VISAS
All non-residents require visas for India, which must be obtained prior to departure.
Passports MUST be valid for at least six months from the guest’s return date. We recommend a validity of nine months to prevent any problems in this regard. There must be at least three blank VISA pages in the passport (not endorsement pages). Guests have been denied boarding due to not having sufficient visa pages in their passports.
Please note that Go India Experiences does not process VISA’s. It is the travelling client’s responsibility to apply for visas.
HEALTH & VACCINATIONS
Visitors are advised to consult their personal physician, as to what vaccinations are necessary before travelling.
The yellow fever injection is not necessary to get into India and is not a recommendation by travel clinics.
Travel clinics usually recommend: Hepatitis A, Diphtheria, Typhoid, and boosters for Tetanus & Polio.
If you are entering a malaria area, please consult your doctor or local pharmacist for medical requirements.
INSURANCE
It is imperative and strongly recommended that guests take out comprehensive travel insurance.
Covering for personal effects, personal accident, medical & emergency travel expenses, cancellation & curtailment.
Cancellation insurance must be taken within 30 days of payment.
Most insurance offered by credit cards does not provide sufficient cover. Please check before you travel that you are fully covered.
AIRPORTS
Domestic flights are sometimes delayed and except Air India all flights have free check in baggage restriction to 15kg for Economy class and between 25kg and 30kg for Business class. Most airlines charge approx. INR 450 per kg overweight.
Check in is a minimum of 1.5 hour before domestic flights and a minimum of 3 hours before international flights.
Public bathrooms are not always sanitary, so keep tissues / wet wipes handy.
COMMUNICATION: PHONE & EMAIL
Mobile network coverage throughout India is good and you will be able to use your mobile phone in some rural areas, if you have international roaming.
Emails and internet access are available in most hotels, but like phone calls, they can be very expensive.
Getting Drones or Satellite phones into India is forbidden by law.
FOOD: EATING & DRINKING
Drink only bottled water (from sealed bottles).
Avoid open salads, uncooked vegetables & fruit (unless you peel it yourself: orange, banana…).
Sometimes ice can be made from tap water, so avoid where possible, or ask first.
A sweet & salty fresh lime soda is a good drink for dehydration and stomach problems.
Alcohol is expensive because of government tax.
Indian food is diverse, complex, and exciting. In most restaurants, you can request less spice.
Wash your hands before and after eating.
Avoid roadside / street food if you have a sensitive stomach.
If you do get sick, we recommend taking a prescribed antibiotic from your doctor. Drink plenty of fluids and electrolyte salts.
HAWKERS & BEGGARS:
The way to deal with hawkers in India is to simply ignore them – try to look occupied with something else. If that does not work, a more firm approach – ‘No thank you’ – should do.
Regarding beggars, it may take time to adjust, but generally speaking the best method for donating money is to do it via charities. Please contact Go India Experiences if you would like to donate to a reputable charity.
School children can be cute as well as annoying. They will ask for sweets or pens or ‘one rupee’ – a laugh and a firm but-gentle ‘No’ will do. They do not expect you to give anything as they are generally having some fun.
Street kids are another matter – donating to charities is the only way to help them. Please contact Go India Experiences if you would like to donate to a reputable charity.
DRIVING
Indian traffic can be chaotic, and the road conditions are not always good, but be assured that you will be in excellent hands.
Drivers use their horn a lot. If it bothers you, you can ask them to do it less, but please note, this is part of the communication on the roads in India.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Please be respectful when taking photos and ask permission of people before taking their picture. Photography in religious institutions is generally not permitted.
Outdoor photography is usually permitted, but please check with your guide before taking any photographs.
At most major monuments, you have to pay a camera fee of between 50 and 200 rupees.
SAFETY
When you travel with Go India Experiences, you will be accompanied by your driver, guide or city representative at most times.
Even though India is generally a safe place, it is always wise to take precautions and be alert when travelling. Don’t walk on your own at night and use ATMs in populated well-lit areas.
All hotel rooms have secure locks and safes.
For air and train travel, ensure your bag is securely locked.
A useful travel tip is to carry a photocopy of your documentation: passport, visa and tickets and the serial numbers of your Traveller’s Cheques, in a separate bag
When in crowded bazaars, at railway stations and at major tourist sights, be aware of you are your possessions, particularly wallets, handbags, and cameras.
LOCAL TIME:
India is 12 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Pacific Time.
MEDICAL
We remind travellers who have any personal medical issues to pack the required medication.
Although most hotels are equipped with a First Aid kit and have medical staff on call, we suggest that you bring your personal articles.
