Delhi - Kathmandu 8/11/11

Great to see this trip has gone from available to guaranteed. Just now waiting to hear from anyone who is also booked on this trip.

Hi Gemma, I am on this trip and can't wait. Off to Kenya in a few days so that will hopefully tide me over until October. Will be my third trip with exodus (after inca trail and Kenya). Think I have been bitten by the exploration bug! Jim

Hi Jim. It's nice to hear from someone else who will be in the group. It's my first exodus trip, a number of people have recommended Exodus to me. It's also my first time to India & Nepal. Still 9 months away but I can't wait. So your off to Kenya in a few days.. wow.. jealous. Hope you have a great time. Gemma

Hi Gemma and Jim, there are 8 of us going on this trip. (8/10/11)  All booked 2 by 2.  7 of us travelled to Peru with exodus last year where most of us met, had such a fab time so are back with exodus again!  I look forward to this trip and meeting you.  Rik

Also Hi from:  Roger, James, Dave, Stuart, Caroline, Irene + Sis 

 

It's great to hear from you. So we have 10 of us now that we know of so far. I can't wait. It will be my first exodus trip and from reading everyone posts etc all of the trips sound amazing. I bet Peru was good...  As it sounds like most of you have travelled with Exodus before maybe you could help me with a question reference Vaccinations. The trip notes advise the standard jabs. i.e Typhoid, Polio, Diptheria Hep A, Tetanus, Malaria.. but after speaking with my local nurse, she has advised that I should also look into having Rabies, Hep B, Japanese Encephalitus and Meningococcal also.. Any advise on what jabs anyone is having would be much appreciated. As I don't want to have any unnecessary ones (especially at approx £120 per jab). 

I will check and compare notes with the rest of the group.  Will let you know as soon as I know.

Regards

Rik* 

 

Me too!!!

Was supposed to be on the April trip but got ill! So, greatly looking forward to meeting you all. I will be putting deposit down tomorrow once I have dug out the old passport and finished completing my online booking. First time ever to India. A life's dream come true!

Hi Gemma and others! I'm on this trip too, I'm a french girl living in London

This trip looks so great, it's exciting!

 Gemma and Fazleta did you book the trip with the optional supplement to have a single room? (I didn't, so I'm curious to see who I may share the room with! : ) )

I'm looking forward to see you guys!

Hiya Delpine,

 

No, I didn't pay the extra supplement for a single room. I reckoned that being India, sharing a room is probably pretty low on the list of must haves!

Looking forward to meeting you all.

PS I don't snore!

Hi everyone. It's nice to see more and more people on the trip. It shows as only 2 spaces left now.

Delphine and Fazleta/Julia? - I also have booked without the single supplement so i will be sharing with someone. I didn't see the point in paying extra. It will be good fun and good to share. (I hope i don't snore either :-) ..)

 Jim - I hope Kenya was good & Rik thankyou for replying about checking on the vaccinations. I still cannot decide which ones to have and not to have.

It certainly is a trip of a lifetime.. I can't wait.. I think about it all the time. I was watching "A passage through India" with Caroline Quentin on Tuesday night on BBC2. She started in Varanasi and went on to Agra it looked fantastic.

 Looking forward to meeting everyone. 

 

 

I see it's sold out!!! 

5 Months to go !!!!!   Can't Wait.... 

Hi Guys. I'm not on the trip - I did this last year. Just wanted to wish you a fab holiday. You'll have fun - we did!

I.G.SILKSTONE

Hi..

Are you gong through a company. i.e Travcour? Or direct with Indian Embassy?  Any tips?   I am going to France for a few days at the end of this month, so i'm waiting till I get back from there till I apply.

It's only 3 months now..

Gemma

hi, Gemma. I've done it myself, but am now thinking that i might have missed some bits of info. out. Will let you know how it goes. I'm one of the Peru travellers mentioned by Rik. As he says, great time had by all, so we're hoping for the same again. Irene. 

Hi Irene.  Yes. I'm hoping we will have a gret time. I haven't been on a exodus trip before but all the feedback i've read makes it sound great. I bet Peru was great fun. A good group and a fun adventure!! :-)  

 I've thought about doing the visa myself as it works out cheaper. But i worry i might miss something out. Please do let me know hoe it goes and how long it takes. Thanks and I hope it comes back ok.. Gemma

we got ours direct via the Indian agency - no issues at all. You need to send a copy of the trip notes with your application - they rang me for this.

Hi all,

I have checked with various sites to which vaccinations we need, but as it says in the trip notes, many are recommended but not mandatory. :(   Obviously I am not a health professional so cannot say.

Cut and paste this link  - http://www.nathnac.org/ds/c_pages/country_page_in.htm    but note they even have a disclaimer :/

Hello Irene, have you packed some snaxx yet?  :D 

Hello to Delphine and Fazieta, I look forward to meeting you too.

Rik* 

 

hi Gemma, just thought i'd join in the vaccs debate. i've got the yellow fever certificate, diphtheria and tetnus. Also had all the hepatitis a and  typhoid jabs. These were for China, Mexico and Kenya. Also had Hep B, that was for work. My pharmacist says i don't need anything else, nor do i need anti-malarials. 'ey up Rik,me duck. Soon be snaxxing with you and our Roger. Irene.

