Travel Guidelines

Discover India with curiosity, travel with confidence, and connect with its people and places with respect.

PureXplore Experiences

Discover People. Explore Places. Find Purpose.

Welcome to India

India is a country of extraordinary diversity, living traditions, generous hospitality, remarkable cuisine and unforgettable human connections.

PureXplore Experiences has prepared this guide to help you travel comfortably, respectfully and responsibly. Our aim is to create meaningful journeys that are enjoyable for you and beneficial to the people, places and communities you visit.

Before You Arrive

Pack Thoughtfully

Depending on your itinerary, we recommend carrying:

• Lightweight, breathable clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• A shawl or scarf for religious and cultural visits.
• Modest clothing covering shoulders and knees.
• Socks for locations where footwear must be removed.
• Sun protection, sunglasses and a hat.
• A reusable water bottle and a small day bag.
• Personal medication, a small first-aid kit, hand sanitiser and tissues.
• A universal travel adaptor.
• Neutral-coloured clothing for wildlife experiences.
• Warm layers for Himalayan destinations and cool winter evenings.

Share Your Requirements

Please inform PureXplore before arrival about any:

• Food allergies and dietary restrictions.
• Medical conditions or mobility limitations.
• Religious or cultural preferences.
• Photography interests and fitness level.
• Language and accessibility needs.
• Shopping interests.
• Concerns about crowds, animals, heights, boats or long walks.

Understanding India

India is not one single travel experience. Customs, clothing, food, language, religious practices, service styles and social expectations differ from one region to another.

During your journey, you may encounter:

• Busy streets alongside quiet villages.
• Formal hospitality and informal warmth.
• Ancient rituals alongside modern technology.
• Different concepts of personal space and time.
• Crowds, queues, traffic, sounds, colours and strong aromas.
• Changes in plans due to weather, festivals, traffic, ceremonies or local conditions.

Your PureXplore guide will explain local situations and help you experience them comfortably. Patience, curiosity and a sense of humour will make your journey more rewarding.

People and Local Encounters

India's greatest experiences are often created through conversations and genuine human connections.

• Greet people politely, usually with a smile or “Namaste”.
• Ask permission before entering a private home, kitchen, workshop, farm or community space.
• Ask before photographing anyone.
• Treat artisans, hosts, drivers, guides, performers and residents with dignity.
• Avoid assumptions based on clothing, religion, language, occupation or income.
• Do not touch someone's head or belongings without invitation.
• Avoid pointing your feet towards people, religious objects or altars.
• Use your right hand, or both hands, when receiving food, gifts or offerings.
• Do not give money, sweets, medicines or gifts directly to children.
• Do not make promises or commitments on behalf of PureXplore.
• Follow your guide's advice in rural, tribal, religious or sensitive areas.

Clothing and Personal Presentation

Modest dress is expected at many religious and traditional sites. Dress thoughtfully according to the setting and local customs.

• Cover shoulders and knees when visiting temples, shrines, mosques, monasteries, gurudwaras and traditional homes.
• Carry a scarf or shawl during sightseeing.
• Wear loose, breathable clothing in hot weather.
• Choose comfortable footwear for uneven lanes, steps and heritage sites.
• Carry socks for locations where shoes must be removed.
• Wear practical, understated clothing in villages and conservative communities.
• Avoid very short shorts, crop tops, transparent clothing, deep necklines and offensive slogans at cultural or religious sites.
• Choose neutral colours and practical layers for wildlife safaris.
• Carry warm clothing for the Himalayas and cooler winter nights.

Dress is not about losing your personal style. It is about showing awareness of the place you are visiting.

Temples, Shrines and Religious Sites

Religious sites are active places of worship, not museums. Rules vary, so follow the guidance of your PureXplore escort and local authorities.

Before Entering

• Check whether visitors may enter and whether photography is permitted.
• Find out whether phones must be switched off or deposited.
• Check restrictions on bags, leather items, food and water.
• Ask whether head coverings are required and shoes must be removed.
• Follow designated queues and entrances.
• Check whether donations or offerings are optional or expected.

Inside Religious Sites

• Remove footwear where required.
• Keep your voice low and phone silent.
• Follow queues and staff instructions.
• Do not touch idols, sacred objects, offerings, scriptures, lamps or priests unless invited.
• Avoid pointing your feet towards deities, altars, monks or worshippers.
• Do not block entrances, prayer areas, processions or worshippers.
• Accept prasad or blessed food respectfully.
• Do not imitate rituals for photographs.

Photography and Filming

India offers extraordinary photographic opportunities, but every photograph should respect the dignity and privacy of its subject.

Always Ask First

Obtain permission before photographing:

• People, children, women and elderly people.
• Artisans, workers, monks, priests and performers.
• Private homes and family spaces.
• Religious ceremonies.
• Tribal and rural communities.
• Food preparation and people eating.

A smile or lack of objection does not always mean consent. If someone does not want to be photographed, stop immediately.

At Religious Sites

• Follow photography signage and ask site authorities if uncertain.
• Do not use flash where prohibited.
• Do not photograph sanctums, prayer halls, monasteries, mosques or shrines unless explicitly permitted.
• Do not photograph sacred objects, offerings or worshippers simply because they appear visually interesting.
• Do not use drones without the required permission.
• Avoid obstructing worship or visitor movement with large camera equipment.

