Practical Information

Passport

Your passport must be valid for at least six months when you submit your application for a visa. You should also ensure your passport is up to date, is valid for the entire length of your stay and (for Nepal) you have completed the emergency contact details page inside your passport.

Visa

India

To avoid possible problems at immigration, make sure your passport is valid for a minimum of 180 days at the time of entry into India.

Travellers from the UK, US, CA and EU normally need a visa to enter India. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/india
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/india
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/India.html

Travellers eligible for an e-visa, which includes those from the UK, US, CA and EU, can apply at www.indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html.

For more information on applying for your Indian visa, including details required for your start hotel and local reference contacts, please click here: Indian visa information

Please note, for the overland India to Nepal boarder crossing, you will arrive at the Sanauli boarder and the group will disembark the bus and proceed on foot to the India immigration office. There, the immigration officer will stamp the India leaving date on your passport. After, the group will walk across the border and enter Nepal’s Belahiya (Bhairahawa) Immigration point where you can follow the visa on arrival process.

Nepal

You can obtain your visa in advance or on arrival. The Immigration Department of Nepal has suspended visas on arrival for certain nationalities – please check if this applies to you with your nearest embassy or consulate.

Visa in advance

Apply for this through your local consulate or embassy. Further details on this option can be found here:

• For UK passport holders: https://uk.nepalembassy.gov.np/visa/
• For US passport holders: https://us.nepalembassy.gov.np/tourist-visa/

When applying for your visa in advance, the Nepalese government has an online application system (see links above for more info), but it is currently only accepting payments through Nepalese payment channels. Once the online form is completed, the applicant is required to print out the form and either send it, together with the passport, to the embassy, or attend in person.

Visa on arrival

1. Completed your ‘Visa On-Arrival’ application form through the online immigration portal (click ‘Visa On-Arrival’) within 14-days prior to arrival at the Belahiya (Bhairahawa) immigration entry point. Please ensure you print and bring the confirmation with you. You can then go directly to the visa fees counters with your printed confirmation and skip the kiosk queues.
2. Proceed to the visa fees collection counter and pay the visa fee (in cash, if possible). Make sure to keep the receipt. Card payments are not always possible, so paying in cash is easiest, most currencies are accepted but US dollars are preferred.
3. Go to the relevant immigration desk and present your tourist visa form, payment receipt and passport to obtain your 15-, 30- or 90-day visa stamp. Please check you have been given the correct visa duration.

Vaccinations and Health

India

You require a yellow fever vaccination certificate if arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Proof of a polio vaccination may also be required by some visitors. Please confirm all requirements and recommendations with your doctor or travel clinic.

You may also want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, rabies and tuberculosis. The risk of malaria is slight, but you may wish to consult your doctor or travel clinic for further advice.

Additionally, dengue fever and chikungunya are known risks in India. Both are tropical viral diseases spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for either, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Some of our India trips spend time at altitude. In regions over approximately 6,560ft (2,000m), there is little risk of mosquito-borne diseases. For trips above 9,840ft (3,000m), there is a risk of being affected by acute mountain sickness. Our itineraries are designed to enable everyone to acclimatise to these altitudes, but you should be aware that it is still possible for you to be affected. Please see the Trip Notes for further information.

Nepal

There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include tetanus, typhoid, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, cholera, Japanese encephalitis, rabies and tuberculosis. You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you’re arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or transiting for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Some travellers may also need proof of a polio vaccination. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

There is little to no risk of malaria in Nepal; therefore, antimalarial tablets are not usually advised although may be considered for certain high-risk groups. You may wish to consult your doctor or travel clinic for further advice.

Additionally, dengue fever and chikungunya are known risks in Nepal. Both are tropical viral diseases spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for either, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Most of our trips to Nepal go to high altitudes where there is a risk of being affected by Acute Mountain Sickness. Our itineraries are designed to enable everyone to acclimatise to these altitudes, but you should be aware that it is still possible for you to be affected. Please refer to the Altitude Warning within the Trip Notes for further advice on AMS.

When trekking at altitude, and particularly in cold weather, there is a higher chance of developing a cough (sometimes referred to here as the Khumbu cough) or cold symptoms. These symptoms could be a result of inhaling cold mountain air or dust (in the Everest region). You can mitigate against picking up coughs and colds by washing your hands with soap and water at available opportunities and using hand sanitiser. Also wear a buff over your neck and mouth when walking at altitude, particularly in colder weather, which will help limit cold, dry air entering your airways and keep your neck and chest warm.

