Northern India & Nepal

Your health and safety remain our number one priority while you are traveling with us on Northern India & Nepal. The below travel requirements are mandated by the country of India and Nepal, and are applicable to all Tauck guests without exception:

• For all 2023 travel, all Tauck guests age 12 and older must be fully vaccinated. Additionally, you must have had at least one booster dose and/or have proof of recovery from Covid. Although highly recommended, vaccination for minors age 11 and under is not required by Tauck. However, if unvaccinated they must present a negative result from either a PCR or antigen test taken within 3 days of departing for their Tauck trip. If a child age 11 or under is vaccinated but not boosted, they must also present a negative test prior to their Tauck trip.
• We strongly encourage guests to check the requirements for any transit/layover destinations that will be part of your journey.

For entry into India:

• All travelers must bring proof of full Covid vaccination. Use the same proof as described above.

For entry into Nepal:

• All travelers must bring proof of full Covid vaccination. Use the same proof as described above.

For return to the United States:

• The US no longer has any specific Covid entry requirements.

Final entry requirements will be clearly outlined in your Personal Travel Documents

All U.S. citizens require a valid passport to enter India and Nepal, and that passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel. (Please note that although adult passports are valid for a full ten years, children's passports require renewal every five years.)  Your passport must also contain at least three blank visa pages.  If you are a United States citizen and do not have a valid passport, please contact the closest U.S. passport agency or consult the U.S. State Department web site for detailed information on how to obtain or renew your passport at: www.travel.state.gov. In addition to a valid passport, and as noted in your Journey Confirmation e-document you received confirming your reservation, U.S. citizens are also required to have visas to enter India and Nepal. Please note that the Indian visa must be processed within six months of your arrival.  Your Journey Confirmation also indicated various options on how to obtain your visas.  To review (and if you are currently within the parameters of the timeframe noted above), you may elect to work with VisaCentral (a visa-assistance provider) to obtain your visas, with another visa-assistance provider of your choosing, or by working directly with the Indian Embassy or Consulate. (If you opt to work with VisaCentral, their services are available online at www.visacentral.com/tauck.)

There is also an option of e-visa that can be applied at https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html. You can obtain a visa single entry valid for 30 days.

PLEASE NOTE: A MULTIPLE-ENTRY VISA IS REQUIRED FOR INDIA. If you do not have a multiple-entry visa for India, you will not be permitted to re-enter India on Day 7 of your tour following the Nepal portion of your itinerary. (You will not be able to obtain an Indian visa while in Nepal.) When obtaining your visas, you must inform the visa agent/embassy that you will be traveling to Nepal from India and re-entering India. Please Note: Tauck will cover the expense of your visa for entry to Nepal, and it will be issued on tour.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Failure to obtain ALL necessary documentation prior to your tour may result in being denied entry into a country, or delays in entry until proper documentation can be obtained.  In consideration of the larger group (and to maintain our planned itinerary), travelers who have failed to obtain the necessary documentation in advance may need to remain at the airport, and could thus be responsible for arranging (and paying for) their own transportation to join the group.  Tauck will not be responsible for obtaining any missing documentation, nor will Tauck be responsible for any expenses incurred, missed tour components or other losses resulting from the failure to obtain proper travel documents in advance.

Non-U.S. citizens should check with the Indian and Nepalese Embassies or Consulates to determine necessary travel documents. Admission into Bandhavgarh National Park is strictly regulated by Indian authorities, and permission to enter must be applied for in advance and secured by providing a passport number for each person traveling into the parks.  Tauck will arrange the necessary permission for you to enter the parks, using the passport information you provided to us at your time of booking.

PLEASE NOTE:  If your passport requires renewal before your departure for India, you will need to bring your expired passport AND your new passport with you on your journey.  Your new passport (with a new passport number) will be required to travel internationally.  Your expired passport (with the older passport number provided to Indian authorities) will still be required to enter into Bandhavgarh National Park.  Failure to bring the appropriate passport will result in your being denied entry into the parks.

We strongly recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration and your citizenship. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.

To facilitate Travel Requirements, destinations are increasingly utilizing online forms that require digital proof that you've successfully completed your submission (via an email, QR code, etc.) To ensure smooth travels and peace of mind, we strongly recommend all guests carry a personal smart phone and sign up for international data plans before traveling overseas.

Note: For activities marked with an asterisk (*) in day-by-day descriptions, participation is at your own risk; a signed liability waiver will be required.

TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN AS A GUARDIAN: If you are traveling as the guardian of a child/children, we strongly suggest that you carry a letter from both parents of the child authorizing emergency treatment in the event of illness or accident. For travel abroad, many foreign countries have specific entry requirements for children under 21 who are traveling internationally without BOTH parents. (These requirements are in response to the increased incidence of children being abducted and taken abroad.) PLEASE NOTE THAT TAUCK IS NOT RESPONSIBLE for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for children traveling without both parents.

