India

Q: Is tipping customary in India?

If you&#8217;re on an Odyssey tour, we take care of tipping so you don&#8217;t need to give it a second thought. However, in your free time, or if travelling independently, it&#8217;s essential that you make sure you tip an appropriate amount for services. Most of the time, especially in large restaurants, a service charge or gratuity is already included in the bill. If not, it is fine to tip 10% of the total cost of the bill. If you want to make sure they do receive the money, it is best to give it to the staff directly or leave small change on the table. Tipping at hotels can be confusing at times. It is customary to tip service providers at hotels. It is also best to give bellboys a small gratuity of around 20-50 (about $1.00) rupees per bag. Do not allow someone to grab your bags if you do not want to tip them. A small tip for housekeeping is also perfectly acceptable.

Q: Is travel to India safe?

Yes. However, heed the Australian government advice to “<a href="https://smartraveller.gov.au/Countries/asia/south/Pages/india.aspx">exercise a high degree of caution&#8221;</a>. <a href="https://smartraveller.gov.au/resources/pages/travel-advice-explained.aspx#level4">Do not travel</a> to the cities of Srinagar and Jammu along with other parts of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, and reconsider your need to travel to some regions of India <a href="https://smartraveller.gov.au/Countries/asia/south/Pages/india.aspx">listed</a> because of safety and security issues. Odyssey Traveller follows government travel advice and our tours in India do not venture into these areas.

Q: Can I use my mobile/cell phone while in India?

Check with your cell phone provider to see whether you&#8217;re able to make calls and use data while in India. Many providers will offer a daily fee that allows you to make calls and check the internet while only being charged your regular rates. However, be certain to inform your provider that you&#8217;re heading overseas, because just like a bank they can turn off your service as a result of unusual activity.

India Tours

Tours for Mature Aged and Senior World Travellers.

22 days

Nov, Mar

Cultural and History Tour of India | Small Group Tour

Visiting India

Small group tour for mature and senior couples and solo travellers to India. Visiting Delhi and the red fort, Jaipur, Agra and so much more over 22 days explore the world of the Mughal.

From A$10,450 AUD

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Taktshang Goemba, Tiger nest monastery, Bhutan

14 days

Nov, Apr

Tour of Darjeeling, Sikkim, and Bhutan

Visiting Bhutan, India

Join Odyssey Traveller on this small group tour in the Indian subcontinent, taking us from the verdant tea gardens of Darjeeling nestled in the Himalayan mountain range, to the hilltop monasteries of the former independent kingdom of Sikkim, and finally to the pristine and beautifully isolated mountain landscape of Bhutan.

From A$8,995 AUD

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15 days

Oct

North East India small group escorted cultural tour

Visiting India

A unique small group cultural tour visiting the North East region of India, this tour was created for seniors travelling as couples and solo travellers. As we journey through the magnificent landscape and culture we stop to explore Darjeeling, which shares history with Bengal, Sikkim, and Nepal, as well as Tiger Hill, where we witness the changing colours of the sunrise in the Himalayan Range.

From A$8,450 AUD

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11 days

Nov, Mar, Oct

India Short Tour | Small group tour for seniors

Visiting India

A short small group tour for Mature and seniors couples and solo travellers of India and its icons. Bounded by the majestic Himalayan ranges in the north and edged by an endless stretch of golden beaches. India is a vivid kaleidoscope of landscapes, magnificent historical sites, such as the Taj or red fort royal cities, such Dehli, Jaipur , Agra and Madras colourful people, and rich culture.

From A$8,150 AUD

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Small group tours India should also include old Delhi, the sacred River Ganges, flowing from the western Himalayas, and Lake Pichola, an artificial fresh water lake created in the 14th century. On a small group tour any trip to India , should include as part of a escorted tour itinerary a visit Goa, Cochin , and Kerala to see its hidden treasures of Southern India. Your selected escorted tour should include North India with its wildlife reserves and tiger safaris, as well as South India as part of India‘s golden triangle. Odyssey small group tours India to explore this fascinating culture and history are for couples and for solo travel.

