February 19th – March 5th, 2023
Are you ready for the unique and magnificently fascinating experience that is India?
We hope so because you’re going to have an unforgettable time as we explore this country, and the time is approaching quickly. Very soon, the adventure shall begin!
Of course, before this trip begins, we do want to ensure that you’re as prepared as possible. This document will point out a variety of things that will help you get ready.
First of all, India is indeed a developing country, and as a result, much of what you experience will involve things that you might not be too familiar with having grown up pretty much anywhere else on the planet. Some examples include extreme poverty, pollution, chaotic crowds, delays and unexpected obstacles, cows roaming the cities, an absence of traffic rules, lack of personal space, etc.
But at the same time, you will also experience wild colors, stunning nature, incredible food, kind and warm people, eye-opening historical sights, wildlife, markets, local schools, festivals, holy ceremonies, traditional music, diverse cultures and SO MUCH MORE!
A trip to India is unlike any other and it must be experienced at least once!
This tour is a laid-back experience. We have a plan in place, but since this is India and all kinds of surprises will surely come our way, that plan is never set in stone and remains flexible at all times.
We’ll be staying at a variety of accommodation – good mid-range hotels and friendly family-run guesthouses. Rooms will be simple but comfortable and with attached bathrooms.
Traveling around the country, we’ll use private vans for most of the trip, with our trusted drivers. Driving around this country is not easy and they do an awesome job. We’ll also take 2 internal flights on reputable local airlines.
Indeed there are. With over 1.4 billion inhabitants, it is only natural for there to be huge crowds and a complete lack of personal space. Also, just crossing the street can take twenty minutes because of all the people, not to mention the cars, buses, motorbikes, vegetable carts, cows, donkeys and dogs as well (we promise though, it will be fun!).
We will say, dealing with the lack of personal space is quite odd at first but once you adjust, we think you’ll have a good time with it. Give a quick smile and nod to those staring at you and the chance is high you’ll receive a smile back!
Often times, people will call out to you, asking you questions, trying to start a conversation, asking if you want to buy something, begging for a few rupees and so on. Yes, it can be a little challenging to handle, but it’s just how life works in this country given the very poor economic situation.
We personally answer their questions quickly and make it clear from the start that we’re not interested. “Do you want to come to my shop?” — “No, not interested, thank you.” That kind of response usually works fine. What you don’t want to do is shut yourself off from everyone and refuse to speak to anyone at all. It’s far better to reply politely and keep on moving…and sometimes, these questions can actually lead to rewarding interactions as well.
In India, you should be prepared for transportation delays and other changes due to any number of unforeseen circumstances during our trip. It’s just a part of the India experience and there’s certainly no reason to get frustrated when it happens. Just take it all as it comes, stay positive and you’ll see that every hiccup in the trip will turn into a rewarding adventure. It’s all about the mindset.
The question on many people’s minds when traveling to India is, ‘will I get a case of the Delhi belly?‘.
Luckily, it’s nowhere near as common these days as it used to be. On this tour, we’ll be eating at places where the food will be well-prepared and you won’t have to worry about it sitting in pots for two weeks prior to being served. Fruits and vegetables will always be washed in filtered water as well. Usually, a stomach bug is caused by contact with a little tap water (brushing teeth, water left on a plate that was cleaned with tap water, etc.) or because our systems are simply not used to the ingredients used in the food. Even if you eat a lot of Indian food at home, it’s quite different when you’re actually in India!
We’ll go over this again once you arrive in India and we’ll provide more tips on how to avoid coming into contact with tap water.
*Please drink only bottled water and to be extra cautious, it’s best to use bottled water to brush your teeth as well.
During this trip, we can expect relatively consistent weather. February is an ideal time to visit India, with very little rain and pleasant temperatures. Here are the February average temperatures of each destination we will visit:
Delhi: 75F/24C high – 48F/8C low
Agra: 79F/26C high – 50F/10C low
Ranthambore: 84F/29C high – 57F/14C low
Bundi: 80F/27C high – 59F/15C low
Udaipur: 88F/31C high – 59F/15C low
Varanasi: 81F/27C high – 55F/13C low
Taking comfortable, light clothing is the best idea, especially clothes that you’re not particularly attached to. It’s a fact that some of the items you bring probably won’t make it back home with you as travel in India can be hard on your clothes.
While shorts are okay for men in major cities, you’ll almost never find Indians wearing such items. For women, long, lightweight pants and loose-fitting shirts that cover part of the arm is a good idea as Indian women dress rather conservatively and more western attire (skirts, tight clothing, tank-tops, etc.) tends to draw unwanted attention.
*Laundry – Almost every hotel offers laundry service and it usually costs around $10 USD per load.
We recommend packing the following items:
Suitcase or a backpack? Either one works. The most important thing is that you don’t overpack as moving around India with your luggage can be tiresome and the less stuff you have, the more thankful you’ll be once the tour begins
If you have any questions about other items you were thinking about bringing or not bringing, just send us an email and we’ll be happy to let you know if such an item is necessary for this trip.
With rules and regulations regarding Covid testing constantly changing, our team will ensure that you have all the information necessary to properly prepare for your entry into India. You can expect communications specific to Covid-19 and travel testing as the tour gets closer.
Currently, all travelers to India must present a full vaccination certificate OR a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival in order to enter India. We will send out more details as the tour gets closer.
India does not currently require any other immunizations in order to enter the country. If you are interested in getting other immunizations before you travel for your own comfort and safety, you can find suggestions on the CDC website.
India is a lot safer than most people think. The chances of anything happening are very slim as long as you use the same common sense you would use at home.