Hi Irene,

you do not need anti maleria tablets for India because we are visiting a low risk area.  But I see you should have them for Nepal,  Will we get altitude sickness in Nepal too ?

 Rik*

My pharmacist said "NO". Hope he's right!!!!   Had my share of altitude sickness in Peru. Will give it a miss this time!!! irene.

no altitude sickness issues in Nepal.

we had malaria tablets for Chitwan.

you'll need mozzie spray and long sleeves/trousers for Chitwan and the evening boat ride on the ganges. Also in Chitwan make sure you don't take bright coloured clothing - better chance of seeing animals then.

Many thanks for the good advice :)  Any other tips?

Don't know why i was worried, it's just come, so all is well. Just included my booking conformation reciept plus flight details and that was that. Now for the Nepal visa........ Egypt???? Might need help with this one!!!

Hi all

I'm on this trip too. I asked when I booked if there was a group travelling together as the places filled up so quickly but Exodus said "No" - your cunning plan to book 2x2 clearly worked!

I did the Kerala trip last November when it rained almost all the time so am really hoping to get some good weather this time and see India in the sunshine. I got a year-long visa for that trip so didn't have to re-apply for this one - I must be out of the country by 26 Oct.

As for vaccinations, I'm no doctor but I think that rabies, Japanaes encephalitis and meningococal aren't necessary on this sort of trip. I've been to Cambodia, Laos & Vietnam too and haven't had anything more than the standard ones on any trip (and never got ill at all). Hep B is a good one to have though.

See you all on 8 October! 

Claire (Bristol) (and I've paid the single supplement)

Hello Claire, great to hear you are joining the group.

We is from near Brizzle too, Weston Super Mare :)

Rik and Roger 

There's always got to be one - or in this case, two!

Claire

Hi all, I'm not on your trip we are off to Peru with Exodus our first trip with them. However we have been to Nepal for the past 4yrs mainly on our won as we know a Nepalese guy who arranged things to suit us. We have visited all over Nepal and didn't have any malaria tablets, the advice does seem to vary. When we were in chitwan some people did and others didn't. You will all enjoy Nepal, not sure where you are heading off to but its a great country and great people. This is where we first came across Exodus as we met them during our Everest trails. Enjoy and I'm sure you will.

If you have any advise for Peru would be grateful to hear. Still trying to work out whether to take a poncho or cag & overtrousers.

Many thanks Sandra

from personal experience, check your currency BEFORE you go. i had a rather embarrassing time at the ticket office at machu pichu with some dud notes bought from my local travel agent. Didn't do any trail walking, so can't offer any clothing advice as such, but i took cag and overtrousers, just in case.Have a lovely time, irene. p.s. If you don't come back from Peru saying snaaaxxx(snacks), well,you had a different guide to us!!!! ENJOY

I found when I went to Kerala last November that you can't get rupees in advance; you change your currency once you arrive. I found it's best to take your money in sterling cash - you can change that anywhere at good rates. Traveller's cheques can often only be changed at banks and in some places it's hard to find somewhere that will accept them.

Other essential items to take: a universal basin plug for the bathroom - many hotels don't provide them. Also, loose long-sleeved clothing to cover your shoulders & arms when visiting temples and other cultural sites. If you usually wear shorts, have a light sarong that you can wrap round to cover you. You will be asked to remove your shoes when visiting temples, so have some that are easy to take on & off but are also robust enough to withstand the filthy streets!

agree take cash (sterling or us dollars) & change there. when we did this trip the guide was very helpful telling us when and where to change money.

Girls - if you use a hairdryer, most hotels did not have in the hotel rooms (they were available at reception to borrow).

It was 3yrs ago when we went to Chitwan and in our introductory talk when we got there they told us there had eradicated malaria several years before. Enjoy

Rik thanks for the link. I think I am going to just stick with the basics. I also am going to have the Japanese Encephalitus and Malaria Tabs. My local Pharmacy has advised me that I should have these too. But I am not going to bother with the other ones which the nurse advised me about. 

Irene - How did you get on with your visa for Nepal? Thanks everyone for the advice on the India Visa. I have just come back from France, so i will be applying for my Indian Visa this week. I think I will also go direct through the Indian Embassy, it seems a waste of money going through a middle man if you all did ok..  

Is everyone going to get there visa for Nepal up front? The trip notes say that you can get it whilst your out there? Let me know what your all doing please. I was going to leave it till we go, but if it's easy enough to get I will apply for mine once i have the India one.

 Clare - thanks for the advice, on the currency. I was thinking about taking a number of travellers cheques, but I don't want to looking for a bank everytime i run out of money, so i think i will stick to cash. I have bought a universal sink plug as i was reading someone advise notes who had been on the trip and had used a sock everyday to stick in the sink to use as a plug.

Looking forward to meeting everyone. 

Thanks to everyone for all the good tips and advise.

Only 9 weeks to go.. I can't wait.. 

