Useful Information for Backpacking India & Nepal

Mostly hotels and guest houses, with a couple of nights in a hostel and a lodge beside Chitwan National Park, all in double or twin share rooms. One night is spent on the overnight train, in an air-conditioned sleeper cabin.

If you would rather have your own space, a single upgrade is available: just ask us when you book.

No, the tap water is not safe to drink in Nepal. Stick to bottled, boiled or filtered water, and use it to brush your teeth too. Many cafes and guesthouses in Kathmandu and Pokhara have refill stations, so a reusable bottle, ideally one with a filter, saves money and plastic.

Nepal uses the same round-pin plugs and 230 volts as India, so the same adapter works in both countries.

The Florence Inn Hotel, New Delhi.

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.

Fly into New Delhi International Airport (DEL), as the tour starts in New Delhi.

Fly home from Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) in Kathmandu, where the tour finishes. You land in one country and leave from another, so book two one-way flights, or an open-jaw ticket if your airline offers one, rather than a straight return.

By air, and it is included in the price. You fly from Delhi to Kathmandu on day 12, and the transfers either side of the flight are covered too.

One thing to get right when you book: give us your name exactly as it appears in your passport, along with your full passport details. The flight is ticketed in advance, and a mismatch is expensive and slow to put right.

Yes, you need one for each country. Your India visa covers the first part of the trip, and you will need a Nepal visa from the day you fly into Kathmandu on day 12.

Requirements and fees depend on your passport and they do change, so check the UK government’s Nepal entry requirements or the Nepali embassy in your country before you travel. If anything is unclear, just ask us.

Use the tour's first-night hotel in New Delhi:

Hotel Florence, 2719 Bank Street, behind Karol Bagh Block 45, Beadonpura, Karol Bagh, New Delhi, Delhi 110005 (police station: Karol Bagh)

If the application asks for anything the address does not cover, get in touch and we will sort it out with you.

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, 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.

We wouldn’t recommend bringing more than 15-20kg as we strictly use public transport and it will be much more comfortable for you to carry less.

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.

There is one overnight train on this trip, around 10 to 12 hours, in a comfortable air-conditioned sleeper cabin.

The rest of the journeys run from about 1 to 6 hours by bus or train, plus the included flight from Delhi to Kathmandu on day 12.

It is a 5-6 hour walk up to Australian Camp on day 17, through rhododendron forest and terraced farmland, topping out at around 2,065m. That is not high enough for altitude sickness to be a normal concern, but there is less oxygen than at sea level, so it feels harder than the same walk would at home. Most people manage it comfortably.

If you have a respiratory condition such as asthma, speak to your doctor before you book, as thinner air can affect you more than you would expect. Please also tell us about any medical condition on the health questionnaire when you book, so your guide knows.

And if you would rather sit it out on the day, that is completely fine. Just say so to your guide.

Yes. An airport pick-up is included if you arrive on day 1 of the tour, or if you book a pre-tour night's accommodation with us. Add your flight details to your booking so we know when to meet you.

Arriving earlier than that? Get in touch and we can arrange a pick-up for you separately.

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

The trip starts in Delhi and finishes in Kathmandu.