Tours in 2023

A fourteen night small group tour of magical Rajasthan, North India. This tour covers Rajasthan’s most iconic sights and cities - the capital, Delhi, the Blue City (Jodhpur), the Pink City (Jaipur) and the White City (Udaipur) plus extras like enchanting, bohemian Pushkar, allowing you to experience all of the beautiful colours of Rajasthan.

Highlights: Artisan and local crafts and textiles, a block-printing workshop, ancient temples, a cooking class, history and architecture, desert forts, colourful bazaars, delicious food, meditation and yoga, iconic sights (yes, the Taj Mahal!), ornate palaces, foodie tours, flower markets and much more.

Itinerary - 14 nights:

• Delhi (3 nights)

• Agra (2 nights)

• Jaipur (3 nights)

• Pushkar (1 night)

• Jodhpur (2 nights)

• Udaipur (3 nights)

What if I would like to travel solo?

Don’t be afraid to travel on our tours solo! We offer solo travellers the opportunity to travel in a safe, relaxed and friendly environment led by experienced guides. If you’re travelling solo, you have two options:

Specify that you request a single room on our booking form and this will attract the single supplement.

If you’re willing to share, you can request that we match you up with a fellow guest of the same sex with which to share a room to avoid the single supplement cost. We will do our best but we cannot guarantee that a shared room will be available and if we are not able to match you in a twin share room by the time the final tour balance payment is due the single supplement is payable. Please specify on the booking form.

Should you be ‘matched’ with another guest we cannot be held responsible if the choice is not to your satisfaction. You must consider there will always be a certain risk of incompatibility. All of our rooms are non-smoking.

Twin hotel accommodation

Breakfast daily

Fully guided by an Australian guide and national bi-lingual Indian guide.

Transportation in a private air - conditioned vehicle for all sightseeing and travel

Domestic flight as per itinerary (Udaipur to Delhi)

Small group only (6 - 10 guests)

Private international / domestic airport arrival and departure hotel transfers

Festival celebration experience which can include a home visit for a traditional experience (applicable for Holi and Diwali tours)

Entrance fees to all forts, palaces and the Taj Mahal

All tipping (excluding hotel porterage and concierge)

Bottled water (1L per day)

Cooking class in Jaipur or Udaipur

Yoga or meditation class

Boat ride across Lake Pichola, Udaipur

Rickshaw ride in Old Delhi

Foodie tour of Jaipur

Block printing workshop in Jaipur

Flower market and temple walking tour, Jaipur

Room sharing option for solo travellers (subject to availability).

Internet access at hotels (where possible).

This tour has a mix of hotels, from fabulous five star luxe to beautiful boutique Haveli hotels and historic properties. All of the hotels have been carefully chosen for their customer experience, aesthetics and to give our guests a wonderful and unique experience.

Subject to availability, hotels for this tour include:

• Roseate House (first night accommodation close to airport)

• The Imperial Hotel Delhi

• Samode Haveli, Jaipur or Hotel Narain Niwas Palace, Jaipur

• Inn Seventh Heaven, Pushkar

• RAAS Jodhpur / Pal Haveli Jodhpur

• Jagat Niwas Palace or Udai Kothi, Udaipur (upgrade to Taj Lake Palace for additional cost).

If you would like to extend your time in India, please let us know and we are happy to assist. Subject to availability, we can organise guided extensions to our tour packages to these locations and more:

• Goa (Beaches, relaxed vibes)

• Varanasi (Ancient, spriritual)

• Rishikesh (Yoga, mountains)

• Kerala (Architecture, waterways, scenic)

• Mumbai (dazzling, chaotic, Bollywood)

• Shimla: (Mountains, colonial, scenic)

• Sacred Buddhist sites of Northern India

MEDICINE

It is your responsibility as the guest to bring enough of any medicines you may require to cover the whole trip and carry copies of the scripts confirming they are yours.

Pharmacies are plentiful but poorly regulated. There is no guarantee the products on sale are genuine.

MEDICAL ISSUES?

If you have any pre-existing conditions or health concerns which may impact on your ability to complete the trip safely and in good health then please advise by e-mail. Failure to disclose any potential issues may cause issues with your insurance.

Doctors and hospitals are of course available but outside the major cities standards are not as high was we enjoy in Australia.

DO PRICES SHOWN ON YOUR WEBSITE INCLUDE AIRFARES, VISAS & TRAVEL INSURANCE?

No, all prices shown are for our tours only. You need to add the cost of international flights, air taxes and fuel surcharges, visas and travel insurance. Booking your own flight allows you to choose your own airline, option stopovers and/or onward travel and flexibility in your arrival and departure date. This allows you to recover from jet lag or a delayed flight and free time to get your bearings and explore. Before booking your international flights please confirm with us that your tour departure date is guaranteed to depart.