Watch your stuff – Always keep an eye on your stuff and avoid putting a wallet or phone in your back pocket. Keep your purse or shoulder bag on your front hip and make sure the zippers are zipped on your backpack. Simple as that! You can also leave valuables in your room while out and about each day as the hotels we use are all very safe.
Scams – Most ‘scams’ in India are nothing major. People will approach, ask where you’re from, compliment your shoes or ask how long you’ve been in India and then simply try to get you to a shop where they earn a commission. Or they might tell you the place you’re looking for is closed and try to redirect you somewhere else. If it doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t. But they’re never aggressive. A simple ‘no, thank you’ usually works. Life here is difficult for many and people try all sorts of ways to earn extra money as a way to survive. If you start talking to those who approach, typically you’ll find they are nice people and easy to talk to.
Beggars – Beggars are common given the economic situation. However, almost all begging is organized and money you give will go to a mafia boss that controls that area. Women holding a baby might approach and say, “No money, only milk for baby.” They want you to buy powdered milk, which they sell back to the store for cash (to give to the mafia). If you want to donate money to help people in India, I can provide a list of reputable organizations.
Don’t be shy – Even though many Indians approach with some other motive, you don’t want to get into the habit of thinking that everyone is out to rip you off. It’s definitely not the case and interacting with Indians is always a highlight. A simple smile or wave or wiggle of your head will often lead to some great interactions!
Women travelers – For the women in the group, be sure to smile at local women during the trip! Indian women come into less contact with foreigners and are always interested in talking to foreign females. This especially goes for teenagers/younger women who speak better English than the older generation. A simple ‘namaste‘ can lead to some great conversations.
Yes! Most days will include time together as well as free time for you to enjoy a destination at your own pace. With that said, your tour leader will always be available to offer personal recommendations and suggestions as to things you might want to do or see, places to eat and other interesting activities that you might want to check out when there is free time.
The local currency in India is the Indian Rupee (INR). The current exchange rate is $1 USD = 82 INR.
USD are not accepted in these countries. You will need to use local currency or a credit card, which are accepted at some restaurants and shops in larger towns and cities.
In terms of spending money, you should estimate an average of $10 – $25 USD per day for all of your needs. This would be for meals that are not included in the tour, basic purchases (laundry service, snacks, etc) as well as any activities you choose to do on your own.
As for exchanging money, the best method is via ATM machines which are everywhere in India. However, check with your bank at home as many banks charge high foreign transaction fees every time you withdraw money overseas.
If using an ATM is not an option, or the fees are too high, simply bring USD, Euros or GBP to exchange at money exchange offices that are located all over the country.
*Please do not change money at home before you arrive. India recently removed certain bills from circulation and if you end up with the old bills, they will be worthless upon arrival. Once you arrive we’ll get you to an ATM or a trusted money exchange office.
Do you have to bargain? – Technically no, but in reality, yes. You should bargain for almost everything as that is just how shopping works in this country. By not doing so, you’re bound to pay much higher prices than you should be paying.
Exceptions – Packaged items sold in a general shop (bottled water, soap, shampoo, snacks, etc.) have the prices, set by the government, right on the package. Check the package and you’ll see, for example, “Rps 20” or “MSRP 20” which means, 20 rupees, and that’s what you should pay. For everything else, there are no set prices.
Getting ripped off – Everyone, including your tour leader, will get ripped off during this tour. It’s unavoidable. But it’s usually just a small amount and nothing to get too upset about!
The Bargaining Rule – The average salary in India is about $3-$5 USD per day. So, you can always ask yourself, ‘Would a local person pay this amount’ for something. This is how you know that something like a juice shouldn’t cost 320 Rupees ($4 USD), almost a day’s salary. You’ll quickly learn what things should generally cost and what is worth bargaining over.
Souvenirs and gifts – Always shop around, never buy on your first visit to a shop and feel free to ask your tour leader what something should cost and we’ll let you know. We have reliable recommendations for shops in all the destinations we visit.
Tipping in India is not as common as in the West but in some cases it is expected. Here’s a general guideline:
*Tips for local guides and waitstaff at included meals are already included.
Toilet Paper – Toilet paper is not as common in India as it is in other countries, which is why you will rarely find it in any public restroom. It can be purchased at any general shop and it’s best to always have a roll with you just in case.
Bottled Water – It’s important to drink plenty of bottled water during this trip. We’ll always have bottled water in our vans at all times and it can also be purchased in shops all over the place for about 20 Rupees.
Fruits and Vegetables – At any restaurant we visit, fruit and vegetables will be perfectly safe to consume. On most menus, it will specifically state that fruit and vegetables are washed with filtered water. When not stated, this will still be the case, so there’s never a need to worry.
Plug Adapter – India uses a different plug outlet than you will find in most other parts of the world. You will need Type C and/or Type D plug adapters as these are both used throughout the country. It is highly recommended to purchase these adapters in advance.
As for electricity, check your chargers to see if they say 110 – 230V. If they do, you will not have any problems charging your device while on the tour.
Staying Connected – This is India (we’ll say that a thousand times!), so unfortunately, strong internet is not exactly widespread. While all of the hotels we stay at have Wi-fi, the connection is often poor at best. It will work and you’ll be able to send emails and do whatever you need to do, but it just might take longer than normal. You can also activate the international plan from your network at home or purchase a local SIM card upon arrival in Delhi. Both of these options will ensure you have a good connection throughout the tour.
That’s it for now and we hope you are continuing to get more and more excited about this incredible adventure, just as we are!
If you have any questions about anything, please reach out to team@wanderingearl.com