Bounded by the majestic Himalayan ranges in the north and edged by an endless stretch of golden beaches, India is a vivid kaleidoscope of landscapes, often shaped by the manicured tea plantations hugging the contours, or spice plantations, a temple on magnificent historical sites close to the Ganges river, royal cities, colourful people and rich culture. Its ancient monuments are the backdrop for the world’s largest democracy explored on our small group tripsoffered by this tour company.

A unique small group cultural tour visiting the North East region of India , this tour was created for seniors travelling as couples and solo travellers . As we journey through the magnificent landscape and culture we stop to explore Darjeeling , which shares history with Bengal, Sikkim, and Nepal, as well as Tiger Hill , where we witness the changing colours of the sunrise in the Himalayan Range.

Take in the diverse cultures and heritage sites of Northern India and North-east India, as part of India‘s golden triangle, the great Thar desert, or the sights and sounds of cosmopolitan Kochi on a Kerala tour. Feel the pull of a sacred place in Varanasi, India‘s holy city and spiritual centre. But the major metros such as Delhi (and old Delhi), Mumbai, Agra, and Cochin provide the glimpses of the extremes of this country that are held for a long time after a India tour has been completed. Though for a small group tour to be successful a good tour manager (tour director) is required to work with the local guide on escorted group tours. India is intense, it provides travel inspiration to many other places but for solo travellers and couples this is an extreme country to tour as a mature or senior traveler and we recomend taking a small group escorted tours of India to manage and support you on the journey.

Within this extremely fascinating urban metro population, India also has lush forests in the national park framework, though this is also the royal bengal tiger is to often be found.Though the forests, take you closer to its incredible flora and fauna native to the country, such as sloth bears, as well as beautiful beaches on the islands of Andaman and Nicobar.

You also have to experience Indian cuisine, ranging from North Indian biryani to South Indian dosa through sugary desserts such as gulab jamun.

The history, of the Mughals, of trading and the relationship with Sri Lanka or colonial Britain and the tea plantation network is set out in many of the articles published by Odyssey available before you commence your India tour.

Perhaps to find the answer, you must simply visit India for your vacation! See the nation’s richness first hand and the memorable travel experience it has on offer.

Articles about India

14 Total

Discovering India as a Mature or Senior traveller

Discovering India as a Mature or Senior traveller India is a land of immense diversity and extremes – geographical, economic and spiritual. Its geography encompasses the glacial heights of the Himalaya in the north, the…

22 Feb 18 · 28 mins read

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India's Mughal Empire

India’s Mughal Empire More than 4 centuries ago the Mughal empire was an immensely successful empire, covering the entire subcontinent of India and reaching a population of 100 million at its peak. It is because…

10 Dec 18 · 9 mins read

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Mughals and Marathas: The Definitive Guide

The Clash of the Mughals and the Marathas The Mughal Empire officially ruled in India from approximately 1526 until 1856. Unofficially, however, Mughal reign became obsolete much sooner than 1856. It was in the later…

25 May 19 · 8 mins read

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History of British Rule in India (1750 to 1805): Definitive Guide for Travellers

History of British Rule in India – learning for travellers This article will provide a brief overview of the several wars that were fought in India at the end of the Mughal empire that transitioned…

12 Jun 19 · 9 mins read

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Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, India

Known as the Toy Train, this historic railway is one of the three Indian railways listed as the UNESCO World Heritage Site

8 Apr 20 · 3 mins read

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Sunrise at Mt Kanchenjunga, viewed from Tiger Hill

Tiger Hill, India

Tiger Hill is located 11 kilometres from Darjeeling town in West Bengal, India, and one of the places to visit in this town famous for its tea gardens.

