Delhi by Locals

What Delhi by Locals does

Delhi by Locals is a New Delhi-based tour operator founded in 2016 by Pradeep Kumar, specializing in small-group guided experiences across Delhi and other parts of India. The company employs approximately six people drawn from the local community and serves predominantly international leisure travelers seeking neighborhood-level, community-rooted tours rather than conventional sightseeing. Its product portfolio spans roughly twelve tour formats — including heritage walks, food tours, bazaar tours, photography tours, and customized multi-day itineraries — with standard pricing of INR 2,500–3,500 per person and bespoke quotes for multi-day programs.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer model. Bookings are handled through the company's website (built on the third-party platform vacationlabs.com), WhatsApp, phone, and email, with no proprietary technology stack and no disclosed AI or advanced digital components. A defining feature of the operating model is its social-impact commitment: 50% of profits are pledged to the affiliated Learning by Locals NGO, which supports education in the Sanjay Colony neighborhood and doubles as both a brand differentiator and a long-running community anchor for several of the company's flagship tours.

The customer mix is predominantly long-tail international travelers acquired largely through TripAdvisor, where Delhi by Locals has held a Certificate of Excellence in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023, and 2024, with approximately 600 reviews averaging 99% "excellent." Past clients include US Senators, the US Ambassador to India, the Australian and New Zealand High Commissioners, and corporate groups such as Google, indicating episodic but meaningful exposure to high-profile and institutional demand. No external funding has been disclosed and the company appears to operate as a self-funded lifestyle-scale operator.

Name

Delhi by Locals

Legal name

Delhi by Locals

Website

https://delhibylocals.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Delhi by Locals is a New Delhi-based tour operator founded in 2016 that runs small-group guided heritage, food, and culture tours for international visitors and pledges 50% of profits to its affiliated education NGO.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tour Operator Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land (48711), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Other (487990)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Walking City Tours (Highlights & Orientation) (THAJAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Culinary Walking & Market Tours (THAJAGAA), Neighborhood & Local Life Tours (Communities & Hidden Gems) (THAJAAAJ), Night Tours (Illuminations, Ghost & Legends) (THAJAAAH)

Keywords

• Guided city tours
• Local experience tours
• Cultural heritage tours
• Culinary walking tours
• Multi-day India tours

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Guided Tours: The company offers various guided tour experiences across Delhi, Agra, Rajasthan, and the Golden Triangle. Tours range from 3-hour experiences to 12-day multi-city journeys. Revenue is generated through per-person tour fees for both private and group tours.
2. Tuktuk Tours: Three-wheeled tuktuk tours offering unique perspective of Delhi's streets with stops at markets and hidden gems. Priced at INR 2500 per person.
3. Food Tours: Culinary experiences through Old Delhi featuring street food tastings, market walks, and cultural immersion. Old Delhi Evening Food Tour priced at INR 3500 per person.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Delhi by Locals designs, sells, and delivers guided local tours across Delhi and northern India, ranging from 3-hour tuktuk and food walks to multi-day Golden Triangle and Rajasthan journeys. Tours are led by a team of young local guides and sold per person through direct online and messaging channels, with customisable itineraries tailored to individual visitor interests.

