Experience Holi in India:
A Kaleidoscope of Color & Culture

You bet! I realize this is a large investment, so I try to make my trips as affordable as possible by offering payment plans.

There is an up front deposit of $500 at the time of booking, and then monthly payments of $700 beginning September 1 through January 1.

You are responsible for making payments on time, or you will forfeit your spot without refund. All payments are due 2 months prior to departure.

This entirely depends on your spending habits, but you’ll want to budget additional spending money for a few lunches and dinners that aren’t included, as well as alcoholic beverages.

I would budget $30 a day for spending money, plus extra money for shopping if that interests you.

You’ll also want to set aside money for tips for our guide and driver.

Yes, you will need a passport valid beyond September 17, 2025. If it will expire before then, you'll need to renew it ASAP.

If you do not have a passport, I recommend you start the process right away, as it can take several months to receive it. If you need assistance with this, feel free to reach out!

VISAS

You will need to purchase an E-Tourist visa to visit India, which can be purchased online for $25. It takes a couple of days to receive it electronically after applying. More information will provided to you in the months leading up to the trip.

Yes, travel insurance is required for all of my trips starting in 2025, with a minimum of post-departure/travel medical coverage (typically about $50). There are options to upgrade to trip cancellation coverage + cancel for any reason coverage as well.

I always recommend getting travel insurance for large investments such as a trip like this. It's well worth the peace of mind knowing you will have travel and health coverage should something go wrong before or during your trip (and I have had several people have to use it—they were SO glad they had it).

I always tell people to ask themselves, “am I willing to lose thousands of dollars should I not be able to go on this trip?” If the answer is no, consider getting trip cancellation coverage.

If you want to learn more about travel insurance and are looking for a recommendation, you can learn more about my travel insurance partner, Wanderwell, here.

I sure hope that’s not the case, but I also realize that life can be unpredictable, and things happen.

All trip payments are non-refundable.

Filling trip spots is incredibly time-consuming. I am a small boutique travel company, and I unfortunately do not have the ability to refund people if their plans change. Your deposits go directly to my local partners, and they are non-refundable to me as well.

Travel insurance is required for this trip (a minimum of post-departure/travel medical). Trip cancellation coverage is available for purchase and will potentially cover most of your trip costs should you need to cancel for a covered reason.

This trip has an average level of activity level, with lots of walking around cities. We will be driving from city to city, so there will be several days where we will be in the van for multiple hours.

See the section on Holi below for more specifics on the activity level for Holi.

One word: EPIC.

But I'll be honest, this trip isn't going to be for everyone. This is for the adventurous, free-spirited, open-minded people who want to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience that most people never get, even if they do travel to India.

Holi can be polarizing and intense at times. It's all in good fun, but prepare for people to throw colors on you, and sometimes without your permission--it's all part of the experience, and the more positive and open-minded your perspective is about it, the more fun you'll have!

We will be preparing you in advance for how to dress for Holi and give some tips for not staining your hair and skin after the celebrations.

If you still want to come on the trip but do not want to participate in Holi, it is completely optional.

Most days have some free time built in so you have time to wander, shop, and explore the cities we are in.

In addition, all planned activities are optional, so you are free to opt out at any time if you choose.

All that being said, this trip is designed to show you the best of the best of India and all activities have been personally vetted by me to ensure you’re only seeing things worth seeing. If something isn’t generally liked by the entire group, I don’t include it in the itinerary and leave it for free time.

I typically recommend 3-6 months prior to the trip, or as soon as I’ve finalized our group and arrival details.

I will be in contact with you regularly with reminders and assistance on purchasing fights, visas, insurance, packing, and more.

In the meantime, feel free to set up a flight alert on Google Flights to start monitoring prices. You will be flying in and out of Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL).

Absolutely not! Most people come on group trips alone, and it’s the best way to meet people!

My trips tend to have people mostly in the 30-50 age range, but all ages 18+ are welcome. We usually have some people who are 50+ on our trips, so if that's you, don't worry!

Age is honestly just a number, and it’s more important that the trip sounds like a good fit for you than your actual age. I promise you'll make friends of all ages!

"Safe" is such a relative term when it comes to travel, as things can happen anywhere at anytime, and safety is never something that can be guaranteed.

Group travel is inherently safer than solo travel because you are with a group, a local guide, and a tour leader, and you never have to be alone. You've always got people to watch your back, and that's a beautiful thing.

That being said, India isn't inherently dangerous to travel to. Yes, it can be loud, dirty, and chaotic at times, but it's also incredibly beautiful and unique. If India is on your bucket list, especially to celebrate Holi, group travel is 100% the way to do it safely!

We provide safety tips in our orientation to ensure that we're doing everything we can to equip you with the tools needed to be a savvy traveler in India.

There are no required vaccinations for India, but you may want to talk to your physician about getting optional vaccinations such as Hepatitis A & B, and preventative antibiotics for food poisoning, just in case.

We also go over medications in our orientation and give suggestions on things you can bring to prevent getting sick. You should not drink tap water in India, and we generally recommend not eating street food.