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Highlights of Northern India

India - Trip code DIH Discovery
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737Kg of CO²e
Average carbon footprint per person
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Carbon Footprint
You deserve to know everything about your holiday, from what is included, what to expect and every kilogram of CO2 emitted on average per person along the way.

We've partnered with ecollective to measure the carbon footprint of this tour based on an average group size. Find out more about how we calculate this and why we think it's important here.

 

Journey beyond the Golden Triangle on this in-depth tour of Northern India. Search for Bengal tigers in Ranthambore, take a trip down the Chambal River to spot Gharial crocodile and witness the spiritual ceremonies of Varanasi. From the bustle of Delhi to the majesty of the Taj Mahal and the palaces of Jaipur, this trip ticks off all the must-sees and more.

Why we love this trip
  • The Golden Triangle - Explore Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, North India's historical hub, and home to the icons.
  • Temples and palaces - Journey down the River Chambal and uncover the 40 Hindu temples that line its banks.
  • Spot rare wildlife - Search for tigers and more on safari in the sprawling Ranthambore National Park.
  • October 2026 onwards - We have made some updates, please refer to the October 2026 onwards package for more information

  • Included meals

    Breakfast: 14

    Dinner: 3

  • Trip staff

    Explore Tour Leader

    Driver(s)

    Local Guide(s)

    Naturalist(s)

  • Transport

    Bus

    4WD

    Boat

    Rickshaw

    Train

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    Accommodation

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    Trip pace:

    Moderate

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    Group Size:

    Trip maximum 16
    Explore Average 11

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    Wildlife rating

    Expect chance encounters!

Itinerary

Trip information

Climate and country information

India

Climate

There is considerable variation between the different regions of India but, in general, the climate is tropical. Summer temperatures on the plains are very hot, but cooled by the South-West Monsoon, which lasts from June- September. During these months it can be very wet and therefore very humid. The temperature can be incredibly hot between June to September, especially in places such as Delhi and the north of India. During this time, it is not uncommon to experience thunderstorms and rain. It is recommended to wear light, breathable and loose clothes to keep cool. One benefit of travelling during the summer months is less crowds around the major sights. At altitude, temperatures can become quite cool at night even in the summer and may drop below freezing between December and February so warm clothing is necessary. In the winter, northern and mid India can be very cool, with cold evenings, so warm clothing, including plenty of layers, are essential. The south of India remains warm and sunny during the winter months.

Time difference to GMT

+5

Plugs

3 Pin Round

Religion

Catholicism, Hindu, Islam and Sikhism

Language

Hindi and English.

Budgeting and packing

Optional activities

The following excursions and/or activities are usually available and may be arranged locally. Estimated costs are provided below for guidance only, are on a per person basis unless shown otherwise, and may depend on the number of participants. Prices quoted are correct as of the date these tour notes were originally issued but may change at any time due to currency fluctuations. Please note: These activities are booked and paid for locally and do not form part of your Explore holiday contract.


On your free morning in Chambal you can choose from the following:
Jeep Safari to Sarus Crane Wetlands - 5155 Rs per person
Jeep Safari to spot Blackbuck - 5155 Rs per person
Etawah colonial tour - 3100 Rs per person
River safari - 5155 Rs per person

Clothing

From March through to November the weather will be warm and lightweight clothing is recommended. Conditions in December through to February will be cooler, and will require warm clothing mainly for early morning and evenings although please note that midwinter does see occasionally very cold spells and hotels rarely have heating arrangements compatible with UK standards so a thick fleece is necessary.
Local people may be offended by western styles of dress. Brief shorts, tight fitting clothing etc. should be avoided by both men and women. At some temples and mosques, such as Jama Masjid in Delhi, men and women are expected to dress conservatively. This means ensuring shoulders and legs, down to your ankles, are covered. You are also expected to remove your shoes and leave them outside the entrance of the temple or mosque. For this reason, it's recommended to pack long, lightweight trousers and tops that cover your shoulders. Scarfs or shawls are also useful to cover your shoulders.
Neutral coloured clothing is best for the game drives in Ranthambore. As the jeeps often travel along dusty paths, bringing a buff or a scarf to cover your face is recommended. For the chilly morning safari drive in Ranthambore, a warm layer such as a fleece or a long-sleeved top will help to keep you warm before the sun rises.
For places where you will be near rivers, such as Chambal and Varanasi, mosquito repellent is strongly suggested.
Given the hustle and bustle of life in India's major cities, as well as the overnight trains, light sleepers would benefit from packing earplugs and eye masks.

