Useful Information for Backpacking India: Experience

Twin or double share rooms for all 12 nights, and the places you stay are part of the trip: two nights in Delhi, two in a heritage haveli in Jodhpur, a night glamping in luxury tents at a desert camp near Pushkar, a night in Pushkar, two in a heritage hotel in Jaipur, two at a resort outside Ranthambore National Park, a night in Agra and a final night in South Delhi.

Solo travellers share with someone of the same gender. If you would rather have a room to yourself, ask us about a private room when you book.

At Hotel Cottage Yes Please in Delhi, where you stay for the first two nights in twin or double rooms. It is where your airport pick-up takes you on day 1.

Arriving a day or two early? Let us know as soon as you can and we will check availability and pricing for extra nights. Please note that accommodation may occasionally change due to availability.

Yes. Vegetarian food is everywhere in India and it is very good, so vegetarians have plenty of choice, including at the 17 meals included on this trip. Strict vegan and gluten-free diets are harder to cater for, but they are manageable with a bit of planning.

Tell us about any dietary requirements or allergies when you book, so your group leader knows before you arrive.

Tap water in India is unfit for consumption, but each of our accommodations that we stay in provide bottled water in the rooms and it will be available to purchase. When buying bottled water you should always make sure it is sealed before opening.

It is one of the best parts of the trip, and one of the easiest countries in the world to be vegetarian. Much of Rajasthan's cooking is vegetarian, and the holy town of Pushkar is almost entirely meat-free. Expect dal, curries, fresh breads, street snacks and plenty of chai, and ask for "less spicy" if you need to.

To keep your stomach happy, eat freshly cooked food from busy places, peel fruit, and avoid tap water and ice of unknown origin.

Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi, for both your arrival and your flight home, as this tour starts and finishes in Delhi. There are no activities on day 1 and the group meets at around 7pm, so landing earlier in the day gives you time to settle in.

The trip ends after breakfast on day 13, so book your flight home for after 12pm.

Please wait for your booking confirmation email, which tells you when we recommend arriving and departing. You can search and book flights on our flights page.

We will send you your airport transfer information one week before the tour or programme begins.

Yes. Almost every nationality needs a visa for India, British, US, Canadian and Australian passport holders included. Most of our travellers use the e-Tourist Visa, applied for online on the official Indian government site; the 30-day version is long enough for the India part of our trips. Use only the official site, as copycat sites charge extra.

Your passport needs six months' validity from the day you arrive and two blank pages. Every foreign visitor must also complete India's e-Arrival Card online in the 72 hours before landing. Keep a copy of your e-Visa and onward ticket to show at check-in.

Rules depend on your passport and do change: see our India visa guide.

International flights are not included in the price of any tour and will need to be booked separately. You’re free to book your own flights or book here.

Once you've booked your flights, log in to My Account on our website and enter your flight arrival details. That is how your group leader knows when you are landing.

Arriving before the tour starts, or staying on at the end? Let us know as early as you can so we can check availability and pricing on extra nights.

Please let us know as soon as possible. If you are already en route and a connecting flight changes, contact your group leader or email us so we can still meet you at the airport.

Your deposit ensures your reservation for the tour or program. It guarantees your spot until 60 days prior to the scheduled commencement date, at which time the outstanding balance must be settled in full. Failure to complete payment by the specified deadline will result in the cancellation of your reservation, and the vacancy may be offered to another prospective participant. The remaining balance can be found in your account, and multiple reminders will be sent in advance of the due date to ensure timely payment.

For group tours, your place is confirmed once enough travellers have booked, and always at least four weeks (28 days) before your tour starts. Most group tours are confirmed around six months before departure.

For volunteer or private bookings, please allow 2-3 working days.

If a tour does not run, you get a full refund.

Yes. A suitcase or a backpack is fine on this trip, because you travel between destinations by private bus. Keep it under 20kg, though, as you carry your own bags throughout and there is an internal flight on day 3.

A backpack or holdall is a little easier to move around with, but plenty of travellers bring a suitcase.

Yes, the dress code is seen as a show of respect to the culture, temple and monks that often live in the temples. Men should wear long pants and no cut-off sleeves. Women should wear trousers, a long skirt, or dress that extends fully below the knees and covers their shoulders - the knees should be fully covered. Tank tops and low cut shirts should also be avoided by both genders.

India runs on 230 volts, with round-pin sockets (Types C, D and M). UK, US and Australian plugs will not fit, so bring a universal adapter. Most phone and laptop chargers work fine.

Short power cuts still happen, so a power bank is useful.

Yes. Your airport pick-up is included, and someone will be waiting for you when you land at Delhi airport. Once your flights are booked, add your arrival details to your booking so we know when to meet you. Arriving early and staying at the tour hotel? We will still arrange your pick-up.

The drop-off at the end of the trip is not included, but your group leader will help you sort out transport for your flight home.

You cover a lot of ground in 13 days. After a short flight from Delhi to Jodhpur on day 3, you travel on to Pushkar, Jaipur, Ranthambore, Agra and back to Delhi by private bus.

Some travel days are long, but they are broken up with stops along the way, such as Abhaneri Stepwell on the drive from Ranthambore to Agra on day 11.

The trip starts and finishes in Delhi.