help me to decide please!!

[neverlikeddisco]

i have an escorted tour of India booked for January- was v happy when i booked but reading more about the country and the poverty and way women etc are treated i was having doubts.
then the travel agent called to say to say they've overbooked and can we change dates if we can't they'll refund the deposit and cancel.
so i have an option to cancel.
thing is i want to go somewhere in january or february that is warm and interesting so do i stick with it or look at other options i have until Monday to decide( i know it's a very nice problem to have!)

Did you not know about India before you booked?

Have you considered Sri Lanka? When I was a travel agent I got mixed reviews about India but everyone always had a good experience in Sri Lanka. I think in terms of culture and nature it has a similar offering - lots a of great tours too (intrepid, gadventures, on the go)!

I have travelled all over India, and never had a problem. But if you leave these shores and go anywhere you really need to travel without preconceptions or blinkers. Assuming you are in the UK or somewhere in the West, there is extreme poverty, extreme misogyny, and more.... you may be lucky and not see it, but it's there. India is different. There's good and bad in that. But they were building great civilisations when we were in mud huts. There are reasons for everything. Approach with an open but enquiring mind and you'll love it. And don't forget that some of what you'll see is down to us too- again, both good and bad.

And believe me, your tour group isn't going to stay you around a slum or lose you in the bazaar.... you'll be fine.

Not everyone finds Sri Lanka a great place to be....
https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/sri-lanka/

If the OP wants to avoid anything uncomfortable, they won't be going anywhere!

Countries want to promote tourism and the fun you can have visiting. There's always another side. Turkey is a hugely popular destination for Europeans - their human and women's rights record is appalling!

Of course totally agree I personally love going to places that get me out of my comfort zone but then again am anthropologist returning from 3 months of living in a tent in rural mozambique. I was just speaking from my experience of being
a travel agent and the feedback I’ve had from clients!

thankyou yes i did look and had always thought i'd love to go , i've worked in a very diverse part of east london and have met such wonderful people from india that also influenced me.
it looks like a great tour .
Thankyou for your help