Mumbai Magic

Mumbai Magic is a Mumbai-based tour operator established in 2006, and it was one of the first companies to offer walks and in-depth guided tours of the city. It is approved by the Ministry of Tourism of the Government of India, it has received Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice awards every year since 2012, and it is listed in guidebooks including Frommer's and Lonely Planet. Its office is in Sion East, in central Mumbai.

The company's tours are designed to go beyond a checklist of monuments and explain how the city lives and works. One of its experiences is built around the Mumbai local, the suburban train network, inviting visitors to experience the city as residents do. Alongside city walks and tours, Mumbai Magic plans custom trips around Maharashtra, covering the state's coastline, historical sites, mountain ranges and cities, as well as multi-city itineraries across India that combine hotels, transport and guided tours.

This makes Mumbai Magic a useful choice if you want one company to arrange both your days in Mumbai and onward travel. Tell the team about your interests, how much walking you are comfortable with and how much time you have, and they can suggest a programme. Private tours suit families and small groups who want to set their own pace, and they are a good option for first-time visitors who find the city's scale and traffic daunting.

The fastest way to book is by WhatsApp on the company's number, which is staffed from 08:00 to 21:00 India time; you can also call or email. Booking ahead is wise in the cooler months from October to March, when demand for guided tours is highest. Confirm meeting points, inclusions and the guide's language when you book, and ask about the suitability of particular routes if anyone in your group has limited mobility.

Mumbai Magic's tours can be combined with self-guided sightseeing. A guided introduction early in your stay makes it easier to explore Colaba, the Fort, Kala Ghoda and Marine Drive on your own afterwards, and it is worth asking the team whether they can help with day trips such as the Elephanta Caves or the Kanheri Caves in Sanjay Gandhi National Park.