for India Vacations
Visas and Passports:
Visa affixed in a valid passport is required of all United States citizens wanting to enter India. The Indian Embassy has outsourced the processing of visa applications.
An India tourist visa has a validity of either 6 months, 5 years or 10 years. This is a multiple entry visa. Each entry has a limited duration of 6 months. This means that the maximum amount of time you can stay after entering the country is 6 months. Once you exit, you must wait for a period of 2 months before re-entering unless you obtain special permission.
The Embassy of India refers you to BLS International which has all the information on how to obtain a visa to India. Best Single Travel highly recommends hiring a visa company to obtain your visa.
Local Currency:
India Currency: The Rupee (INR). INR1 = 100 paise
Paper Denominations: INR500, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5
Coins: INR5, 2, 1 and 50, 25, 10 paise
Credit cards: Most large hotels, stores and restaurants will accept international credit cards but if you are planning to vacation in more remote areas or shop at local markets, do not count on credit cards for payment. If paper money in India is too torn, grubby or marked, merchants may not want to accept them. The bills can be exchanged in major banks but it’s easier to ask for newer bills.
India Local Time:
India follows a single time zone, called the Indian Standard Time (IST). IST maintains a 30 minute offset from GMT. This means that when it is 12:00 GMT, it is 5:30am everywhere in India.
10.5 hours ahead of EST / 13.5 hours ahead of PST
Electric Plugs:
India uses 230 Volts, 50 Hz alternating current as the power source. Plugs and sockets have grounded / earthed 3 Pin connections (Type D) or ungrounded 2 pin connections (Type C).
But travel plug adapters do not change the voltage, so the electricity coming through the adapter will still be the same 110-120 volts the socket is supplying. If your appliance is from another part of the world, and it is built only for 220-240 volt electricity, or a Japanese appliance built for 100 volts, then a travel plug adapter by itself won't be sufficient. The voltage will have to be changed from 110-120 volts at the socket, to whatever voltage your appliance requires. This is accomplished with a voltage transformer.
Weather:
Climatic conditions vary considerably because of the size of the country. The coolest and driest time of the year is from December to February. If high temperatures aren’t a problem for you then travel during the months of March, April and May. While the monsoon rains in June and July provide a brief respite from summer heat, the humidity in the big cities in the summer months is usually unbearable for most tourists.
What to Pack for your India Vacation
It is very important to plan conservative yet light, airy clothing for vacations to India. While cities like Delhi and beach resort destinations may have a more casual dress code, it is still important to respect the local culture and dress accordingly.
Keep in mind when planning your India packing list: shoulders and knees should always be covered.
For what to pack on all singles vacations and more tips - Click Here
Shopping in India
Bustling bazaars with native handicrafts, and boutiques with brilliant textiles are found everywhere. Shopping in an Indian bazaar can be overwhelming, vendors will inundate you with options, prices and colors. Half the fun when buying goods in the bazaars is the bargaining .
Indian craftsman have been perfecting their art for centuries, passing down traditions from generation to generation with each town having its own speciality. Silks, spices, jewelry and many other Indian products have been traded, and merchants have travelled thousands of miles in order to make their purchases.
Souvenirs you will find hard to resist during your India vacation:
* Bangles- Glass or metallic: available in almost every region of India, each state designs
* Jewelery such as necklaces and anklets which can be made from gold, bronze, and silver.
* Incense sticks: Scented with sandalwood or some other exotic aromas, these sticks will certainly add a touch of India to any home.
*Dried spices: Indian cuisine is all about the aromatic spices. Purchase spices and enjoy the taste of India long after your travels.
*Sandalwood is known for its distinctive aroma and its therapeutic properties.
*Handicrafts and Artifacts: Handicrafts such as stoneware and silverware, brass, silver, and marble are easily found throughout India.
*Textiles: Gorgeous prints and handiwork especially on women’s clothing.
*Tea: India is home to world famous Darjeeling tea and one of the largest tea exporters in the world.
* Ayurvedic and Herbal Products: Natural products for holistic use.
Local Foods
In western India, the desert cuisine is famous for its unique taste and varieties of food. Rajasthan and Gujarat are the states that represent the dessert flavor of Indian food. Here an immense variety of deals and aches (pickles/preserves) is used that simply substitutes the relative lack of fresh vegetables in these areas.
In Southern India, the people make great use of spices, fishes and coconuts, as most of them have coastal kitchens. The foods of Tamil Nadu use of tamarind is frequently made in order to impart sourness to the dishes. It simply distinguishes the Tamil Food from other cuisines.
