India Holidays

We recommend that you speak to your GP and visit the excellent travel-medicine website http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home.aspx

It strongly recommends you get vaccinations for typhoid, tetanus, poliomyelitis and hepatitis before travelling to and around India. The key for travel vaccinations is to start planning well in advance. Both diphtheria and tuberculosis require a three-month incubation period before the start of the trip. Start by consulting your GP (who will be able to advise if you are up-to-date with your polio and tetanus jabs); he or she may be able to provide the jabs or direct you to a travel medicine specialist.

India is a huge country – it is fourteen times the size of the UK – and its weather is wide-ranging with considerable regional variations. The key feature of the subcontinent’s climate is the monsoon, which breaks on the Keralan coast at the end of May and then works its way northeast across the country. At this time rainfall can be very heavy, particularly over the higher regions facing the sea. Thus the best time to travel to India, or at least the majority of the country, is during the dry season from November through to  March when it is cooler. It is a great time to visit Delhi, Agra, Varanasi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

The best time to visit the tiger parks is from October to April. If you can bear the heat, then May is also an option when the vegetation is not as thick and it is also mating season.
In the south – Kerala and Goa – the weather is comfortable from November through to January. In the Himalayas, the best time to go trekking is in August and September. However, we would recommend travelling earlier in the year, in March, if you want to try and see snow leopards.

One of the attractions of India is the tempting array of foods available. We recommend eating at stalls where there are more people and where you can see your food being prepared in front of you ensuring it is fresh. Avoid eating at buffets and where food has been left on display. Ask Steppes about the interesting street food tours you can arrange in advance of arriving in India, to ensure you don’t miss out on some of the most amazing street food eateries – often well-kept secrets amongst the locals.

India is home to more than 40 national parks. To help increase the odds of spotting a tiger, Steppes Travel can offer you a greater understanding of the local issues and differences between the parks, the best chance of being in the right place at the right time and advice on how to avoid the many pitfalls that create substandard safari experiences.

This would depend on the length of the journey and whether your car and driver are following the train or not. For many shorter journeys, the car would follow with luggage and you would be met on the other side.

As a general rule of thumb, if you are travelling overnight by train or for more than around six hours, then you will have your luggage with you.

There is poverty in India but the curve has flattened a lot in the last few decades because of successful government schemes covering health, education, monitory support, food and shelter for the poor. You may still see people, the majority of which are women and children, begging for money in the cities. However, begging has become a job for this sector and it is highly organised. Hence we recommend you not to encourage them by giving any money and simply ignore them. The best way to help is to donate directly to an NGO or buy food stamps that the homeless can exchange for a plate of food. This way you know your money is going to be used in a positive way

UK passport holders require a visa for India and you must obtain this visa before you travel to India. The easiest way to do this is to apply online for the E visa – there is no need to involve a visa company or to go to the Indian Embassy in person. You can apply online a maximum of 21 days in advance of the date of arrival when applying for a 30-day visa. You can also apply for one year and five-year visas, 120 days in advance. The fee has been noticeably reduced since 2020, and the cost is now $25 USD for 30 days, $40 or $80 USD for a one year or five-year visa. This fee is non-refundable and payable online. A passport photo must be uploaded online. Processing time is up to four days. On receipt of the e-visa by email, print and carry this with the relevant passport when travelling to India.

One of the great fears about travelling to India is the quality of the food. Let’s put your mind to rest straight away and say the opposite: the food in India is delicious and indeed one of the highlights of a visit to India. Indian cuisine is heavily influenced by religion, cultural and ethnic groups – one of the joys of travel to India is the diversity of the cuisine. Also, it is important to note that not all the food is spicy. Many of the diseases are waterborne, so do not drink the tap water.

Drink filtered water as opposed to water out of plastic bottles – we do not condone the use of single-use plastic. In terms of alcohol, beer, wines and spirits are all available although the quality is sometimes not what you might be used to.

It is largely safe for women to travel in India alone. There are measures we can put in place to ensure you are well looked after. Some city hotels offer women butlers, and women’s rooms on a dedicated floor. Private same-sex drivers and guides can be requested for your peace of mind. Train journeys can be organised with an accompanying escort.

When photographing people in India, we always advise asking the person you would like to photograph beforehand out of politeness. In most cases, people are happy to have the picture taken, especially children who will readily pose for several. If photography is prohibited, this is usually clearly marked.