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General Inquiry FAQ

01

Travel

 

  • Getting to India 

If you live in the U.S. many of our tours will include a Round-Trip group flight from NY. If you do not live in the U.S., or if you prefer to make your own flight please make sure you have the price without airfare. We recommend Lisa Barron, Travel Agent, to assist you with booking your individual flight. She can be reached at 203-655-9261 or LisaB@TravelExchange.Net

 

  •  Passport

Yes, you need a valid passport to travel to India

 

  •  Visa

Yes, you will need to get a visa to enter India. All details will be provided as part of the pre-trip planning.

 

  • Travel Insurance 

Yes, we recommend travel insurance in case of any last minute conflict that finds you needing to cancel your trip. Reduced rate group plans are offered.

02

Self-Care

 

  • Food & Water

We do our best to accommodate any dietary requirements including distinct food allergies. We have had people allergic to peppers and spices on our trips and you too will do fine if you follow our recommendations. We provide plenty of clean bottled water for all participants. Details are provided as part of your pre-trip planning.

 

           

  • Vaccines

The U.S CDC does not require any vaccines for travellers to India. However they do make many recommendations. We will share our experience with you so that you and your doctor can make the best decisions for your health.

 

  • Animals and Insects

We do recommend bringing mosquito repellent. No other repellents for any other animals will be necessary for where we travel, but we’ll tell you what you can and cannot pet!

 

  • Yoga & Meditation

It may come as a surprise that Hatha yoga practices, meditation and exercise in general are not prominent practices of your average Indian.  While on the trip we will introduce you to the experience of new practices that you can adopt and learn that are not available at home. Our trip will focus on participating in and the understanding of these new practices.

03

Money

 

  • Currency Exchange

The currency is the Indian Rupee. Please wait until we arrive to exchange currency.

 

  • What to bring

Some Cash, Credit and Debit cards are best to bring. All details of how to keep safe will be provided.

 

  • Shopping

Shopping is not a required part of the trip, but there are so many beautiful things you will want to bring home!  We often recommend that if you plan to shop, bring only 1 suitcase, and buy another to take your shopping home in. The range of what you could spend is great, but being on a strict budget is entirely possible to have the best trip ever and not buy a thing!

 

  • Philanthropy

Knowing who and what to give your hard earned money to is a topic that comes up when travelling to India. We take the time to educate you on how to discern when to give and when not to regarding tips, donations, beggars and larger philanthropic endeavors.

04

Culture

 

  • Clothing

Indian dress is such a distinct phenomenon that has a few thousand years of history. Part of our trips is embracing this distinct culture. The preparatory planning for each trip includes fascinating explanation of the myths and meanings of the dress that are still the foundation of this culture. And yes, by the end of the trip you’ll learn how to tie your own sari or dhoti! Ladies, watch the video below to begin practicing wrapping a sari by yourself. 

  • Rituals, Customs

Learning the stories behind the rituals and customs of such a different culture from our own is what this trip is all about. As we go along, we do our best to explain unfamiliar and exotic practices that will allow us to reflect on our own modern lives.

05

Suggested Study

 

            To inspire you and prepare for our pilgrimage we recommend courses with Vishali Varga and Prof. Douglas Brooks.

 

             VishaliVarga.com and Rajanaka.com

 

Recommended Audio Courses with Prof. Brooks are available by contacting Greg Yamada. Yiggig@gmail.com. Recommended for the trip are: An Intro to the History and Practice of Yoga I, II; Ganesha Puja; Mantra Theory. Shorter introductory lectures are available through Yogaglo.com

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