Product overview

Delhi by Locals is a tour operator offering guided tour experiences across Delhi and India. The company provides a portfolio of tour products including cultural heritage tours (Old Delhi Real City Experience, Old & New Delhi Sightseeing), culinary experiences (Old Delhi Food Tour, Old Delhi Brunch Tour), specialized experiences (Night Tour, Tuktuk Tour, Motor Bike/Scooter Tour), and social-impact tours (Delhi Slum & Sightseeing Tour, Real Life in a Delhi Slum). Extended regional tours include Agra Day/Overnight Tours, Golden Triangle Tours, and multi-day Rajasthan Tours. All tours are led by local guides, with 50% of profits supporting the Learning by Locals NGO that provides after-school education programs in Sanjay Colony.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Delhi Slum & Sightseeing Tour A combined tour experience that pairs exploration of Delhi's major attractions with a visit to a local slum, giving visitors a balanced view of iconic landmarks alongside authentic community insights. Intended for international travelers seeking both sightseeing and social-impact exposure.
• Old Delhi Evening Food Tour A culinary tour through the oldest parts of Old Delhi featuring iconic street food tastings such as chaat, chole bhature, and Indian sweets from local vendors, combined with visits to spiritual landmarks. Designed for food enthusiasts visiting Delhi.
• Night Tour of Delhi A 3-4 hour guided evening exploration of Delhi's nightlife, visiting Connaught Place, temples, and India Gate illuminated in national flag colors. Designed for travelers seeking an evening cultural experience in Delhi.
• Old & New Delhi Sightseeing Tour A 7-hour private tour covering Delhi's iconic landmarks including Spice Market, Gandhi Smriti, and Lodhi Dynasty monuments, customisable based on visitor interests. Designed for travelers wanting a comprehensive full-day Delhi overview.
• Old Delhi – The Real City Experience A heritage tour of Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad) including Spice Market exploration, rooftop views, rickshaw ride, Red Fort visit, Chandni Chowk market, and Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib. Designed for travelers seeking an immersive cultural walk through Old Delhi.
• Old Delhi Brunch Tour A culinary journey featuring traditional and modern Indian brunch dishes including masala-spiced omelettes, fresh parathas with chutneys, and regional Indian cuisine. Designed for food-focused travelers visiting Old Delhi.
• Real Life in a Delhi Slum An immersive 1 hour 45 minute tour of Sanjay Colony slum in South Delhi, offering insights into daily life, the clothing industry, and challenges around water, electricity, and hygiene. Designed for socially conscious travelers and small groups.
• Agra Tour A day trip or overnight tour to Agra featuring the Taj Mahal, a scenic village chai stop, local home lunch, and options to explore Agra Fort, markets, or Mother Teresa's Charity Home. Designed for travelers visiting the Taj Mahal from Delhi.
• Golden Triangle Tour A 5-6 day customisable cultural heritage tour covering Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur with options for yoga sessions, traditional dance classes, and local market tours. Designed for travelers wanting a multi-city North India itinerary.
• Rajasthan Tour An 8-12 day journey through Rajasthan covering Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaipur, and Agra with camel rides, jeep safaris, Lake Pichola cruise, and comfortable accommodations. Designed for travelers seeking an extended regional India experience.
• Motor Bike / Scooter Tour An early morning 3-hour motorbike or scooter tour from Rajiv Chowk metro station, navigating through bustling streets to iconic landmarks like Jama Masjid and Red Fort, with street food stops and panoramic rooftop views; helmets provided and not available for children under 14. Designed for active travelers wanting a high-energy Delhi experience.
• Tuktuk Tour A 3-4 hour three-wheeled tuktuk tour exploring Delhi Gate, Lodhi Temple, markets, and hidden gems with stops for street food and chai; maximum 30 people per tour. Designed for travelers wanting a unique street-level perspective of Delhi.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% excellent rating from nearly 600 TripAdvisor reviewers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Learning by Locals (NGO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelhi by Locals founder Pradeep Kumar established Learning by Locals in 2017 as a registered NGO in Sanjay Colony, a low-income community in New Delhi. The company commits 50% of profits to support this NGO which provides after-school programs attracting 1000+ students. The NGO offers classes in spoken/written English, computer science, music, theater and other disciplines. Many Delhi by Locals guides are students from this community. This partnership creates authentic community connections and provides educational opportunities while generating local employment.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TourRadar: Multi-day tour marketplace aggregating operators for India itineraries including the Golden Triangle and Rajasthan. Comparable channel for distributing Delhi by Locals' multi-day tours.
• Withlocals: Direct peer: a global marketplace of city-specific 'local host' guided experiences, food tours, and cultural walks in multiple cities. Closest conceptual analog to Delhi by Locals' model of pairing travelers with passionate local guides.
• Thrillophilia: India-based tours and activities marketplace that lists Delhi heritage, food, and Golden Triangle tours. Competes directly for the same inbound tourist traveler searching India experiences.

Broad incumbents

• GetYourGuide: Global tours and activities marketplace with strong India inventory (food tours, sightseeing). Competes head-on with Delhi by Locals for inbound tourist bookings across Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur.
• Viator: TripAdvisor-owned tours and activities marketplace. Competes for discovery of Delhi tours and aggregates thousands of operators including small local guides; mirrors Delhi by Locals' reliance on TripAdvisor for demand.
• G Adventures: Global small-group tour operator offering India multi-day tours led by local 'Chief Experience Officers'. Directly comparable on multi-day, locally-led India tour products.
• Intrepid Travel: Global small-group and 'Local Leader'-led tour operator with strong India itineraries. Comparable for its locally-led, experience-led positioning and multi-day Rajasthan/Golden Triangle offerings.
• Klook: Asia-headquartered activities and tours marketplace with significant India coverage for food, sightseeing, and multi-day tours. Overlaps with Delhi by Locals on inbound Asian and global tourist demand.
• Airbnb Experiences: Airbnb's hosted 'Experiences' product, which includes 'local host' walking, food, and cultural tours. Mirrors the same authentic-local positioning at much larger distribution scale.

Regional players

• Savaari: India-based car rental and tour operator serving Golden Triangle, Rajasthan, and other domestic circuits. Comparable on India multi-city itineraries and B2C tour bookings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/delhibylocals%20
• Facebookfacebook.com/delhibylocals
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/delhi-by-locals
• Instagraminstagram.com/delhibylocals

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Delhi by Locals