Escorted Tour To India
Factfile
What to Expect
First time visitors to
India are usually struck by the chaotic and fast-paced nature of
daily life. Traffic, over-crowding, noise and colour are often a
traveller’s first impressions of India as they arrive in the busy
hubs of Delhi or Mumbai. With time, each of these fast-developing
and modern cities will share their unique culture. Leaving the
cities and heading out into rural area is likely to reveal an
entirely different side to India. In fact, a deeper exploration of
this incredibly diverse country can divulge an array of scenery
from stark desert vistas, majestic mountain ranges, verdant jungle
backwaters and endless beaches. It is this wild diversity in terms
of both geography, culture and history which draw visitors back to
India again and again.
The travel industry in India has been well established for
several decades now and India boasts some of the world’s finest
hotels, as well as offering some good value options. Off the beaten
track however, tourism is still in its infancy and a degree of
patience and flexibility will be required concerning accommodation,
service standards etc. Road travel is comfortable in the more
developed and popular areas but can be more basic in others. Flight
schedules are usually reliable but do encounter the same
operational problems that all airlines face and it is a possibility
that flights may cancel outside of our control. The same can be
said for India’s rail service, although for the most part it is
comfortable and reliable.
Visa Requirements & Departure Taxes
To enter India you will require a passport valid for at least 6
months beyond the date of entry with at least 2 blank pages. A visa
will need to be organised prior to your arrival. For this you will
require a completed application form with two passport photos) and
your passport. Allow 5-10 working days for processing. It is your
responsibility to ensure all visa and entry requirements are met
prior to arrival in India. All foreign tourists to India, except
nationals of Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, must possess a valid
visa. Visas are not issued on arrival. A tourist visa is valid for
3 to 6 months. Tourist visas allow multiple entry to simplify
visits to neighbouring countries. You will be required to fill in a
disembarkation card on your way to India at the immigration counter
at the entry airport.
Money
The currency in India is known as the Indian Rupee (INR). You are
advised to carry a mix of cash and travellers cheques (US$ &
GBP£ are preferable outside of the main cities). Traveller’s
cheques can be exchanged at most major hotels. It is a good idea to
keep the exchange receipts as you may need these if you want to
change the Indian currency back to your local currency at the end
of your trip. Credit cards can be used in many of the hotels and in
some shops and restaurants in major cities; however they are not
widely accepted in more rural areas. Visa and Mastercard are the
most commonly accepted cards. Cash advances can be obtained using
these cards at most bank branches using your passport. ATM access
is available in the bigger cities but you should not rely on
this.
Climate
In general the best time to visit India is during October to April,
when temperatures are less hot. Many National Parks close during
the summer and monsoon months, as do some hotels. India is a
country with diverse weather patterns which vary greatly from north
to south. As a general rule, India is at her best between the
months of October and April.
Health & Fitness
Travellers to India should take precautions as they would elsewhere
in Asia. Western medical facilities are available in the major
cities. In remote areas of India, medical facilities are basic.
Some of the diseases known to exist in India include hepatitis A
and B, typhoid, tuberculosis, Japanese encephalitis, diphtheria,
tetanus, polio, rabies and HIV/AIDS. We recommend you take adequate
preventative measures to minimise your risk of exposure to these
health risks. You should also consult your doctor with regard to
malaria risk. We recommend you consult with your local doctor or a
specialist travel medical centre for up to date health information
on vaccinations and medicine for your trip at least one month prior
to departure.
Food & Water
Indian food incorporates a number of styles and each region
specialises in its own cuisine. Breakfast is included each day on
our tours and is usually a mix of buffet and continental style. In
the major cities lunch should cost around INR 300-400 and dinner
INR 400-500 - depending on the restaurant. Meals can be
significantly cheaper than this, for example in more local
restaurants or small rural towns, or higher in some of the upmarket
and modern city restaurants. In rural restaurants, food hygiene is
not always up to Western standards and it may sometimes be
preferable to eat in your hotel. In some more remote areas, your
hotel may be the only option outside of very basic local tea houses
or dhabas. Your tour leader and/or local guide will be able to
offer the best advice on where to eat local specialities, to ensure
you get the most out of India’s delicious cuisine. Drinking local
tap water is not recommended. Bottled water is cheap and readily
available throughout India.
Safety & Security
India is generally a safe country, however petty street crime does
occur especially in some cities. In larger cities we recommend you
wear as little jewellery as possible and make sure your spending
money is kept in a secure place close to your body. We also
recommended you take taxis rather than walk at night. Taxis are
mostly metered and inexpensive, but make sure the driver activates
the meter and is clear on your destination - carry a hotel card so
your taxi driver knows where to take you. Only take essentials out
with you on the streets. Leave valuables (passport, credit cards,
excess cash, jewellery) in hotel safety deposit boxes where
available. It would also be advisable to make photocopies of your
passport, credit card numbers, and airline tickets, and keep a
record of your travellers cheques. These documents should be kept
in a safe place separate from the originals. When travelling on
trains, clients may wish to take extra precautions with their
finances by using money belts.
Hotels
In the cities, all hotels we use have private western style
bathrooms, hot water, air-conditioning, television, IDD telephones,
laundry and other facilities. Where possible we will endeavor at
passenger’s request to accommodate couples in double rooms. Please
note however that on occasions during your journey, this may not be
possible and in such instances a twin room will be supplied. Some
group tour itineraries involve overnight stops at more isolated
towns, where the accommodation is clean but facilities are more
simple.
In India, we stay in some charming and atmospheric heritage
hotels. However, please note that while all provide comfortable
accommodation, room sizes and layout do vary – this is part of
their charm and character. We also use tented accommodation in some
desert and national park areas, however this is not ‘camping’ in
the generally accepted Western sense! These tents are spacious,
have electricity, comfortable beds, and a fully equipped private
attached Western bathroom.
Transport
On the road we generally use late model air-conditioned buses with
either 27 or 35 seats - depending on the size of the group. Modern
sedan cars or traditional Ambassador cars and Tempo Travellers
(minivans) are used for transporting smaller numbers. Some tours
include domestic flights. India has a number of regional airlines
which operate relatively modern fleets, however schedules are
subject to change, flights can be cancelled and this can sometimes
result in alterations to your tour programme.
Tour Leaders/ Guides
Providing the group tour reaches a minimum of seven passengers a
Western tour leader will guide you on your entire journey through
India. All of our tour leaders have an in-depth knowledge of India
and an enthusiasm for the country that is contagious. Your tour
leader is your link with India and is there to ensure the smooth
running of the trip. Your tour leader will try – wherever practical
- to cater for your individual interests. Local English-speaking
guides also accompany you on your tour. They impart local
information about history, customs and culture that can only come
from living in the area. Generally, we have a different local guide
for each city or region we visit. Thus, local guides are usually
only with the group for a few days.
Shopping
Clothing, paintings, leather shoes, carpets, jewellery, textiles,
ceramics, marble, antiques and a huge selection of souvenirs are
favourite buys for visitors.
Language
There are 18 officially recognised Indian languages including Urdu,
Tamil, Punjabi and Bengali. Hindi is the most widely spoken and is
the official language of India. English is also widely spoken
however and is often the language of choice for Indian people
themselves, if they do not speak each other’s local languages.
Hindi does not use the Roman alphabet and thus most Westerners will
have great difficulty trying to understand written Hindi.
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Ref: Pappadoms & Palaces - TI0005
