2026 India and the Ganges River

Thank you for booking our 2026 India and the Ganges River Cruise – Your adventure will be here before you know it!

Below, you’ll find additional information to help you prepare for the exciting adventure ahead.

PERSONAL TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

All documentation required for this itinerary is the sole responsibility of the guest. Brand g Vacations will not be responsible for advising and/or obtaining required travel documentation for any passenger, or for any delays, damages, and/or losses, including missed portions of your trip, related to improper or absent travel documentation. It is suggested that copies of important documents, including your passport and visas, be kept in a separate place, in case the originals are lost or stolen.

Passport: A passport that is valid for at least six (6) months after your return date is required for this program. Passports must have at least two blank pages.

Visas: Citizens of the US and Canada require tourist visas to enter India. Citizens of other countries should verify visa requirements with the India Consulate or Embassy of their home country.

Visa Options:

30-Day eTourist Visa

• Valid for two entries within a 30-day period

• Can only be applied for within 30 days of your proposed travel date to India

• Cost: $25 plus a 2–3% credit card processing fee

Extended eTourist Visas
If you plan to return to India within the next year or five years, you may consider one of the extended visa options:

• 1-Year Visa: $40

• 5-Year Visa: $80

• Both include a 2–3% credit card processing fee

• May be applied for up to 120 days before your travel date

We recommend you apply for an eVisa through this link: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html.

We have prepared a cheat sheet to assist you with your application, which may be found here.

Hint: If you are having trouble with payment going through using the bank options, you may have better luck with PayPal.

Or, our recommended visa service, G3 Visas, would be pleased to assist you with obtaining the correct visa. You can find them online at: http://www.g3visas.com/Service.html

Travel Protection: Travel insurance is advised to participate in this program. If you have not purchased a policy already, you may do so by contacting your travel agent or Brand g Vacations. You may also get a quote and purchase a policy online from Brand g’s recommended travel insurance provider, Travel Insured International, on our reservation website, or by visiting Travel Insured International’s Website. Please be sure to carry all policy information with you during your program.

HEALTH AND MOBILITY

Vaccinations: Yellow Fever vaccination is required if traveling from a country with risk of Yellow Fever virus transmission, including transit greater than 12 hours in an airport located in a country with risk of Yellow Fevervirus transmission. A list of countries with risk of Yellow Fever virus transmission can be found here: Click Here

No additional vaccinations are required for entering India, but it is recommended that you discuss available vaccinations and any other health concerns you may have with your personal physician or a travel medicine specialist.

The consulates of the countries to be visited will also provide information on vaccination requirements and/or suggestions. You may also consult the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for their current recommendations. Their website is www.cdc.gov in the US.

Physical Limitations: This is an active trip, and there is much to see and do. Many included excursions require an extensive amount of walking over uneven terrain, and many sites have numerous steps that may be steeper and narrower than is common in Western countries. Guests with physical limitations will find access to many sites difficult or impossible to navigate. For your safety and enjoyment, we recommend that you be in good physical condition. If you have questions or doubts about your ability to participate, please call us at 952-405-9309 to discuss.

Medical: Medical facilities are not always easily accessible during the more rural portions of the trip. Any medical expenses incurred during the trip are the guest’s own responsibility, and neither Brand g nor the local ground operator is responsible for cost or quality of medical care received. Guests should bring their medications with them. A travel insurance policy that covers medical expenses as well as medical evacuation while traveling internationally is highly recommended.

Dietary Preferences: Please advise us of any special dietary restrictions at least 45 days (January 10, 2026) prior to your departure. This information will be provided to the proper personnel, and where possible within local conditions and limitations, every effort will be made to accommodate your needs. It is the guest’s responsibility to provide us with as much detail as possible concerning any medically related dietary concerns. Not all dietary requests can be accommodated, and we appreciate your understanding in this matter.

