Temples, Tigers and Taj
Classic India
January 13 - 29, 2011

TOUR PREPARATION

Entry Requirements—For U.S. citizens, a valid passport and a visa for travel to India are required. All visitors, including those on official U.S. government business, must obtain visas at an Indian Embassy or Consulate abroad prior to entering the country. There are no provisions for visas upon arrival. For further entry information and the required forms, the traveler may contact the Embassy of India at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 939-9849 or 939-9806 or the Indian Consulates in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, or Houston. Outside the United States, inquiries should be made at the nearest Indian embassy or consulate. Those participating in the Nepal extension must apply for a double-entry visa to India.

Immunizations & Health—No immunizations are required, but the U.S. Center for Disease Control strongly recommends the following inoculations: tetanus, hepatitis A & B, typhoid, and Japanese encephalitis. Please check out their website at: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/indianrg.htm for complete details. You should only drink boiled or bottled water in India. Avoid cut salads, raw vegetables and fruits without skin everywhere except in hotel restaurants.

Exit Requirements—At the present time no airport tax charged for departure from India, nor is one anticipated. However, any such taxes or fees instituted after publication of this itinerary will be the responsibility of the clients to pay directly to the appropriate airport authorities.

Suggested Reading:

• God Of Small Things, by Arundhati Roy
• India In Mind, short stories (some with a very gay slant) by famous authors including Ackerley, Bowles, Forster, Hesse, Orwell, Jhabvala, Kipling and more. Edited by Pankaj Mishra.
• India In Slow Motion, by Mark Tully
• Interpreter of Maladies, by Jhumpa Lahiri (winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 2000)
• The Last Mughal, by William Darymple

Suggested Viewing:

• Gandhi (1982), starring Ben Kingsley
• Heat and Dust (1983), starring Julie Christie
• Jewel In The Crown (1984), TV Series starring Peggy Ashcroft
• Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love (1996)
• Monsoon Wedding (2001)

WHAT TO BRING

The month of January is generally much cooler and more pleasant than it would be at other times of the year. Temperatures will range between 50 to 80 Degrees F, depending on our location.

Suggested Packing List:

____ Proof of citizenship. Passport and Visa needed.

____ Comfy walking shoes for day tours and walks.

____ Polo shirts / T-shirts (8 - 10).

____ Long sleeve shirts (3 - 4) for sun protection.

____ Shorts (1 or 2 pairs).

____ Lightweight long pants for dinners.

____ Fun casual outfits (1 or 2 for dinners and special occasions).

____ Cool sleepwear (optional).

____ Sunscreen / lip balm.

____ Sunglasses / sun hat with tie-on.

____ Mosquito repellent, with Deet.

____ Windbreaker or waterproof jacket.

____ Personal toiletries (Bring an anti-diarrheal remedy just in case!)

____ Swimsuit.

____ Camera / extra batteries / plenty of digital memory (or film)

____ Ziploc Bags (sandwich size for documents, gallon size for wet items or toiletries).

____ Voltage converter for 220 volts.

____ A good book for the long flights.

MONEY MATTERS

The currency unit in India is the Rupee (INR). As of May 18, 2010, the interbank exchange rate was 45.59 INR to the U.S. $1.00. ATMs are readily available in the major cities, and offer the best exchange rate for obtaining local currency. Credit cards are also widely accepted in establishments catering to tourists.

Tipping Guidelines—Virtually everyone in India expects to receive a tip. In tourist restaurants or hotels a 10% service charge is often added to bills. We will make collective tips to our drivers and guides at the conclusion of our stay in each destination. We will tip our National Guide at our Farewell Dinner. A suggested tip amount will be provided prior to departure.

LIABILITIES / DISCLAIMERS

Making a reservation with a deposit shall be deemed to be consent to these conditions: Toto Tours does not accept responsibility in whole or in part for any delay, loss, accidents, personal injury, sickness, medical expenses, or property damage occasioned by fault of any person from whatever cause. All tour participants are required to sign a standard liability form.
     The tour operators reserve the right to accept or decline any person as a member of the tour at any time and to make whatever changes become necessary with or without notice. Guaranteed departure with a minimum of 8 participants. Toto Tours is not responsible for airline cancellation or change penalties incurred by individual tour participants for air tickets purchased prior to notification that the tour is a confirmed departure.
     We strongly encourage you purchase Travel Insurance to cover all aspects of your travel in India! You can apply online by following the link at the bottom of this page.

THE TOTO SPIRIT

Toto Tours provides Adventure Travel Experiences as differentiated from tours in the traditional sense. Adventure Travel allows (even encourages) you to be an active participant. Adventurers can be identified by certain traits. They are:

•  fun-loving optimists who have a sense of humor and accentuate the positive;
•  good natured realists who are willing to accept situations as they exist;
•  undaunted by the unexpected, like occasional delays or bad weather;
•  willing to forego some of the amenities we normally take for granted;
•  eager to try new things & test limits;
•  punctual;
•  not whiners!

This tour promises to show you the most amazing glories of Classic India. It is certain to rank high among the memorable journeys of your lifetime! If you have any questions, please call us toll-free at: 800-565-1241.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

We recommend you purchase travel insurance with Travel Guard to cover for unforseen events prior to and during your trip. Please follow the link below or call us for more information.