What to Expect
- Physical requirements:
This adventure 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 3 miles unassisted over the course of each day and participate in 3-5 hours of daily physical activities, including scaling several steep steps with no 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.
- Pacing:
8 locations in 17 days with 2 one-night stays. We make some long overland drives of approximately 5 hours each. We also have 1 internal flight of about 1 hour. Be prepared for delays in regional air service.
- Climate & terrain:
South India has a tropical climate, with temperatures from March-June approaching the high 90s. The rainy season occurs from June to October. We'll travel over city streets, rugged paths, uneven ground, and bumpy, unpaved, dusty roads, both by bus and on foot.
- Vehicles:
We travel via bus (no heat or bathrooms onboard) and rickshaw. Our vehicles are locally made and are the best available in the region.
- Accommodations:
Our 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.
- Sri Lanka (optional extension): 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.