India travel advice
Weather advice
Shanane Davis, Director of our supplier, True Luxury Tours, specialising in Rajasthan gives good India travel advice.
“Most travellers come in winter and the difference in temperature between morning and evening can be a lot. So pack a sweater and socks. Also a rain poncho as umbrellas aren’t practical here with the wind”.
Our India Holidays
Tiger watching holiday in India
A chance to see the majestic tiger in the wild
From
£725 to £950
9 days
ex flights
Kerala homestay tour, India
Stay in homestays in various destinations in Kerala
From
£1635
15 days
ex flights
Wildlife holiday in Central India
Best of Indian wildlife with tiger, leopard and sloth bear.
From
Rupee155000 to Rupee180000
12 days
ex flights
Golden Triangle small group holiday, India
India's 3 most popular destinations, Delhi, Agra & Jaipur
From
£522 to £675
8 days
ex flights
India small group holiday, a food adventure
2 week discovery of the sights, sounds & flavours of India.
From
£1436 to £1805
15 days
ex flights
North India cultural tour
An adventure to one of the planet's exotic destinations
From
£806 to £965
22 days
ex flights
South India tour, Trivandrum to Goa
Head to the beaches and backwaters of southern India.
From
£729 to £920
16 days
ex flights
India 9 day express tour
Ideal if you're short on time but wish to see the real India
From
£1035
9 days
ex flights
Southern India 15 day tour
An exciting mix of the best that South India has to offer.
From
£1858
15 days
ex flights
Kerala tailor made holiday, 11 days
Revitalize in Kerala - A most wonderful and balanced trip
From
£1349 to £1779
11 days
ex flights
History, culture & wildlife of India holiday
From the Nilgiri Hills to the beaches of Goa
From
£1336
15 days
ex flights
India hill stations cycling holiday
Quiet country roads and frequent superb views of the Himalaya
From
£2279 to £2399
17 days
inc UK flights
Rural cycling tours in South India
The perfect way to cycle in rural Keralan countryside.
From
US $980
8 days
ex flights
North East India tour, Nagaland & the Hornbill Festival
The unique festivals of the tribes of remote Northeast India
From
£2350
15 days
ex flights
Family holiday with volunteering in India
A truly fun & rewarding experience for families of any size
From
US $549.5
7 days
ex flights
Tiger and wildlife safari, India
this trip will deliver unrivalled tiger-viewing success
From
£1899 to £2399
9 days
inc UK flights
India wildlife and culture tour, Rajasthan
Your stay in Jungle core, erstwhile hunting lodge of king.
From
£1270 to £2150
18 days
ex flights
Tiger tour in India, land of the Tiger tour
Wildlife tour through India
From
£2499 to £2949
16 days
inc UK flights
India rural holiday with charity walk
Village India including a sponsored walk for Frank Water
From
£1000 to £1100
7 days
ex flights
Walking and cycling holiday in Kerala, India
Walking and cycling through rain forests and grasslands.
From
£630
8 days
ex flights
Family holiday to India, sightseeing and safari
Taj Mahal in Agra to the Palace of the Winds in Jaipur
From
£642 to £830
10 days
ex flights
Rajasthan tours, India
Discover the evocative northern province of Rajasthan
From
£932 to £1210
15 days
ex flights
Kayaking in the Keralan Backwaters
Experience local life kayaking through Kerala backwaters .
From
US $540
5 days
ex flights
Rajasthan cycling holiday
Explore the palaces, temples and wildlife of India's desert state
From
£2399 to £2899
16 days
inc UK flights
Kerala small group tour, India, 15 days
Small group tour exploring the best of South India.
From
£1640
15 days
ex flights
Rural India holiday, culture & wildlife
Authentic exploration of Central Indian village life
From
£2500 to £3000
14 days
ex flights
Luxury Rajasthan holiday, 14 days
Experience life as a Maharaja in wonderful Rajasthan
From
£3700
14 days
ex flights
Golden Triangle with Ranthambore tour, India
Brilliant experiences including Tigers and Temples
From
£1149
11 days
ex flights
Cultural advice
Cultural advice
Jim O’Brien, Director at one of our suppliers, Native Eye Travel, which takes travellers well off the beaten track:
“It is always difficult visiting small tribal groups. They aren’t in a zoo, but it is fascinating to see these people.But anything like that has to be done so sensitively and we are very careful when we work with these people”
Sophie Hartman, owner of our supplier Chinkara Journeys, specialising in central India:
“Check out the Tulsi Puja in Chhattisgarh, the beginning of the wedding season. Children make sweet clay images of Krishna and Tulsi and their wedding is re-enacted with a mandap (wedding platform) decorated with long sugar cane sticks.“
Rajat Kumar, Managing Director of our supplier ExplorIndya:
“Every tourist knows how to say ‘namaste’ as a greeting. It has become such a cliché from tourists that it is now almost an empty greeting. When you extend your vocabulary to ask “Aap keise hain?’ or ‘how are you?’, an Indian person knows that you are genuinely inviting a conversation. “
Travel advice
Sophie Hartman, owner of our supplier Chinkara Journeys, specialising in central India:
“Do not attempt to cram in too much in too short a time – road travel in India is not its best feature, so much better to focus on a couple of places and stay there”.
