• NOW: Check Passport Validity (to enter India it must be valid for at least six months after your return date to New Zealand/Australia)

  • Please send Sarah a photo of the Photo Page of your Passport via email – sarah@allindiapermit.co.nz or via text message - +64 21 701 999

• 30 Days BEFORE ARRIVAL IN INDIA

  • Apply for your India Entry Visa – this can be on online and at the Indian High Commission or Consulate. Sarah will send you information about the Visa application process about two months before you leave (you can only apply for a visa within 30 days of arrival in India).

  • Please send Sarah a copy of your Approved Visa via email – sarah@allindiapermit.co.nz

  • Apply for a Wise card if you are intending on using one in India

  • Start taking a Probiotic - I recommend this one

• Arrange Travel Insurance

• Book Air Travel and any additional travel arrangements needed

• Order a cell phone cover with cord

• Print and carry with your passport:

  • Visa Confirmation

  • Covid-19 International Travel Vaccination Certificate

• Download the WhatsApp app

• Download a Currency Conversion App

• Book any vaccinations required at least one month before departure. Make sure your Tetanus, Hepatitis A + Typhoid (Vivaxim) vaccines are current. For South India you may want to consider Malaria. Rabies is not necessary (it involves three separate jabs), but is an option if you want it.

All accommodation has been confirmed and is noted in your itinerary. A full breakfast is included with your accommodation each morning.

A list of Additional Activity suggestions and ideas will be provided to you for pre-booking. Some of the suggestions need to be pre-arranged and you will be asked to complete a quick form with your choices. If there’s anything else you are keen to see, buy, do, please just let Sarah know and she will help arrange it for you. There are shopping suggestions on the list too.

For peace of mind, some people like to pop an AirTag (Apple users) in their suitcase so they can keep an eye on their luggage location when they are travelling. They work with the “Find My” function in your iPhone. If you are an Android user, there are similar products available such as Tile or Samsung Galaxy SmartTags.

On the whole, alcohol is quite expensive in India in hotels relative to other destinations. It’s the tax that gets you. That said, there is a burgeoning alcohol production industry in India and there are some very reasonable locally-made products available. Local beer brands include Kingfisher, Haywards and unsurprisingly a growing variety of craft beer. Local spirits are also very good with an exceptional range of locally produced gin (many from Goa) including Hapusa and Stranger & Sons. Wine has also been grown in India, not far from Mumbai, for the last 25 years. Sula and Fratelli aren’t bad and usually under half the price of imported brands!
 
If you wish, you can bring in duty free alcohol (buy it in New Zealand, Australia or Singapore…do not wait for India Duty Free). Each person may bring in up to 2 litres of wine (2 bottles per person or 5 between two) or spirits (again, 2 bottles per person). Just remember, if you bring it, you carry it and once in India it must be CHECKED IN your luggage!
 
If you wish to purchase any Indian alcohol to take home its best to do this before you leave Delhi. The duty free range leaving India isn’t great (if non-existent) and the prices locally are VERY GOOD! If you are interested, Sarah can help you find a bottle shop.

Bartering is very common in India but doesn’t happen everywhere. No bartering is accepted in hotels, many stores (boutiques and government stores), or restaurants etc, however on the street (tuk tuks etc) and in the bazaars and markets, bartering is very much part of the way of doing business.
 
Like bartering, India also has a strong tipping culture. It’s incredibly useful to have a stash of ₹50 and ₹100 notes (NZ$1.00-$2.00 / A$0.60-$1.80) for tips and tuk tuks etc. If you are exchanging cash, ask for a good pile when you are making your currency exchange. It’s impossible to barter with larger denominations.
 
If you aren’t sure about what’s appropriate, just ask Sarah. You’ll be provided with a bit of a guide to help. All tips for the activities included in the itinerary have been taken care of already.
 
