Travel tips

There are no compulsory vaccinations for traveling to India, although it is strongly recommended that you protect yourself during traveling against the following: Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Cholera and Malaria. We advise you to consult your doctor, allowing at least 4 weeks before the date of travel for all medical advice. Some areas including Bhutan and Nepal may be at high altitudes so please check with our staff before confirming your trip. An inoculation against ‘Yellow Fever’ is required if you have visited any infected areas within 5 days prior to your arrival in India.

We strongly recommend our travellers to carry mosquito repellent lotions / sprays / cream during your trip.

All travellers must have a Passport, which is valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned return date of tour/trip. Obtaining a passport may take up to 30 days’ time, therefore travellers are advised to obtain passports well in time for their travel, bearing in mind additional time may be needed to obtain a visa.

Visa is required in advance of travel for entry into India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. Visas for travel to The Maldives are received upon arrival. Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for India & Sri Lanka can be obtained from your country and for other countries, Visa needs to be applied in advance. Please consult us for further details and advise.

India is a vast country with complex seasonal and geographical variations in climate. Generally, the best time to spend your vacation in India is during the months of October through to April. The Monsoon season starts in mid-May and continues through to the end of August. Most of the game sanctuaries of India are closed during the Monsoon period.  Please consultants us for more detailed weather information for the particular area you will be visiting.

If you want to keep yourself cool in the Indian sun, a good supply of cotton clothing is essential along with a comfortable pair of open sandals. An effective pair of sunglasses and a wide brimmed hat will protect you against the strong rays, and it is advisable to use a high factor sun cream. In the cooler months, you will require some warm clothes such as light sweaters, jackets or shawls for the evenings. If your tour takes you to the mountain regions of India, then you will require warmer clothes. As it can sometimes warm up during the days, layers are always a good option along with comfortable walking shoes.

For visits to the Game Parks, we recommend our travellers to wear light woollens and a windcheater as the early morning excursions can be quite chilly, with heavier clothing during the winter months of November to February. Khakis, browns or olive greens are best for blending into the environment. When visiting places of worship and mausoleums there are certain Indian religious customs to be observed. As a token of respect, it is customary to remove your footwear before entering all temples (a pair of light socks is useful if you prefer not to go barefoot), and dress should be fairly conservative, i.e., shorts are not really acceptable (wear dresses that cover shoulders and knees). In Jain and Hindu temples leather goods such as belts, shoes and bags will not be permitted.

Indian cities are bustling and exciting and most areas are quite safe. There is little danger of being mugged on the streets here, but don’t be offended if the locals stare at you – the Indians are friendly and hospitable people and just curious. Almost all city-dwellers speak and understand English, and you will find all the street and shop signs in English as well. Should you get lost, the local people are so obliging that often you’ll find they will not only give you directions, but walk you all the way to your destination!

India is a kaleidoscope of colours just waiting to be photographed, so wherever you travel be sure to carry your camera.

With the exception of inside the Taj Mahal, the airports, restricted areas or where ‘prohibitory boards are displayed, you may photograph to your heart’s content although many popular sites will levy an additional charge for the use of your camera, or video camera which may cost a little more.

The majority of hired cars are chauffeur-driven in India. Hiring a taxi is not a problem and they are quite reliable. To avoid any confusion over cost, settle the fare before you set off.

This is entirely at your discretion. However, the following may be helpful. If any service charges are not included in the bill, 10% is usually the accepted amount. Hotel and railway porters will expect about 50 rupees for one piece of luggage and about 300-400 rupees for a trolley full. At the end of your stay if you wish to tip your sightseeing guide and driver, an acceptable amount for the guide and driver would be 500-1000 rupees per day.

There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency or travellers cheques you may bring into India, provided a declaration is made in the currency declaration form given to arriving passengers. However, cash, bank notes and travellers’ cheques up to US $10,000 or equivalent need not be declared at the time of entry. ATMs are available in all major cities and towns and most of the shopping establishments, hotels and restaurants accept both debit and credit cards.  For safely and convenience, we would advise that you pay by using debit or credit cards or withdraw required amount of money from the ATMs. 

The units of Indian currency are the rupee and the paise. There are 100 paise in the rupee. Paper money comes in the denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 2000 rupees and coins are available in 1, 2, 5, 10 & 20.