i. Travel Arrangements You are required to establish your own flight arrangements to and from India. We recommend arriving in Bangalore and departing from Colombo/Bandaranaike International Airport, Sri Lanka.
ii. Passport and Visa A valid passport is required for all international travel. Your Passport must be valid through August 27, 2027. If your current passport expires before then, you must renew it prior to departure. Keep in mind that passport renewal can take up to 10 weeks (including mailing time), so plan accordingly.
Separate tourist visas are required for travel in India and Sri Lanka. Additionally, as of 2026, India now also requires all foreign visitors to complete Entry Documents 48 hours prior to arrival in the country.
Our leadership team will work with you to help obtain your Visas and Entry Documents, but ultimately, it is your responsibility to obtain and maintain your travel documents.
iii. Money We recommend bringing one or two debit cards, and relying on them for acquisition of currency. Debit cards with the Cirrus, Star or Link logos on the back will work. American dollars can be exchanged in many locations and we recommend bringing some US cash in case in case of emergency, but do not plan on currency exchange as your primary source of local curremcy. ATMs are much faster and simpler. • Credit cards are not always accepted, so best not to rely on them. • Tap-to-pay is uncommon, so don't rely on using payment methods stored on your phone.
iii. Tipping in the marketplace When and how much to tip in India is a perennial question. India does not have a culture of tipping in cafes or for taxis like we do in North America, and it’s extremely rare for an Indian person to give a tip (give as in ‘gift’, because any extra amount is a gift).
Consider a small transaction, with a small-time provider, such as a tuktuk driver or chai seller on the street - such folk won’t have change. If a tuktuk ride costs 47 rupees, and you have exact change, it’s totally acceptable to pay the exact amount. If you only have a 50 rupee note, the driver probably won’t be able to come up with 3 cents, and it would be unreasonable to ask for it. Rounding it up to 50 rupees is normal, and the extra 3 rupees are not considered a tip, but a generosity from the customer. Hand them 50, don’t look for acknowledgement, and move on. If you wish to add on more, go for it - many people in the Indian service industry earn low wages, and can use the help.
Restaurants: Never tip, DO expect change. If they say they can’t make change, shrug and let them figure it out.
Shops: Never tip, DO expect change - be ready to walk away if they say they have no change. Often, change is magically produced when the customer makes it clear that they don’t mind walking away.
It is rare that a tip is expected or obligatory.
However, people will often try to move a bag for you without asking. Whether it’s a hotel porter, or someone in a parking lot - If you let someone touch your bag, and they move it three feet, they will expect a tip. It’s ok to say no when they reach for your bag.
iv. Travel Protection Plan & Policy A travel insurance medical/emergency plan is MANDATORY.
A Travel Protection Plan is designed to protect you around the world in the event of lost luggage, a sudden illness or death in the family, an injury or an unavoidable yet costly flight delay. It covers trip cancellation for medical reasons; trip delay; medical expenses; accidental death; lost baggage; and medical evacuation. A Travel Insurance Policy with a minimum of $50,000 in medical coverage is required. The name of the plan, and the policy number must be emailed to us no later than 30 days prior to departure. We recommend MH Ross’ “Bridge Plan”, or Allianz Travel Insurance.
v. Phone / E-mail / Computers During the tour, we will be using WhatsApp groups to communicate essential and timely information to group participants. All participants must carry a cell phone or cellular-enabled device with a calling and data plan that will function on the Indian cell phone network. Many carriers offer this functionality as a temporary upgrade. Consult with your provider for options. Your device must have What’sApp installed, and you must be able to receive and send messages via this platform. If you are having trouble installing and operating WhatsApp, the leadership team can help you, and walk you through the basics.
Wifi is gaining popularity but isn’t always reliable. Having a data roaming plan makes calling and emailing home more accessible. Most coffee shops offer internet access. Your leaders will have local-enabled cell phones in case of an emergency. Just take into consideration that one of the nicest parts about travel abroad is leaving technology behind to really soak in your surroundings. The more “connected” you are, the more “disconnected” you may become from your group members and overall experience. vi. Laundry Laundry service is very easy and inexpensive in India and Sri Lanka. Most hotels provides laundry service for a fee. It generally takes at least 24 hours, so plan accordingly. We recommend not bringing irreplaceable clothing, since discoloration and deterioration of materials may occur (especially with whites).
vii. Physical Requirements Travel in India is challenging and can be tiring. Honestly and candidly assess your fitness before signing up for this trip. Some destinations may only be accessible on foot, and you may be asked to walk up to three miles round trip. Some towns are built on hilly terrain, requiring multiple ascents and descents per day, via uneven stairs and pathways. On travel days, you may be loading and unloading your luggage from overhead compartments multiple times. There may be interruptions in travel on certain days, and in sometimes less than ideal conditions. On all trips, yoga is part of the daily routine and prior yoga experience is helpful. Make sure you consult with your doctor before coming to obtain proper medication and bring plenty of electrolytes, vitamins, probiotics, etc. to stay in good health.