Roughly, tips are:
 
Hotel Porters                 ₹50-100 per person
Monument Guide        ₹250 per person (anything in the itinerary has already been                                              sorted)
Meals                                10% of total bill (but check the bill as the ‘Service Charge’
                                            may have been included already)

Despite the fact that India is one of the world’s most popular visitor destinations, be prepared that people will stare at you from time-to-time. People will take your photo with or without your permission and you are likely to be filmed.
 
Some of this can be blatant and you may feel uncomfortable. I find it best to just turn away from the situation. If you do feel uncomfortable, simply ask the person not to film you / take your photo. If you are asked for your photo, it is recommended that you politely decline. One photo can literally lead to hundreds.
 
Please also be aware of offers of free food/water. Unfortunately this is often a ruse. The key to any approach is just to politely decline and stay calm.

Whilst it is not necessary to show proof of your vaccination status to visit India, India does love bureaucracy! As a precaution, please bring a hard copy of your Covid-19 International Travel Vaccination Certificate with you. New Zealanders: to obtain this, you need to login to My Covid Record to request a downloadable copy.

Due to anti-money laundering laws, it is not possible to obtain Indian Rupee outside of India. This also means that official currency exchange offices in India are tightly controlled and offer appalling exchange rates (you lose up to 30%). And unhelpfully, as a foreign national, you are unable to exchange your currency at a bank.
 
Sarah's ground agent in India is able to facilitate any currency exchange requirements you have and it is recommended that you do this as soon as you arrive in Mumbai. At check in when you arrive, please give Sarah an envelope with any NZD/AUD that you wish to exchange and you will have the cash by the following morning. Sarah will confirm with you in advance the amount and rate with you.

The domestic airline luggage allowance is 15 kilos per person. Any excess luggage is charged at ₹550 per kilo (approximately NZ$11.00/A$10.00 per kilo). You will need to pay this at check in if you are overweight. Note, we will be checking in as a group when we are travelling together, so the odd kilo here and there shouldn’t matter! Also, for some flights our bags will go by road and we will fly so the additional purchase of baggage will be unnecessary.

India does not have the relaxed domestic carry on rules that we have in New Zealand and Australia. Please ensure that you check in any liquids over 100mls (including any duty free alcohol…it will need to be packed in your check in luggage) for your domestic flights in India. Assume the same rules for domestic air travel in India as your international flights.

Please do not drink water directly from the tap and try and keep your mouth closed in the shower! This includes toothbrushing - do not brush your teeth with water from the tap.
 
You will be provided with plenty of bottled drinking water at the hotel and in our car transport every day. Please use this to make a cup of tea, brush your teeth etc.

We are fortunate to have excellent drivers with us in India. From the time we arrive in Delhi, we will have the same driver and helper with us for the duration of the time. They are completely trustworthy and will guard your belongings with their life (literally). Sarah will have a tip prepared for them at the end of the trip, but many people often want to provide an extra contribution. This is most welcome – please give this to Sarah and she will present it to our driver and helper at the end of the trip.

In India there are three electrical plug types, types C, D and M. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins, plug type D is the plug which has three round pins in a triangular pattern and plug type M is the plug which also has three round pins. India operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz. Most hotels have adaptors available and many have international multi-plugs in the rooms too.

The best adaptor on the market is this one.

Sarah will be carrying a comprehensive first aid kit, Covid tests and has completed a St. Johns First Aid Course. Please rest assured that India's healthcare system is world class and hospitals abound. If medical assistance is needed, our Indian ground agent will connect us with any healthcare that is required. Please ensure you bring all personal medication and that your travel vaccinations are up-to-date. Like all destinations, please take care in India.
 
It's recommended that you bring a supply of:
 

• Diarrhoea medication, like Diastop or Imodium

• Electrolyte powder

• Panadol/Nurofen

• Cold & Flu medication

• Throat Lozenges / Throat Gargle

• Buscopan, usually Pharmacist-only, helps with tummy cramps

• Activated Charcoal (also useful if you get a funny tummy)

• Any personal medication requirements

You’ll see a lot of flower garlands in India, particularly at markets. Flowers, like marigolds and roses are an essential part of pooja (worship) and as such, must not be touched or smelt. They are for admiring only as they are offered to the gods. When you are in the markets, please resist touching and smelling them, unless you are invited to.

