Southern India & Sri Lanka Hosted by Lena Dojcinovic - February 11-28, 2025

Vast, diverse, deeply spiritual and utterly unforgettable, India is unlike anywhere else on earth – a melting pot of ethnicities and religions, a treasure trove of history and culture, and a curious mixture of chaos and serenity. Stretching across more than three million square kilometres, it encompasses a staggering array of landscapes, vistas and environs, and offers unparalleled travel experiences – from the beautiful beaches of Goa, to the compelling craziness of Kolkata, the sacred Ganges river banks of Varanasi, the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas in Kashmir and the ancient, exquisitely crafted temples dotted across the entire country. Not to mention the vibrant, friendly people, and the incredible cuisine.

Currency 

Local currency: Indian Rupee 
Symbol: ₹ 
ISO code: INR 
Subunit: Paisa 
Banknotes: ₹1, ₹2, ₹5, ₹10, ₹20, ₹50, ₹100, ₹200, ₹500, ₹2000 
Coins: ₹1, ₹2, ₹5, ₹10 

Banking 

Card Transactions: Yes 
ATMs: Yes 
Mastercard: Yes 
Visa: Yes 
American Express: Limited acceptance 
Diner’s club: Limited acceptance 

Banking Hours: 
Weekdays: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM 
Weekends: Limited hours or closed 
Public Holidays: Yes (Varies, typically reduced hours) 
Foreign exchange services: Yes 

Air: 
Main airlines: Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Vistara 
International Airports: Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM), Kempegowda International Airport (BLR), and others 
Domestic Airports: Numerous 

Road: 
Driving on the: Left 
Tar roads: Yes 
Gravel roads: Limited 
Valid International Driver's License needed: Yes 
Car hire available: Yes 
Taxis: Yes 
E-hailing services: Yes 

Bus: 
Inter-city bus services: Yes 
Local city bus networks: Yes 

Rail: 
Railway system: Extensive 
Subway System: Limited (in select cities) 

Water: 
Ferries: Limited 
Water taxis: Limited 
Leisure cruises: Limited 

Food and water safety: 
Can you drink the tap water: No 
Fresh fruit and veg: Wash thoroughly or peel 
Ice: Use commercially produced ice 
Meat: Ensure it's well-cooked 
Street food: Yes 

Local cuisine: Indian cuisine is diverse and varies greatly by region. Highlights include dishes like biryani, curry, dosa, chaat, and tandoori specialties. Vegetarian options are plentiful. 

Drinks: Chai, lassi, sugarcane juice, and various regional beverages like coconut water. Alcoholic beverages are available, with beer and whiskey being popular choices. 

Tipping: Generally 5-10% in restaurants; tipping for other services is discretionary. 

Annual rainfall: Varies greatly by region 
Average temperature: Varies greatly by region 

Summer: 
Average highs: 25-45°C 
Average lows: 20-30°C 

Winter: 
Average highs: 10-25°C 
Average lows: 5-15°C 

Best time to visit: The best time to visit India depends on the region and your preferences. Generally, the winter months from October to March offer milder temperatures and are ideal for exploring most parts of the country. 

Spring and Summer 
Cool, light, breathable and comfortable: Yes 
Lightweight warm clothes: No 

Winter and Autumn 
Jerseys, cardigans, sweaters, jackets: Recommended 
Heavyweight clothing and boots: No 

General 
Umbrella and raincoat: Yes 
Warm gloves, hat and scarf: No 
Swimming costume (bathing suit): Yes 
Hat, sunglasses and sunblock: Yes 
Walking shoes: Yes 
Casual: Yes 
Smart-casual attire: Yes 

Internet cafes: Limited 
Accommodation options: Yes 
Restaurants: Yes 
Cafes: Yes 
Shopping malls: Yes 
Public parks: Limited 
Libraries: Limited 

Plug Type: Type C, Type D, Type M 
Voltage (V): 230 
Frequency Hertz (Hz): 50 

*Travel plug adapter and voltage converter might be necessary depending on your appliances. 

Lying between the more explored parts of India and Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka's history, culture, and natural beauty make it an undeniably alluring destination. A historians playground, Sri Lanka has a history that dates back 3000 years and is one of a few places offering as many as eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the world-renowned Dambulla Royal Cave Temple and Golden Temple. Like its massive neighbour India, Sri Lanka is a diverse country, home to many religions, ethnicities and languages. Its size, however, means that visitors can spend time meditating in a 2000-year-old temple in the morning, touring the sacred home of the world's oldest living human-planted tree in the afternoon and savouring mouth-watering local rice and curry dishes for dinner. It is also still blessed with various wildlife that has survived on this small island for centuries alongside this human civilisation, including the mighty Sri Lankan Elephant. A true gem, Sri Lanka has something for everyone - from the modern city of Colombo with its skyscrapers to national parks teeming with elephants and miles of pristine beaches that offer epic surf.

Currency 

Local currency: Sri Lankan Rupee 
Symbol: රු 
ISO code: LKR 
Subunit: Cent 
Banknotes: රු20, රු50, රු100, රු500, රු1000, රු2000, රු5000 
Coins: Cent, රු1, රු2, රු5, රු10 

Banking 

Card Transactions: Yes 
ATMs: Yes 
Mastercard: Yes 
Visa: Yes 
American Express: Yes 
Diner’s club: Yes 

Banking Hours: 
Weekdays: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM 
Weekends: Closed 
Public Holidays: Yes 
Foreign exchange services: Yes 

Air: 

Main airlines: SriLankan Airlines 
International Airports: Bandaranaike International Airport 
Domestic Airports: Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, Ratmalana Airport 

Road: 

Driving on the: Left 
Tar roads: Yes 
Gravel roads: Yes 
Valid International Driver's License needed: Yes 
Car hire available: Yes 
Taxis: Yes 
E-hailing services: Yes 

Bus: 

Inter-city bus services: Yes 
Local city bus networks: Yes 

Rail: 

Railway system: Yes 
Subway System: No 

Water: 

Ferries: Yes 
Water taxis: Yes 
Leisure cruises: Yes 

Food and water safety: 

Can you drink the tap water: No 
Fresh fruit and veg: Yes 
Ice: Yes 
Meat: Yes 
Street food: Yes 

Local cuisine: 

Sri Lankan cuisine is known for its aromatic spices, vibrant flavors, and rich variety. Rice and curry are staples, often accompanied by dishes like dhal (lentil curry), sambol (coconut relish), and hoppers (pancakes). Notable local drinks include king coconut water, arrack (coconut spirit), and Ceylon tea. 
Tipping: 10% 

Annual rainfall: 2000 - 3000 mm 
Average temperature: 27°C 

Summer: 

Average highs: 31°C 
Average lows: 25°C 

Winter: 

Average highs: 29°C 
Average lows: 23°C 

Best time to visit: 

The best time to visit Sri Lanka is from December to March, during the dry season, when the weather is generally sunny and pleasant. 

Spring and Summer 

Cool, light, breathable and comfortable: Yes 
Lightweight warm clothes: No 

Winter and Autumn 

Jerseys, cardigans, sweaters, jackets: Recommended 
Heavyweight clothing and boots: No 

General 

Umbrella and raincoat: Yes 
Warm gloves, hat and scarf: No 
Swimming costume (bathing suit): Yes 
Hat, sunglasses and sunblock: Yes 
Walking shoes: Yes 
Casual: Yes 
Smart-casual attire: Yes 

Plug Type: Type D, Type G 
Voltage (V): 230V 
Frequency Hertz (Hz): 50Hz 

Travel plug adapter and voltage converter might be necessary depending on your appliances.