Luxury India Holidays & Tours

The simple answer is yes! E-visas are in place for UK passport holders so, as long as you have applied for and received the relevant visa documentation, you can travel to India. It is also worth highlighting that travellers do not need to show proof of vaccination or PCR test results on arrival in India.

India can be visited the year round but generally the best time is from September to April when temperatures are stable and rain rare. India’s monsoon runs from the end of June to early September with increasingly higher temperatures building in the weeks before the rains arrive. This pre-monsoon period is considered the best time for seeing wildlife. In contrast to much of the country India’s Himalayas, and particularly Ladakh, are best visited over the summer months.

Holders of British Citizen passports can apply for an e-Tourist Visa (eTV). The length of an eTV ranges from between 30 days to 5 years and all applications need to be made prior to travel. The eTV becomes active from the date of arrival in India and is not valid for Protected or Restricted areas.

Applications for an Indian e-visa must be submitted online using the Indian government’s website. The e-visa takes up to 72 hours to process and, although it is usually approved more quickly than that, it is recommended to leave yourself plenty of time to complete the application process which can be started up to 120 days before you travel.

Depending on the destination, a direct flight from the UK to India is between 8 to 10 hours in duration. There are also many indirect flights with stops en-route that link the UK to regional Indian airports. Connections are mostly via the Middle East with flights taking between 12 and 14 hours.

For information and advice on vaccinations and health requirements we recommend contacting your doctor or travel clinic. Other helpful sources of information include MASTA and the NHS ‘Fit for Travel’ website. Current recommended vaccinations include Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus and Diphtheria. Yellow Fever is compulsory but only if an affected Yellow Fever area has been visited 5 days prior to arrival in India. In some areas anti-malarial medication may also be required.

There are well over 100 national parks and many more protected areas in India which support a wide variety of animal, bird, reptile and marine life. India’s vast size and varied terrains also provide a diverse range of habitats. Aside from tiger, key species include leopard and elephant, the rare Asiatic lion resides in Gujarat and the national parks of India’s north east are home to the majestic one-horned rhinoceros. Gaur, nilgai, blackbuck, sambar and barasingha deer can be encountered in most reserves, dolphin, gharial and mugger crocodile in rivers and numerous bird species throughout the subcontinent.

Long term conservation efforts have increased India’s tiger population and, although this majestic mammal can now be found around the country, north and central India remain the best place to see tigers. The national parks of Ranthambore, Kanha, Pench, Bandhavgarh and Corbett provide prime tiger habitat with the months of March, April and May, when foliage dies back and water is scarce, offering the best chance to see them in the wild.

Generally loose cotton clothes are best during the day, however, if travelling to northern India and Rajasthan during the winter months evenings can be cool so also bring warmer clothing such as a sweater or fleece. Since most sightseeing is on foot, comfortable shoes are recommended as well as ones that can be slipped on and off easily for visits to temples and mosques. For visits to wildlife sanctuaries, it is worth remembering that whilst it will generally be hot during the day it can be cold when travelling in jeeps at dawn and dusk so take a hat, gloves, scarf, fleece or warm sweater too.

Bhutan can be reached by air or overland by vehicle from India. Regular flights connect Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bagdogra, Guwahati and Gaya to Paro which is Bhutan’s only international airport. There are also land border crossings at Phuentsholing, to the east of Darjeeling, and Samdrup Jongkhar which is located north of Guwahati.

Both the Brahmaputra and Ganges rivers are navigable and there are a number of different river cruises that can be undertaken from longer exploratory journeys to short trips or those with a focus either on culture or wildlife. Brahmaputra cruises navigate the river between Guwahati and Dibrugarh with nearly all including Kaziranga National Park, whilst Ganges cruises commence in Kolkata and visit many of Bengal’s key historic sites with some making an extended and adventurous journey upstream to Varanasi.

Yes! For the vast majority of the country, including all the key tourist regions and sights, there is no UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advice against travel. However, we would always recommend keeping up to date with the FCDO’s India travel advice webpage which is current, detailed and informative.

Pettitts Travel offers a wide range of bespoke tour packages to India, designed to meet the unique requirements and interests of our clients.

Pettitts Travel is a leading tour operator in the UK, specialising in customised luxury holidays to India with over 35 years of experience.

Pettitts Travel assists in creating the perfect tour package by tailoring each itinerary to your specific interests and preferences, providing a unique and personal travel experience.

Pettitts Travel can help you plan a tailor-made holiday to India, providing personalised itineraries, luxurious accommodations, and exceptional service to ensure a memorable trip.

The length of your trip to India can be tailored to your interests and time availability, with various sample itineraries to help inspire your travel plans.