An extensive breakfast is provided each day – both continental and cooked – and this is included with your accommodation. Everything at breakfast is safe to eat and drink. The omelettes at The Imperial in New Delhi are, in fact, legendary! When we are together as a group, you will be directed for lunch and dinner and again, everything is perfectly safe to eat.
 
It’s not recommended that you eat street food (as good as it smells) as this may not have a good outcome! For those doing the Street Food Walking Tour in Mumbai, this is all perfectly safe (and delicious) to eat. If in doubt, just ask Sarah.
 
Lots of tips and recommendations can be given to you for places to eat (to suit all budgets) that you’ll absolutely enjoy. With the population being 50% vegetarian, the vegetarian options abound and are so much more inventive and creative than in New Zealand and Australia. Definitely try local food…things like paneer, dahl and pani puri (a type of snack) are a must.
 
Do not feel guilty when you don’t feel like Indian food after a few days! Everyone needs a break 😉. Sarah will make sure that some other flavour profiles are available.

At all government run visitor attractions in India there are two prices – one for Indian nationals and one for foreigners. Please don’t question this, the government makes all attractions accessible to locals by charging a lower entry price.

People often want to bring gifts to give people they meet along the journey. This is a nice gesture, but not necessary. If you want to bring small tokens with you, “New Zealand” and “Australia” are highly revered, as is cricket, so anything Black Caps, Australian Cricket, goes down a treat!

The hand luggage rules are the same in India, as they are in New Zealand (despite some interesting interpretations of those from time-to-time 😉).
 
For the North India Tour, please bring a decent hand luggage bag with you as we will be sending checked luggage from Jaipur to Jodhpur and back to Delhi from Jodhpur on the coach to avoid having to check in any excess luggage for this domestic flight. See “Luggage” on the next page.

Every foreigner checking into a hotel is required by law to have their passport photo page copied and registered. Do not be alarmed when you are asked for your passport. It will be returned to you within a few minutes.

Applying for an E-Tourist Visa online is relatively straightforward. This is done via this website and can be completed from 30 days before you arrive in India. It is suggested that you complete this as soon as you can (i.e. 30 days before) to allow for any delay in processing. You normally receive the Visa within about 48 hours of making your application. Please print out your Visa and carry with your passport.
 
To make this application, you must have the following ready to upload as part of your application:
​

• Applicant recent coloured photograph (dimensions no more than 2in x 2in) size less than 1MB

• Photo of passport page containing personal particulars (this is your passport photo page with all your personal information) – take this with your phone. Make sure you aren’t covering any of the codes, details or casting a shadow

• Credit Card to make payment for your visa online

All our accommodation will provide laundry services at any additional (and usually very reasonable) cost. Sarah uses the laundry services a lot in India. For delicate/personal items, pack a small amount of laundry powder and a travel washing line to hang in your hotel shower.

• Do NOT drink water out of the tap

• Keep your mouth closed in the shower

• Only use BOTTLED WATER to brush your teeth

• When buying bottled water…check that it is sealed

• Fresh fruit and veges – are they peeled? NO – don’t eat it

• NO LETTUCE – ever

• Take toilet paper, wet wipes and hand sanitiser with you everywhere

• Don’t be a hero…watch the spice levels. Mild in India is usually enough

• NO ICE, EVER EVER

• No street food unless on a tour (this includes juices and treats)

• If in doubt, have a full fat Coke from a can

• Deep fried food is your friend

• Consider being a vegetarian – with over 50% of the population vegetarian, the options are astounding*

• Keep snacks on you at all times (It’s not always easy to find food that’s safe)

 
*A caveat on being a vegetarian…we are staying in some of the best accommodation in India. Generally speaking you are fine in the hotel and experiences/restaurants selected by Sarah

Everyone should only have one check in bag, but inevitably some people will be taking home more than they brought with them! If you purchase a carpet or big furniture, everyone ships, so that’s easy. Alternatively we can easily visit India Post and send stuff home.
 
