India and Sri Lanka require at least an e-visa for most nationalities but please check with your consulate locally as visa requirements change frequently.
For Bangladesh and Bhutan please check with your nearest consulate.

Yes. For services you undertake independently such as a meal in a restaurant you should budget roughly a 10% tip. Tipping is of course discretionary and should be in line with the quality of service received.
Tipping for local guides, drivers and other providers whose services are listed on the itinerary are included in the trip price.
Some street vendors may try to pressure you into providing a tip or ‘baksheesh.’ It is important that you only provide a tip if a service has been rendered and you feel the service has been up to standard. If you are being asked for ‘baksheesh’ by a provider of an included service, please direct the person to your trip leader or local guide.

For India and Sri Lanka it is a good idea to bring some US dollars to change locally. ATM’s in large cities are reliable as long as they carry the MasterCard or Cirrus symbols. Card skimmers are widely used in 3^rd party ATM’s so it is always best to use one that is inside a bank. Credit cards are widely accepted in both countries with the exception or local markets.
In Bhutan bring some US dollars to change for spending money. If you’re on an itinerary which includes India, Indian rupees are widely accepted in Bhutan. Credit cards are accepted in large cities and stores.
In Bangladesh it is a good idea to rely mostly on the exchange of US dollars although ATM’s are reliable in large cities. Credit cards are also widely accepted.

You should check with your local provider if coverage is provided in the countries on your itinerary prior to departure. Make sure you are also aware of their international roaming charges.
It is fairly easy to pick up a local SIM card on arrival at the airport in India, Sri Lanka and Bhutan, it becomes less easy to achieve this later on.
In Bangladesh you will need 2 passport sized photos and a photocopy of your passport and Bangladeshi visa to obtain a local SIM card.
If you wish to use a local SIM you will need to ensure your phone is unlocked prior to departure from your home country.

Internet access in India, Sri Lanka and Bhutan is generally very good when in large cities or towns, it becomes less reliable in remote villages.
Hotels and cafes in large cities in Bangladesh will have WiFi although it may be somewhat unreliable.

Toilets – All hotels in India and South Asia have clean, upright western toilets. Public toilets you encounter will likely be of the eastern squat variety.
Pharmacies – Pharmacies are readily available in major cities, although it is unlikely that the pharmacist will speak English. If you require medication from a pharmacy, please let your trip leader know as far in advance as possible. They will be able to arrange your local guide to go with you to collect what you need or the local guide may be able to pick up what you require on your behalf.
Hospitals – Hospitals in large cities are generally of a good standard. We ask that if you are feeling unwell that you let your tour leader know as soon as possible and consider their advice when it comes to hospital admission. Trip Leaders have the discretion to remove someone from the trip if they feel that continuing would endanger their health.
Please ensure you purchase adequate travel insurance that includes repatriation to your home country in the event of a medical emergency.

For all medication please carry a note from your GP detailing what medication you are on and why you are taking it to show to officials should you be asked.

Absolutely not. Please do not even brush your teeth with the water. Most hotels provide complimentary bottled water for this purpose.
Drinking the water is likely to result in hospitalisation.

We hope you like curry! We sure do! Chinese and Western dishes are also widely available.

Absolutely. Please disclose these when you secure your place on the trip so that we can make our local providers aware. Your trip leader may not be able to accommodate any dietary requirements that have not been disclosed in advance.
If you have a gluten free diet, consider bringing some snack food from home. There will be plenty of fresh fruit in local markets, however, beyond that you may find that variety in snack foods for this diet may be somewhat lacking.

Women should wear long trousers with a loose-fitting shirt or blouse over the top. Harem pants and a long kaftan work really well together and are readily and cost effectively available for purchase in markets locally. Women are required to cover their heads with a scarf in mosques.
Men should consider wearing long pants, shorts will attract stares.