LUGGAGE RESTRICTIONS

While there are no restrictions on the number of bags each guest may bring, it is highly recommended that each guest bring only one checked bag. Additionally, all airlines impose restrictions on both size and weight, and many airlines restrict the number of bags per person. Each guest must check with their selected air carrier for limitations prior to departure, as luggage restrictions are subject to change. Guests who exceed an airline’s luggage restrictions may be asked by the airline to pay the airline’s overweight/oversized luggage fees.

An airline’s limitations on the weight and size of checked and carry-on baggage are usually found on its website or may be obtained by calling the airline directly. Please remember that international (over-the-water) and domestic (intracontinental) restrictions may not be the same.

Your luggage and all personal belongings are solely your responsibility throughout the trip. Brand g Vacations is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged luggage or personal belongings. Selecting a travel insurance plan that will cover lost or stolen luggage and/or personal items is highly recommended.

Please place luggage tags on the outside of all of your bags, including carry-on and hand luggage, and include a copy of your contact information during the trip on the inside of your checked bags. Valuables and medication should only be packed in your carry-on bags (unless required to be placed in checked bags by your airline).

Luggage Allowances for Included Flights: 

For the main India program, excluding Varanasi:

Personal Item: One(1) personal article, such as a lady’s purse or a small bag containing a laptop, not weighing more than 3 kgs (6.5lb).

Carry-on bag Weight: Economy carry-on can weigh up to 7kg (15lb).

Carry-on bag: Carry-on size is calculated by measuring a bag’s length, width, and height (including any wheels and packed away handles), then adding the three measurements together. The total can be up to 45 inches (L+W+H).

Checked Luggage Weight: Each checked-in bag can weigh up to 25kg (55lb) before it incurs fees.

With the above allowances in mind, we strongly recommend each guest only bring one checked bag, one hand carry bag, and one small personal item. Additional bags/weight will be at an additional cost.

For those participating in the Varanasi optional extension:

Personal Item: Guests are not allowed a personal bag with the exception of items such as a jacket, camera, umbrella, reading material and medications.

Carry-on bag Weight: Economy carry-on can weigh up to 7kg (15lb).

Carry-on bag: Carry-on size can not measure more than 22 inches x 16 inches x 8 inches.

Checked Luggage Weight: Each checked-in bag can weigh up to 15kg (33 lb) before it incurs fees.

You will be able to secure excess luggage at the Taj Palace hotel until our return the following day. Therefore, we recommend guests only bring an overnight bag to Varanasi to avoid overweight/excess baggage charges.

AIRPORT SECURITY AND CHECK-IN

Please be sure to contact your airline prior to departure and verify there have been no changes to the flight number or schedule. If you have an airport transfer confirmed with Brand g, please advise of any schedule change affecting your airport pick up time.

Familiarize yourself with current airport security procedures and arrive at the airport at least two and a half (2.5) hours prior to your scheduled departure. During peak travel times, you may want to arrive three (3) hours prior to your scheduled departure time.

CUSTOMS

Entry documents will be required at all border crossings, so please carry proper identification with you all times, and never place it in checked luggage.

When arriving by airplane, it is not unusual for a border guard to ask you questions such as “where are you from,” “where are you going,” “how long will you be there,” or “what is the purpose of your trip.” Always answer honestly and politely.

If you are bringing laptops, cameras, or other electrical equipment with you on your trip, you may be required to register these items with the local customs authority in order to ensure you are not charged duty on these items when you return home.

Most items you purchase internationally can be brought back into the US and Canada. We do recommend, however, that you check with both your home country’s customs office for current restrictions, as well as with the embassies of the countries you are visiting for any restrictions on items that may be unlawful to take outside their borders.

When you return to your home country, you should be prepared to declare everything you purchased or acquired while traveling. Many countries will ask you to complete a customs form, which will require descriptions and values of the items. These forms are easier to complete if you keep your sales receipts easily accessible. Most countries have set customs duty exemptions for both quantity and value of certain items. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with these allowances and limits prior to your travel.

