Highlights of Northern India & Nepal

From Delhi to Kathmandu, the Golden Triangle to the Himalaya, experience two captivating countries in one trip

Discover the highlights of North India and Nepal, from pulsating Delhi to the highest mountains on Earth. The cultural wonders on this trip are numerous: sunrise at the Taj Mahal, the pink city of Jaipur, a dawn boat ride on the misty Ganges and a visit to Lumbini, birthplace of Buddha. That’s complemented by natural experiences, including scanning Chitwan National Park for rhinos and gazing at the mighty Himalaya, to create an unforgettable adventure in these two diverse destinations.

Sustainability and Impact

At Exodus, we thrive on travel, and we firmly believe our adventures should help destinations thrive too.

As a certified B Corp, we aim to take a ‘nature positive’ approach across our adventures, including carbon and waste reduction, animal welfare and support for rewilding and conservation. We also seek to contribute to local communities, providing economic opportunity and empowerment.

• Learn more about our Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan, including our commitment to rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller

• Read about the work of the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation.

• Find out how you can travel more sustainably here.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.  

It is not a physically demanding adventure, but some days are long, such as the drives between Delhi and Jaipur (approximately five to seven hours), Jaipur and Agra (approximately five to six hours), Varanasi and Lumbini (approximately 12 hours), and Pokhara and Kathmandu (approximately 10 hours). The stunning scenery, however, compensates for this. We also have some early starts to take advantage of the daylight. Most of the roads are in fairly good condition but you should be prepared for a few rougher sections, particularly between Pokhara and Kathmandu. The trains are a fun way to travel and meet Indian people, although delays are always possible.

Walks: A short hike is included in Pokhara where you are driven to a lookout point for spectacular views before descending some steep (in places) village trails and stone steps to Pame. From here, we take a return transfer to Pokhara. Due to the nature of the trails, we recommend wearing walking boots, particularly in wet weather, but sports shoes are not a problem if preferred. The walk is approximately 2hr 30min of constant decent, mostly down steps; if you would prefer not to join, the tour leader can arrange a transfer for a supplement (price subject to the number of people requiring a transfer), which can be paid locally.

Monuments: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is responsible for the conservation of many monuments in India, including the Taj Mahal, and very occasionally this may mean work is taking place at sites visited on this trip. The ASI schedule is never published so it is not possible to forewarn when work is taking place.

Monsoon season: July and August departures take place in monsoon season, which may impact the availability of activities in Varanasi. If there have been recent heavy rains that considerably raise the water level of the Ganges, boat tours may close until the water levels reduce. Should this occur on your trip, and you are unable to join the morning Ganges boat tour or the optional sunset boat ride in Varanasi, an alternative walking street tour of Varanasi is arranged for the morning activity. In the evening, you can visit the main ghat (Dashashwamedh Ghat) to witness the evening ceremony. The Annapurna extension is not available for departures between June and mid-September due to inclement weather in the Annapurna region.

Holi and Diwali festivals: Some departures take place during Holi and Diwali. They are great to witness and some very minor itinerary alterations may be made locally to make the most of these occasions. Holi celebrations typically involve people throwing coloured water at each other and smearing powder on each other’s faces. This is accompanied by dancing, music and traditional Holi sweets, such as ghujiya (sweet dumplings). During Diwali, the festival of lights, people typically illuminate their houses, shops and streets, and celebrate with fireworks.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Vaccinations and Health

India

You require a yellow fever vaccination certificate if arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Proof of a polio vaccination may also be required by some visitors. Please confirm all requirements and recommendations with your doctor or travel clinic.

You may also want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, rabies and tuberculosis. The risk of malaria is slight, but you may wish to consult your doctor or travel clinic for further advice.

Additionally, dengue fever and chikungunya are known risks in India. Both are tropical viral diseases spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for either, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Some of our India trips spend time at altitude. In regions over approximately 6,560ft (2,000m), there is little risk of mosquito-borne diseases. For trips above 9,840ft (3,000m), there is a risk of being affected by acute mountain sickness. Our itineraries are designed to enable everyone to acclimatise to these altitudes, but you should be aware that it is still possible for you to be affected. Please see the Trip Notes for further information.

Nepal

There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include tetanus, typhoid, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, cholera, Japanese encephalitis, rabies and tuberculosis. You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you’re arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or transiting for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Some travellers may also need proof of a polio vaccination. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

There is little to no risk of malaria in Nepal; therefore, antimalarial tablets are not usually advised although may be considered for certain high-risk groups. You may wish to consult your doctor or travel clinic for further advice.

