Your journey to the subcontinent is very active and includes three on-tour flights. You should be in good health and able to walk moderate distances over varied terrain. Various modes of transportation will be used to highlight different aspects of the culture and geography of India and Nepal, including airplane, train, motor coach, open jeep and riverboat.
There is a significant amount of walking on this journey; however, the pace of the itinerary has been carefully planned to intersperse sightseeing with leisurely days to ensure you have a most enjoyable time.
AN IMPORTANT NOTE ON SUPPLEMENTAL OXYGEN AND MOBILITY ISSUES: This Tauck itinerary cannot accommodate oxygen tanks, wheelchairs or motorized scooters. Oxygen tanks are strictly prohibited in many foreign countries on regional flights aboard small aircraft, such as those intra-tour flights featured on this Tauck journey. Likewise, the very limited cargo capacity on such flights prohibits the transport of wheelchairs or motorized scooters.
Guests should also bear in mind that the infrastructure in many foreign countries, particularly in developing countries, often presents severe and even insurmountable challenges for those with walking difficulties or other mobility issues. The responsibility of the Tauck Director is to ensure that the larger group enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing individual assistance to any one guest. Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it. Due to the ancient nature of several of the sites you will visit during your sojourn in India and Nepal, stairs and walkways are sometimes dark, uneven, steep and/or slippery.
It can also be quite warm when sightseeing at Elephanta Island, but using sun protection, including wearing a hat and sunglasses, and drinking lots of water can help minimize the impact of the weather.
We advise that you always drink bottled water with an unbroken seal. Avoid having ice in your drinks, and clean your teeth with bottled water.
Public toilet facilities are rare. You are encouraged to take every opportunity to use a clean toilet in places such as hotels and restaurants. Most hotels catering to an international clientele provide western style restroom facilities.
Smoking is not permitted on the motor coaches. Hotels in India and Nepal do not always have designated non-smoking rooms, but your preference will be forwarded to the hotels and every effort will be made to accommodate your request, although it cannot be guaranteed.
Always keep mosquito repellent with you and be sure to pay special attention to mosquito protection between dusk and dawn.
Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling. If you will not be covered under your current policy, we strongly suggest that you arrange for adequate coverage while on tour.
If you have a medical condition that might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify Tauck as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.
VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Some of the countries visited on this itinerary may require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against certain diseases in order to enter the country. These requirements are subject to frequent change as outbreaks occur and subside in different areas, and it is therefore crucial that you obtain the very latest information on entry requirements as you prepare for your journey.
For the most current information, please consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by clicking here and the World Health Organization (WHO) by clicking here. You may also wish to visit the web sites for the embassies of the countries you will be visiting. Besides providing details on vaccination requirements, these sites can also provide information on vaccinations that may be recommended (but aren’t required) and other potential health issues for which no vaccines are available.
Any decisions relating to your health, of course, should not be based solely on information provided by a web site. It is critically important that you consult with your personal physician prior to your journey to obtain any required vaccinations and to review any optional recommendations offered by the CDC or other sources.
Please be sure to discuss your journey with your physician at least four to six weeks in advance of your departure, as certain vaccinations take time to become fully effective. Also, be certain to ask your physician for proof of any vaccinations you receive, and to pack this proof along with your other travel documents in your carry-on luggage (not in your checked luggage).
Researching and complying with vaccination entry requirements for the countries visited on this itinerary is the responsibility of the traveler and not Tauck. Tauck is therefore not responsible for any expenses incurred or disruptions to travel caused by improper or incomplete vaccinations, or by the failure to provide proof of required vaccinations.
If you do not obtain the necessary vaccinations and proper documentation, you may be denied entry into one or more countries, or temporarily quarantined until the necessary vaccinations are administered, or until proper documentation is provided.
Airline Disinsection
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a guidance letter that requires airlines and travel agents to disclose to consumers countries that require the use of insecticides by airlines. Please click here for more information.