CHECK-IN/HOTEL CHECK-OUT

Please be advised that most hotels do not allow check-in earlier than 3:00pm. If you arrive at the hotel before 3:00pm, there may be a wait until the room becomes available. Check-out at most host hotel properties is 12:00pm. If your arrival or departure schedule does not coincide with these times, you may ask the hotel(s) to store your baggage while you explore independently. Please note that every effort is made to ensure that your hotel room is available and ready for occupancy upon your arrival, however a short wait for your room to become available may be unavoidable. Depending on your arrival or departure times, you may wish to purchase an early check-in, late check-out, or additional hotel night in order to guarantee availability of your room. Feel free to contact Brand g Vacations or your travel agent to book additional services.

TRANSFERS

Guests who provided their independently arranged flight details to Brand g Vacations no later than 45 days (January 10, 2026) prior to departure, will automatically have airport arrival and departure transfers arranged. Flight arrangements must also be made in accordance with Brand g vacations flight recommendations. Guests are responsible for checking with the airlines and providing their most up-to-date flight details. Please contact your travel agent or Brand g Vacations if you have any questions about your flight arrangements.

Arrival transfers are provided from the Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) to the Imperial Hotel. The transfer from airport to the hotel takes about 30 – 40 minutes. Please consult the travel documents, which will be emailed to you approximately 30 days prior to the trip start date for instructions on where to meet your transfer at the airport.

Departure Transfers are provided from the Roseate Hotel in Delhi to the Delhi International Airport (DEL) in time for your independently arranged flight. No further transfers will be provided. A departure confirmation will be provided to you during the trip, advising you of the meeting time and place for your transfer.

Travel Delays: If you experience a travel delay while still in your home country, after working with your air carrier to revise your flight schedule, please contact Brand g’s Operations Office at 952-405-9309 to advise us of your revised arrival date and time. If the line is busy or you are calling outside of general business hours, please leave a message.

If you have already departed your home country, please contact our local staff at the numbers provided below in the Important Contact Information section. Please note, this section may not be added until we email your personalized travel documents to you about 30 days prior to the trip start date.

If you purchased travel insurance that covers flight delay and cancellation expenses, you will also want to contact your travel insurance company to start a claim for expenses incurred during your delay. If the delay is serious enough that you will miss the starting point of your cruise, any additional hotel and/or flight arrangements necessary to meet your group will be at your expense.

Baggage Delays: Baggage delays unfortunately occur from time to time, especially during peak travel periods. If you discover that any bag did not make it to your destination, do not leave the airport baggage area without completing a Lost Baggage Report with your air carrier. This report is essential to the tracking of your claim. If you have an airport transfer scheduled and are traveling with a companion, we recommend that one person exit the baggage claim area and locate the representative to inform him or her of the situation. This will allow the representative to ensure that the transfer is properly provided. Give the air carrier a copy of your travel itinerary, along with the hotel and ship contact information. Report your lost baggage to your Brand g Vacations host and provide them with a copy of your Lost Baggage Report. Brand g Vacations is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged baggage and/or personal belongings. Selecting a travel insurance plan that will cover lost or stolen luggage and/or personal items is highly recommended.

PROGRAM STAFF

A Brand g Vacations Tour Leader will be with you during your travel program to handle all the details, leaving you to relax and enjoy your vacation.

CONTACTING HOME

The ability to stay in touch with friends and family is an important part of travel, and many guests choose to bring cell phones on the trip. International roaming charges can be expensive, and it is advisable to contact your local carrier to determine the charges and plans available for each country you are visiting, then select the best available plan for your expected usage. In some countries, SIM cards are available for purchase that can be used in an unlocked phone (call your carrier to determine if your phone is, or can be, unlocked), providing a local number that can be used both locally and internationally, usually at a significantly lower rate.

Making international calls from the hotels is possible, but costly. Connection fees are usually applied, in addition to other call charges.