For my main bag, I take a hard side spinner suitcase (this exact case - in yellow). I also bring one of these expandable Longchamp bags for shopping and check this in as a second piece for the trip home. The other very handy trick is to use compression packing cells for your suitcase which means you can fit A LOT more in. These are great. You can buy extra bags in India but it’s probably easier to bring one.
 
For New Zealand travellers: If you are Air NZ Gold Status or above, this is equivalent to Star Alliance Gold which means that you one additional piece of luggage available to use on your Singapore Airlines flights which is also Star Alliance. Check your status benefits.
 
Just remember that the flight between Mumbai and Delhi is NOT a Star Alliance carrier, so your total check in allowance for that flight is 25 kilos per person. Please refer to “Domestic Airline Luggage Allowance” for more information.
 
Some good news…if you decide to shop up a storm after Delhi (that’s in Agra, Jaipur, Pushkar and Jodhpur), whilst we fly back to Delhi from Jodhpur, our drivers will be returning to Delhi overnight by road and can deliver any large purchases to you in Delhi ready for you to check in for your international flight home! That’ll save on excess baggage on the domestic flight.

The Indian currency is the Rupee (₹).
 
The ATM cash withdrawal limit per day in India is ₹10,000 (equivalent to around NZ$200 or A$180) per machine for foreigners. Whilst there are ATMs everywhere and almost all accept New Zealand and Australian cards, this can be a bit frustrating as you will need cash for a lot of purchases (i.e. tips, in markets and meals etc). Credit cards are widely accepted and largely safe to use in stores. Advice will be given when not to use credit cards.
 
Due to anti-money laundering laws, it is not possible to obtain Indian Rupee outside of India. This also means that official currency exchange offices in India are tightly controlled and offer appalling exchange rates (you lose up to 30%). And unhelpfully, as a foreign national, you are unable to exchange your currency at a bank.
 
Sarah's ground agent in India is able to facilitate any currency exchange requirements you have and it is recommended that you do this as soon as you arrive. At check in when you arrive, please give Sarah an envelope with any NZD/AUD that you wish to exchange and you will have the cash by the following morning. Sarah will confirm with you in advance the amount and rate with you.
 
Many people now travel with an international currency card, such as the Wise card. This will be accepted anywhere that a credit card is accepted and has significantly lower fees than your New Zealand or Australian credit card. Find out more about getting a Wise card here. A Wise card is NZ$14 / A$10 to set up and allow at least one month for it to arrive before departure. A note, Air New Zealand’s onesmart cards do not work in India as they cannot be loaded with Indian Rupee.
 
It is also incredibly useful to have a Currency Conversion App downloaded on your phone for quick exchange rate checks as you’ll be talking in ₹1,000s when you are bartering etc. Download one before you leave home…there’s plenty of them, just make sure that the one you have has Rupees and New Zealand dollars! Sarah uses Currency App.
 
A couple of words you’ll hear a bit are ‘Lakh’ and ‘Crore’. One Lakh is ₹100,000 (approximately NZ$2,000/A$1,850) and One Crore is ₹10,000,000 (approximately NZ$200,000/A$185,000).

Just that!

Get used to this terminology! With over half the population being vegetarian, people who eat meat are referred to as Non-Veg. Everything is labeled accordingly.

