A Portrait of India

Your health and safety remain our number one priority while you are traveling with us on A Portrait of India. The below travel requirements are mandated by the country of India, and are applicable to all Tauck guests without exception:

• For all 2023 travel, all Tauck guests age 12 and older must be fully vaccinated. Additionally, you must have had at least one booster dose and/or have proof of recovery from Covid. Although highly recommended, vaccination for minors age 11 and under is not required by Tauck. However, if unvaccinated they must present a negative result from either a PCR or antigen test taken within 3 days of departing for their Tauck trip. If a child age 11 or under is vaccinated but not boosted, they must also present a negative test prior to their Tauck trip.
• We strongly encourage guests to check the requirements for any transit/layover destinations that will be part of your journey.

For entry into India:

• All travelers must bring proof of full Covid vaccination. Use the same proof as described above.

For return to the United States:

• The US no longer has any specific Covid entry requirements.

Final entry requirements will be clearly outlined in your Personal Travel Documents

Passport Information Requirement: We are required to obtain passport information for all guests visiting India. It is necessary for Tauck to provide the Indian agency we work through with this information well in advance of this journey's start date. Passport information that is not provided to our office at least 60 days before departure may result in the delay of producing tour documents. Passport information can be submitted to Tauck via My Account on our www.tauck.com website or you may complete the attached form and email it to: passportinfo@tauck.com.

Passport & Visa Requirement: U.S. citizens will need a passport (with at least two blank visa pages) that is valid for at least six months beyond the completion of this journey. Up-to-date visas for India are also required. 

Your visa application requires a detailed summary of your Tauck itinerary, which is included in the attached Journey Confirmation or can be found on the Overview page in the Documents section of My Account. Please note: As a visa is an official government document, Tauck is unable to apply for a visa on your behalf and can only provide limited assistance with the process.

There is also an option of e-visa that can be applied at https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html. You can obtain a visa single entry valid for 30 days.  

As an alternative to obtaining a visa for these countries on your own, Tauck has collaborated with VisaCentral in the U.S. to assist our guests with processing and issuing their visas. Visa kits may be downloaded through our www.tauck.com website. The visa fees are not included in the tour cost, and payment should be made directly to VisaCentral.

Please Note: While Tauck has an affiliation with VisaCentral for processing visas, you are not required to process your visa through VisaCentral, and may elect to choose other visa services or work directly through the appropriate consulates or embassies.

Deposit Information:

The deposit and the fees for the optional Protection Plan or Cancel Fee Waiver [CFW] coverage are due at time of booking. Your deposit is £600.

Terms and Conditions:

For additional information pertaining to our Tauck Journeys, including Cancellation Information and Booking Conditions, click here to learn more.

At the time of booking, please have the following information ready:

• Tour Name and Departure Date Desired
• Traveler Name(s):  Please have first and last names as they appear on the passport or driver's license.
• Traveler's Address(es)
• Traveler's Phone Number(s)
• Emergency Contact Information: This would be a relative or friend whom we could contact during the tour in the event of an emergency. Please provide their name and phone number(s).
• Interest in purchasing a travel protection product (US and Canada)
• Interest in extending your trip by staying in a Tauck recommended hotel before your trip begins or after it ends
• Interest in our specially negotiated airfares.

Regarding your final payment:

Final Payment is due as specified on the invoice. Bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice. 

Customer Protection: Our UK-based agents comply with the bonding requirements of the Civil Aviation Authority and provide full financial protection for the package holidays that we sell in the UK. For flight-based holidays, this is through the Air Travel Organiser's Licence (details of which are available from the UK-based agent with whom you book). When you buy a package holiday that doesn't include a flight, protection of your monies paid to our UK-based agent will be provided by way of a bond.

AIRFARE: Airfare to and from this destination is not included in the journey cost. If purchasing your air elsewhere, it is very important to provide us with your confirmed arriving and departing flight information no later than 3 weeks before your arrival date. Flight information can be submitted to Tauck (or verified, if you've already provided it) in the My Account section of Tauck.com.

TAUCK AIRPORT TRANSFERS are included at the start and end of the journey between the airport and the Tauck hotel. Airport transfers are available for any pre tour or post tour hotel stays immediately consecutive to the tour, providing flight information is received in the Tauck office no later than three weeks in advance. Details on locating your transfer upon arrival to the tour start city will be included in your final documents.

AIRLINES and CHECKED LUGGAGE: Due to space limitations during your Tauck journey, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one average-size suitcase per person. Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and are free to revise luggage policies without notice. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies. PLEASE NOTE that if you are booked on a tour that includes on-tour flights, the checked luggage weight restrictions for these flights may be lower than the weight restrictions for your international flights.

Special Luggage Restrictions for this Tour

Due to strictly enforced weight restrictions on the on-tour flights, luggage weight per person must not exceed 50 lbs (23 kg) and you are permitted only one piece of checked luggage. Luggage exceeding the allowable weight is subject to excess baggage charges that can result in a considerable additional expense. 

Regulations within most airports require that customers handle their own luggage through customs.

