Travel Tribe India – Final Details

Colorful India: Textiles, Crafts and Beyond!

February 2nd – 17th, 2023

Important Details

Tourist Visas

➜ US citizens may now easily obtain an E-Visa for India. As a result, you can skip the process of obtaining a tourist visa from the Indian Embassy and can simply take care of the procedures online. Please note that you can only apply for the E-visa within 4 weeks of your arrival date.

Here are the steps:

Visit this official Indian government website – https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/
Click on “For eVisa by Bureau of Immigration – Apply Here“
Click on “Apply here for e-visa“
Follow the instructions.

Here is some information you will need to complete the process:

Passport details
Passport photo (you will need to upload this to the system)
Arrival details
Destinations to be visited (Delhi, Agra, Ranthambore, Bundi, Udaipur, Kutch and Mumbai)
Dates of the trip / arrival and departure dates
Name and address of the hotel in Delhi – NUO by Justa (C-22, Greater Kailash-1, Block C, New Delhi 110048)
Local contact in India (you can simply put a friend or relative from home – doesn’t make sense but it’s how it works!)

*If you choose the ONE MONTH VISA, you should apply 4 weeks before your arrival date.
*If you choose the ONE YEAR VISA, you can apply at any time.

➜ Canadian citizens need to obtain a visa from the Indian Embassy/Consulate. To apply for this visa, please make an appointment at BLS – the official Indian visa processing agency in Canada – at your earliest convenience. BLS will provide you with the visa instructions.

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 to okay. 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 buy an E-Sim card online that will ensure you have a good 4G/5G connection throughout the tour.

Packing

Packing lightly will always make it easier to load up the vans and will also be less of a hassle as we move from place to place. There may be times when you’ll need to walk with your luggage for a short distance in order to reach our accommodation. Also, please keep in mind that for our internal flight from Kutch to Mumbai, the maximum amount of checked luggage allowed is 15kg (33 pounds). You will also be allowed 1 piece of carry-on that weighs no more than 7kg (15 pounds) and 1 personal item.

Local currency

India uses the Indian rupee as their currency and you will need to have local money in order to make purchases. The best method to get Indian rupees is via ATM machines which can be found in all cities and towns in India. This method ensures you’ll get the best exchange rate and you won’t have to carry around a large amount of cash. However, please check with your bank to make sure they don’t charge high foreign ATM fees.

If your bank fees are too high, you can also exchange USD, GBP or Euros at money exchange offices located throughout the country.

Credit cards are accepted at some restaurants and shops as well, but cash is still necessary for smaller purchases.

Tipping

Tipping in India is not as common as in the West, but in some cases it is expected. Here’s a general guideline:

Restaurants – 5-10% if a service charge is not already added to the bill
Hotel staff – 100 – 200 INR if someone helps you with luggage or anything else
Our drivers – At the end of the trip, we recommend that everyone gives a $50 USD tip that we will split among our drivers. We will collect this on the last day and give it to our drivers before we say goodbye to them.

*Tips for local guides and waitstaff at included meals are already included.

WhatsApp Group

We will set up a WhatsApp chat 2 weeks prior to the start of the tour that will include all of the participants as well as your tour leader. This will allow everyone to get to know each other in advance, ask questions and communicate with your tour leader both before and during the tour. It will be very useful for you to have WhatsApp available to you during the tour as this will be the main method of communication.

IMPORTANT: COVID-19 Travel Information

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. As of November 22nd, 2022 India no longer requires proof of vaccination or a PCR test prior to arrival.

Airport Arrival & Pickup

Please follow the below instructions upon arrival at Delhi’s International Airport:

After exiting the plane, walk through the terminal building to the immigration inspection. If you have an “E-Visa”, please enter the “Visa on arrival” line on the right side of the building and have your printed E-Visa confirmation ready.
Once through immigration, collect your luggage from the correct carousel and then pass through the quick customs inspection.
After you exit the baggage/customs area (through a sliding door), you’ll be in the Arrivals Hall. You will see many people in this area with signs waiting for passengers to arrive. Your driver will be waiting for you in this group of people with a sign that says “Travel Tribe India”.
If you are unable to find your driver, simply take a seat at the Costa Coffee Cafe (it’s the only cafe there) and the driver will check there as well.
*Do NOT go outside as you will not be allowed to re-enter the Arrivals Hall. If you have any issues, you can contact your tour leader, Sakai Naismith, at +1 (510) 806-5488 or via Whatsapp.

➜ Please note: When filling out the Landing Card upon arrival at the Delhi Airport, you will need to enter the name of the hotel where you will be staying. Please enter: NUO by Justa (Address: C-22, Greater Kailash-1, Block C, New Delhi 110048

➜ Important: You MUST print out a copy of your E-Visa approval notice which you will receive via email. You will need to show this to the airline staff upon check-in for your flight and again to the immigration officer at the airport in Delhi.