 

hi gemma. Waited til Indian visa was returned to me, then sent for the nepal one. No problems with either. My sister in law, Pam, has just done the same. Figured it was better to do as much here as poss as i don't like anyone messing with my passport while i'm abroad. Such conflicting advice about malaria, but we're not taking tablets. Will just use lots of mossie sprays etc.

We got our Visa at the border. No issues and the guide sorted this for.  Your passport doesn't stray too far from you - jus the other side of the desk in a little hut!

 

 

Hi all,

 Just back from docs and seems there is a Cholera outbreak in Kathmandu.... so maybe sensible to have the meds. It's about 50 quid all in....

BTW, can anyone help me with getting a Visa for India? Not too sure what to do...

 

Julia

 

 

Hi all,

 Just back from docs and seems there is a Cholera outbreak in Kathmandu.... so maybe sensible to have the meds. It's about 50 quid all in....

BTW, can anyone help me with getting a Visa for India? Not too sure what to do...

 

Julia

 

 

Hi all,

 Just back from docs and seems there is a Cholera outbreak in Kathmandu.... so maybe sensible to have the meds. It's about 50 quid all in....

BTW, can anyone help me with getting a Visa for India? Not too sure what to do...

 

Julia

Hi Julia,

I have just checked on the website "fit for travel" and it tells you about the Cholera news, but it says that you will only require the vaccination if your unable to ensure that your drinking water is not safe. So whether we need ot not im not sure. 

 I haven't got my visa yet, I'm planning on getting the form filled in at the weekend. I'm not too sure either but i was going to go via the below link which is the one that was in my conformation letter from Exodus when i booked.

http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/touristvisa_photospecs.html

 

Gemma 

Hi everyone,

 Roger and I decided to get our India visas direct from the Indain agency because it is cheaper than the others.  But they sent our passports back stating that we had provided no itinerary.  They want flight  information, so they know where you are coming in and going out, and, we also provided the tour info.

This meant we had to pay for 2 lots of special delivery postage.

BUT NO WHERE ON THERE SITE DO THEY STATE YOU SHOULD INCLUDE AN ITINERARY OR FLIGHT INFO!

So please take note if use the Indian agency.

They were very quick, it took only about 5 or 6 days. 

Rik 

Thanks for that Gemma. On both counts. Looking forward greatly to meeting everyone. Let's hope I get my clothes right this time on an Exodus trip. Last time I got it VERY wrong!!! haha

 

 

Hi Everyone.

I filled my form in for my Visa, direct with embassy. I posted it spedial delivery Friday so it should have got to them yesterday morning. So i'm waiting in anticipation :-)  I did sned a copy of my booking conformation and the trip notes. I think it advised me to on the Exodus notes where the link is for the indian embassy which was on one of the links on the booking conformation I think. So all being well i might have that back next week.

As for the clothes. I'm sticking to the basics. Trousers/shorts, t-shirts, natural colour shirt for Chitwan, and a couple of fleeces. Hopefully that should be ok.  I can't imagine there be any dressing up as such. Where did you go last time when you got the clothes wrong? :-)

 

 

I'm another solo traveller booked on this trip, look forward to meeting everyone in a couple of months.  Will be my second Exodus trip having been to Jordan last year.  Was a fab holiday, made loads of new friends so hoping for more of the same...

Yay I got my visa back. It came in the post on Thursday. I still haven't get my visa for Nepal yet though. I don't know if I will get time to get it before we go.  

Is anyone else getting the visa fro Nepal whilst we are out there?? (I don't want to be the one holding the group up! :-( ... I also don't wanrt to send my passport off again and not get it back in time.)

Hi Karen, Nice to hear from you.

Only 6 weeks to go now ! 

I'm not on your trip but have to Nepal for the last 4 yrs and have got our visa as we arrived - no problem. You can download the form off the internet and have your passport size photos on ready for handing in. Hope this helps, I would be reluctant to send mine away again at this time of year. Have a good trip Nepal is fantastic

Sandra, Thankyou ever so much for this advice.  I definitely don't like the thought of sending my passprt off again with only 6 weeks to go. My Indian visa took 2 weeks so I think I would worry a bit sending it off again.  Also that is a good idea about having the form ready with my photo's on. I would not have thought of taking it with me.

Thankyou for the advice.

 

hi. it took 4 days to get my Nepal visa back, so i would still recommend doing it here, before you go. It's still too early to do " how many sleeps", but it won't be long before i start!! irene.

Thanks Irene. 

If it only take 4 days then I might as well go ahead and get it up front. i won't be able to send for it till next weekend. But I guess i might as well get it up front. I would rather have it upfront than not. I just want to make sure it gets back in plenty of time.

I know what you mean about it beaing too early to start" how many sleeps"...but i'm so excitied. I've been counting down at work since last November!! I had to go through a few months of "I promise I won't talk about it" but its getting closer and closer. I'm just like a big kid.  Gemma 

Myself and Roger are geting our Nepal Visas on arrival as it is cheaper.

Not sure how many sleeps until India, but I have 4 more sleeps until Vietnam :-)

See you all soon

Rik