The Best of India: Treasures of the North and South

After you enroll, we’ll ask you to provide or update your personal information and preferences, which includes your health information, lodging and meal preferences for your program.

Passport and Visa required.

A passport is required for this program. It must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.

This information about travel documents pertains to participants holding U.S. passports. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

India

• Your passport must have 2 blank passport page(s) for entry/exit visas in this country.

• A travel visa is required and it must be obtained in advance.

• The cost of this visa is not included in the cost of your trip.

• Your visa can be secured electronically. You may use the services of our designated visa service, Passport Visa Express, please see details on the process and the price at Passport Visa Express. If you prefer you may secure your electronic visa on your own, see the notes below for details.

Please note: To obtain your Indian e-Tourist Visa, you must apply online in advance. The e-Tourist Visa offers options for stays of 30 days, one year, or five years. We recommend applying for the one-year e-Tourist Visa, which costs $45 (subject to change) and can be obtained up to 120 days before your intended travel date to India at www.indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html. Passport details, a passport-sized photo (JPEG), and a copy (PDF) of the passport picture ID page are required to apply. Hotel information and Indian contact reference also required for the application are listed in the program notes section of the participant mailings. If you need visa application assistance, Passport Visa Express can submit your e-Tourist Visa application for a fee of $175 (subject to change) at www.passportvisasexpress.com/roadscholar. Once your application is approved, you will receive an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). Be sure to carry a printed copy of your ETA while traveling.

This is an active “Keep the Pace” program. If you require wheelchair assistance to get through an airport, you are not fit enough to participate in this program. Though all efforts have been made to keep health and hygiene practices at the optimum standard, please note that diarrhea is the most common illness afflicting travelers. It can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites, which can contaminate food or water. Infections may cause diarrhea and vomiting (E. coli, Salmonella, cholera, and parasites), fever (typhoid fever and toxoplasmosis), or liver damage (hepatitis). You should drink only bottled water with sealed caps and ensure any ice is made from purified, boiled water. Eat thoroughly-cooked food and only fruits you have peeled yourself. Avoid unpasteurized milk and any products that might have been made from unpasteurized milk, such as ice cream. Avoid food and beverages obtained from street vendors. Occasionally, travelers are also susceptible to having some respiratory issues when traveling to India due to pollution and fatigue. Please consult your doctor about how you can best avoid respiratory infections and keep yourself at optimum health while traveling to this part of the world. There are no vaccinations required to enter India unless visitors are coming from a contaminated area. However, it is always a good idea to check with your personal physician before going abroad. Routine vaccines, as they are often called, such as for Covid-19, influenza, chickenpox (or varicella), polio, MMR, and DPT, are given at all stages of life and should be up-to-date. We highly recommend Hepatitis A and Typhoid shots as well. Malaria pills are a consideration in some locations in India. Please check the CDC website for a full list of recommendations.

If Road Scholar is arranging your air travel to and from the program, and you travel on the scheduled start and end dates, you’ll receive free round-trip transfers from the airport to the hotel.

Arrival day is on November 29, 2025

Meet the group at The Suryaa New Delhi in Delhi

Start of Trip:  Hotel check-in 2:00 p.m. followed by orientation at 6:00 p.m. and welcome dinner. The hotel is available from 2:00 p.m. on Friday (Day 2) for any early arrivals.

Getting to the site: Only participants who have purchased Road Scholar airfare and who are arriving on the day the program commences in India will be provided an arrival transfer from Delhi airport to the first program hotel. Participants who have not purchased Road Scholar airfare, or who are arriving early, are responsible for making their own transfer arrangements and the costs involved. For those making their own way to the first hotel, look for the pre-paid taxi stand once you have entered the arrival hall. There are two types of taxis at the Delhi International Airport: private taxi cabs (Meru Cab & Mega Cab) and the Delhi Traffic Police taxi cabs. Both taxi options offer pre-paid taxi rates and have dedicated payment counters at Terminal 1 and 3, with taxis available 24/7. The taxi rate will be calculated and paid for by credit card or cash prior to getting in the taxi. We suggest booking one of the private taxi companies (Meru Cab or Mega Cab) which are located outside the Main Terminal area of the airport and have a dedicated counter for pre-payment. These are nicer vehicles with professional staff and are recommended for tourists traveling to India. The cabs have air-conditioning and payment is made in advance of your destination. Alternatively, you can arrange a private transfer in advance with our Indian partner. Details will be towards the end of your final information packet. Check-in is available to the program's first hotel at 2:00 p.m on Day 2 for any early arrivals. If arriving on Day 3 early in the morning, the hotel room will be available for you. If you wish to check in earlier than Day 2 and would like to book additional pre-nights at the hotel, we suggest booking with the hotel directly or through a 3rd-party website.

Your trip ends on: Wednesday, December 17, 2025 in Cochin at Vivanta Ernakulam, Marine Drive

End of Trip: Early morning check-out (approximately 12:30 a.m.) for flights departing around 4:30 a.m. For those leaving later, the hotel is booked for the full night; 11:00 a.m. hotel check-out.

Getting to the airport: Only participants who have purchased Road Scholar airfare and who are departing on the day the program concludes in India will be provided a departure transfer from the last program hotel to Cochin airport. Participants who have not purchased Road Scholar airfare, or who are departing on a different day, are responsible for making their own transfer arrangements and the costs involved. You will be able to pre-book a taxi through the concierge at the final hotel. If desired, participants can choose to leave the night prior (Day 20) as there is no programming this evening. Transfers are not provided for those departing early. Check-out is 11:00 a.m. on Day 21. If you depart later that day, the hotel can store your luggage at the front desk. If you wish to check out later than Day 21, or book additional post-nights at the hotel, we suggest booking with the hotel directly or a through a 3rd-party website.

Information if you are purchasing your own airfare: Participants who have not purchased airfare through Road Scholar are responsible for making their own transfer arrangements to the first site at the beginning of the program, as well as from the last site at the end of the program. The Information Packet Road Scholar sends in advance of the program includes details needed to make your transfer arrangements. If you wish to purchase airfare through Road Scholar, please call (800) 241-1404. Please note: In the unlikely event Road Scholar must make changes to the program's arrival or departure details, we will notify all participants as soon as possible. Participants who have purchased Road Scholar airfare are protected against airline change fees; however, anyone who has not purchased Road Scholar airfare will be required to make their own adjustments and may incur fees imposed by the airline.