Footwear

Comfortable shoes and sandals.

Luggage: On tour

One main piece of baggage and a daypack. Remember you are expected to carry your own baggage - so don't overload yourself. There are porters available for a small cost at train stations if you wish to use them.

Equipment

A torch is useful in case of powercuts/ emergencies. A bike lock to secure your luggage on the overnight train is suggested. Binoculars are needed for game/ bird watching in Ranthambore and Chambal. We advise taking a water bottle for day to day use.

Tipping

Explore leader
Tipping isn't compulsory, and we work hard to ensure that our leaders all receive a fair wage. However, you might want to recognise a leader that's done a great job or really added to your trip by giving them a tip. We're often asked about the recommended amount. It's a tricky one, and down to personal preference, but we'd recommend between £15 to £20 per person per week as a guideline. The discretionary tip can be given in GBP or local currency (rupees).
Local crew
Although entirely voluntary, tipping is a recognized part of life in this region of the world. Some local staff will look to members of the group for personal recognition of particular services provided. In order to make things easier for you, your leader may organise a group's tips kitty for included activities and meals and if this is the case, they will account for it throughout the tour.
Accordingly, you should allow GBP40, in local currency for group tipping.
For all non-included services and meals on your trip please tip independently at your discretion. As a general rule of thumb, where service charge is not included on your food bill, allocate 10% of the total bill as a recommended tip.

India

Food and drink

The costs for meals may vary depending upon location, type of restaurant and number of courses eaten and so the prices given are an average guide. Local restaurants located off the beaten track may be less expensive, whereas an upmarket restaurant located in the centre of a major city may charge more.


Lunch price
£8
Dinner price
£10
Beer price
£3
Water price
£0.5
Foreign Exchange
Local currency
Indian Rupee Recently new 500 and 2000 rupee notes have been bought in to circulation and as the old notes are no longer accepted there have been some cash flow issues. You don't need to worry about being given old notes as it's very easy to tell the difference, the new notes are pristine in comparison with most Indian money which is fairly tatty.
Recommended Currency For Exchange
GBP/US$ are the best currency to change into local currency.
Where To Exchange
The Indian rupee is a restricted currency and it is best not to obtain in the UK as rates are very poor. You can either change money at the airport on arrival or in major towns during the tour. Your Tour Leader will advise you on the best places in each town. Both GBP and USD cash are easy to exchange at the airport and at hotels however you will be restricted to changing £60 cash at a time and it's not possible to change money at these locations using a credit or debit card.
ATM Availability
ATMs are available in most large cities in India but they are very limited elsewhere so please do not rely on this.
Credit Card Acceptance
Very rarely, only in the larger outlets.
Transport, Accommodation, Food & Drink

Transport Information

Bus, 4WD, Boat, Rickshaw, Train

Accommodation notes

Accommodation in India is as varied as the country itself and standards might not always meet those back home.
Service can be slow, especially when travelling with a group and a number of hotels in India don't serve alcohol due to complicated licencing laws or for religious reasons. This applies to the hotels in Pushkar and Varanasi. Hot water is not always available at small properties and with a group staying, you might find the water is cooler if you're showering last. Hotels also don't usually have heating, so it can become chilly in the winter months, however, blankets will always be provided.
Due to the growth in tourism in India, it's not always possible to stay at our listed accommodation and an alternative will be found.
In Delhi, we'll stay in a small hotel, chosen for its location in the Karol Bagh area. It's walking distance from markets and restaurants and within easy reach of Old and New Delhi. All rooms have air conditioning and en-suite facilities. Due to the nature of the low-rise buildings in the area, some rooms are internal. If you have an issue with your room, please speak to your tour leader.20

India

Food and drink

Can you drink the water? 
The water quality is poor and therefore it is recommended to avoid drinking tap water during your trip. 

 

Essential Information

Government Travel Safety Advice

We strongly recommend that you check your government's travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination's safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs. Relevant government website links for UK, US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand citizens are available on our Travel Safety page.

