout and I felt in safe hands.
I highly recommend Alternative Tours for trips to lesser known sites of Odisha and beyond, as well as for a less touristy and more community-oriented approach.
As an anthropologist, I was happy to see the relation of the company to the local communities and their efforts to support them, without any pressure whatsoever to buy anything.
Will definitely travel again with Alternative Tours!
The organisation and running of this solo tour were perfect from the start to the very end. My guide, Jaga, was extremely knowledgeable, hospitable, and was going out of his way to make this trip a memorable one, adjusting the itinerary to my liking. Can't recommend him highly enough! The driver, Naba, was amazing and kept us safe and the vehicle clean every day. He even organised the wrapping of a broom I bought on the way.
Covid regulations were followed throughout and I felt in safe hands.
I highly recommend Alternative Tours for trips to lesser known sites of Odisha and beyond, as well as for a less touristy and more community-oriented approach.
As an anthropologist, I was happy to see the relation of the company to the local communities and their efforts to support them, without any pressure whatsoever to buy anything.
Will definitely travel again with Alternative Tours!
Written 19 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cristina b
8 contributions
Apr 2023 • Friends
Fantastic trip and experience, I'm very happy of the tour and the guide very prepared. I recommend Alternative tours, a qualified travel agency that organises experiences always interesting with populations, during festivals, everywhere in India. I'm very satisfied. Thank you
Written 3 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Cristina
We look forward to see you again in India
warm regards
Written 18 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Astrom
Florence, Italy6 contributions
Nov 2022
Just back from my trip to Nagaland, Assam and Arunashal Pradesh.I can only but reconfirm full satisfaction of their perfect organization, as already experienced in 2017 on a Odisha trip. Punctuality, tour itinerary, lodging fully matching program. proposed. We highly recommend Alternative Tours services, on top they were able to offer us an Italian speaking guide, very nice and competent person. thank you Alternative Tours,hope to come back soon to India
Written 18 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katie G
London, UK18 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
We had the most fantastic trip to Odisha and Chhattisgarh to see tribal people with Alternative Tours. Everything was beautifully organised by Ashish. Nothing was too much trouble for him - from sourcing obscure tribal paintings and jars of mango chutney to power banks and cans of Schweppes tonic. Ashish also provided us with the best guide, Jaga, and an exceptional and safe driver, Bulu. Both were excellent company. Jaga was extremely knowledgable and was brilliant at taking us to remote villages and talking to the people there, who knew him well, which enabled us to interact with those we met on a natural and relaxed basis. So we saw a wonderful variety of tribal communities, their beautiful clothing and textiles and learned a lot about their way of living. Jaga was fantastic at checking our hotels and their kitchens on arrival, and finding extremely good dhabas for our lunch stops. Not only that, he was great company with an excellent sense of humour so our days in the car on our very long road trip were always interesting and enormous fun. The hotels were pretty good, considering we were off the beaten track, but we particularly enjoyed staying at Alternative Tours own eco camp, Petta, run by Ashish's charming father, up in the hills and set in a beautiful forest. The staff there were local people and they concocted delicious breakfasts and dinners for us. It was heaven being surrounded by the sounds of the forest, at dawn and dusk, and we could have stayed there for many more days. I cannot thank Ashish enough for our fabulous trip, and Jaga and Bulu for guiding us along the way. We really were in the best hands and I cannot recommend Alternative Tours more highly.
Written 18 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ciao, scusa , ho letto la tua recensione positiva sull'Alternativa Tours del viaggio che hai fatto in Nagaland ; mi piacerebbe farlo con un gruppo di amici a fine anno . quanti giorni? non avresti un itinerario di massima da inviarmi ? Grazie mille
Written 12 April 2023
Ho fatto l’odisha con quella agenzia. Se vuoi ho l’itinerario di quel tour
Written 13 April 2023
Do you arrange package for Satkosia gorge in January for 3 days from Cuttack??
Written 1 November 2017
Planning a trip to Orissa. We hv 8 days on hand. So would appreciate if u cld make an itenerry for us of the important tourist attractions.We are interested for a visit to the tribal areas as well. We are 4 people traveling.
Thank you
Written 6 September 2017
Hi sir
You can follow the itinerary as given below
Day 1 : Arrival in Bhubaneswar - Sightseeing of ancient temples / khandagiri and udayagiri caves - state tribal museum. Overnight at Bhubaneswar
Day 2 : Drive to Puri - visit dhauli peace pagoda - drive to sun temple at konark -
Day 3 : Drive to Gopalpur on sea - boat ride at chilika lake ( mangalajodi ) to see migratory birds
Day 4 : Must be Tuesday : Drive to rayagada - visit Jirang tibetan monastery
Day 5 : Must be Wednesday :Drive to Chatikona weekly market - Drive to Jeypore
Day 6 : Thursday : Excursion to Onkudelli weekly market - visit pottery maker village and other tribal villages
Day 7 : Friday : Drive to kunduli weekly market - further drive to vizag
Day 8 : departure
For costs please mail us
Written 7 September 2017
Am planning a trip to Odisha, from the 28th August to the 1st Sept 2017. Would like to get suggestions of an itinerary and a rough estimate cost of the tour for the 3N 4D tour of Odisha. Will be travelling in a family of three.
Thanks
Written 25 March 2017
Dear madam ,
You can do the following itinerary
Day 1 : arrival in bhubaneswar - half day sight seeing of jain caves and state tribal museum
Day 2 : Drive to sun temple at konark - enroute pipli famous for applique work - evening free at beach
Day 3 : morning visit jaggarnath temple ( non hindus not allowed ) drive back to bhubaneswar - visit ancient temples of lingaraj , mukteshwar , parshurameswar , rajarani etc.
Day 4 departure
Regarding price : please let us know the category of hotels you need and requirement of a small sedan car or a bigger toyota muv and drop us an email
Written 26 March 2017
Hi,
Can you provide me contact no./website of car rental at Bhubaneswar. I need to book a car that will pick us (5 pax) up from Bhubaneswar railway station, via Konarak temple, and drop us at Puri.
Written 15 November 2015
Showing results 1-5 of 5
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.