What to Expect
- Physical requirements:
This trip is only for very physically fit and healthy travelers. It is not appropriate for travelers using wheelchairs or other mobility aids. You must be able to walk 2-3 miles unassisted each day and participate in 3-5 hours of daily physical activities, including scaling several steep steps without handrails. In some small villages, we must make do with Asian squat-style toilets. We reserve the right for our Trip Leaders to modify participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home if their limitations are impacting the group’s experience.
- Climate & terrain:
The hottest months are April-October, with temperatures reaching 90-100+ degrees. August and September are quite humid, with heavy rains likely. We’ll travel over some rugged paths, as well as bumpy, unpaved, dusty roads, both by bus and on foot.
- Pacing:
7 locations in 17 days with 3 one-night stays and multiple pre-dawn departures. There are several long overland drives, including a 10- to
12-hour transfer with a train journey. We also have 2 internal flights of about 1.5 hours each.
- Transportation:
We travel via bus (no heat or toilet on board), train, rickshaw, and game-viewing vehicle. Our vehicles are locally made and are the best available in the region.
- Accommodations:
We spend one night in a comfortable but basic tented camp with private baths. All other accommodations are hotel-standard, with a variety of amenities, as well as private baths with Western-style toilet facilities.
- Cuisine:
Our meals will be based on the local cuisine; Western food is very limited.
- Cultural insight:
Adventurous travelers will find India a spiritually fulfilling destination, rich with natural wonder. However, poverty, persistent begging, pollution, and poor sanitation can be distressing.
- Group size & leadership:
16 maximum with 1 Trip Leader.
Visa Information
U.S. citizens will need a visa (or visas) for this trip. In addition, there may be other entry requirements that also need to be met. For your convenience, we’ve included a quick reference list, organized by country:
- India: Visa required.
- Bhutan (optional pre-trip extension only): Visa required.
- Nepal (optional post-trip extension only): Visa required.
Travelers who are booked on this adventure will be sent a complete Visa Packet— with instructions, applications, and a list of visa fees—approximately 100 days prior to their departure. (Because many countries limit the validity of their visa from the date it is issued, or have a specific time window for when you can apply, we do not recommend applying too early.)
If you are not a U.S. citizen, do not travel with a U.S. passport, or will be traveling independently before/after this trip, then your entry requirements may be different. Please check with the appropriate embassy or a visa servicing company. To contact our recommended visa servicing company, PVS International, call toll-free at 1-800-556-9990.
Vaccinations Information
For a detailed and up-to-date list of vaccinations that are recommended for this trip, please visit the CDC’s “Traveler’s Health” website.