8 Apr 20 · 2 mins read

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Touring India

The need to know

Getting around

Odyssey travels by coach and occasionally uses local transport, including trains and ferries. Specifics are always outlined in your tour itinerary. Public transport is the main form of transport for Indian citizens, and is therefore very heavily used. India‘s rail network is the third longest in the world, but suffers from infrastructure issues and lack of investment. Taxis, richshaws and buses are also an option, though prices are variable. It is advised to agree on a fixed price prior to boarding.

Accommodation

In major cities of India such as Mumbai, Delhi, Agra, Cochin and Jaipur, Odyssey stays in centrally located good 4-5 star hotels, with easy access to public transport. In smaller towns or rural areas, we usually stay in good 3 star or 4 star hotels.

Tour Guides

Odyssey always engages local guides with regional knowledge for a local guided tour to ensure an authentic experience during which you can learn as much as possible about the history and culture of places you visit whilst on a small group tour of India.

Health & Safety

On your India vacation, personal safety, particularly for women and girls, can be a concern, including in tourist destinations. Women travellers should take particular care and avoid travelling alone on public transportation, especially at night. We recommend respecting local dress codes and customs and avoiding isolated areas. Petty crime, including pickpocketing and bag-snatching, is common, particularly in crowded areas such as markets, airports and on buses, metros and trains (including overnight and long-distance trains). During the winter months, air pollution in some parts of India can spike to hazardous levels and those with pre-existing medical conditions, the very young, or the elderly may be particularly vulnerable. If you intend to travel or live in India during the winter months, you may wish to seek medical advice in advance of your trip.

Electrical Supply

Whenever you travel overseas, it’s always wise to take an appropriate travel adaptor. The electricity supply runs at 230V, 50Hz. India uses plugs of Types C, D and M.

Highlights

The best of India

Taj Mahal

The stunning Taj Mahal, commisioned to house the remains of Emperor Shah Jahan's beloved wife.

Red Fort

The breathtaking Red Fort, a sight of cultural, historical and political importance.

Varanasi

The incredible holy city of Varanasi, one of the world's oldest continually inhabited cities and a site of great religious importance.

Tour Reviews

Loved: National Institute of traditional medicine hike to Wanyditse Goemba Punakha festival – definitely a highlight Hanging the prayer flags at the pass! The outdoor picnics! Archery competition! Dumtse Lhakhang – went to heaven!!! Dzong Drak Kha (mini tigers nest) amazing views and climb Sanga Choekor Shedra (Bhuddist College) Drakpa and his team (Nima and Karma) were just amazing. Drakpa was very knowledgeable, friendly, caring and cheerful. He went out of his way to provide us with information and experiences to help our understanding of the culture and religion, he was funny and entertaining and very professional under pressure.Nima was a very competent driver, and I have never felt in safer hands in the difficult driving conditions we were in.

Participant March 2017

Bhutan | Small Group Cultural Tour

The local guide, Drukpa, was exceptional value. When I was ill for a couple of days his care for me, assisted by Len, was way beyond my expectation.

Participant March 2017

Bhutan | Small Group Cultural Tour

Your chat-operator was informative and helpful. We have covered quite a few countries and seasons to travel. Full marks for that!

Philip Lee

Discovering Myanmar | Small Group Tour for Seniors

We did this tour in 2011. Wonderful, extraordinary experience. Loved every minute.