See your travel advisor, or call Tauck at 1800-962-043 to make a reservation.

Deposit Information:

The deposit and the fees for the optional Protection Plan are due at time of booking. Your deposit is AUD $1,250.

Terms and Conditions:

For additional information pertaining to our Tauck Journeys, including Cancellation Information and Booking Conditions, click here to learn more.

• Tour Name and Departure Date Desired
• Traveler Name(s):  Please have first and last names as they appear on the passport or driver's license.
• Traveler's Address(es)
• Traveler's Phone Number(s)
• Emergency Contact Information: This would be a relative or friend whom we could contact during the tour in the event of an emergency. Please provide their name and phone number(s).
• Interest in purchasing a travel protection product (US and Canada)
• Interest in extending your trip by staying in a Tauck recommended hotel before your trip begins or after it ends
• Interest in our specially negotiated airfares.

Regarding your final payment:

Final Payment is due in the Tauck Australia office as specified on the invoice. Bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice. 

Deposit Protection Plan – Tauck provides a "Deposit Protection Plan" at a cost of AUD $75 per person per tour or cruise. The cost is non-refundable and non-transferable and must be paid at the time of booking with your deposit. It only applies when you cancel your tour or cruise prior to final payment date. The deposit held in credit will exclude fees imposed by third parties in relation to air, rail travel, hotels, transfer or applicable cruise cabins. When booking airfares through Tauck (including when taking advantage of a special offer that includes air travel), standard airline cancellation fees will apply. In some cases, airfares will be non-refundable. In the event of cancellation, these fees will be deducted from the deposit paid, and therefore the credit being held. We will only credit the remainder of deposit to a future tour or cruise booking if you book within 24 months of cancellation of the original Tauck tour or cruise. This offer expires after the 24 months. We will only credit the remainder of the deposit to a future tour or cruise booking Balance Due and it can't be used as a credit for the initial deposit of a future tour or cruise booking. The Tauck "Deposit Protection Plan" only covers a Tauck tour or cruise and it does not replace Travel Insurance, which we recommend at the time of booking.

If you cancel within 10 days of initial deposit

Within the first 10 days after you place your initial deposit, you may cancel your reservation for any reason with no cancellation fees.

If you cancel more than 10 days after initial deposit

Regardless of reason, cancellations of confirmed bookings result in costly penalties and fees from hotels, ship operators and other travel providers. Therefore, the per person fees listed below will apply:

Land Tours

Cancellation penalties for land tours apply as follows:

60 days or more before departure

Loss of Deposit.

8 days before departure

25% total cost of tour

7 days or less before departure

Loss of Deposit.

60 days before departure

59-1 day before departure

Please note -  Airfares included on On-Tour Flights required with any of Tauck tours may be subject to different cancellation fees not outlined above.

* For services included in your booking that are not provided by Tauck, additional cancellation fees may be incurred

* Travel Professionals may impose their own cancellation fees.

In the event of an unforeseen circumstance beyond our control, Tauck reserves the right to amend the cancellation terms outlined herein.

Tour Interruption Fees: If you have to interrupt your tour en route, you may be entitled to a refund for the unused land portion if it exceeds 24 hours; certain restrictions apply. Such refunds are based upon the number of overnights missed less a fee of AUD $50 per person per day for unused transportation and other fixed expenses.

Partial Room Cancellation: A person who cancels or leaves a tour while a roommate remains constitutes a cancellation of one type of accommodation and rebooking of another type of accommodation. The price charged to the remaining person is the new, higher price for the new accommodation.

Click here to find Tauck's Travel Terms & Conditions.

AIRFARE: Airfare to and from this destination is not included in the journey cost. If purchasing your air elsewhere, it is very important to provide us with your confirmed arriving and departing flight information no later than 3 weeks before your arrival date. Flight information can be submitted to Tauck (or verified, if you've already provided it) in the My Account section of Tauck.com.

TAUCK AIRPORT TRANSFERS are included at the start and end of the journey between the airport and the Tauck hotel. Airport transfers are available for any pre tour or post tour hotel stays immediately consecutive to the tour, providing flight information is received in the Tauck office no later than three weeks in advance. Details on locating your transfer upon arrival to the tour start city will be included in your final documents.

AIRLINES and CHECKED LUGGAGE: Due to space limitations during your Tauck journey, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one average-size suitcase per person. Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and are free to revise luggage policies without notice. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies. PLEASE NOTE that if you are booked on a tour that includes on-tour flights, the checked luggage weight restrictions for these flights may be lower than the weight restrictions for your international flights.

Special Luggage Restrictions for this Tour 

You will be required to pack an overnight bag during for your 2 night trip to Chitwan & 1 night in Dhulikel from Kathmandu on day 6 of your itinerary You will be reunited with your checked luggage upon your arrival in Agra on day 7.