Each suite on board the Ganges Voyager is equipped with a phone for internal calls only and cannot be used for calls off ship. The Cruise Director will be able to assist you in case of an emergency, but should not be relied upon to assist with personal calls, as it is impossible to be familiar with all the phones and calling plans on the market. A satellite phone is available on board the Ganges Voyager for emergency calls only.

While cell phone service is typically available in the larger cities of Kolkata, Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra, service along the Ganges River is extremely limited, and at times may not be available at all.

INTERNET ACCESS

On board the Ganges Voyager, 300 MB per person per day of complimentary internet is provided in all public areas of the ship, for guests who bring their own Wi-Fi-capable devices. Guests may also “stay connected” in our internet lounge.

Connectivity may vary based on the position of the ship.  Guests are advised to only use ship internet access for immediate travel needs or important emails as larger files will not be available to download.

All hotels used in India provide complimentary Internet access.

CURRENCY AND MONEY MATTERS

The official currency of India is the Indian rupee. Indian law stipulates that official transactions should be made only in rupees obtained at official exchange bureaus (found in airports, banks, and hotels). It is unlawful to bring Indian rupees into the country or take them out. Currency exchanges at the airports are able to exchange a wide variety of currencies, including US dollars, British pound sterling, Euros, and Australian dollars. It is advisable to keep small rupee notes on hand, as it is sometimes difficult to get change. ATMs in India only provide Indian rupees.

Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted in India by many merchants. However, you may find that some are reluctant to take credit cards because of the fees associated with them. Therefore, we suggest that you carry rupees, in case you wish to make purchases. Aside from a few of the international hotel chains, American Express is not widely accepted in this part of the world.

Please contact your bank and/or credit card companies to let them know that you will be leaving the country to avoid any problems using your debit/ATM and credit card(s) overseas.

The official currency on board the Ganges Voyager is the Indian rupee. During the cruise, we operate on a cashless system, with all purchases billed to your onboard account. At the end of the cruise, bills may be settled in cash with Indian rupees or in US Dollars. If it is settled by credit card with Visa or MasterCard, then a surcharge of 3% will be levied extra.

The Ganges Voyager does not provide a currency exchange service, nor is there an ATM on board. In Delhi, Kolkata, Jaipur, and Agra, you will find options for obtaining rupees at both Indian and international banks, ATMs, and wire services.

GRATUITIES

Optional Gratuities for the included components of this program have been pre-paid. You are welcome to provide additional tips at your discretion.

SMOKING

On the ship, smoking is allowed only in designated areas of the upper deck (ship staff will advise guests upon arrival). The hotels have open areas where smoking is allowed and may offer smoking areas in specific sections of some indoor lounges. All hotel rooms and ship staterooms are non-smoking.

We ask everyone to refrain from smoking while on excursions.

ELECTRICAL CURRENT

The voltage in India is 220v. To use any electrical product from the US or Canada that is not dual voltage, you will need a plug adaptor (type D) and some devices will require an electrical converter. Many electronic devices have built-in electrical converters; however please check the manufacturer’s specifications for details. The ship has multi-configuration outlets, which accommodate most Western plugs. We recommend bringing an adapter for use in the hotels. Because the voltage may fluctuate at times, we also recommend unplugging your devices when not in use or when leaving them unattended.

EXCURSIONS

Your tour program includes comprehensive excursions led by a local English-speaking guide; these excursions have been designed to provide you with the best possible experience. Your Brand g Vacations host will provide details on each day’s excursion(s) and timing. Should guests be concerned about any aspect of an excursion, please inform your local guide or Brand g Vacations host.

ETIQUETTE

Many of the local customs in India differ greatly from Western culture. In many Hindu temples, it is required that you cover your knees and shoulders when entering the grounds, and remove your shoes. Socks may be worn in Hindu temples, and we recommend bringing a few extra pairs of “temple socks” that can be discarded at the end of your cruise. Dress restrictions for specific excursions will be listed on the Daily Program. Our itinerary takes us into areas where locals are simply living their daily lives. Should you wish to take a photo of locals, please request their permission first (simply pointing to your camera and allowing them to nod is sufficient). Guides will inform you when entering places where photos are not allowed.

FACILITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

The ship does not have elevators and is not handicapped- or wheelchair-accessible. Embarkation/disembarkation facilities may also be impossible to navigate with wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, or any other mechanical device.

Many of the places we visit on the itinerary are not handicapped accessible. Many excursions involve walking over uneven ground. Additionally, some excursions are walking tours only, and some places will require the removal of shoes before entering. For your safety and enjoyment, we recommend that all guests be in good physical condition.

At its sole discretion, Brand g reserves the right to refuse passage, or to require a passenger to end his or her trip if the passenger’s state of health or physical condition may affect his or her own health, safety, and enjoyment, or that of other passengers.

SECURITY

In the countries in which we operate, pickpockets are not uncommon, and caution is encouraged. When sailing, many passengers do not lock their doors, creating the opportunity for theft. A 24-hour watch is kept on board in order to control access to the ship, but we suggest keeping your door locked when your suite is not in use and at night. Brand g cannot be held liable for loss of money, jewelry, or other valuable items from the ship, from a hotel, or while on an excursion ashore during a voyage. A travel insurance policy will typically cover most incidents of loss or theft.

WATER

Please do not drink the tap water while on board or on shore or use it for brushing your teeth. The ship’s water supply comes from the river after passing through a sterilization process. This water is suitable for showers and baths, but should not be consumed. Complimentary bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth is provided on board, as well as during excursions.

WEATHER

Weather forecasts are widely available on the Internet, and some of the favorites for large, international cities are www.weather.com and www.cnn.com/weather.

Average High/Low (F)

• Agra 85/54
• Delhi 85/65
• Jaipur 85/65
• Kolkata 85/65
• Varanasi 85/55

WHAT TO BRING

Travel Essentials: The following items are essential for any destination.
– Sunglasses
– Sunscreen
– Insect repellent
– Hat
– Rain jacket or windproof jacket
– Umbrella
– Copies of prescription eyewear and medications (include generic equivalents)
– Copies of credit card information
– Copies of your passport information pages and visas
– Camera

Clothing: Comfortable, sporty, casual clothing is appropriate throughout the trip.
– Natural and/or moisture-wicking fabrics in light colors that may be layered (e.g., lightweight shirts, khakis, slacks, skirts, dresses, and walking shorts)
– Lightweight jacket or pullover for early mornings, late evenings, or air-conditioned spaces
– Lightweight rain jacket
– Shorts or lightweight pants for daytime activities
– Sport jackets and cocktail dresses are not needed at any time during this program. However, we do recommend a few dressier outfits for dinners and evenings out.

Footwear: As you will engage in significant walking over uneven terrain.
– Comfortable walking shoes with good ankle support
– Sturdy footwear for outdoor activities

Additional Recommendations:
– Sun hat
– Sweater or jacket for cooler weather
– Lip balm
– Waterproof jacket and pants (optional for rainy days)
– Comfortable shoes for excursions
– Extra warm layer of clothing for colder regions

Laundry: Laundry service is available for an extra fee on board the ship and at the hotels. Instructions and fees are listed in your Guest Service Directory book or within the closet in your suite on board or in your hotel room. Self-service laundry facilities are not available on the ship or in the hotels.

Please provide a copy of this contact information to your family members or friends in case they need to reach you in the event of an emergency.

India operates on the IST (India Standard Time GMT+5:30 hours), so when it is 12:00pm in New York it is 9:30pm in New Delhi.

International telephone calls can be placed by dialing the International Access Code (0091 or +91), the country code and then the phone number. If your inbound flights are delayed for any reason, please contact our local representatives immediately. Should you need to utilize the local emergency mobile below, please specify that you are traveling with Brand g Vacations.

Your Brand g program host to be announced.