Your phone will work in India and roaming is widely available. Free Wi-Fi is available in all hotels and will be available when travelling as a group via a local Wi-Fi “dongle”. Daily roaming charges (i.e. you are charged per day that you connect to a roaming network) are:
 
New Zealand Networks:
One – NZ$8 per day
Two Degrees – NZ$8 per day
Spark – NZ$30 for a 14 day international roaming pack
 
Australian Networks:
Telstra – A$10 per day
Optus – A$5 per day (certain plans)
Vodafone – A$5 per day
 
eSIMs are increasing in popularity and have varied success in India. The trouble seems to arise when you want to top up. This an interesting Q&A on the subject. In essence, you should be fine using an eSIM, it’s just if you need to receive any top up messages to your personal number through text message, you won’t be able to receive them, unless you are on a roaming network. Sarah uses an eSIM with no problem at all. Try Airalo.
 
India is the land of WhatsApp. If you don’t use WhatsApp, it would be useful to download it before you go as that’s how we will keep in touch when we aren’t together as a group.
 
One thing that is SUPER handy is a cell phone cover with a cord so you can wear your phone and it’s at the ready for photos. These are very cheap to order online for your phone model. This saves you needing to go in and out of your bag every time you want to take a photo. Safe and secure!

It’s recommended that you start taking a prebiotic a month before you leave, just to prepare your tummy for the flavours and spices of India! There are a number of travel probiotics available over the counter from the pharmacy; this one is quite good - Nutra-Life ProBiotica 50 Billion High Potency Caps 60s – as you can start taking 30 days before you depart to build up good levels and continue to take them as you travel.

If you are keen to read up a bit ahead of time, some great books are:
​

• City of Djinns, by William Dalrymple – absolutely fascinating read about the history of Delhi over a thousand years (highly recommended) – he has also authored White Mughals, The Age of Kali, In Xanadu and Kohinoor (Sarah has copies of all if you wish to loan)

• Shantaram, by Gregory David Roberts – a seriously big read about an Australian who got wound up in the Mumbai underworld. Pretty incredible story

• The Shortest History of India, by John Zubrzycki – just that!

• Holy Cow, by Sarah MacDonald – light and easy read about life in Delhi

• The Covenant of Water, by Abraham Verghese – tells the story of an Indian Malayali family living in southwest India, in the Kerala state, with the narrative spanning three generations, from 1900 to the 1970s.

• Sophia, by Anita Anand - The enthralling story of an extraordinary woman and her part in the defining moments of recent British Indian history

 
Great Articles:
 

• A recent Cuisine article written by Sarah

• Fabulous article on Rajasthan

• A great read from Conde Nast Traveller India

• And another from Vogue India

• Two articles by British journalist, Rosanna Falconer:

  • Country Life UK

  • Cabana Magazine

• Preparing for your trip

• A great read on Kerala in South India

• Best Neighbourhoods to Visit in Mumbai by Sarah

• A great interview with author William Dalrymple

• A super article on Kochi (Kerala, South India) - thanks, Jeny!

• Why India's Food is the world's best!

• Listen to a Radio Interview with me on RNZ Afternoons

 
An awesome Podcast:
 

• “Empire” Podcast: A fascinating look at India from two expert historians Anita Anand and William Dalrymple (author noted above). They also co-authored the Koh-i-noor book mentioned above together.

​​
Interesting Instagram Accounts to follow include:
 
@allindiapermittours
@travelsofsamwise
@loveindia_travel
@williamdalrymple
 
There’s a number of great India Guide Books available too. A personal favourite is the DK Eyewitness Guide as it has excellent detail of the monuments and forts. A new edition was released in late December 2023 which Sarah carries with her.

For New Zealanders: All group members have been preregistered on the https://www.SafeTravel.govt.nz website.
 
For Australians: Useful information is available here: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/

We will not be travelling to any areas that are considered ‘unsafe’ but like all travel, please keep your wits about you. It’s obvious you are a tourist. Please use hotel safes (all rooms have them) to store any passports and personal belongings of value. Do not carry your passports with you during the day when you are out sightseeing. They are safer in a safe!

Be prepared to go through airport-style (not usually quite as rigorous) at all major attractions and hotels. You will most probably be x-rayed and patted down. This is very normal!