WEATHER
There are great contrasts of climate within India, therefore the best time to travel to India depends greatly on the destinations to be visited and the climate experienced there.
Winter: Mid-October to February. Most of India (except for the mountains which are cold) are beautiful during the winter season. In Northern India it will be warm in the day and cooler at night. In Southern India, the weather will be warmer in the evening but pleasant (balmy).
Summer: March to Mid-October. Summer is the perfect time for visiting the cool mountains and for seeing wildlife & spotting tigers.
Monsoon season: June - September. Rajasthan is beautiful during the Monsoon season, Ladakh is also a great destination for the Monsoons.
Apart from the weather, the timing of certain festivals or special events may also influence when you wish to visit.
MONEY
The Indian Rupee cannot always be purchased outside India.
Traveller’s cheques in US dollars or sterling are accepted and safer than carrying cash. You can exchange cash and travellers’ cheques at the airport, banks and at some of the larger hotels.
Bank hours are MON-FRI: 10:00 - 14:00 / SAT: 10:00 -12:00
Credit cards are widely accepted in major cities.
ATM machines can also be found in most places, including some small towns.
It is good to have Indian Rupees in cash on you for tipping and cash only shop situations.
Please ensure your card is valid during your period of travel and it is advisable to notify your card provider you are going to be out of the country to ensure they do not cancel your card
CULTURE
India is unlike anywhere else in the world and can be overwhelming at first. The people are warm and hospitable. They are involved and curious. You might feel like you are being stared at, to minimize this, please respect local sensibilities. (You can politely ask for privacy if you feel crowded.)
In Indian culture, it can be considered rude not to accept gifts. If you are a male being introduced to a woman don’t initiate a handshake, rather wait to see if she extends her hand.
Kissing on the cheek to greet a woman is not practiced all over India and is best avoided.
Avoid public displays of affection (hugging & kissing etc.) however it is common to see men showing brotherly affection on the roads and in villages.
If you are invited to a local home for dinner, take flowers or chocolates.
Shoes are often left at the front door in homes and putting your feet on furniture is considered bad manners.
CLOTHING
Avoid white clothes because of dust and dirt.
Cover your head before entering Sikh temples.
Shoes are not allowed inside Muslim, Sikh, Hindu or Jain places of worship.
In the larger cities and areas where there are lots of tourists (Goa, Kerala, Agra), you can generally dress less conservatively. For women, baring your shoulders and knees will be OK, but not much more than that. Bathing suits are OK at the beach.
In small villages, holy sites and any destination that sees even moderate tourism, dress conservatively. Don’t wear shorts or a short skirt. Keep your shoulders and knees covered.
Wear comfortable walking shoes which can be easily taken on and off for sightseeing (some temples etc. require the removal of shoes). Take an extra pair of socks. • When going out at night, take something warm as it gets cold at night in some areas.
TIPPING: MAIN TOUR 01-11 NOV
(Already included in the program)
Tips to drivers, assistants, guides, porterage at the airports & hotels are already included for the MAIN TOUR from 01-11 Nov.
Personal tipping is not included and is at your discretion.
TIPPING: GUIDELINES- PRE & POST TOUR
Tipping is part of the culture in India. If you would prefer not to have to take part in it, we recommend including gratuities in your trip so that it will be handled on your behalf, please contact Go India Experiences to arrange.
It is a good idea to always have small denomination notes within easy reach, separate from your main wallet.
Most 5-star hotels have a policy to leave a tip at the end of your trip for all of the staff, this is recommended.
HOTEL STAFF: Rs200 - Rs500 per guest, per day.
BUSBOY / PORTER: Rs50 per bag.
PERSONAL DRIVER: Rs400 - Rs550 per day.
PERSONAL GUIDE (full day): Rs750 - Rs1000.
ESCORT: Rs1000 – Rs 2000 per day.
RESTAURANTS: 10% if not already included.
You can go above or below these guidelines, depending on your experience. Tipping is always at your discretion.
BARGAINING
Bargaining depends a lot on the shop and the vendor.
Vendors in India are very used to being asked for a discount and being bargained with - so don’t be shy!
The mentality can be that it is the buyer’s fault if they pay more than the item is worth.
You can push your luck. Some travellers offer a very low counteroffer and see what happens.
Don’t act too keen on anything and don’t feel pressured to buy anything even if they have put time and energy into you. Rather say: Thanks, but the price isn’t good enough and you can even pretend to leave - this often works with bringing the price down.
It’s good to try and balance what the item is worth and not cheat the vendor either. Try not to be too hardcore with people who look poor or the item is very cheap in your own currency.
Bargaining can be fun and often the vendors are game to take part in the ‘dance’.
Formal looking shops are usually fixed price.