To help in your packing, we are pleased to provide you with a special Tauck duffel bag. If you are a resident of the U.S., your bag will be sent to you two weeks prior to your departure date. If you reside outside of the U.S., you will receive your bag upon arrival in India because customs regulations prohibit the easy delivery of the duffel bags in advance. Packing an overnight bag on these occasions will ensure the safe and timely arrival of your luggage at your next destination, and we appreciate your cooperation in this matter.

In addition to the Tauck duffel which will be your checked piece of luggage for these overnights, you will be allowed to bring ONE piece of carry-on luggage aboard your intra-tour flights weighing no more than 15 pounds (7 kg) and with maximum dimensions of 21" x 13.75" x 10" (55 cm x 35 cm x 25 cm). 

Checked Luggage – General

Due to space restrictions, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one suitcase per person weighing no more than 50 pounds (23 kg) and with overall dimensions (length + width + height) not exceeding 62 inches (158 cm).

Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and luggage exceeding airline standards for size or weight may result in expensive overage fees or other consequences.

Airlines are free to revise luggage policies without notice, and certain airlines have different baggage allowances for different classes of service. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies.

Tauck luggage tags will be provided by your Tauck Director on Day 1 of your itinerary. Please do not attach a Tauck luggage tag to any carry-on items, as the Tauck tags designate luggage that is to be handled and transferred by ground operators and hotel staff during your journey.

Carry-on Luggage – General

Although oversize bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and only those items you need handy during the day such as purses, make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or in the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may be inaccessible during daytime travel.

We have compiled a reading list of recommended books to give you more information about the destinations you will be traveling to on your upcoming journey!

You can view the reading list here.

The climate in India & Nepal can vary, depending on the location and the season of travel. During the winter months of December through February, the weather is dry with temperatures ranging in the mid 40 degrees F (approx. 4 degrees C) in the early morning and evening in the north, to the low to mid 70 degrees F (approx. 21 degrees C) during the day. In Mumbai, the temperatures range in the high 60 degrees F (approx. 15 degrees C). Temperatures in March and November are approximately 10 degrees warmer than in the winter, with March being slightly warmer than November. The weather in the months of September and October ranges from the mid to high 80 degrees F (approx. 26 degrees C) to the high 90 degrees F (approx. 32 degrees C) throughout the itinerary. Temperatures in Mumbai are warmer by 5 to 10 degrees.

India and Nepal are known for their rainy season, when monsoons make headlines. However, from October through March – the best time to travel – no more than one inch of rain per month on average falls on the cities we visit.

To determine current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, noaa.gov, by clicking here.

When packing for travel to India and Nepal, we suggest you select a wardrobe that is adaptable and allows for layering. In India, delicate fabrics do not stand up well to laundering facilities except at deluxe hotels. Plain cotton or cotton and synthetic blend clothing is the most practical and is the coolest in summer. It is best to avoid synthetic fabrics that do not "breathe". A hat with a wide brim will help protect you from the harsh sun. During the fall season, a collapsible umbrella comes in handy. During the winter months, sweaters and light jackets are necessary.

The temperatures in the national park can drop below freezing level at any time of year and the Jeep rides can be chilly. Several layers and a windbreaker may be necessary to remain comfortable.

Bandhavgarh National Park, has recently imposed rule that could impact your safari drives in the park. Park authorities have recently begun prohibiting visitors from bringing cellular phones and tablet computers (such as iPads) along on game drives inside the park, believing that loud ring tones and cell phone conversations may be disruptive to the park's wildlife.  Thus, if you would like to capture photographs inside

Bandhavgarh National Park, you will need to pack an actual camera for use during your game drives in the park (vs. relying on your cell phone or tablet camera).  Please be sure to bear this in mind as you prepare and pack for your upcoming journey.

For the welcome and farewell dinners, we recommend resort wear to suit a tropical climate.

Following is a list of recommended items to pack:

• Resort wear
• A sports jacket for men for fine dining options
• Skirt below the knee
• Loose slacks
• Trousers
• Shorts
• Short and long-sleeved shirts and blouses
• Scarf
• Light sweater
• Light waterproof jacket
• Swimwear
• Gym wear
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Wide-brimmed hat
• A pair of sturdy, yet comfortable, pre-worn walking shoes for uneven terrain
• A pair of easily removable shoes or sandals for entering temples and shrines
• Collapsible umbrella
• Toiletries, sundries, tissues
• Pre-moistened towelettes
• Handkerchiefs
• Antibacterial lotion
• Medication for allergies/aspirin/upset stomach/diarrhea
• Insect repellent
• Travel alarm/cell phone with alarm function (many hotels do not have clocks in the rooms)
• Camera, film, memory cards, chargers, batteries and other photography accessories
• Copies of your travel documents that should be secured in the safe in your hotel room while traveling

Please refer to the Necessary Gear website at www.necessarygear.com as one option available to you for renting and purchasing apparel, PPEs, and other items appropriate for your journey.