During our travels we will often be dining together as a group and sometimes it’s all a bit difficult to split the bill on the spot. The App, Splitwise, is excellent and Sarah will be using this to let you know what you owe. We will just settle it up at the end of the trip. You will be sent an invitation to download it by Sarah, closer to departure.

India is the land of traffic. Never underestimate how long it might take to get somewhere. When in doubt, leave early as it can be surprising how long a short distance can take.

During our journey there will be times that we will be travelling by plane, train or car. Looking out the window will keep you busy for a while (there is a lot to see), but consider that we have a few travel stints:
 
NORTH INDIA

• Mumbai – Delhi (Air) – 2 hours

• Delhi – Agra (Road) – 4 hours

• Agra – Jaipur (Road) – 4 hours 30 minutes

• Jaipur – Jodhpur (Air) – 50 minutes

• Jodhpur – Delhi (Air) – 1 hour 25 minutes

​
SOUTH INDIA

• Kochi to Marari (Road) - 1 hour 30 minutes

• Marari to Alleppey (Road) - 1 hour

• Alleppey to Munnar (Road) - 5 hours

• Munnar to Madurai (Road) - 4 hours

• Madurai to Chettinadu (Road) - 2 hours

• Chettinadu to Kumbakonam (Road) - 2 hours 30 minutes

• Kumbakonam to Puducherry (Road) - 3 hours 30 minutes

• Puducherry to Chennai (Road) - 4 hours

 
Definitely pack an iPad with headphones, Sewing, Reading or download Podcasts etc

Travel Insurance is strongly recommended and if you are going to purchase, it should be done sooner rather than later. This is not included in the tour price.

At the risk of labouring the point, please drink a lot of water. It’s VERY easy to become dehydrated in India. The key to success is ‘little sips all the time’, rather than downing a bottle of water every now and then (it prevents overloading your kidneys and helps your body process it).

As mentioned previously, India is the land of WhatsApp. Sarah will be setting up a WhatsApp group as a key way to communicate with you when we are not together before we leave.

Come prepared for warm weather, dress loose and comfortably. Modesty is key in India so for ladies, long skirts, loose trousers and long shorts are best. It's appropriate to keep cleavage covered, but bare arms are fine. For men, shorts and t-shirts please. No tank tops. Wear comfortable shoes – sturdy sandals and sneakers are best. Jandals are not a good option – the streets are dirty and very uneven in places.
 
Autumn can still be quite warm in the day and the weather tends to be quite settled. Expect daily temperatures in the mid-late 20's. But, it can also go over 30 degrees too. Mornings and evenings are often cooler, particularly in Rajasthan so do have at least one long pair of pants/leggings and a warm jersey. The humidity should be reasonably low, but again it can be a mixed bag. Pack a light rain jacket and an umbrella but rain is rare at this time of year.
 
Please refer to “The Ultimate India Packing List” for a list of what to bring.

Definitely less is more. Ladies, please do not bring any big, open handbags. An over-the-shoulder style with a zip is much more practical. Carry water, sanitizer (available in India), any medication, a hat and money (cards and cash).
 
DO NOT bring your passport with you sightseeing. Please leave all valuables in the hotel safe (your room has one at every hotel).

Wi-Fi will be available when we are travelling together as a group on car journeys etc via a mobile “dongle”. This is provided Free of Charge. The dongle will give you access to email, social media and internet searching. You will NOT be able to stream movies, video call or download content from the internet (like books or podcasts) with this service. Please utilise hotel Wi-Fi for large downloads.

Please check with your doctor to make sure that you are up-to-date with all your vaccinations. Those doing the South India Adventure, may want to consider Malarial's, but it is not compulsory. It is recommended that your Tetanus, Hepatitis A + Typhoid (Vivaxim) vaccines are current. Rabies is optional…it’s quite expensive and require three shots over 28 days. Covid-19 vaccinations are not required to visit India any longer.