Travel Notes- India
Some details to help you plan
India is vast, regions are very different and we run a number of tours so you can experience the differences.
| Blog | Take a look– I’ve talked about India and her various regions a lot over the years. |
| Workshops | Apron might be an idea for Blockprinting and indigo |
| Food | Food is an integral part of culture and we are there to try it all. Generally, with group meals we choose a range of dishes to share and look for local specialties as we go. |
| In India they cook from scratch using fresh ingredients so keeping track of what goes into your dinner is easy enough. Products like soy milk, manufactured substitute proteins, etc not seen. | |
| Vegetarian? Easy in India | |
| Vegan- little more challenging but possible in India | |
| Chilli free, India not possible, it is like saying don’t breathe to Indian cooks. We can definitely order mild, only a hint of spice. | |
| Onion, garlic free- a challenge to manage | |
| Wheat free- easy in India. | |
| Health | Drink only filtered or bottled water- never local supply, even for cleaning your teeth |
| Check yourself- Drink at least 2 litres of WATER per day. You will feel better for it and less likely to have a funny tummy. | |
| See your Doctor or a Travel Specialist Doctor before you leave home for travel advice | |
| Bring adequate medical supplies to cover your needs and the prescription to verify their use | |
| Menstrual needs- tampons not easy to find. Pads available | |
| Bug spray | |
| Money | Notify your bank you are going OS and to expect activity in which ever country, possibly transit lounges on the way, too. Otherwise they might flag unusual activity and block your card. |
| Travel Cards can be good for security of your accounts CHECK before you leave that they actually work. A number of times guests have had issues. | |
| GOOD to have a backup card hidden in your suitcase, so that if primary card/s don’t work or get lost you have a fall-back card. | |
| ATM– easy to get cash | |
| Cash to exchange- good back up but not always easy to exchange at a good rate. Ask at hotel front desk. | |
| Credit Cards in the developing world few places have the facilities to process credit card transactions | |
| Credit Cards expect an additional fee to cover high processing fees of developing world banks. Not always but it happens | |
| Shopping | It happens, there are treasures to find 😊 It helps the local economy. |
| If there are things you know you might want, for example carpets or spices do some research. How much would an item back home cost? It will give some starting point in your mind. | |
| Bargaining is the general way to make a transaction. Not experienced? Google it and practice, generally most prices are negotiable in the marketplace. NGOs and Social enterprises are generally fixed price. | |
| Suitcase | Easier to start with a normal size suitcase and bring a soft bag to carry any extra stuff you acquire rather than a huge suitcase. |
| Weather | At this time of year is warm in the daytime but perhaps evenings and mornings can be cool; a cardigan and socks appreciated. Think layers so you can peel as the day warms up. |
| Power | Power – 240 volts, European adaptor plugs are the most useful. In India the older larger 3 prong plug rarely seen these days- European 2 prong works usually. |
| Clothing | Lightweight layers of clothing are good. Light, loose layers work well with the climate. Generally, I find 3 or 4 outfits enough, there is always the opportunity to pick up things along the way. Pack a pair of socks and cardigan for the cool of the morning. |
| To respect local customs, it is best for skirts or trousers to be mid-calf length at least, tops not revealing- cleavage no, mid-drift OK. Check out the older women in saris- a lot of belly, no problem. | |
| A scarf is always good to have to hand. AC cool on bus, temple cover up…. | |
| ANY DAY we have a temple, mosque or other religious house mentioned, wear long trousers or skirt, and take a scarf to cover head if necessary. Often these places will lend you a cover up- think polyester sack, so better to be prepared and comfortable. | |
| Leave your expensive jewellery at home | |
| Shoes | Sensible walking shoes such as sneakers or strapped on sandals are the best options. Surfaces are often rough, and you really want your footing stable so you can focus on all the wonderful things everywhere to look at! Pair of rubber thongs or flip-flops are good – often bathrooms can be slippery when wet. |
| Laundry | Any stop for 2 nights is a good time to send out laundry. Indian laundry is a little luxury- it comes back, washed and ironed. After so many years I have never lost anything. |
| Fitness | We get on and off the minibus every day, multiple times |
| Bazaars, monuments and just about everywhere BEG to be explored. You need to be able to walk comfortably for an hour or two to explore. Expect some steps. | |
| Begging? | Begging is generally not to be encouraged. Giving gifts of pens and lollies to children is encouraging them to learn a begging mentality [if you like to give a gift to children, we can hand it onto a school]. |
| There is no pension in India– a few coins to a very old person or a handicapped person is very kind. | |
| If you love the kids- take time to chat with them, rather than bringing little gifts. Gifts encourage a begging mentality- they don’t see you only what you have. A laugh and a joke- they see a nice person from far away talking to them. | |
| Tipping? | it is the local custom so have a pocket full of small change to be ready if you receive a personal service – e.g. bags into or out of hotel, cup of tea through room service, laundry delivery, it is customary to give a tip . Suggest 20-50 rp |
| If you enjoy the commentary of a guide, a performance, take a photo of someone posing in the street etc it is customary to give them a 100 Rp tip | |
| Set something aside for our driver –they will take us safely and comfortably through the adventure of many roads. Think the equivalent of US$2 or 3 per person, per day [cost of a cup of coffee back home]. Perhaps have a volunteer from the group organize a thank you at the end of the trip and give this tip directly to the driver. | |
| Step lightly on our environment, be frugal in water use, turn off power switches, take rubbish with you where possible. Say NO to Plastic! Please bring a cloth carry bag. |
At Creative Arts Safaris Tours we offer fully escorted, small group tours. CAS focuses on textiles, arts and culture and yummy local cuisine.
On tour we like to get our hands dirty taking workshops, exploring locations and culture. We like to include lots of local experiences.
Our friendly groups are inclusive. They are companionable and well organized allowing a relaxed adventure, great for solo travellers.
They include pickup & drop to airport, accommodation, group travel, sightseeing, workshops, and most meals. Almost everything EXCEPT the shopping – that is your job. Help the local economy.