Rex and Maree

Journey through Mongolia and Russia small group tour

The tour was fantastic and well organised and well managed. · I have travelled expensively but have not with a travel organisation that comes anywhere near Odyssey's attention to detail and the comfort of its travellers. · The tour was fantastic and well organised and well managed. The transport provided was always very good and where the seats were a little narrow, the bus was big enough for us to 'spread out' for more comfort. · Our accommodation was excellent as was our local guide.I would highly recommend a trip to this beautiful country with many treasures to explore and learn about. Discover Myanmar Nov ‘15

info@odysseytravel.com.au

Discovering Myanmar | Small Group Tour for Seniors

The trip to the Tang valley and the Ogyencholing museum were a highlight. Beautiful scenery, wonderful people and one of the best museums I've seen. That night and all next day it snowed - what a buzz. Made everything look magical and improved the scenery for the next few days

Participant March 2017

Bhutan | Small Group Cultural Tour

I wish to sincerely thank Len for his amazing care, good cheer and flexibility ! Len has that great combination of simultaneous organisation and flexibility, which is so very necessary on a small trip such as this. In his stride, he was able to re-design the program at short notice due to weather conditions (working closely with Drakpa) and the end result was better than the original plan in my opinion!!! It was clear from day one, that Len cared and payed attention to each and every one of us at every step of the way – going out of his way to assist those who needed it. The trust and camaraderie we developed with Len made the trip that much more special! I miss our laughs.

Participant March 2017

Bhutan | Small Group Cultural Tour

FAQs

What is the time zone?

Indian Standard time (IST) is the time observed throughout India, with a time offset of UTC+5:30. India does not observe daylight saving or other seasonal adjustments.

Is tipping customary in India?

If you’re on an Odyssey tour, we take care of tipping so you don’t need to give it a second thought. However, in your free time, or if travelling independently, it’s essential that you make sure you tip an appropriate amount for services. Most of the time, especially in large restaurants, a service charge or gratuity is already included in the bill. If not, it is fine to tip 10% of the total cost of the bill. If you want to make sure they do receive the money, it is best to give it to the staff directly or leave small change on the table. Tipping at hotels can be confusing at times. It is customary to tip service providers at hotels. It is also best to give bellboys a small gratuity of around 20-50 (about $1.00) rupees per bag. Do not allow someone to grab your bags if you do not want to tip them. A small tip for housekeeping is also perfectly acceptable.

Is travel to India safe?

Yes. However, heed the Australian government advice to “exercise a high degree of caution”. Do not travel to the cities of Srinagar and Jammu along with other parts of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, and reconsider your need to travel to some regions of India listed because of safety and security issues. Odyssey Traveller follows government travel advice and our tours in India do not venture into these areas.

Can I use my mobile/cell phone while in India?

Check with your cell phone provider to see whether you’re able to make calls and use data while in India. Many providers will offer a daily fee that allows you to make calls and check the internet while only being charged your regular rates. However, be certain to inform your provider that you’re heading overseas, because just like a bank they can turn off your service as a result of unusual activity.

Articles about India published by Odyssey Traveller.

For all the articles Odyssey Traveller has published for mature aged and senior travellers, click through on this link.

External articles to assist you on your visit to India.

7 Wonders of India (World Atlas)
New Seven Wonders of the World (Travel Channel)
7 Things You Didn’t Know About the Qutub Minar (National Geographic Traveller India)
Incredible India

Responsible travel tips for India

Learn at least the local greetings to break the ice. Although many locals speak English, the more you know of the native language, the greater your experience of the country will be.
Carry a business card in your wallet or purse from your local hotel, to assist you with the return journey if you do become lost.
Always ensure that you are covered by travel insurance. If you need advice on this feel free to contact Odyssey and we’ll be able to help.
When travelling independently, make sure you check the opening hours of shops and museums so that you don’t miss out! Museums and galleries are often closed on Mondays. Also be certain to check whether your trip coincides with any public holidays, so you can plan accordingly.
Consider contacting your bank to inform them that you may be making purchases overseas. Otherwise, they may flag any activity on your account as suspicious. Also, check which ATMs and banks are compatible with your cards, to ensure you can withdraw cash with minimal fees.
Before departing, make sure you have a number of Rupee in a range of denominations. You don’t want to be carrying around enormous amounts of cash, but take enough to make it easy to pay in locations that might not accept credit card. It will also help you avoid card transaction fees, and it makes tipping a breeze.