F.A.Q
Accommodation
Where possible, we use comfortable hotels with style and character and good management. Hotels are carefully selected to enhance your holiday experience and offer value for money. Accommodation ratings and hotel facilities are listed in all of our itineraries. Most hotels used in our published tours have air-conditioning, all have modern en suite facilities and many have swimming pools. All have catering facilities, usually with a choice of restaurants.
Luggage
Most international airlines have a luggage allowance of 20kg per person. We suggest that you bring slightly less than this to allow room for souvenirs or gifts on your return. We will advise you of any internal flight weight limits in the individual detailed itineraries.
Tours and transfers
Our set tours can be booked just as they are, adapted or you can create your own itinerary. All our tailor-made tours are based on you and your companion(s) travelling together in a private vehicle with driver and sharing twin or double room accommodation.
Flights
Essential India Travel Ltd has contacts with bonded flight providers (ATOL) and can help you to find scheduled and charter flights.
Passport and visas
You will require a passport, valid for at least six months from the start of your holiday. Visas are required for India and they can either be obtained direct from the Indian High Commission in London or you can use a visa service. Please see our India Travel Guide for more information.
What to wear?
Society across the sub-continent is still deeply religious and steeped in tradition. Rural India, in particular, is very conservative. It is important to dress modestly to avoid offending local sensibilities and also (especially for women) to avoid being the target of unwanted attention. Loose cotton clothing is most appropriate in this climate.
Practical matters
There are no upper age restrictions, but for those who are over 68 and wish to join a tour that involves trekking at altitude, we do ask for a doctor's certificate of fitness. As with any foreign holiday, you must ensure that you are in sufficiently good health for your trip - again, we suggest checking with your doctor and then with us if you have any doubts. For more information on travelling in India, please put in a request for a copy of our comprehensive India Travel Guide.
Group or independent travel?
There are pros and cons to both types of travel. For those who are not experienced solo travellers, or who have not travelled alone in India before, we strongly recommend joining a group. Please call us if you need further advice.
The pace of life
Things can and will happen more slowly in India: travel may not be as efficient as back home and at times, the bureaucracy and logic may seem incomprehensible. To help, we will supply you with as much information as possible about your trip before you depart. But a sense of humour and a positive attitude to the unexpected and unusual - the things that make India so fascinating - is all that is required when travelling in India.
Who looks after us?
How our tours work is that from the moment you arrive in India our agents will meet you and their responsibility is to ensure that you are transferred as per your itinerary and escorted onto trains and met etc. All train and domestic flight bookings are reserved in advance. Travel by train is in comfortable air-con carriage in 4/6 berth cabins with padded berths/seats. You will have an English speaking driver and our local English speaking guides will escort you on your sightseeing tours.
Is this for me?
If you have read this far - then it probably is.
