Tour Cost

The figures on this page are approximate but are designed to give you some idea of the costs of travelling in India.

It is our policy to make it clear before you book and pay for your trip exactly what is included in the price we quote. Some people prefer to have us pre-book almost everything in their holiday, leaving a few additional expenses once they arrive in India. For others having accommodation, transport and breakfast taken care of is enough and they arrange their meals, entrance fees, guides etc. At the foot of this page, you will find a rough guide to the sorts of costs involved in these areas.

While India is still an inexpensive travel destination by global standards, the growing demand from domestic travellers, as well as from overseas, means that this is no longer a ‘cheap’ holiday. There is a shortage of hotel rooms reckoned to be anything up to 100,000 per night! This impacts mainly in business and commercial centres and shouldn’t affect most visitors, except during the peak travel months of December and January.

You may find the following information useful in calculating the possible cost of a holiday in India. All figures are in US Dollars.

Transport Cost:

We have a wide range of vehicles, suitable for many different travelling options.

Our vehicles are driven by professional drivers who are experts on the routes they cover and take great pride in their work. In major tourist regions like Rajasthan, Delhi, Agra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka, most drivers have a good level of English language and can offer insights into local life and attractions. In regions like Gujarat, West Bengal, Sikkim, Orissa, and northern mountain areas, drivers may understand English but might not be confident speaking it. We recommend an accompanying guide in these areas to enhance your experience. The vehicles are well maintained and are fully insured and licensed according to Indian Government regulations. All our vehicles are air-conditioned. We recommend air-conditioning for your comfort and to ensure better air quality when travelling in cities, however, on some hill routes air-conditioning may not be possible as it diminishes engine power - this will occur only briefly and/or in situations when the outside temperature is cooler, and air-conditioning is not essential.

Car hire in India is a very affordable option, with prices varying based on vehicle size, region, and route. As a general guideline, rates start at USD 50 per day, inclusive of a driver, fuel, interstate taxes, parking, road tolls, and driver's expenses. Since 2020, diesel vehicles are no longer available in India, and only petrol vehicles are offered in the sedan segment. There are a few options.

Diesel vehicles do not exist anymore after 2020. In India, in the sedan segment, you will only find petrol vehicles. There are a few options.

Suzuki Petrol Semi Hybrid Ertiga, Suzuki Ciaz, and Toyota Urban Cruiser - Taisor, all are 2023-24 models, primarily available in South India. These modern luxury sedans comfortably accommodate 2 to 3 passengers, starting at USD 60 per day. All our vehicles are brand new and no older than three years.

Toyota Innova Crysta – This is the only diesel vehicle currently available in the country, as diesel vehicles have been phased out since 2020. The Toyota Innova Crysta is a luxury touring vehicle designed for 3-4 passengers, offering a high level of comfort, ample luggage space, and modern amenities. It comfortably accommodates a guide when needed and is particularly well-suited for travel in mountainous regions or areas with poor road conditions. With its elevated seating, the Innova Crysta ensures a smoother and more comfortable ride. From $90US per day.

Force Deluxe Tempo Traveller – 11-seater: This vehicle is an excellent choice for families, comfortably accommodating 4 to 8 passengers. It offers ample space, a central aisle with seats on either side and convenient extra features like an ice box to keep water bottles cold. From USD 99 per day.

Urbania: It is a luxury Mini-van, that can accommodate 5 to 11 passengers comfortably with their luggage, it has ample leg space. These are of 2024 model. From USD 170 per day.

Accommodation Cost:

Tariffs vary massively from place to place and according to the season. These figures do not consider the peak-season surcharge which most properties apply between approximately December 20 and January 15th. Spending $100 per couple, per night on your accommodation will ensure a uniformly high standard of accommodation in the major places of tourist interest. All the hotels we use are selected after assessment by our team and we are constantly monitoring the performance of the places we use to ensure a high standard is maintained. Prices are based on twin-share or double occupancy and include taxes and breakfast.

