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.

A valid passport, Indian e-Tourist Visa, and e-Arrival card are required. Please see the passport/visa and program notes section for more information.

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: An Indian e-Tourist Visa must be secured in advance online. Visas are available for 30 days, one year, or five years. We recommend the one-year e-Tourist Visa, which costs $45 (subject to change) and can be applied for up to 120 days before travel at https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html You’ll need your passport details, a passport-style photo (JPEG), and a scan of your passport ID page (PDF). Hotel information and our India contact reference—both required for the application—will be provided in your participant mailing packet. If you need help with the visa application, Passport Visa Express can submit your e-Tourist Visa for you for a fee of $127 (subject to change) at https://www.passportvisasexpress.com/roadscholar Once the e-Tourist Visa is approved, you’ll receive an email with your Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). Print it and keep it with your travel documents. **Note: An e-Arrival card is also required. Review program mailing for more info.

This is an active “Let's Go!” 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 be up-to-date with your routine vaccines, such as for Covid-19, influenza, MMR, chickenpox (or varicella), polio and DPT. The CDC also recommends Hepatitis A and Typhoid shots. A tetanus booster is worth considering. Antimalarial medication can be considered, based on the advice of your doctor, the CDC, and your personal comfort level. 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 21, 2026

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: Participants who purchased Road Scholar airfare and arrive in Delhi on the program start date (Day 3) will receive a transfer from the airport to the first program hotel. Participants who booked their own flights independently or who arrive earlier than the program start date are responsible for arranging and paying for their own airport transfers. Please refer to the “Taxi/Private Transfer” attachment at the end of your Information Packet for additional transfer information. Hotel check-in is available at 2:00 p.m. on Day 2 for those arriving early. For participants arriving in the morning on Day 3, your hotel room will be ready for check-in upon arrival. 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 Road Scholar Travel Services, through the hotel directly or via a third party website.

Your trip ends on: Wednesday, December 9, 2026 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: Participants who purchased Road Scholar airfare and depart Cochin on the program end date (Day 21) will receive a transfer from the last program hotel to the airport. Participants who booked their own flights independently or who are departing later than the official program end date are responsible for arranging and paying for their own airport transfers. Please refer to the “Taxi/Private Transfer” attachment at the end of your Information Packet for additional transfer information. 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.