Visiting Bandhavgarh National Park And Kanha National Park
The opportunity to experience both Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Parks will be a highlight of your trip, although the parks’ remote locations do present additional challenges that you likely will not have experienced on other Tauck journeys. For example and as noted above, both parks are extremely isolated. While this is largely responsible for their significant wildlife populations and their resulting popularity with travelers, it also means that clean restroom facilities aren’t as readily available as they are on other Tauck itineraries. As a result, restroom visits on selected portions of this itinerary are less frequent and three hours or more may elapse between scheduled stops.
Also, accessing both parks necessitates lengthy motorcoach rides of five hours or more, and some of the roads used to reach the parks (and certainly the roads within the parks themselves) can be very bumpy. These road conditions, and the fact that our travel within the parks will be in jeeps with relatively stiff front and rear suspensions, may make this trip uncomfortable or even unsuitable for those with chronic back problems. If you have any health concerns related to your journey, please be sure to consult your physician before your departure.
Finally, the local tiger populations are large and the chance to see these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat is certainly an unforgettable thrill. However, we can make no guarantees that you or your group will actually encounter any tigers during your time in the parks. Tigers can be elusive and the typically dense forests of the parks can make them more difficult to spot than wildlife seen in the more open savannah-type landscapes found on most African safaris. Patience, attentiveness and a keen eye are you best tools to help ensure you’ll be treated to views of tigers in the wild.
Local Customs –
Eating – In India and Nepal, people often eat with the right hand. The left hand is considered unclean and is generally not used to eat or to handle food and money.
Feet - The soles of your feet pointing towards someone is considered offensive, so care should be taken not to do this. In the same vein, feet should not be placed on furniture. If you accidentally touch someone with your foot, it is common practice to apologize. It is also customary to remove your shoes when entering a private home in addition to places of worship and burial.
Garlands -- If you are given a garland of flowers, remove it after several minutes to demonstrate your humility.
Greetings - Handshakes are not a common method of greeting in India or Nepal. The Indian greeting is to put your hands together in front of your chin (as for praying) and incline your head forward, saying "Namaste".
Language - The official language of India is Hindi in the Devanagri script. The individual states are free to decide their own regional languages for internal administration and education, so there are 18 official languages spoken throughout the country. English is widely spoken in India.
There are more than a hundred languages spoken in Nepal. The chief language of Nepal is Nepali, the other languages are spoken to a larger or lesser degree in specific areas of the country.
Personal Space - India is densely populated and people are accustomed to being crowded. However, except in packed buses, strangers avoid touching each other. Cross-gender touching is especially offensive, although it is not uncommon to see same-sex friends holding hands or hugging.
Religious Places - Most temples and mosques prohibit shoes inside the building and signs are sometimes posted when this is the case. Some Hindu temples do not permit non-Hindus to enter. A visitor should ask if there is any doubt and observe other visitors for guidance. In Sikh temples, called gurdwaras, white/saffron head coverings for both men and women are required (and sometimes provided). Priests in gurdwaras also offer the visitor blessed food, which should be accepted with the right hand to avoid giving offense. The food should either be eaten or given to someone else.
It is customary to enter any religious place with the head slightly bowed.
Street Scenes - Guests will have expectations of poverty before arriving in India, but unless you have previously traveled to a developing country, it is hard to suppress one’s shock. You will encounter people, including children, begging in the streets. You will see street scenes which may be unusual, including animals sifting through garbage in the streets. You will also see prosperity and middle class living. Being prepared for these different experiences will better enable you to enjoy your exploration through this colorful, vibrant and hospitable country.
Photography - Special permission of the Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi, is required for use of tripod and artificial light. Photography in the wildlife sanctuaries is allowed on payment of a prescribed fee. In Delhi, videos are not allowed at Humayun's Tomb, and camera fees are imposed at both UNESCO sites visited in Delhi. Videos are not allowed in the Taj Mahal complex past the first viewing area; guests may store their cameras. Costs incurred for photography are at guests' expense.
Your Tauck Director will advise you of all known camera related fees and rules for each city traveled.