IS IT NECESSARY TO HAVE A GOOD LEVEL OF MOBILITY/FITNESS?

Yes, you need to be reasonably fit and agile to participate fully in our journeys. In India, there are many steps, there can be uneven or slippery surfaces, cobbled streets, air pollution and chaotic traffic. You will also have to be able to get on and off vehicles (including mini coaches, tuk tuks and rickshaws) on a regular basis. If you have mobility issues or health concerns which may impact your ability to move around in India then speak to your GP as India may not be the country for you. Some sights may take an hour or two to get around, however you can always chose not to participate in any activity on the tour and have a chai by the pool instead!

DO I NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE AND VACCINATIONS?

We strongly recommend you consult your doctor about the appropriate precautions against disease or infection at least 16 weeks before you go.

It is a strict condition of travelling with Pure India Tours that you provide proof of comprehensive travel insurance, for your own benefit. This must include unlimited cover for extracting you from India in a medical emergency. Proper life and TPD insurance is also considered necessary. This documentation needs to be provided to Pure India Tours with your final payment at least 60 days prior to the tour departure date.

Travel insurance may be ‘attached’ to your credit card, although usually such cover is effective only if your travel arrangements have been purchased with the card. Insurance cover from credit cards often does not include payment of medical expenses. Please check your policy carefully.

Many credit card companies do not provide an insurance policy number. In this instance, you will require a record of your credit card number, to activate any request for emergency assistance. If you plan to use your credit card as your insurance cover, it is your responsibility to ensure that you meet the requirements set out by your credit card company in order to be effectively covered and that the cover offered is of a comprehensive standard.

You must travel with a copy of your travel insurance policy information.

Based on our experiences in India, you will need at least three hard copies of your e-visa, flight itinerary and passport. In India you can’t rely on using electronic devices for proof of travel arrangements. We will ask you to provide us with one hard copy of each of these documents that we will retain in order to ensure we have a smooth journey.

PASSPORTS AND VISAS.

It is the guest’s responsibility to ensure that their passport is current and valid. All international passengers require a current passport with at minimum 6 months validity after the return date of any tour and at least two blank pages for immigration and visa stamps. Visa requirements vary for different nationalities and depend on the countries visited during the tour. We can advise you on the website you’ll need to visit to book your Indian E-Visa and general information about the visa, however passport and visa requirements are not our responsibility.

We are not liable for any loss or expense due to a passenger’s failure to have a valid passport or visa.

For security reasons, all international travel and hotels in India require your name exactly as it appears in your passport, it remains your responsibility to advise these details correctly. If you do not provide the correct information you may not be able to travel and international domestic flights may be required to re-issue airline tickets or other documentation, the passenger will bare all costs incurred.

WHAT IF I HAVE A FOOD ALLERGY/SPECIAL DIET?

You are responsible for what you choose to eat in India! Guests will be required to organise any dietary specifics directly with the hotel or food vendor. This includes street foods, hotel breakfasts, dinners, lunches and the food at our wonderful cooking classes.

WAIVER AND INDEMNITY

India is still a dangerous place where things go wrong all the time. We will not be taking any significant risks but the reality is, the chances of injury, illness or worse are higher than at home, even after taking appropriate precautions.

All travellers must sign a waiver and indemnity form. This will be provided separately prior to departure. It is a condition of insurance and is provided to protect Pure India Tours and those that are associated from claims by insurers or related parties, in the event you are ill, injured or worse. If you have any particular concerns or queries then please advise now.

CAN THE ITINERARY CHANGE?

Please be aware that the itinerary, activities and hotels are subject to change. These changes can happen with little notice due to availability, poor weather, seasonal changes, or other circumstances beyond our control – but we’ll always do our best to ensure it has little impact on your experience. From time to time, we may also make changes to your itinerary to try out new ideas and keep things fresh and exciting.

We like our tours to have a degree of flexibility; you are not required to participate in all activities and are free to opt out of an activity should you wish. Pure India Tours cannot be held responsible for any omissions or modifications to the itinerary or the inclusions made as a consequence to these changes or any events that occur should you chose to opt out of an activity on the itinerary.

Once you have booked your tour, Pure India Tours will have (at least one!) phone/zoom/in person (if possible!) consultation with you to chat through any questions, concerns or queries you have regarding the trip, and in the lead up to the departure we will be in regular contact around documentation, flights, etc.

In the meantime, here are some helpful tips and tricks to get you started!

Staying healthy

India is still very much a third world country. Many diseases and viruses that no longer exist in Australia are still active in india. You need to take all appropriate precautions before you go.