Packing and shopping advice
Packing and shopping advice
Shanane Davis, Director of our supplier, True Luxury Tours, specialising in Rajasthan:
“For high quality, genuine handicrafts in Delhi, go to the state emporium called Baba Kharak Singh Marg in Connaught Place, New Delhi.”
Sophie Hartman, owner of our supplier Chinkara Journeys, specialising in central India:
“Pack light, you’ll want to cram your suitcase with lovely things to bring home. A scarf is the most useful piece of kit, good for covering your head if you feel a bit stared at, your face and nose if you’re in a dusty jeep and for drying face and hands after washing in sometimes grimy road side bathrooms”.
Our top India Holiday
India small group holiday, a food adventure
2 week discovery of the sights, sounds & flavours of India.
From
£1436 to £1805
15 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2018: 7 Sep, 11 Sep, 14 Sep, 28 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 16 Oct, 19 Oct, 23 Oct, 26 Oct, 30 Oct, 2 Nov, 6 Nov, 9 Nov, 13 Nov, 23 Nov, 7 Dec, 14 Dec, 21 Dec, 25 Dec, 28 Dec
2019: 1 Jan, 4 Jan, 11 Jan, 18 Jan, 25 Jan, 1 Feb, 8 Feb, 12 Feb, 15 Feb, 22 Feb, 1 Mar, 8 Mar, 15 Mar, 22 Mar, 29 Mar, 5 Apr, 12 Apr, 6 Sep, 13 Sep, 20 Sep, 27 Sep, 1 Oct, 4 Oct, 8 Oct, 11 Oct, 15 Oct, 18 Oct, 22 Oct, 29 Oct, 1 Nov, 5 Nov, 8 Nov, 15 Nov ...
2018: 7 Sep, 11 Sep, 14 Sep, 28 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 16 Oct, 19 Oct, 23 Oct, 26 Oct, 30 Oct, 2 Nov, 6 Nov, 9 Nov, 13 Nov, 23 Nov, 7 Dec, 14 Dec, 21 Dec, 25 Dec, 28 Dec
2019: 1 Jan, 4 Jan, 11 Jan, 18 Jan, 25 Jan, 1 Feb, 8 Feb, 12 Feb, 15 Feb, 22 Feb, 1 Mar, 8 Mar, 15 Mar, 22 Mar, 29 Mar, 5 Apr, 12 Apr, 6 Sep, 13 Sep, 20 Sep, 27 Sep, 1 Oct, 4 Oct, 8 Oct, 11 Oct, 15 Oct, 18 Oct, 22 Oct, 29 Oct, 1 Nov, 5 Nov, 8 Nov, 15 Nov ...
Helpdesk
Hello. If you'd like to chat about India or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help. Rosy & team.
Food advice
Food advice
Rajat Kumar, Managing Director of our supplier ExplorIndya:
“Don’t underestimate the importance of food as part of the Indian experience. The best thing you can ask an Indian is ‘what do you eat as a family?’ – you will be surprised how much of his cuisine he hides from visitors. But actually, we love to talk about food, and to share it - just like Italians.“
Off the beaten track tips
Off the beaten track tips
Jim O’Brien, Director at one of our suppliers, Native Eye Travel, which takes travellers well off the beaten track:
“If you are travelling in Ladakh or Kashmir, try and coincide your visit to one of the monasteries when morning prayers are going on, because it is something else to see. Especially the small ones off the main monastery trails”.
Visa information
Visa information
The visa application process to enter India for a holiday is pretty simple and inexpensive now. UK citizens are among one of 113 nationalities able to apply for the 'e-Visa'. Apply and pay online for holidays of 60 days max, make sure your passport has six months’ validity from the date of your arrival in India, that it has at least two blank pages for stamping upon entry, and apply a minimum of four days before you travel. For more information, see Indian Visa online website.
