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| 20 Days Grand Circle of India- North & South India |
| 'PRIVATELY GUIDED' TOUR- TRAVEL ANY DAY |
Featuring Delhi, Varanasi, Khajuraho, Agra- Taj Mahal, Jaipur, Udaipur, Aurangabad- Ajanta and Ellora caves, Cochin, Kumarakom Backwaters, Periyar, Madurai, Tanjore, Trichy and Chennai- Mahabalipuram
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INDIA - Practical Information
India, a land peopled by almost a hundred races, speaking as many different languages and local dialects, each with its own distinct culture and history and let the centuries roll on - you get a rich cultural tapestry - colorful people, wondrous sights and the staggering diversity that is India. India is a continuous visual and mental stimulation; you can admire the masterpieces of architecture, the art in temples and the ancient caves, live in ornate palaces, see unique craftsmanship and meet the diverse people of India from all facets of life. The hotels are great, there is plenty of (safe) food for every taste, bottled drinking water is easily available, service on internal flights is top quality with modern aircrafts, and millions of people speak English and are very friendly.
PASSPORT & VISAS
A passport valid for at least six months beyond your return date is required. Visas are required for India, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. You will require a multiple entry visa for India. Over the years we have found Zierer Visa Service to be very reliable and efficient. They arrange visas on behalf of most big tour operators in the country. Immediately after sign-up, a visa kit with requisite forms from Zierer Visa Service for the India visa are sent to you. Visa fee is not included in your tour price and the payment should be mailed with the completed application to the visa service. |
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Should you decide to get your own visas, you can apply through the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, Washington DC or New York.
For more information or to download a Zierer Visa application visit www.zvs.com. To speak directly with ZVS Customer Service, call toll-free 866-788-1100, Monday-Friday, 9am-8pm EST, Saturday 10am-2pm ET.
If you are not a US citizen, please call us and we will help you find the correct visa requirements.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
India, Bhutan, Nepal or Sri Lanka governments do not require any inoculations, except proof of a yellow fever shot if you have traveled in a yellow fever effected area within the past six months. As a minimum, most tourists take protection against Hepatitis A and get booster shots. CDC and your local health department maintain a list of recommended shots for travel to your destination. Your personal physician may recommend some shots for your special needs. For more information you may contact your local health department or the CDC at (404) 332 4559 or visit http://www.cdc.gov/travel/indianrg.htm.
Precautions: Minor stomach ailments are the most common affliction of visitors to India. To minimize the chances of your getting sick, we strongly recommend that you drink only bottled water during your travel through India. Bottled drinking water is available for purchase throughout. In restaurants, insist that they bring a sealed bottle to your table. Avoid having ice in drinks unless you know it has been made with bottled water. It may be advisable to brush your teeth with bottled water. It is also a good idea to always wash your hands before and after eating. Try and avoid unpeeled fruits or raw salads or make sure fresh fruit or vegetables have been washed in bottled water. Most hotels have physicians on call. They are inexpensive (relative to what you pay at home), competent, and familiar with the common ailments that afflict travelers. Your tour might be traveling through remote areas where medical facilities may not be in easy reach. Our local staff are available to assist you in anyway possible.
CLIMATE
October through March is the best season to visit India. There is little or no rain in North India during this time. The average high temperatures in most of North India are in the low 80s and the lower range is between 50° to 70°F. However in January/February the temperatures could drop to low 40s°F. South India gets some monsoon rains in October/November, but December through March is relatively cool and dry. Please click here for a weather chart.
CLOTHING
No formal clothes are required on your tour, unless you wish to dress up a little for welcome and farewell dinners and/or for dining at the better restaurants of some Deluxe hotels. A jacket for men (tie optional) and one evening dress for ladies is about enough. Casual to smart-casual is the norm. On tours, shorts are also okay. During visits to a temple or a mosque, avoid showing too much skin. From November to February a sweater and a wind jacket may be necessary in north India. Remember comfortable walking shoes and a few pairs of dark "temple sox" that can be discarded after the tour. You will need to carry rain gear in monsoon months of June/September.
Recommended items to pack include: good walking shoes, protection against sun, (i.e., sun screen, sun glasses, hats, umbrellas etc.), light jacket or sweater, extra pair of sox (temple sox), mosquito repellent (Deet or such), diarrhea medication, soap leaves, wet wipes (single use type packets), hand sanitizer, binoculars, flashlight, medication, alarm clock or a travelers watch, calculator, camera with extra memory sticks/film and batteries.
FOOD & DINING
A smorgasbord of traditional local fare and continental favorites are available in most hotels. Full American breakfast is included daily with juice, fruit, breads, eggs and local items. On our escorted tours we have arranged lunches and dinners that are buffets or a choice of three-course western or Indian style meals. Some days a multi choice local favorite meal may be offered. All escorted group tours include gala welcome 'get-acquainted' and 'farewell' dinners. Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Cochin offer fine dining in city restaurants; in all other cities it is perhaps best to eat in the hotels.
BAGGAGE
Baggage handling of only one piece of checked luggage per person is included on all tours. Coach class passengers can take two check-in bags not to exceed 106 inches per bag and not to exceed 50 pounds for each bag on your flights to India. In addition one carry-on bag is allowed per person, not to exceed 11 pounds weight and 17" x 12" x 8" in dimension. Within India the domestic airlines allow each passenger only one checked bag not to exceed 54 pounds. Please check with us regarding restrictions on baggage to your destinations.
ELECTRIC CURRENT IN INDIA
The voltage in India is 220 volts AC 50 cycles. Wall plugs are the round, two-pronged European type. It is best to carry a travel adapter to fit your particular appliance. Most hotels will provide hair dryers.
TIME ZONE IN INDIA
India has only one time zone; the entire country is 5.5 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), and 9.5 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the U.S. During daylight savings time, the time difference is 10.5 hours. For current time in India visit: www.worldtimeserver.com
CURRENCY
Your hotels, sightseeing tours, mentioned meals and on some escorted tours gratuities are prepaid. However, customary end-of-the-trip gratuity to your tour escort is not included. It is easy to change money at your hotel cashier's desk. There is no major advantage in changing money at a bank. It is better to take money by traveler's checks. You may want to take some cash in twenties, tens, fives and ones for small purchases. You should try not to change too much money as it is often difficult to reconvert local money back to US dollars. When you change your money you get receipts (called "encashment certificates") should be retained, as these will enable you to reconvert the balance into dollars, at the time of departure from the country, if the last receipt is no more than 30 days old. All major establishments, hotels, restaurants and shops accept major credit cards. ATMs are very few in major cities only, so please do not plan on using them. Visitors to India are allowed to bring currency up to $2500 U.S. If the total amount of foreign exchange (including $2500 in currency) exceeds $10,000 USD, the amount must be declared upon entry on a Currency Declaration Form. International airports have currency exchange booths that are always open for arriving or departing overseas flights.
CANCELLATION:
Our cancellation policy is as follows; If canceled in writing;
90 days or more before departure.Minimum penalty $350.00
89 - 60 days before departure.Minimum penalty 50%
79 - 45 days before departure.Minimum penalty 75%
44 days prior till date of departure.100% of the tour price
NO shows . no refunds and no refunds after the tour begin.
All penalties above are per person.
Terms & Conditions |
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