Browse through our suggested itineraries for inspiration. These are just a starting point for your plans – remember that all our itineraries are tailor-made to your specifications.

Planning your trip

Quick country facts

• Recommended airlines:
  BA or Virgin Atlantic fly direct. Emirates fly via Dubai.
• Flight time:
  About 8-12 hours depending on length of connection and destination.
• Time zone:
  GMT +5.30
• Visa requirements:
  Visa required. Online application (UK passport)

Useful Links

Entry Requirements & safety
UK Foreign Office Travel Advisory
India High Commission London

Health & immunisations
NHS Scotland Fit for Travel

General country information
BBC Country Profile
Lonely Planet

Weather
Weather2Travel
BBC Weather

Getting there
Most itineraries to India start in either Delhi, Mumbai or Chennai, all of which can be reached either direct from the UK or via Dubai.

Getting around
A huge network of domestic flights links major cities and smaller outposts, with low-cost operators making air travel inexpensive. India’s rail network also covers much of the country, served by local as well as ‘tourist’ class trains, some with sleeper berths. Itineraries within a smaller area can be covered safely by road –congested in cities, along rural routes roads clear and the scenery can be enjoyed. New highways are always being built, increasing comfort and safety and cutting journey times. We don’t recommend self-driving in India, so most of our itineraries feature a mixture of air, rail and road transfers between points, and guiding can range from one or two excursions to fully escorted throughout, depending on your preferred style.

Accommodation costs
Accommodation ranges from fairly basic guest houses in rural areas to ultra-luxurious Raj palaces and sprawling resorts. India has something for most budgets and the luxury end offers incredible value for money.

How long to stay
With the time taken to get here, 7 days would be the about minimum we’d recommend in India although shorter city stop-overs are also possible. In two weeks a fairly comprehensive Rajasthan or Kerala itinerary can be achieved, with three to four weeks needed if combining areas. To see nearly everything you would need several months, but the joy of India is that each part is so different that it can be parceled up into manageable chunks, each to be visited on separate trips. The average itinerary visits either the North or the South, with 2-3 night stays in each chosen location. For longer circuits, India also makes a great combination with Nepal or Sri Lanka.

When and where to go
India is a destination that can be visited all year round due to its extremely varied climate, but it is best to avoid the monsoon rains and intense heat experienced throughout May until September. The cooler, dry season runs from November until March and makes for much more comfortable travel. In May and June the heat in the regions of Tamil Nadu and Kerala can become overwhelming, so January to March is the best time to visit this area.

Don’t be fooled into thinking India is always hot, however, as December and January bring a cold, snowy winter to the north closing roads and passes, and even Delhi’s temperatures plummet down to around 10°C, with wind chill making it feel colder at times. This is the best time to visit the south, which remains balmy without being oppressively hot. In February a short spring arrives bringing warmer temperatures to the north whilst the south remains pleasant – this is the perfect time month to combine Rajasthan with Kerala. April is an excellent month for wildlife viewing in the central tiger reserves. If travelling to the Himalayas, Jammu or Kashmir, accessibility begins as other regions start to become too hot or wet for comfort, with the trekking season peaking in August and September while the rest of India is being deluged by monsoonal rains.

It is best to check with us for the best time to visit your chosen regions in advance so we can help you plan adequately for the temperatures and conditions you will face, especially if you plan to combine more than one region. Cultural festivals, holidays and pilgrimages dot the calendar frequently and can either be a highlight (if planned in advance!) or an impediment to obtaining accommodation or reasonable rates if visiting over a festival period accidentally. Some of the most famous regional events include:

Rajasthan’s Pushkar Camel Fair (October/November) and Bikaner Camel Festival (December/January),
Tamil Nadu’s Kolam (January),
West Bengal’s Gangasagar Mela (January)
Kerala’s Thrissur Pooram Elephant Festival (April/May)
Kolkata’s Durga Puja
Kerala’s Onam Festival (August/September)
Jammu & Kashmir’s Festival of Ladakh (September)
Nagaland’s Hornbill festival (December)

Not forgetting India’s most important nationwide festivals, Holi (usually in March, predominantly in the North), Diwali (October/November), Krishna Janamastami (August/September) and Eid (date changes annually).