There will be three occasions during your trip when weight restrictions on our intra-tour flights will require you to pack an overnight duffel in place of your primary luggage: 1.) When you depart Delhi for your overnight in Varanasi on Day 3 (you will be reunited with your primary luggage upon arrival in Agra on Day 4), and, 2.) on Day 7, when your primary luggage will be collected in the evening for transport overnight from Jaipur to Udaipur. (You will be reunited with your primary luggage on Day 8 in Udaipur) and 3.) when you fly to Cochin on Day 11 (you will be reunited with your primary luggage on day 15 in Mumbai).

A special duffel will be mailed to your home prior to your tour departure, which you may use for clothing, toiletries and other essentials at these times. The use of an overnight duffel on these occasions will facilitate the separate transportation of your primary luggage, which cannot travel with us on our intra-tour flights due to weight restrictions.  We appreciate your cooperation in this matter.

If you reside in the United States, the duffel bag will be sent to your home and should arrive approximately two weeks prior to your departure for India. If you reside outside of the U.S., you will receive your duffels from your Tauck Director while on tour.

In addition to the Tauck duffel which will be your checked piece of luggage for these overnights, you will be allowed to bring ONE piece of carry-on luggage aboard your intra-tour flights weighing no more than 15 pounds (7 kg) and with maximum dimensions of 21" x 13.75" x 10" (55 cm x 35 cm x 25 cm).

Checked Luggage – General

Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and luggage exceeding airline standards for size or weight may result in expensive overage fees or other consequences.

Airlines are free to revise luggage policies without notice, and certain airlines have different baggage allowances for different classes of service. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies.

Tauck luggage tags will be provided by your Tauck Director on Day 1 of your itinerary. Please do not attach a Tauck luggage tag to any carry-on items, as the Tauck tags designate luggage that is to be handled and transferred by ground operators and hotel staff during your journey.

Carry-on Luggage – General

Although oversize bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and only those items you need handy during the day such as purses, make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or in the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may be inaccessible during daytime travel.

HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS

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.

.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.

MOBILITY

Your journey to the subcontinent is very active and includes five 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 India's culture and geography, including airplane, train, motor coach and houseboat.

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, stairs and walkways are sometimes dark, uneven, steep and/or slippery.

SPECIAL DIETARY REQUESTS

The restaurants, hotels, caterers and numerous other partners we work with all do their best to accommodate special dietary requests from Tauck guests. However, given the diverse nature of those food providers (from small wineries to grand hotels to world-famous restaurants in more than 70 countries worldwide), some of our partners are better able than others to accommodate such requests. We therefore cannot guarantee that all dietary requests can be accommodated at every meal. Also, please note that where dietary requests can be accommodated, choices will frequently be limited.

SAFETY

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.

SMOKING

Smoking is not permitted on the motor coaches. Hotels in India 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.

We have compiled a reading list of recommended books to give you more information about the destinations you will be traveling to on your upcoming journey!

You can view the reading list here.

The climate in India varies depending on the location and time of travel. In northern India, the weather during the late fall and winter months of October through March is dry with temperatures averaging 45 °F (7 °C) in the early morning and evening, and 70 to 75 °F (21 to 24 °C) during the day. However, as you travel south to Mumbai and then Cochin, temperatures rise, with daytime temperatures averaging 75 to 80 °F (24 to 27 °C) in Mumbai to 90 °F (32 °C) in Cochin.

India is known for its rainy season, when monsoons make headlines. However, from October through March – the best time to travel – no more than one inch of rain per month on average falls on the cities we visit.

To determine current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, noaa.gov, by clicking here.

When packing for travel to India, we suggest you select a wardrobe that is adaptable and allows for layering. In India, delicate fabrics do not stand up well to laundering facilities except at deluxe hotels. Plain cotton or cotton and synthetic blend clothing is the most practical and is the coolest in summer. It is best to avoid synthetic fabrics that do not "breathe". A hat with a wide brim will help protect you from the harsh sun. During the fall season, a collapsible umbrella comes in handy. During the winter months, sweaters and light jackets are necessary.

For the welcome and farewell dinners, we recommend resort wear to suit a tropical climate.

Following is a list of recommended items to pack:

• Resort wear
• A sports jacket for men for fine dining options
• Skirt below the knee
• Loose slacks
• Trousers
• Shorts
• Short and long-sleeved shirts and blouses
• Scarf
• Light sweater
• Light waterproof jacket
• Swimwear
• Gym wear
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Wide-brimmed hat
• A pair of sturdy, yet comfortable, pre-worn walking shoes for uneven terrain
• A pair of easily removable shoes or sandals for entering temples and shrines
• Collapsible umbrella
• Toiletries, sundries, tissues
• Pre-moistened towelettes
• Handkerchiefs
• Antibacterial lotion
• Medication for allergies/aspirin/upset stomach/diarrhea
• Insect repellent
• Travel alarm clock/cell phone with alarm function (many hotels do not have clocks in the rooms)
• Camera, film, memory cards, chargers, batteries and other photography accessories
• Copies of your travel documents that should be secured in the safe in your hotel room while traveling

Please refer to the Necessary Gear website at www.necessarygear.com as one option available to you for renting and purchasing apparel, PPEs, and other items appropriate for your journey.

Please Note: Per the Indian Government, satellite phones are illegal to carry within the country. Individuals caught carrying a satellite phone are subject to arrest.