DO I NEED A VISA TO TRAVEL TO INDIA?
Yes! We have details about how to apply for the visa on our What To Bring section of our website. The easiest is the e-visa which when approved will be emailed to you and is just something you print and bring with you on your travels.
WILL I GET SICK FROM THE FOOD?
We make specific recommendations to avoid the infamous “Delhi Belly” that can happen. First off, avoid street food, unless its street chai which is completely boiled and safe (and delicious!) We also recommend no raw foods, this includes fruits and salads. Our hotels all have food that is prepared and washed with filtered water and we also choose restaurants that we know cater to the quality standards of our travelers. This way your India Tour experience can be completely comfortable with a very happy belly, but keep in mind the food is spicy even when you say “no spicy” so it’s a good idea to have a little pepto bismal available as your body adjusts to that.
I AM RELIGIOUS AND DON’T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH SOME OF THE TEMPLES, DO I HAVE TO GO IN ALL OF THEM?
India is a religiously diverse country and we make efforts to provide experiences in temples and holy sites of most of the large religious bodies in India. This means we will visit Hindu Temples, Sikh Temples, Muslim Mosques, and Buddhist Temples. If any of these places make you uncomfortable, it is absolutely no problem for you to wait outside and we will ensure one of us waits with you so you are not alone. You also do not need to partake in any ceremonies offered if you are not comfortable. We do encourage you to see how you feel and be open on the journey, as we’ve had many religious travelers who realize once they arrive they feel more comfortable than they thought when visiting the temples and holy sites.
WHAT AGES ARE YOUR TRAVELERS?
We’ve had travelers of all ages ranging from 20 years old to 65 years old. This trip is suitable for all, does require walking but nothing overly extensive, and can be catered to the needs of our travelers via all ages. Our yoga classes are also appropriate for all ages and can be modified to our travelers needs.
I WANT TO ARRIVE EARLY TO HAVE MORE TIME TO REST AND RECOVER FROM JET LAG, IS THAT AN OPTION?
The time change can make jet lag quite tricky, and we totally understand wanting extra time to adjust to that. Every year we offer that if you want an extra day to recover and rest, we will still receive you and help you arrive in the same way and assist you with booking one extra night at our first hotel, which you can pay through us and we will update you on the price based on your reservation (single or double room). We’ve found some travelers really enjoy this option and that way you have a full day to just rest, recover, and be fully adjusted to start the tour. We are there plenty early to receive you so if this is your choice, do not worry, we will assist in every step of the way!
WILL I HAVE TO USE A HOLE AS A BATHROOM OR ARE THERE TOILETS?
We know for some the bathrooms create a lot of worry. Obviously your fancy hotel room will have a lovely toilet! Out in the streets, there will typically be options for either “western” (toilet) or not (hole in the ground). Toilet paper will not be offered at most bathrooms as water is more traditional to use for them to clean, so this is why we recommend you to bring kleenex or toilet paper in your bag so you always have some as an option.
WHAT WILL THE WEATHER BE LIKE WHILE WE ARE THERE?
We are there right around the transition from rainy season to winter. It will be hot, it may rain a little, but nothing too crazy. As always, weather is very unpredictable so we can’t make any guarantees, but prepare to be very warm and bring breathable clothing options. When we go up into the mountains of Dharmsala and Rishikesh it may get a bit fresher, so a sweater is a good idea too.
DO I HAVE TO COVER MY HAIR/HEAD WHILE IN INDIA AS A WOMAN?
While traditional for many women to cover their heads in India, this is not a requirement as a foreigner. We will say, blonde hair attracts a LOT of attention as it is unusual for them, so if you have blonde hair prepare for everyone to want to take your photo, or choose to cover it to draw less attention. Again, totally personal choice. Your shoulders will need to be covered in many temples/holy sites so that is something to take note of.
WHAT ARE THE NEW COVID RESTRICTIONS FOR TRAVEL TO INDIA?
We have a full updated page regarding this information available here.
HOW LONG IS THE FLIGHT TO INDIA?
This depends on where you are coming from! There are a few different routes coming from the US anywhere between 15-25 hours total depending on layovers etc. Keep in mind on the way there due to time changes, this means the travel will be about 2 days (if you want to arrive Thursday night for example, you have to leave Tuesday night). On our way home since we are going “back in time” we will leave and arrive the same day, meaning if we fly out Sunday morning we will also arrive to the US on Sunday night. With all flights we are here to assist you to find the best options from your location.
IF I PICK A DOUBLE ROOM WHO WILL BE MY ROOMMATE?
We will pair you up with another traveler if you select a double room. Keep in mind this is subject to how many travelers we have, so that is why these double rooms are only on a per available basis. We will let you know on your booking if we have a traveler to pair you with or if we are waiting for someone to pair you with. Once we pair you we will also let you know who your roommate is in case you want to connect before the trip!
I AM MORE COMFORTABLE OR ONLY SPEAK SPANISH, CAN I STILL ENJOY THE TRIP?
We have had many travelers join us who only speak Spanish or much prefer to use Spanish over English. Chris is from Venezuela so he is here to help you with translating the yoga classes or any other questions in Spanish. Our Indian tour guide Shakti is additionally fluent in Spanish. He lived several years in Spain and also runs complete tours in Spanish. He is able to answer and explain any questions about the history of the sites completely in Spanish so you wont miss a thing. This makes our trip very accessible to preferred Spanish speakers.
IS TRAVEL INSURANCE OR ANY SPECIFIC VACCINATIONS (NON COVID RELATED) REQUIRED?
Travel insurance and vaccines are personal choices and not required. If you feel more comfortable having either, we can assist you to try to find the best options. There are a few good travel insurance companies we recommend, and vaccine wise some people choose to get a Hepatitus B vaccine and Malaria pills. Again these are not required and personal choices that you can get if you feel more comfortable having them. Covid vaccine is also not required for any travelers to enter India.
I DON’T PRACTICE YOGA, CAN I STILL GO ON THE YOGA RETREAT?
Yes! Our yoga practice each morning is totally optional. Even if you are a yoga practitioner, each day you can choose if you want to practice yoga or not. We have had many travelers come who don’t take a single class, and many others who take yoga every day and love it! So it is up to you, but either way absolutely we are here to welcome you on our India Yoga Tour!
WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS IN THE WORLD AND THE TRIP NEEDS TO BE CANCELLED? WILL I GET A REFUND?
We know times are unpredictable right now. We will do our absolute best to keep up to date on changes with the ongoing pandemic. If some emergency occurs and the trip can no longer go on as expected, we will aim to refund the most amount of money we can. This will depend on what we’ve already booked at this time, as in how close it is to the trip. Since there are a lot of variables it is hard to say we can give 100 percent refund, but we will aim for that and keep you updated if we are unable to get some money returned for any reason.