On all trips, yoga is part of the daily routine and prior yoga experience is helpful. Please make sure you are in good physical condition.
viii. Sanitation and Water Unless explicitly indicated otherwise, you should assume that no tap water during the tour is safe for drinking, cooking, or washing your toothbrush. Many of the places we stay may offer filtered water from designated filtration stations. Otherwise, plan to purchase bottled water or use a personal filter (e.g. LifeStraw).
Hot showers may be available in some places, but do not assume they will always function like Western-style showers. Typical showers in India are fed by a 5 gallon hot water heater, and used in conjunction with a bucket. Tour leaders can show you how this works.
The India we will visit is frequently off the main tourist track, and thus is not generally “sanitized for your protection.” This is real India, and you can expect that beds, bathrooms, and many other aspects of travel will be different from what you might expect from a Best Western or Holiday Inn.
We guarantee a life-changing experience, not necessarily a relaxing vacation!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Do your tours include airfare? All domestic airfare, and flights from India to Sri Lanka, are included in your trip price. International airfare is not included. Travelers arrive from all over the world to begin our tours and as such it is not possible to include international airfare in our prices. If you live in Canada or the U.S.A., our agent will be happy to help you arrange flights. You may also book these flights online. If you choose to book on your own, please make sure to send us the flight information before purchasing so we can double check the schedule. Email the full proposed flight itinerary to Sarahjoyy[email protected]
2. Is tipping included and if not, how much should I budget?
Tips for porters, local tour guides, and drivers are not included in the trip price. For porters, ten or fifteen rupees per bag is recommended. If your bags are particularly heavy, a bit extra is appreciated by the porter.
Gratuities for your teachers are greatly appreciated as a gesture of thanks for their offerings. If you are inclined to offer such, you can give this offering to Sarahjoy to provide to the teachers.
3. How many people are in a room? Our trips are based on double occupancy. If you are traveling on your own, you will be sharing a room with another traveler of the same sex. If you request a roommate, we will pair you with that person.
4. Can I book extra nights of hotel accommodation before or after my tour? Yes. However, these arrangements are paid for separately from the trip. We can help you with the suggested arrangements.
5. Are airport transfers included? Our adventures include airport transfers to our lodging beginning on the first day of our scheduled trip. A driver will meet you at the airport with your name clearly written on a large card. As much as possible, we will pair you with other travelers arriving at or around the same time (within 30 mins). We will send all airport pick-up info 7 days prior to departure.
6. What type of ground transportation is used on your tours? In general, we combine public and private transportation. How you get there significantly influences the tone of your journey and public transportation allows face-to-face interaction with local people. Private transportation can be more efficient so when time is of the essence, we opt for private transportation and domestic flights. We also use tuktuks, taxis, traings, and hired buses.
7. What is the meal arrangement? The trip price includes breakfast in most of our destinations.
At the ashrams in Rishikesh, Varanasi, Madanapalle, and Sri Lanka, we will be provided breakfast, lunch and dinner. For travelers seeking a meal outside of the ashram, the cost will be their own. In many areas, lunches and dinners can easily be on your own (often we go in small groups). Recommendations will be made. This allows our travelers to enjoy interacting with the culture more. Expect mostly vegetarian meals with some chicken, fish, and mutton (goat) if you choose. In India, you will often hear the terms “veg” and “non-veg” and it is easy to be either. However, we have found it safer to choose veg.
8. What is the most appropriate type of luggage to bring? We strongly recommend bringing a wheeled suitcase with a handle. While roads can be bumpy, they work well. Keep in mind that you will normally have to carry your own luggage on and off buses and up and down staircases, so pack lightly! There are weight limits for suitcases on International Flights as well as the domestic flights in India. The weight limit for your checked bag on domestic flights in India is 15KG. Your carry on is limited to 7KG.
9. What clothing should I pack for one of your adventures? Pack as lightly as possible. However the specific requirements for your tour will vary widely depending on where and when you are traveling. It will be cold in Rishikesh and Varanasi. Check out regional weather forecasts before the trip. At the ashram in Rishikesh, you will need to wear white pants and tops - ideally garments big enough to have warm layers underneath.
A full suggested packing list will be provided within a couple months of the trip.
10. What vaccinations are recommended for this adventure? We recommend being up to date with appropriate vaccines. Malaria medication is a personal preference and not normally needed. However, it’s important that you receive the most accurate and up-to-date travel health information for the region you will be visiting. The only one qualified to provide you with this advice is your family physician or a specialist from a Travel Health clinic. We recommend that you consult with a qualified medical professional. Please talk to your doctor 8-12 weeks prior to departure about any vaccinations you may need. For information on current vaccinations visit: www.cdc.gov
11. What about Trip Interruption? In the event of a transit interruption, like a flight delay or cancellation resulting in having to spend a night somewhere not planned for added accommodations and travel costs will not be covered by the trip cost. Such an event is one reason for trip insurance, for which one would need to collect all receipts from expenses incurred, to file a claim with their trip insurance.
