EXPERIENCE INDIA LIKE NEVER BEFORE

At Encounters Travel, we offer several convenient payment options for booking your India tour. You can make a deposit or full payment online through our website using the reservation form found under the Dates & Prices tab on the tour page. Payments can be made by:

• Debit or credit card (please note a card processing fee applies)

• Bank transfer

• Cheque or bank draft

You can also choose to hold a reservation initially, with full payment due 8 weeks before departure. Full payment instructions will be provided in your booking confirmation email. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact us before booking.

To secure your booking with Encounters Travel, you can either make a deposit, pay in full, or simply hold a reservation online through the Dates & Prices tab on the tour page. While full payment is not required upfront, it is due 8 weeks before your departure date. Once you submit your reservation, we’ll contact you with the next steps and full payment options—including debit/credit card (processing fee applies), bank transfer, or cheque/bank draft. If you have any questions before booking, feel free to reach out—we’re happy to help!

Full payment for your tour with Encounters Travel is due 8 weeks before the departure date.

At Encounters Travel, we understand that plans can change. You can cancel your travel arrangements or request a date change at any time by providing written notice via email or recorded delivery. The request must come from the person who made the booking.

Cancellation or date change charges will apply to cover the reasonable costs we’ve incurred in organizing your tour. These charges vary depending on how far in advance we receive your request and the specific nature of your itinerary. Please note that some international flights and certain items (like gorilla permits) are non-refundable and will be in addition to the fees outlined below.

Here is a general guide to our cancellation charges:

• More than 60 days before departure: Loss of deposit

• 42 to 59 days: 35% of total cost or loss of deposit (whichever is higher)

• 28 to 41 days: 70% of total cost

• 15 to 27 days: 90% of total cost

• 0 to 14 days: No refund

If only part of your group cancels, it may result in a price increase for remaining travelers. Any such increase will be your responsibility.

If your cancellation reason is covered under your travel insurance, you may be able to recover these charges through your insurer.

For more details or to discuss your specific situation, please contact us directly.

Your passport expiry date must be at least 6 months after your time in India finishes. Do not bring a full or almost expired passport. You must also have a machine-readable passport or you may be denied entry. If you have an old-style manually issued passport you will need to replace this with a new machine-readable passport before you travel.

Most nationalities (including UK, USA, European, Australian, Canadian) will need to arrange their Indian tourist visa in advance. A new online e-visa system is available which makes the process more straightforward than before. You can make your application online at indiavisaonline.

Visa requirements for India can and do change regularly and we suggest that you arrange your Indian visa early and re-check your specific visa requirements prior to travel for any changes.

You should ensure you are fully insured for medical emergencies including emergency evacuation and repatriation.

Recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures vary according to the country you are visiting and where you are travelling from. We recommend you contact your GP/medical practitioner or a travel clinic for current information on vaccinations needed for your destination. You should ensure that you are up to date with vaccines and boosters recommended for your normal life at home, including for example, vaccines required for occupational risk of exposure, lifestyle risks and underlying medical conditions. In addition, additional courses or boosters normally recommended for the countries in this region are:

India: Additional vaccinations: Diptheria, Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid. Malaria map. Yellow Fever certificate: Yellow fever rules for India are quite complicated and lengthy. Please read the WHO guidance.

Malaria: Vaccinations are not available against Malaria, which is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes that can be very serious and sometimes fatal. You should avoid mosquito bites by covering up bare skin with clothing such as long sleeves and long trousers and applying insect repellents to exposed skin. When necessary, sleep under a mosquito net. Mosquitoes are most active during and after sunset. You should consult with your GP/medical practitioner/travel clinic about the most appropriate malaria prophylactic medication to take for the regions you are visiting. In general the north eastern regions of India including Assam and Orissa are considered high risk,while the rest of India is generally considered low enough risk that anti-malarial tablets are not necessary for most travellers doing relatively short tours.

Yellow Fever: This disease is spread by infected mosquitoes that bite during the day. A Yellow Fever Certificate of vacinnation may be required as a condition of entry depending on which country you are arriving from, or that you have travelled or transitted through recently (including connecting flights with stopovers of over 12 hours). You can view this US CDC information about where the virus is present and follow the links to further information detailing which countries need you to have a Yellow Fever vaccination as part of their entry requirements. Please ensure you have this certificate with you and to hand if necessary.

Please inform us of any pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or asthma and any prescription medicine you may be taking. We also need to know about any food allergies or physical disabilities that you may have.

The tour price includes a 24-hour airport meet & assist service in New Delhi airport, your arrival and departure airport-hotel transfers and all other transfers.

All of our small group tours, family tours and shoestring tours which run on set departure dates may also be arranged privately and adjusted if you would like to make any changes or just not join a group. We also feature a further selection of tours here to give you some more ideas.

These tailor-made holidays are designed to allow you see and experience new places, to expand your knowledge and help you appreciate the cultural heritage of the countries you are visiting. We try to ensure all our itineraries are well balanced and immersive, and design them to allow you to get the most out of your often limited time. Most incorporate some free time to allow for you to go off on your own and explore these new and exciting places. Often this free time can be the most rewarding, with opportunities to meet, talk and relax with the local people.

Our local guides are all well trained, experts in their country’s culture and history, and are with as much or little as you wish during the trip. We use many different modes of transport both public and private, and where public transport is used, we know the quality of the service and ensure all your needs are met.

Please contact us if you have any questions about adjusting or amending any of our set tours for your party. We’ll provide you with options, further suggestions and prices so you end up with the holiday you’re looking for.

Traveling in India with Encounters Travel is generally very safe. We take your security seriously and work only with trusted local partners and experienced guides who know the regions well. Our itineraries are carefully planned to avoid high-risk areas and prioritize traveler safety at all times. We also provide 24/7 support during your trip, assist with logistics, and stay up to date with local travel advisories. While India is a vibrant and diverse country, like any international destination, we recommend being mindful of your surroundings and following your guide’s advice to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey.

Yes, you will have access to a knowledgeable local guide or tour leader throughout your trip with Encounters Travel.

For groups of 4 or more, a fully trained, English-speaking local tour guide will accompany you for the entire journey, covering the full loop from Delhi – Agra – Jaipur – Delhi.

For smaller groups of 2 to 3 travelers, you will be accompanied by a professional driver for the full trip, with experienced local guides provided in each city you visit.

At Encounters Travel, we are committed to using local Indian guides and representatives to ensure you receive the most authentic and enriching experience at every destination.

Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our tours and needs to cover personal accident & liability, medical expenses and repatriation, travel delay & abandonment. We also strongly recommend that you take out cover against cancellation and lost/stolen baggage. Personal medical insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover and is generally not suitable for travel on our tours. You will not be able to join your tour if you have not provided us with details of your insurance or if you arrive without cover in place (no refunds will be due in this event).

Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads Travel Insurance offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

If your tour includes car hire, or if you plan to arrange a hot air balloon flight locally or do some scuba diving during your tour, you should check the small print in your policy to make sure these are covered (these are covered in our policy). Please also check the maximum altitude that you will be reaching and that full cover including emergency evacuation is provided up to this altitude.

If you are taking expensive camera gear or other electronic equipment with you then please check the coverage and the fine print of your policy to ensure that you have sufficient cover.