Don’t Leave Home without your Passport!
Vacation Day 3 - Bangkok - Damnern Saduak - Kanchanaburi - Sai Yok
Check into our Floating Jungle Rafts, the magnificent close-to-nature floating lodge. Enjoy the stunning nature surroundings of the tropical forest, a unique blend of the culture and tradition of Mon people, and the history of World War II. Take a ‘River Jump’. Put on a life jacket and then jump into the river. You will be floating along the hotel in the Kwai river. The beautiful scenery surrounded will look even more remarkable when you view it from the water. Dine under the clear blue sky and see the river flowing at its own pace.
Vacation Day 4 - Sai Yok - Helfire Pass - Kanchanaburi - Bangkok
Thai language used at the time, the jobs of the Thais and how to cook. In this town, you can dress up in traditional Thai clothes and walk around the town.
Heading out of the town we drive though the scenic countryside to Ayuthaya, the ancient capital of Siam from 1350 to 1767 AD. This glamorous city was all but ultimately destroyed by the hands of Burmese, however it is still fascinating to explore the ruined temples. Among these is Wat Phra Sisanphet, an impressive monument that was used as the royal temple by several kings. The following site is Wat Chai whose the constructing patterns are very interesting. We continue to Bang Pa In, which was served as the summer palace for many Thai monarchs. This structure has a captivating collection of marvelous pavilions in a variety of Thai, Chinese, Italian and Victorian architectural styles.
Then relax as we board a short bamboo raft trip along the Mae Taeng River. Next we drive a few miles to a Padong "long neck" tribe village. The women of the tribe wear long brass coils around their neck which actually pushes the collarbone down, giving them the appearance of an extended neck. This tribe has come from Burma as refugees in recent years due to the persecution of the Burmese government. Spend some time in the village before we drive back to Chiang Mai.
After a short flight back to Bangkok, we head to Pattaya, a city on Thailand’s eastern Gulf coast known for its beaches. A quiet fishing village as recently as the 1960s, it’s now lined with resort hotels, high-rise condos, shopping malls, cabaret bars and 24-hour clubs. Upon arrival, we check in to our hotel, the Amari Garden before visiting the Sanctuary of Truth.
Common Goal of Life toward Utopia.
Today we enjoy three interesting islands off the coast of Pattaya. The island of Koh Pai features several undisturbed natural beaches with a variety of coral clusters and ocean habitats for the avid snorkelers.
Vacation Day 10 - Pattaya - Bangkok
Day 1: Arrive in Istanbul, Turkey ( June 12, 2026 )
09:00 am Meet up with your guide and the drive. rIn the morning we will greet you at your hotel and take you on a guided tour of the historic old part of Istanbul.
09:00 am Meet up with your guide and the driver (4-hour program ) In the morning, we will meet you at your hotel and take you on this enlightening walking tour down to the waterfront near Eminonu.
gorge with a stunning river running right down the heart of the valley for 16km within the volcanic rock. It is near the province of Aksaray but is still considered part of the southern Cappadocia region. Traditional Anatolian villages and The Underground Cities. 
Breakfast at the hotel. 09:30 am Meet up with your guide and We will visit Turkey's most impressive Roman and Biblical sites today, in what promises to be one of your most memorable days in Turkey.
*The Temple of Artemis is situated in serene countryside celebrates the Greek goddess Artemis, the virginal huntress and twin of Apollo, who supplanted the Titan Selene as goddess of the Moon. This temple, known as Artemision in Greek times, was the largest of its kind at the world.
After breakfast, we will depart from Kusadasi to Pamukkale; upon arrival, we will continue on the guided tour of Pamukkale and Hierapolis. Our drive will take us through a rich agricultural area, teeming with cotton fields and fruit orchards. Sites we will visit: Pamukkale is a town in western Turkey known for the mineral-rich thermal waters flowing down white travertine terraces on a nearby hillside. It neighbors Hierapolis, an ancient Roman spa city founded around 190 B.C. Ruins there include a well-preserved theater and a necropolis with sarcophagi that stretch for 2km. The Antique Pool is famous for its submerged Roman columns, the result of an earthquake. 
Ancient city of Hierapolis - The ruins of Hierapolis ancient city or "Holy City" (in transla6ion from Greek) is located in about 17 kilometers from the Denizli close to Pamukkale.
Breakfast between 07:00 to 10:00
