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Guides that answer the questions we hear most

These are not rewritten brochures. Each one comes from questions our travellers actually ask before they fly — about paperwork, money, safety and what the weather will really do.

India visa
Formalities

Do you need a visa for India?

Almost every traveller needs a visa for India. Here is how the e-Visa works, the two routes to getting one, what to watch out for, and how Nepal and Sri Lanka compare.

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Safety in India
Before you go

Is India safe to travel?

India is safe to travel if you go about it sensibly. What to really expect, food and health, ten rules for a calm trip, and why an organised trip makes a first visit far easier.

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Best time to visit
Planning

When is the best time to visit India?

India has no single best season. Rajasthan and the Golden Triangle, Goa and the south, Kashmir and Ladakh each have their own window. Here is the month-by-month picture.

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Trip costs
Budget

How much does a trip to India cost?

A trip to India broken down into five separate items, with the actual prices from our programmes — from 700 to 2,250 EUR per person — and an honest list of what is not included.

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The Golden Triangle
Itineraries

The Golden Triangle: what to see and how long to allow

Delhi, Agra and Jaipur in one loop of roughly 700 km. What to see in each city, how many days it really takes, and why five days is not enough if you are flying in from Europe.

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What to pack
Practicalities

What to pack for India

Pack for five or six days even on a two-week trip. Clothing for February and for July, temple dress rules, shoes, plugs and the things people forget.

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Food in India
Practicalities

Food in India — what to eat and what to avoid

How spicy Indian food really is, what to order, what to avoid and how to eat safely without giving up the flavour.

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Vaccinations and medical kit
Health

Vaccinations and a travel medical kit for India

Which vaccinations are required, which are worth discussing with a doctor, how malaria risk varies by route and season, and a ready-made packing list for a travel medical kit.

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The Taj Mahal seen across the fields at dawn
Choosing a trip

Which trip to India is right for you

Every programme in one table: length, price, dates and who it suits. Plus what to choose for a first visit and for summer.

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Themed journeys

Looking for a trip that fits a particular need?

These are not guides but offer pages — trips gathered around one situation, with answers to the questions that keep coming up with it.

Pilgrimages and sacred places Varanasi, Rishikesh, the Golden Temple, Pushkar — which routes take them in. See more → Tours for senior travellers An unhurried pace, flights instead of long drives, insurance. See more → India for solo women Honestly about safety and what travelling in a group changes. See more →

Still have a question we have not answered?

Tell us what you are planning and we will answer honestly — including when the answer is "not this season".