Health & safety in India
HEALTH
SAFETY
India advice from our travellers
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travellers are often... other travellers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful India travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.
We have selected some of the most useful India travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.
Take a travel plug, small half litre kettle, and some cuppa soups and hot chocolate sachets.
Anne Parker
"Go, be brave, leave the well- trodden tourist trail, go up the mountains ...live with the families...it's much more in tune with the pulse of the country. Trust people to plan for you.. it's India ..they will not betray your trust. Be sensitive, in your dress and demeanour, this is a culture with values. Enjoy its diversity...landscapes spiritual beliefs, culinary treats..." - Mary Phillips
"Be prepared for chaotic traffic, people begging (sometimes with children) particularly in the cities at traffic lights, lots of retail opportunities, early mornings, long journeys often on bumpy roads, (it took us 6hrs to do 200k one day), ATMs that refuse cards, have no money in them, the tipping culture and expectations of people to be given a tip, hotels that do not accept travellers cheques or card readers that do not work." - Elizabeth Gooch
"Be prepared for chaotic traffic, people begging (sometimes with children) particularly in the cities at traffic lights, lots of retail opportunities, early mornings, long journeys often on bumpy roads, (it took us 6hrs to do 200k one day), ATMs that refuse cards, have no money in them, the tipping culture and expectations of people to be given a tip, hotels that do not accept travellers cheques or card readers that do not work." - Elizabeth Gooch
"The mountains really get cold at night, so absolutely bring a warm sweater and long pants and a light warm hat."
- Julie Jean-Francois
"Be prepared for cultural differences. For example, it appears to be polite for someone to watch you eat every mouthful, wait for feedback and be on hand to refill your plate immediately whereas in the UK we leave people to enjoy the meal in peace." - Daphne Donkin
"Take a travel plug, small half litre kettle, and some cuppa soups and hot chocolate sachets. This enables washing yourself and a few clothes when the water is cold, and enjoying something warming when you can't face curry anymore! Ensure you buy an adapter specifically for India before you go." - Anne Parker
"Take a travel plug, small half litre kettle, and some cuppa soups and hot chocolate sachets. This enables washing yourself and a few clothes when the water is cold, and enjoying something warming when you can't face curry anymore! Ensure you buy an adapter specifically for India before you go." - Anne Parker
More about India
In general, India succumbs to a summer season, winter season and monsoon season so read more to find out the best time to go, wherever you're headed...
India is an explosion of colour. The Golden Triangle glistens with culture, Rajasthan has pink and blue cities, and Kerala has lush green Ghat Mountains...
It is vast and, therefore, can be overwhelming, so take some time to look at our map and highlights to help you work where to go in India...
From Ladakh's Buddhist influences, Rajasthan's palaces, and tigers in the national parks, India has no shortage of cultural and natural treats...
The Taj Mahal sets the standard for romance. Learn how to ge there as well as places to see nearby, including the Red Fort and Fatehpur Sikri...
India has 103 national parks. They pack in a host of endangered species, exotic birdlife, dramatic landscapes, and - most famously - tigers...
Crammed with temples, palaces and Mughal architecture, the Golden Triangle delivers a perfect week in India, with plenty of Indian spice and flavour...
India is a veritable feast, and exploring it through food will give you the best insight into its culture, history, geography and stuff your faceology...
Travelling in India with children is like opening a storybook and sinking into a different page every day, because it is so full of stories for kids...
Same sex sexual activity was only briefly decriminalised in India before being made illegal again, but LGBT travellers should not face discrimination...
In a country that is constantly changing, poverty, conservation and animal welfare are areas that are worth reading up on before your India holiday...
Find all of our India guides in one place, for particular places in India such as Rajasthan, Kerala or the Himalayas...
Why book with Responsible Travel
Photo credits: [Page banner: Uzi Yachin] [Tourist visa: Shujenchang ]
[Weather advice: Soumyadeep Paul]
[Tribe family: Mike Prince]
[Clay figures: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra]
[Greetings: The Wandering Angel]
[Travel advice: Digjot Singh]
[Shopping tips: Ramnath Bhat]
[Scarf stall: Glen MacLarty]
[Food: OXLAEY.com]
[Off the beaten track tips: koshy koshy]
[Health & safety - tea plantation: Rawpixelcom]
[Review 1 - hot chocolate: Elsie Hui]
[Review 2 - mountains, Ladakh: McKay Savage]
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