first time visiting india? what you need to know before you go.
so you're thinking about travelling to india for the first time.
exciting.
and probably a little overwhelming.
maybe you've been dreaming about it for years.
maybe you saw a photograph and thought, i want to go there.
or maybe you've been invited along by a friend and suddenly realised you have absolutely no idea what to expect.
whatever brought you here, here's my biggest piece of advice:
come curious.
you don't need to know everything before you arrive.
in fact, you can't.
india is a lot of things at once
india is colourful.
busy.
beautiful.
noisy.
spiritual.
historic.
generous.
sometimes chaotic.
and occasionally completely overwhelming.
you might experience several of those things in the same day.
that's normal.
don't expect yourself to immediately understand everything.
instead, notice.
listen.
ask questions.
let yourself experience it.
don't try to see everything
india is enormous.
you could spend years travelling around the country and still only scratch the surface.
that's why i prefer creating journeys that give you a real sense of the places we're visiting rather than trying to squeeze absolutely everything into 15 days.
you don't need to see all of india.
you just need to experience the part you're in.
expect the unexpected
this is one of my favourite parts of travelling.
you can plan the route.
the accommodation.
the transport.
the experiences.
but you can't plan every conversation.
you can't know who you're going to meet.
you can't schedule the story someone is going to tell you.
and you can't predict the moment that suddenly makes you see somewhere differently.
leave room for that.
the food is part of the journey
come hungry.
seriously.
food tells you so much about a place.
different regions have different flavours, ingredients and traditions.
and some of my favourite memories from travelling have involved sitting around a table for much longer than expected.
you'll see magnificent places
i don't believe you need to choose between meaningful travel and iconic sightseeing.
if you've dreamed about seeing the taj mahal, go see it.
if you've imagined holi, experience it.
if you've always wanted to see rajasthan, put it on your list.
these places are magnificent for a reason.
but pay attention to what happens around them too.
that's where the stories live.
you don’t have to travel india alone
this is particularly important if you're visiting for the first time.
there's something very reassuring about knowing someone else has already worked out how you're getting there, where you're staying and what happens next.
that's why i've created these journeys as fully hosted experiences.
reddy and i are with you throughout.
your on-ground transport is organised.
your accommodation and meals are included.
your experiences, local guides and entrance fees are taken care of.
and before you arrive, we'll guide you through the practical things you need to organise yourself.
what should you bring?
you'll want comfortable clothes and shoes, depending on your itinerary and the time of year.
you'll also want to think about sun protection, any personal medications you need, comfortable layers and whatever helps you feel prepared for long travel days.
but don't stress about having the perfect packing list before you've even booked.
we'll provide the practical information you need before the journey.
most importantly, don't arrive trying to have the “perfect” experience
you don't need to.
india isn't something you can control.
and i don't think you should try.
come curious.
be open.
ask questions.
say yes when something feels right.
and let yourself be surprised.
because the india you experience might be completely different from the india you imagined.
and that's rather the point.
jodi x
thinking about making your first trip to india in 2027?
explore india uncovered and colours of india, or message me if you'd like to talk through which journey might suit you.