• 3 star   Comfort hotels with western bathroom, restaurant and some amenities are priced from $60 - $80
• 4 star   Deluxe hotels with a greater range of facilities (swimming pool, internet access, etc) are priced from $90 -$150
• 5 star   Luxury hotels (with all the amenities you would expect in this class of hotel anywhere) are priced between $200 - $450
• Premier   Taj and Oberoi Hotels offer the highest standards and are found in some centres, their rates range from $600-$750

Heritage homestays and hotels are a unique part of any visit to India and as such we are attempting to include these types of properties wherever it is appropriate and if you so wish. Staying in a plantation homestead or restored palace in a historic district or town can provide insights, not only into India’s past, but also how people live today. Being a part of this meeting of past and present, even for a day or two, allows visitors to appreciate a little more what life is like in India in the 21st century. Such properties are priced from $70 - $200, which will normally include all meals, as well as selected other activities.

Jungle Lodges and Wildlife Retreats can be found in some of the most picturesque locales in all the country. Facilities range from simple tented camps to luxury hideaways. The benefits to nature lovers are obvious- you are close to the heart of the action, so to speak – perhaps perched over a waterhole in a solidly-built treehouse, or in a resort style property with a nursery for orphaned baby elephants next door. This type of accommodation is priced from $150 to $300, which will normally include all meals and, in some places, jeep safaris, guided treks, naturalist talks and more.

Kerala Houseboats: Cruising the backwaters of Kerala aboard a private, restored rice barge or Kattuvallam is another unique and quintessentially Indian experience. Boats are generally one bedroom, meaning you will have a boat to yourselves with a crew of 3 to attend to your every need, but larger vessels with 2, 3 or even 4 bedrooms are available. All meals are cooked and served on board, and the typical cost for a 22-hour journey (board at midday, disembark after breakfast) starts at $180 for a single bedroom boat. Air-conditioning operates in the bedroom of the boat only between the hours of 9pm and 6am.

Other Activities:

Entrance Fees: Monuments and places under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India generally attract a higher charge than those under private or regional government control. Major landmarks such as the Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri or the stone-cut temples of Mahabalipuram cost $10 per person or more. Less famous sites may cost as little as $2. Local museums and the like sometimes charge as little as Rs2, which is 4 cents - barely worth the cost of printing the ticket! Please be aware that most palaces, temples, monuments and museums charge a camera fee which is often many times the price of entry at the cheaper places, but rarely exceeds $2 even at the major places like the Taj.

Typical prices for entry to Kathakali dance performances and Kalaripayattu martial arts are around $5 - $10.

Dining out costs, as in any country, can vary enormously, from a few cents at a roadside stall to $20 a head or more, but in the majority of cases, around $5 per person per meal could see you putting on weight by the time you get home and eating very, very well into the bargain.

As stated earlier, we will clearly inform you which of these fees and entrances have been included in the price of your tour. It is our aim to make sure you don’t face any unexpected costs along the way.

We are not able to cover tips, but these are generally very small amounts - 50 rupees (80 cents) per bag for porters, around 10% of the total meal bill in a restaurant, a few dollars for guides and drivers.

India is a shopper’s paradise and how much you spend on textiles, crafts, art works, jewellery and the like is totally up to you. Many of the better quality shops will accept major credit cards while cash can be easily obtained against your credit card account through ATMs around the country.

Bearing all these things in mind, the likely cost of a 10 day tour in Kerala, staying in 4-star hotels and including all transfers, transport by private air-conditioned vehicle with driver, all hotel accommodation, breakfasts, guide services, and entrance fees would be around $2300 for a couple. A slightly longer tour in Rajasthan, over 16 nights, using the same standard of hotels and with the same inclusions would cost around $3200.

These prices are purely indicative - for detailed pricing and itinerary planning, please email us.