See your travel doctor well in advance of your trip get their advice and stick to it!

Once on the ground we have to be careful with what we eat, drink and touch.

Food standards in India have improved but the water in all taps and showers is not safe. You should not trust any drink you did not open yourself or see it opened in front of you. We have experienced most of the restaurants we are visiting so you can be confident there, but on the streets it is a different story.

Most locals don’t let bottles, cups or glasses touch their lips when they drink, so start practising that skill for a bit of fun and see how you go!

The main rule for avoiding tummy trouble in India is…never put your fingers in your mouth, avoid water that isn’t bottled, and, avoid meat and uncooked food (sorry, but no salads!) We are always there if you have any questions around what to eat, or what not to eat.

This is not easy in a country where eating with your fingers is tradition, so bring a small (50ml) bottle of hand sanitizer to clean your hands when you need to, particularly prior to eating.

Illness passed by mozzies is a big risk, so bring a small bottle of quality DEET insect repellent.

Do your tours include tips?

Yes, tips are included in our tour costs for your convenience.

Tipping for good service is customary in India and should preferably be paid in local currency. Tips are expected for service in conjunction with many things, ranging from from hotel porterage to restaurants, to bathrooms, to waiters, to photography to auto drivers etc. These tips (minus hotel porterage) are included in your tour cost.

Packing and clothing

When you’ve booked your tour you’ll receive a tour pack which contains more detailed packing information. Generally, try to pack lightly and appropriately for the season.

Travelling lightly light can be hard but there are a number of advantages and restrictions that make it a good idea:

(a) Indian airlines apply strict weight limits;

(b) Most hotels has next day laundry facilities. You can wash as you go;

(c) take this opportunity to buy locally made clothes along the way;

(d) you can buy a cheap bag and fill it up for the flight home;

(e) on some tours there can be lots of transfers so the lighter you travel the better!

The invisible rules of dress etiquette in India vary from town to town/rural to city. However, because our trips include visits to significant Hindu, Muslim and Jain sites and both rural and city locations, we play it safe and cover up. We recommend keeping shoulders and upper arms covered, so no singlets or sleeveless tops please. Guys can wear shorts and for women it’s good to cover to the knee (unfortunately it’s not de riguer for women to wear shorts or short dresses/skirts in Northern India). Pack cool, loose, linen and cotton dresses, pants, long skirts, loose t-shirts, long sleeve tops and comfortable footwear - we will also find many beautiful and season appropriate items along the way!

Indian cuisine and what to expect

Spicy, healthy, aromatic and mouth-wateringly delicious!

Each region of India has its own style of cooking and distinct flavours. Spices are unquestionably the cornerstone of Indian cooking and are widely cultivated according to region. For example, cardomom, cloves and peppers are harvested mainly in the south, while chillies and turmeric come mainly from Rajasthan, Kashmir and Gujarat. Rice is a staple, especially in South India while breads are the mainstay in the north; paratha, roti, sometimes dripping in ghee and curd accompanied by pickles and chutneys, other times stuffed with aromatic spices and potatoes. As the majority of India’s population practices Hinduism, vegetarianism is widespread across the continent, but Hindu food habits also vary according to regional traditions. India is, however, united in it’s love for delicious dhal (curried lentils)! You will discover India has the most delicious vegetarian food in the world.

The cow is especially revered and holy to Hindus, so beef is off the menu for your trip. In India it’s an easy and particularly tasty experience to be a vegetarian (and a lot safer too!). Jains avoid foods that come from the earth like onions and garlic, and Ayurveda (the ancient science of life, health and longevity) also influences food customs in India. Alcohol can by difficult to come by in some religious and spiritual towns (such as Pushkar and Varanasi). Most hotels outside these areas serve wine, beer and spirits and in the cities and larger towns there are an increasing number of rooftop bars and excellent watering holes serving local wine, beer and spirits.

Most people in India eat with their right hand, using the tips of their fingers to scoop the gravy or sauce into their bread or rice then delicately into their mouth, however this is not mandatory!

Indians also love their sugary sweets, and delicious and crunchy deep fried street food, both of which we sample on our tours.

The weather

India is a big country, and the weather can vary from north to south, east to west just like in Australia. Below is a general guide:

Winter - High season (Oct–Mar)

Clear sunny skies

Best time to travel to North India

Pleasant weather – warm days, cool nights.

Temperatures climb steadily from February.

Monsoon (Jun–Oct)

Monsoon rains persist through to September.

Southeastern coast and southern Kerala see heavy rain October to December.

Summer - Low Season (Apr–Jun)

April is hot; May and June scorching.

From June, the monsoon brings draining humidity.

Beat the heat (but not the crowds) in the cool hills.