The risk of malaria on this trip is slight, but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice.

Local Time

India's time zone: Asia/Kolkata (UTC +05:30)

Nepal's time zone: Asia/Kathmandu (UTC +05:45)

Electricity

India and Nepal’s electricity: Plug types C (two round pins), D (three round pins) and M (three round pins) – 230V, 50Hz

Load shedding (planned temporary power cuts) occur regularly throughout towns and cities in Nepal.

Money

India's currency: Indian rupee (INR). Please note, it is illegal to import or export rupees. Do not accept torn or very dirty Indian banknotes from banks or in change as they will almost certainly not be accepted as legal tender in India. You can normally change money back from rupees into US dollars or British pounds at the departure airport, but you must produce an exchange receipt showing that you changed money in India.

Nepal's currency: Nepalese rupee (NPR) It is illegal to import or export rupees, but foreign currency is not limited, provided it is declared on arrival. Keep your change receipts, as you will need them if you want to change rupees back into hard currency at Kathmandu airport.

ATM Availability

ATMs are widely available throughout this trip (Delhi, Jaipur, Varansi, Pokhara and Kathmandu). Visa and Mastercard are best, but you should not rely on these all the time, so please take some cash with you. Remember to inform your bank before departure that you are travelling to India and Nepal and carry the relevant telephone number with you in case they put a block on your card. You can pay with credit cards in bigger shops all over India and Nepal. You can bring US dollars, British pounds or euros.

Extra Expenses & Spending Money

Many sites, particularly in India, charge a small fee for video cameras and you should allow approximately US$9 for these.

We recommend you allow approximately US$8 per day (at least) for personal expenditures, such as soft drinks.

India has very good shopping opportunities, especially for locally made goods, and during your trip it is highly likely your guides will take you to emporiums and workshops where the goods are made. Many people find this a great opportunity to buy local handicrafts, silk and carpets. Guides often assume visitors want to go shopping, it is very much part of the culture, but if you do not wish to go, please make this clear to your local guide at the time.

Optional excursions

• Entrance fee for Jama Masjid (Day 2): 300 rupees (approximately US$4) per person
• Delhi old town rickshaw ride (Day 2): 200 rupees (approximately US$3) per person, including tipping
• Pokhara rowboat hire (Day 12): Four to five-person capacity with driver, approximately US$15 per hour per boat and eight to 10-person capacity US$30 per hour per boat
• Pokhara mountain bike hire (Day 12): US$20 per day
• Durbar Square entrance fee (Day 14): 1,000 Nepalese rupees (approximately US$10) per person
• Everest sightseeing flight in Kathmandu (Day 14, early morning): The cost and timings of this will be provided locally by your leader. It is approximately US$245 per person, including both airport transfers by private vehicle. Please note, if paying by card, there is a 4% bank fee added to the cost. If you intend to book the optional Everest sightseeing flight. Please refer to the Transport section for information about the safety of flying in Nepal.

Tipping

Tipping is part of the culture in India and Nepal; however, tipping can often be an awkward affair, especially when in an unfamiliar country. Therefore, your tour leader will offer to arrange and look after a group tipping kitty, which is used to tip hotel staff, local sightseeing guides, bus drivers plus any other support staff used during the trip.

Your leader will suggest how much to contribute, depending on group size, but it is usually around 3,000 Indian rupees (approximately US$44) per person for India and 4,000 Nepalese rupees (approximately US$38) per person for Nepal based on the maximum group size of 16 passengers. For smaller groups, the leader may ask to collect more than the suggested amount relative to the group size, this is to assist with covering the standard tipping expectations for things like the local guides, drivers, and hotel staff (which, are generally fixed amounts no matter the group size).

For departures that travel within India during Holi Festival (14 March 2025) your tour leader will look to arrange some activities for you to enjoy and join in with the festivities. There is a supplement between 600 and 1,600 rupees (approximately US$7-US$20) per person, which is usually deducted from the kitty. Price depends upon the location and festival inclusions for Holi celebration.

At any time during the trip, your leader will be happy to show you an account of how the kitty is being distributed. Please note, for smaller groups the leader may have to collect more than the above amount.

Tipping of leaders is not included in the kitty and is at your own discretion. If you wish to show your appreciation, around US$3-US$4.50 per person per day would be appreciated.

Sustainability and Impact

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony though practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.