Cremation Ghats and Private Rituals

At places such as Varanasi's cremation ghats:

• Do not photograph bodies, funeral pyres, mourners, grieving families or priests conducting last rites.
• Do not use zoom lenses, drones, hidden cameras or boats to obtain close-up images.
• Do not approach grieving families to request photographs.
• Do not publish intrusive images on social media, websites or marketing channels.
• Listen to your guide from a respectful distance and move on when advised.

Food and Dining

Indian cuisine is regional, seasonal and highly varied. We aim to help you discover it safely and comfortably.

Before Dining

Please share any:

• Food allergies or gluten and dairy intolerances.
• Vegetarian, vegan, Jain, halal, kosher or other dietary requirements.
• Spice preferences and foods avoided for medical, religious or personal reasons.

During Your Journey

• Drink filtered, purified or sealed water as advised.
• Avoid tap water and ice when the source is uncertain.
• Wash or sanitise your hands before meals.
• Ask about ingredients if you have an allergy.
• Use your right hand when eating traditionally, if comfortable and appropriate.
• Respect food, spices and local eating customs.
• Ask before photographing kitchens, cooks or family meals.
• Tell your guide immediately if you feel unwell.

PureXplore selects restaurants, food walks, homes and culinary experiences with attention to hygiene, authenticity, dietary needs and guest comfort.

Markets, Shopping and Artisans

We encourage guests to buy directly from genuine artisans, cooperatives, family businesses and responsible local enterprises.

• Ask whether an item is handmade, handloom, locally produced or machine-made.
• Ask about the material, production time and origin.
• Bargain fairly where bargaining is customary.
• Respect fixed-price stores, cooperatives and family workshops.
• Do not feel pressured to purchase. Ask for a receipt.
• Confirm shipping, returns and customs requirements for valuable purchases.
• Avoid wildlife products, ivory, coral, protected skins, unverified antiquities and illegally collected natural materials.
• Check the provenance of objects with religious or cultural significance.

PureXplore prioritises genuine artisans and real hosts over staged demonstrations. Responsible purchases can help reward skill and support the local economy.

Sustainable Travel

Small choices throughout your journey can help protect the environment and benefit local communities.

• Carry and refill a reusable water bottle.
• Avoid single-use plastic.
• Use water thoughtfully, particularly in dry and desert regions.
• Switch off lights and air-conditioning when leaving your room.
• Choose local and seasonal food and avoid food waste.
• Use walking tours, e-rickshaws, trains or shared transfers where practical.
• Keep noise low in natural and sacred environments.
• Dispose of rubbish appropriately and never throw waste into rivers, lakes, forests, beaches or heritage sites.
• Follow wildlife and national-park rules.
• Support local guides, hosts, cooks, artisans, performers and small businesses.
• Leave natural, archaeological and religious objects where they belong.

Responsible tourism should benefit local communities, protect the environment and preserve cultural traditions for future generations.

Wildlife and Nature

When visiting national parks, forests, wetlands, mountains or coastal areas:

• Follow your naturalist's and park authorities' instructions.
• Maintain a safe distance from animals.
• Never feed, call, chase, bait or provoke wildlife.
• Do not ask drivers to leave designated routes for a better photograph.
• Keep voices low and phones silent.
• Avoid flash photography where prohibited.
• Do not remove plants, stones, shells, feathers or other natural objects.
• Carry waste back with you.
• Respect conservation and community rules.
• Understand that wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.

India's Pace and Practical Comfort

A comfortable journey requires flexibility. Please allow extra time for:

• Traffic, road conditions and security checks.
• Crowds and queues.
• Weather, festivals and processions.
• Heritage-site walking.
• Delays at airports and railway stations.
• Local ceremonies and temporary closures.

Your guide may recommend different timings, entrances, restaurants or activities to improve comfort, safety and cultural sensitivity.

Tell Your Guide If You Need

• A rest break, water or shade.
• A washroom or quieter environment.
• A slower walking pace.
• Medical support.
• Assistance with stairs, boats or uneven ground.

Tips and Payments

Tipping is customary in many parts of India, but it should reflect service quality and remain voluntary.

PureXplore will explain:

• Which services are already included.
• Which expenses are paid directly by guests.
• How restaurant service charges and tips work.
• Appropriate tipping for guides, drivers, porters and hotel staff.
• Whether donations at religious sites are optional.

Never feel obliged to give money to children, unofficial intermediaries or anyone who pressures you.

Safety and Wellbeing

For your comfort and peace of mind throughout the journey:

• Keep your passport and valuables secure. Use hotel safes where appropriate.
• Carry a copy of your passport and visa separately.
• Follow your guide's advice in crowded areas.
• Do not accept food, drinks or transport from unknown persons without consulting your guide.
• Use authorised taxis, vehicles, boats, guides and ticket counters.
• Stay hydrated and inform your guide about medical concerns.
• Follow local safety, health, wildlife and site regulations.
• Keep emergency contacts accessible.

Our Promise to You

We believe the best journeys are meaningful rather than merely impressive. PureXplore Experiences is committed to:

• Thoughtful planning and reliable local support.
• Honest information about destinations and activities.
• Respectful, well-briefed guides and hosts.
• Comfortable and safe transport.
• Genuine cultural encounters.
• Fair treatment of local communities and suppliers.
• Responsible photography and storytelling.
• Transparent handling of costs and recommendations.
• Practical support when plans change.