If you'd like some inital information on country-specific entry requirements, such as visas or any health declaration forms, please refer to our Entry Requirements page.  The services and information on this page are provided by a third party, and so we will still recommend that you cross check this against your government website for the latest advice.
 

Under 18 immigration guidance

Please note that some countries require proof of parental consent when travelling overseas with under 18s. Please check requirements with the relevant embassy or consular office well in advance of travel if this applies to your party.

Price Guarantee

Once your booking has been confirmed we guarantee the price will not increase, whatever the circumstances. However, please note that if you voluntarily make any changes to your booking including changing your trip or departure date, any additional costs or charges incurred will not be covered. Before booking please ensure you have read our important tour pricing information.Booking Conditions
 

Visa and Passport Information

India: UK passport holders must apply for an e-visa, once obtained you will be given a QR code to present at the airport. Australian, New Zealand, US and Canadian passport holders may be eligible for the e-Tourist Visa to enter India.

The visa can be applied for through the official Indian government visa website only - https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html . Please check all eligibility criteria that can be found on the website.

You must be arriving into one of 29 selected entry points which can be found via the official Indian Government website link above. However, you can exit from any of the authorised immigration check posts in India.

Passports must have at least 6 months validity from the date of arrival in India and at least two blank pages for stamping. Visa applications will take approximately 4 days to process.

Those applying for a 30 day electronic visa can only apply within 30 days of arrival for your visa to be valid. Furthermore double entry is permitted and you can only obtain two 30-day visas in a calendar year.

If you are not eligible for the e-Tourist Visa, please refer to https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/index.html

Digital Arrival card -
Travellers holding passports from the UK, US, EU, and Canada must now complete a Digital Arrival Card when travelling to India. This form can be submitted online through the official Indian visa portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival ) up to 72 hours before arrival.

Please note that this is a separate requirement from the Indian e-Visa process. Paper arrival cards will continue to be available at airports until 1 April 2026, after which the Digital Arrival Card will become mandatory.


If you do require assistance in obtaining a visa then you may be able to apply through Explore's recommended visa service in the UK, Travcour. See www.travcour.com to download the relevant visa application for your trip, if applicable (UK citizens only), along with details of how to apply for your visa through Travcour. The Team at Travcour will be happy to answer specific questions relating to visa applications, please call them directly on 0208 5431846.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of a full passport, with the correct validity for your chosen destination.
 

Booking conditions

Before booking your Explore trip, please ensure that you read both our Essential Information and Booking Conditions.
 

Minimum age restrictions

For our group tours, the minimum age is 16. The minimum age on Family trips varies between 7 and 11 - please check the 'Family information' section of the trip page for more information. 


Your safety and enjoyment on tour

We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable holiday, so we ask you to confirm when booking this trip that you are fit and able to fully participate in all elements of the itinerary. If you have any concerns about your fitness or ability to complete any of the activities, please get in touch with our Customer Relations team at cr@explore.co.uk as soon as possible. Our tour leaders are trained and experienced in managing differing abilities within a group, but if they have concerns about a group member’s ability to safely participate in any element of the itinerary or believe someone’s presence could affect the safety or enjoyment of the holiday for others, in accordance with our Booking Conditions our tour leaders have the authority to ask an individual to miss an activity or activities. This decision would never be taken lightly, but on the rare occasions our tour leaders ask someone to sit out part of the tour, refunds will not be offered and individuals may be liable for additional costs incurred. 
 

Your Tour Leader

All tours aside from extensions, Galapagos cruises and polar expeditions will be led by one of our experienced Tour Leaders. We believe that our Tour Leaders are the key to the success of our tours; they are local experts who are bursting with first-hand knowledge which they love to share, and their unique insights will bring the destination to life. Your Tour Leader will be on hand throughout your tour to make sure arrangements run smoothly, to organise all the local logistics and to keep you safe. Your Tour Leader should be your first point of contact if you encounter any difficulties or disappointments in country – please raise any concerns, however small, with your Tour Leader as they are best placed to assist you.

Transfers

Find out more about Trip Transfer Terms and Conditions before you book.

Booking a land only package with Explore

Customers who have chosen to book on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements of our tour, please ensure that you have checked your tour specific ‘Joining Instructions’ prior to booking your own travel arrangements. Your joining instructions can be found below in the dates and prices information. 

