How do you even start to summarise a country as large and diverse as India?

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.

In major cities, Odyssey stays in centrally located 3-4 star hotels, with easy access to public transport. In smaller towns or rural areas, we usually stay in family-run hotels or guesthouses. On our longstay tours, during which you spend the length of the tour in a single location, we use serviced apartments.

Odyssey always engages local guides with regional knowledge to ensure an authentic experience during which you can learn as much as possible about the history and culture of places you visit.

Personal safety, particularly for women and girls, can be a concern in India, 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.

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.