Itinerary

January 31st: New Delhi ➜ Agra / PRE-TRIP

Pre-trip orientation meeting
Drive to Agra
Check-in to our family-run guesthouse
Visit to the Taj Mahal, including a tour and free time
Home cooked dinner back at our guesthouse

➜ Meeting Point: Please meet us at the lobby of the Nuo by Justa Hotel on Jan 31st at 8:30 am with your luggage so that we can start our adventure.
➜ Included meals: Breakfast (for the participants that booked the pre-trip accommodation with us), Dinner
➜ Accommodation: Aman Homestay

February 1st: Agra ➜ New Delhi / PRE-TRIP

Drive back to Delhi
Visit to the Akshardham Temple

➜ Included meals: Breakfast
➜ Accommodation: NUO by Justa Hotel

February 2nd: New Delhi / OFFICIAL STARTING DAY

Tour of Delhi, including Bangla Sahib Sikh Temple, Chandi Chowk Market and Dilli Haat Market
Dinner at one of Delhi’s best restaurants for an official welcome dinner

➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
➜ Accommodation: NUO by Justa Hotel

February 3rd: New Delhi ➜ Ranthambore

Early afternoon express train to Sawai Madhopur (5 hours)
Short transfer to Ranthambore village
Check-in to our hotel in the peaceful countryside
Dinner at the hotel

➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
➜ Accommodation: Ranthambore Bagh Palace

February 4th: Ranthambore

Visit to a local women’s textile collective
Block-printing and embroidery workshop
Visit to a visit known for their black pottery
Optional visit to the Ranthambore Fortress

➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
➜ Accommodation: Ranthambore Bagh Palace

February 5th: Ranthambore ➜ Bundi

Early morning 3-hour tiger safari in Ranthambore National Park
Breakfast back at the hotel
3.5 hour drive to the town of Bundi
Check-in to our heritage hotel in the old town
Afternoon walking tour of the lanes and markets of Bundi

➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
➜ Accommodation: Dev Niwas Hotel

February 6th: Bundi

Visit to a local school in order to interact with both students and faculty
Visit to the Raniji ki Baori ancient stepwell
Tour of the Bundi Palace and optional visit to the Bundi Fortress

➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
➜ Accommodation: Dev Niwas Hotel

February 7th: Bundi

Half-day excursion to a local village known for their sari-making techniques
Free time back in Bundi

➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
➜ Accommodation: Dev Niwas Hotel

February 8th: Bundi ➜ Udaipur

6 hour drive to Udaipur
Check in to our hotel on the edge of Lake Pichola
Dinner on the rooftop overlooking the city

➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
➜ Accommodation: Lake Pichola Hotel

February 9th: Udaipur

Tour of the beautiful City Palace
Visit to well-known shops to learn about Rajasthani textiles
Free time to enjoy Udaipur at your own pace

➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
➜ Accommodation: Lake Pichola Hotel

February 10th: Udaipur

Optional visit to the Animal Aid Unlimited organization
Visit to the Saheliyon ki Badi Royal Gardens
Cooking class in the home of a local woman and her family

➜ Included meals: Breakfast
➜ Accommodation: Lake Pichola Hotel

February 11th: Udaipur ➜ Bhuj (Kutch)

10 hour drive to the town of Bhuj in the state of Gujarat
Check in to our hotel
Welcome dinner in the region

➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
➜ Accommodation: Hotel Ilark

February 12th – 15th: Kutch Region

These days will be filled with various activities focusing on the unique crafts and textiles of this region:

Visiting remote local villages
Meeting artisans involved in various textiles and crafts
Visiting a well-known textile museum
A variety of hands-on workshops
Enjoying Kutch’s historical sights
Spending time in nature, including a visit to the beautiful salt flats

➜ Included meals each day: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
➜ Accommodation: Hotel Ilark (2 nights) / Mahefeel e Raan Resort (3 nights)

February 16th: Kutch ➜ Mumbai

2.5 hour drive to the town of Kandla
Short 1.5 hour flight to Mumbai
Check in to our hotel
Farewell group dinner

➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
➜ Accommodation: Hotel Suba International

February 17th: Mumbai / Departure Day

Transfer to the airport based on your flight time

➜ Included meals: Breakfast

What’s Included?

➜ Wandering Earl Tours expert tour leader
➜ Small group (maximum 12 participants)
➜ Accommodation (15 nights – 3/4* hotels, heritage properties, guesthouses)
➜ Transportation within India (vans, 1st class train, internal flight)
➜ Local guides
➜ All activities, excursions, workshops and all entrance fees
➜ Breakfast every day, 9 lunches and 12 dinners
➜ Gratuities at hotels/included meals
➜ Water throughout the trip
➜ All airport transfers

What’s Not Included?

➜ Flights to/from India
➜ Passport/visa fees
➜ Meals and activities not mentioned
➜ Travel insurance (mandatory)
➜ Other gratuities

Covid-19 Disclaimer

Please note that in the event of any interruption to your tour experience as a result of your testing positive for Covid-19, our staff will be on hand to assist with making any arrangements that need to be made. This could include accommodation booking, transportation, scheduling additional Covid-19 tests, etc. However, it is important to understand that you would be fully responsible for all expenses incurred related to interruptions to the trip and/or medical treatment needed as a result of a positive Covid-19 test before, during or after the trip. We highly recommend having a travel/health insurance policy that covers Covid-19 related situations. By participating in the tour, you are confirming your understanding of the above

That’s all for now! If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to send us an email at team@wanderingearl.com.