You may also be eligible for the Free Explore Transfer.


Joining Tour Abroad

Customers booked on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements will receive a Free Transfer, provided you arrive and depart on the tour only itinerary start and end dates. The complimentary transfers will be arranged from the Explore designated airport or train station to your trips joining point, and then back from the ending point to the designated airport or train station. Generally the airport or station that Explore have selected will be the one that is closest to the town or city where the trip starts, or the one nearest to the joining point. It will be either an airport or train station but not both.

The exception to this rule is customers who are booked on a tour where the joining and ending point is at the designated airport or train station.  

Free transfers are not available for Polar customers.

If you are not eligible for the Free Transfer then you will need to make your own way through to the joining and ending point. On a majority of our tours Explore will be able to provide a private transfer at an additional cost. Please ask for a quote at the time of booking.  

For more information regarding the Explore Free Transfer click here

Insurance

It is a condition of booking with Explore that you have adequate valid travel insurance. It is your responsibility to arrange appropriate travel insurance and ensure you have read and understood the full terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for all activities you intend to undertake whilst on the tour, including all optional activities. Your Insurance Policy must fully cover you for medical expenses and emergency repatriation to your home country. Please ensure your policy includes medical emergency helicopter evacuation in the event of illness or injury and covers the entire duration of your holiday. If you are trekking at altitude please ensure that there is no upper altitude limit which may limit or exclude cover for your trip. The cost of many of our Polar Voyages will exceed the capped amount covered by standard insurance premiums and you will be required to pay an additional premium to cover the full value of your trip. Please ensure that you are covered for the full amount of your holiday cost, as insufficient cover could invalidate a claim under the policy. Medical and repatriation insurance cover is not mandatory for UK residents who are travelling on trips within the United Kingdom.
Read more information about what travel insurance is required.

Flight information

Explore can arrange your flights for you, to make joining and leaving our trips easy. Read more about them here.


Flight Information

You are able to book this tour on a 'land only' basis or as a ‘flight inclusive’ package. Your flight inclusive package will be fully protected by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) ATOL protection scheme.

 

Booking a flight inclusive package with Explore

We have a good selection of flights not only from London but from many regional airports around the UK allowing us to compare fares between scheduled carriers as well as low cost and charter airlines. Our dedicated flights team will match the best flight options to your arrival and departure airport.

On our website we display the price of the tour only. Please call us or select the flight option during the online checkout to receive a quote for a flight inclusive package. To avoid paying supplements or to secure your preferred flight option, we recommend booking as early as possible, especially for peak travel dates.

Included activities

Tiger Safari permit requirements

Ranthambore National Park is closely managed by the Indian Authorities. The number of vehicles permitted to enter the park at any one time is restricted and all game drives must now be booked and paid for well in advance. We recommend you book as early as possible in order to have the best chance of securing a space on a game drive.

In order to secure a booking we must provide your passport copy and full payment for the safari at the time of booking.
Once a game drive has been booked no changes are permitted and the payment is non-refundable. In order to proceed with bookings we require the following: A scanned copy of your passport - you must carry your passport during the game drive and if you renew your passport before travelling then you will need to take both passports with you.

We book all of our game drives in shared jeeps, with a maximum of 6 passengers per jeep with a driver and naturalist guide. On occasion we will be sharing jeeps with non-Explore passengers.
We will purchase seats for all passengers as soon as permits become available, usually 4 months prior, after this point it is not always possible to secure additional spaces.

We cannot guarantee the operation of any game drives until the necessary permits have been purchased. We aim to purchase the permits as soon as they are put on sale, whilst this is usually at 120 days before the date of the game drive on going changes to the booking system means that we cannot guarantee this.

India

Vaccinations

Nothing compulsory, but we recommend protection against Tetanus, Infectious Hepatitis, Typhoid and Polio. Please consult your travel clinic for the latest advice on Malaria, Dengue and Zika Virus. Please check the latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor prior to departure. The above is not an exhaustive list. Information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by on the NaTHNaC website and from your local healthcare provider. Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed by you before travelling.

Discovery information
Award Winning Explore Leaders
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Price Guarantee Promise
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Airport Transfers
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