Useful Information for Backpacking India & Sri Lanka

Twin or double share rooms for all 23 nights. In India: two nights in Delhi, two in a heritage haveli in Jodhpur, a night in luxury tents at a desert glamping camp, a night in Pushkar, two in a heritage hotel in Jaipur, two at a resort outside Ranthambore, a night in Agra and a final night in South Delhi. In Sri Lanka: a night in Negombo, two in Sigiriya, one in Kandy, two in Ella, one in Udawalawe, two at a beachfront eco retreat in Talalla (fans rather than air conditioning, and some triple rooms) and two in Mirissa.

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 Sri Lanka and it is very good, so vegetarians have plenty of choice, including at the 33 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.

No, not in either country. Stick to sealed bottled water, or filtered water where your accommodation provides it, and check the seal before you open a bottle. Be wary of ice and salads washed in tap water at street stalls. A reusable bottle with a filter saves money and plastic over 24 days.

Awesome! Once you’ve booked, just let us know who you’re travelling with and we’ll make sure you’re roomed together. Easy as that!

Fly into Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) 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. Your flight from India to Sri Lanka on day 13 is included.

You fly home from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) near Colombo. The trip ends in Mirissa on day 24, and the bus back up to Negombo, near the airport, gets in around midday to 2pm, so a flight from about 5pm onwards is comfortable.

Yes, you need permission for both. Almost every nationality needs a visa for India; most travellers use the 30-day e-Tourist Visa from the official Indian government site, and every foreign visitor must also complete India's e-Arrival Card online in the 72 hours before landing. For Sri Lanka, apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization on eta.gov.lk before your included flight on day 13; for British citizens and many others it is currently free.

Your passport needs six months' validity from arrival in each country. Rules depend on your passport, so see our India visa guide and Sri Lanka visa guide.

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.

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 for most of it. Keep it under 20kg, though: you carry your own bags throughout, and there are two flights (days 3 and 13) and a train ride to Ella on day 17.

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

Both run on 230 volts. India uses round-pin sockets (Types C, D and M). Sri Lanka's newer buildings mostly have UK-style three square-pin sockets (Type G), while older ones still have round-pin Types D and M. One universal adapter covers the whole trip, and a power bank is useful for the occasional power cut.

Backpack or suitcase? Totally up to you. But here’s the golden rule: pack light! We recommend keeping it under 20kg.

A few quick tips:

• A backpack that zips open on the side = super handy
• Don’t overpack, you can do laundry on tour
• You definitely don’t need 16 pairs of shorts

Keep it simple. You’ll thank yourself later!

Yes. Your airport pick-up in Delhi is included, and someone will be waiting for you when you land. 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.

There is no airport drop-off at the end, but on day 24 there is a bus from Mirissa back to Negombo for anyone flying home that day.

The trip ends in Mirissa after breakfast on day 24. If you are flying home that day, there is a free bus back up to Negombo: it leaves Mirissa between 8am and 10.30am and gets in around midday to 2pm. From Negombo it is a 20 to 25 minute taxi to Colombo airport, around £10 or US$20.

If you would rather go straight from Mirissa, a private transfer to the airport takes about three hours and starts at roughly £60 or US$75. Staying on in Sri Lanka? Your group leader will help you work out where to go next.

You cover a lot of ground in 24 days. A short flight takes you from Delhi to Jodhpur on day 3, then a private bus carries you on to Pushkar, Jaipur, Ranthambore, Agra and back to Delhi. On day 13 you fly to Sri Lanka, where you travel by private bus, apart from the train from the tea country to Ella on day 17.

Some travel days are long, and Sri Lanka's roads are mostly two lanes, so short distances can take a while. The drives are broken up with stops along the way, such as Abhaneri Stepwell on day 11 and a spice garden on day 16.

The trip starts in Delhi and finishes in Mirissa.