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Welcome to Tauck’s Northern India & Nepal Forum
Welcome to Tauck’s Northern India & Nepal Forum- Find the answers to your trip questions, answer questions posted by fellow travelers, plus share your Tauck experiences and stories. Stop by often and join in on the discussions.
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I will try to answer your questions the best I can:
Tiger Reserves
As of this posting, India’s Supreme Court lifted the ban on tourism in “core zones” of more than 40 government-run tiger reserves. The court order came after the National Tiger Conservation Authority announced fresh guidelines to protect the tiger. As per the ruling, each state government has been asked to prepare a tiger conservation plan that adheres to the national authority’s guidelines. Per media reports, these guidelines may limit tourism to 20 percent of the core areas of tiger reserves and national parks.
The current impact to your tour is unknown yet. We will provide an update once all final confirmations are made. Until final guidelines are confirmed, we have no further information at this time.
Weather
Weather on in Northern India and Nepal, can range anywhere from the mid 70s to 90s during the day and from the 50s to 70s in the evening. www.weather.com is a good website to use, for the most update weather conditions.
Visa
If you are a U.S. citizen traveling internationally, you will need a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the completion of your Tauck journey that contains at least four blank pages. You will also need a current visa to enter India and a current visa to enter Nepal.
Up-to-date visas are required for India and Nepal. A MULTIPLE-ENTRY VISA IS
REQUIRED FOR INDIA. If you do not have a multiple-entry visa, you will not be permitted to enter India again. You will not be able to obtain an Indian visa from 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. A visa for Nepal also needs to be obtained prior to tour start.
We have collaborated with Pinnacle Travel Document Systems (TDS) to assist you in obtaining an entry visa for India and Nepal. The visa fees, as well as any applicable consular fees and shipping fees, is not included in the tour cost, and payment should be mailed with the completed application directly to TDS. The amount of the visa fee is stated on the application.
A TDS visa kit may be downloaded through the Pinnacle TDS website: http://www.traveldocs.com/. Visas for India cannot be processed more than 90 days prior to departure and the process does take several weeks to complete.
It is very important to note that while we have an affiliation with TDS for processing visas, you are not required to process your visa through TDS, and may elect to choose other visa services or work directly through an Indian consulate or embassy.
If you are a citizen of another country traveling internationally, please contact a consulate or embassy of India and Nepal to determine if an entry visa is required.
Attire
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.
We do not advise you dress in shorts, mini-skirts or tank tops unless you are on a beach. In small towns and cities, people may tend to stare if you expose too much skin. Most locals dress in modest clothing. To respect local customs and sensitivities when in public, we recommend that women wear skirts below the knee or longer or relatively loose slacks. Avoid wearing sleeveless blouses and tight pants. Young women and teenage girls, especially those dressed in tight or short dresses, may attract undesirable attention. Men should avoid going shirtless; trousers are preferable to shorts.
When visiting places of worship, women are not allowed to enter with bare shoulders, short pants or short skirts; a long skirt, dress, or slacks are recommended. A scarf is acceptable to cover shoulders if a woman is wearing a sleeveless top. Head covering is not required. Men should also dress appropriately for a holy sanctuary. Shorts are discouraged. All visitors will be required to remove their shoes in temples and mosques.
For the welcome and farewell dinners, we recommend resort wear to suit a tropical climate.
Shots
Some of the countries visited on this itinerary may require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against certain diseases in order to enter the country. These requirements are subject to frequent change as outbreaks occur and subside in different areas, and it is therefore crucial that you obtain the very latest information on entry requirements as you prepare for your journey.
For the most current information, please consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list.htm and the World Health Organization (WHO) at http://www.who.int/ith/en/. It may also be advisable to visit the web sites for the embassies of the countries you will be visiting. Besides providing details on vaccination requirements, these sites can also provide information on vaccinations that may be recommended (but aren’t required) and other potential health issues for which no vaccines are available.
Any decisions relating to your health, of course, should not be based solely on information provided by a web site. It is critically important that you consult with your personal physician prior to your journey to obtain any required vaccinations and to review any optional recommendations offered by the CDC or other sources.
Please be sure to discuss your journey with your physician at least four to six weeks in advance of your departure, as certain vaccinations take time to become fully effective. Also, be certain to ask your physician for proof of any vaccinations you receive, and to pack this proof along with your other travel documents in your carry-on luggage (not in your checked luggage).
Hope this helps,
Emily
Very excited. This will be our 4 th Tauck trip