Kerala & The South Tours & Holidays

USEFUL INFORMATION

Health and Vaccinations 

There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers India though you should be upto- date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. Malaria is present in some parts of India so we recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments. 

Currency 

In India the official unit of currency is the Indian Rupee (INR).  

To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com  

 Cultural Sensitivity 

On our tours we frequently interact with local people, each with their own distinct customs and traditions. We therefore ask you to be considerate and to treat them with respect. Your guides will be able to advise you accordingly.   

 In Southern India people are used to foreign visitors, but traditionally clothing is quite modest and so you should bear this in mind when packing for your trip. Vest-style tops should be avoided, and women may find a scarf or shawl useful on occasions to cover their chest and shoulders.  

Kashmiris and Buddhist Ladakhis are modest dressers and therefore while out of the privacy of the houseboats or guesthouses, both sexes should wear a reasonable amount of clothing, covering legs and shoulders. When in Kashmir, visiting the mosques, ladies should cover their heads with headscarves and men should wear trousers and long-sleeved shirts.   

Shoulders and legs should be covered when visiting temples and other important religious sites. Shoes must also be removed when visiting important places in India; it is therefore a good idea to carry a pair of socks with you as the floors can get very hot!  

Important: Please note, in the Tamil Nadu region, men and women must wear traditional Indian attire when visiting temples and religious sites. Your guide will be able to advise you on what is appropriate and where clothing can be purchased.  

Normal summer clothes are fine if visitors appreciate that India is a conservative country and respect local sensibilities. Long t-shirts and shorts are usually acceptable however it is worth noting that women especially can attract unwanted attention and therefore may feel more comfortable wearing longer less revealing attire. We would recommend investing in some light cotton trousers, shirts and lightweight jumpers.  

Language & Religion 

In India, the major language is Hindi, with 17 other official regional languages and English as a common language for all. Religion is mainly Hinduism alongside Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism and Christianity.   

Time 

India is 5.5 hours ahead of GMT.  

A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com  

Food and drink 

One of the great myths about travelling in India is that the food is poor. We are delighted to inform you that on our trips this is definitely not the case. Indeed, many people find the delicious food to be one of the highlights of a visit to India. The food can be quite spicy, so it may be worth asking how hot the dishes are likely to be before purchasing them if you are not a fan of spicy food.   

For the more adventurous eater, India is a never-ending snack. An incredible array of delicious street food is available throughout the country with local delicacies to be found in each state. Ask your guide or driver for their recommendations. Conventional street food safety wisdom is to avoid any raw veg that hasn’t been peeled as it will have been washed in local tap water.  

India is the perfect place for vegetarians, and those with special dietary needs can also generally be catered for easily. Please let us know your requirements as soon as possible so we can make any arrangements to cater for your needs.