Additionally, dengue fever and chikungunya are known risks in Nepal. Both are tropical viral diseases spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for either, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Most of our trips to Nepal go to high altitudes where there is a risk of being affected by Acute Mountain Sickness. Our itineraries are designed to enable everyone to acclimatise to these altitudes, but you should be aware that it is still possible for you to be affected. Please refer to the Altitude Warning within the Trip Notes for further advice on AMS.

When trekking at altitude, and particularly in cold weather, there is a higher chance of developing a cough (sometimes referred to here as the Khumbu cough) or cold symptoms. These symptoms could be a result of inhaling cold mountain air or dust (in the Everest region). You can mitigate against picking up coughs and colds by washing your hands with soap and water at available opportunities and using hand sanitiser. Also wear a buff over your neck and mouth when walking at altitude, particularly in colder weather, which will help limit cold, dry air entering your airways and keep your neck and chest warm.

Visa

India

To avoid possible problems at immigration, make sure your passport is valid for a minimum of 180 days at the time of entry into India.

Travellers from the UK, US, CA and EU normally need a visa to enter India. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/india
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/india
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/India.html

Travellers eligible for an e-visa, which includes those from the UK, US, CA and EU, can apply at www.indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html.

For more information on applying for your Indian visa, including details required for your start hotel and local reference contacts, please click here: Indian visa information

Please note, for the overland India to Nepal boarder crossing, you will arrive at the Sanauli boarder and the group will disembark the bus and proceed on foot to the India immigration office. There, the immigration officer will stamp the India leaving date on your passport. After, the group will walk across the border and enter Nepal’s Belahiya (Bhairahawa) Immigration point where you can follow the visa on arrival process.

Nepal

You can obtain your visa in advance or on arrival. The Immigration Department of Nepal has suspended visas on arrival for certain nationalities – please check if this applies to you with your nearest embassy or consulate.

Visa in advance

Apply for this through your local consulate or embassy. Further details on this option can be found here:

• For UK passport holders: https://uk.nepalembassy.gov.np/visa/
• For US passport holders: https://us.nepalembassy.gov.np/tourist-visa/

When applying for your visa in advance, the Nepalese government has an online application system (see links above for more info), but it is currently only accepting payments through Nepalese payment channels. Once the online form is completed, the applicant is required to print out the form and either send it, together with the passport, to the embassy, or attend in person.

Visa on arrival

1. Completed your ‘Visa On-Arrival’ application form through the online immigration portal (click ‘Visa On-Arrival’) within 14-days prior to arrival at the Belahiya (Bhairahawa) immigration entry point. Please ensure you print and bring the confirmation with you. You can then go directly to the visa fees counters with your printed confirmation and skip the kiosk queues.
2. Proceed to the visa fees collection counter and pay the visa fee (in cash, if possible). Make sure to keep the receipt. Card payments are not always possible, so paying in cash is easiest, most currencies are accepted but US dollars are preferred.
3. Go to the relevant immigration desk and present your tourist visa form, payment receipt and passport to obtain your 15-, 30- or 90-day visa stamp. Please check you have been given the correct visa duration.

Food & Drink

All breakfasts, two lunches and two dinners are included.

Allow the equivalent of US$24 per day for other meals. You can eat out very cheaply in India and Nepal, but if you go to more expensive restaurants, you will spend more than the suggested amount. In most towns there is a good choice between Indian, Chinese and Western food. If you are a vegetarian, India and Nepal are probably two of the best destinations you can visit. Tea and soft drinks are very cheap. A (large!) bottle of beer is approximately US$4.80. Drinking water is provided in large containers in our vehicle, so please bring a refillable water bottle with you. Where meals are not included, the leader will encourage people to try certain restaurants and street food vendors. They can make recommendations that will boost small businesses and celebrate local specialties. In India, we can even see how some food and drinks, such as masala chai (tea), samosa (mashed potato snacks), jalebe (Indian doughnuts) and lassi (yoghurt drink), are made.

Weather

From October to April, the days are normally warm to hot and nights cool or mild. Humidity is very low with little or no rain.

In March, April and October, it can get very hot during the day. Evenings in Delhi and Kathmandu can be surprisingly cool.

The summer months in North India and Nepal are hot and humid with monsoon season in July and August. Heavy downpours during the monsoon typically last for a couple of hours, bringing relief from the heat and humidity of previous months.

It gets very cold in the early mornings and evenings in December and January, so warm clothes are essential. Fog is also a possibility during this period. Please note, nightly temperatures in Kathmandu can be very cold and only just above freezing in December and January.