Varanasi Homestay Extension

On Short Breaks, you maintain a good level of independence and freedom, with the added bonus of having the details sorted out for you. You’ll have lots of free time and you won’t be accompanied by a Trip Leader. This means that all included activities and tours will be run by different local Intrepid partners, and these may operate independently from each other. The included activities and transfers will operate on a join-in basis, which means that you could have your Adventure all to yourself, or others may join you along the way. If you would prefer the experience of travelling with others, please consider the North India Highlights adventure – search trip code HHKH on the Intrepid website for more information.

1. This trip finishes upon arrival in Varanasi on Day 4. Please do not book any flights flights before 12 noon.
2. This is a join-in trip, so if other travellers have booked on the same date you will share included activities. As this is not a group itinerary you may be travelling or accommodated on your own, without other Intrepid travellers.
3. Please provide your full name exactly as it appears on your passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport. Fees may apply for adding or amending details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases, you will be required to cover the cost of issuing a new ticket.

MAIN LUGGAGE
What you need to bring will vary according to when you are travelling. Generally speaking, we recommend you pack as lightly as possible and make sure that you are able to carry and lift your own luggage and walk with it for short distances including up and down stairs and in busy train stations. Our travellers usually find the smaller their luggage is, the more they enjoy the trip not having to worry about carrying heavy bags! Aim to keep your main luggage under 15kg.

Small, wheeled suitcases that can also easily be picked up and carried are the best for travel in this part of the world, although if you prefer, a backpack is also fine. If you are taking overnight trains, or primarily using public transport then the smaller your luggage the easier it will be to store under or above bunks.

DAY PACK
A day pack for carrying essentials when exploring destinations as well as for short overnight stays will be useful. On overnight trains packing this with the essentials you need to access during the trip will also be very useful.

Below are some ideas and helpful tips on what you specifically need for this trip.

ESSENTIALS:
- Lightweight clothing. A mixture of lightweight clothing and warm layers. Clothes should be easy to wash and dry. Maybe bring a change in smart clothes for dinner in bigger cities. Clothing that covers arms and pants/skirts that go past the knee for entry into local temples.
- Closed-in shoes (to protect from cuts/scratches/insect bites on city and countryside walks)
- Sun protection - hat, sunscreen, sunglasses

RECOMMENDED:
- Parts of India can get very cold (ie. below zero!) during winter (Dec to Feb) and northern regions of India are typically cool in the evenings throughout the year. Many hotels in India do not have central heating. We recommend checking local weather advisory websites before departing to get a better understanding of what to expect and how best to pack. Bringing extra layers and a beanie could improve your overall experience.
- Personal medical kit, we recommend you carry items such as mild pain killers, electrolytes, Band-Aids and insect repellent.
- Water bottle. At least 1.5litre capacity. The sale of bottled water contributes to an enormous environmental problem around the world. A large proportion end up in limited landfill or discarded in waterways and natural environments.
- Camera with spare batteries. Our trips have access to power to recharge batteries for phones and cameras most days but we recommend you take a spare battery for your camera.
- A small chain and padlock for overnight trains is handy to keep your luggage safe and secure.

OPTIONAL:
- Sleeping bag. Useful for camping, overnight trains and poorly heated hotels, during the winter months of Dec - Feb
- Sleep sheet
- Earplugs & eye mask 
- Swimming costume
- Binoculars for spotting wildlife

OTHER USEFUL THINGS TO TAKE
- Reusable shopping bag for buying supplies for long journeys
- Slippers or flip flops
- Torch/flashlight
- Travel wipes
- Small towel
- Head scarf for women (for when entering temples or mosques)

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER
- Check weather in destinations you are travelling to online a few days before you go to make sure you pack appropriate clothing
- Laundry facilities may not be available in all destinations, so make sure you have a few cycles of clothes to tide you over until your next chance to wash

VALUABLES:
Please try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables, and use your hotel safe. It’s also a good idea to purchase a money belt or pouch that is easily hidden. We strongly recommend that you photocopy or screen shot scan all important documents e.g. air tickets, passport, vaccination certificates etc. and keep the copies.

MORE!
If you need some further tips for packing, you can always check out our ultimate packing list, or read this advice here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/what-to-take-to-india/

Gauri Villa Varanasi Homestay, C 32/29 AG Chandua, Pandya Ratan Bagh Annapurna Nagar Colony, Sigra – Varanasi, Varanasi, 221002, INDIA

The Homestay Gauri Villa is located in the central area of the sacred city of Varanasi, approximately 15-20 minutes from the Ghats of river Ganges. The homestay offers 7 ensuite rooms with LCD TV, 2 shared kitchens, and 2 shared living rooms, as well as individually controlled A/C and telephone. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the homestay. The host family resides on the ground floor, while guests are accommodated on the two upper floors.

Alternate Joining Point

Please refer to your itinerary for the joining hotel name and address. If you have not pre-booked an arrival transfer you will find taxis available on arrival at Lal Bahadur Shastri International airport, Varanasi.

There are two pre-paid taxi booths one inside the terminal, one on outside the terminal. Rates vary from approximately INR1100 to INR 1500 as per the type of vehicle availability. Otherwise, you will need to bargain hard from the taxi rank outside of the airport approximately INR 900 to INR 1000. The drive to and from Gauri Villa takes almost an hour which may vary with the traffic congestion.

Please be aware that there may be porters outside the terminal offering their services for a fee. If you do not wish to use their services, be ready to kindly but firmly let them know.

Alternatively Intrepid offer a pre-arranged transfer service option. Enquire with your agent and advise your flight arrival details at least 14 days prior to your trip departure. If you have purchased an arrival transfer you will be met after exiting customs outside. Look for our representative holding a sign with your name on it. If you have any trouble locating your transfer representative, or if your flight is going to be delayed, please call the following numbers:

Mr Pankaj Nair (Homestay and local service provider in Varanasi): +919415269258
Intrepid India's Reservation team: +919560849444

Gauri Villa Varanasi Homestay, C 32/29 AG Chandua, Pandya Ratan Bagh Annapurna Nagar Colony, Sigra – Varanasi, Varanasi, 221002, INDIA

The Homestay Gauri Villa is located in the central area of the sacred city of Varanasi, approximately 15-20 minutes from the Ghats of river Ganges. The homestay offers 7 ensuite rooms with LCD TV, 2 shared kitchens, and 2 shared living rooms, as well as individually controlled A/C and telephone. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the homestay. The host family resides on the ground floor, while guests are accommodated on the two upper floors.

Alternate Finish Point

Breakfasts included: 3

Lunches included: 

Dinners included: 1

FOOD IN INDIA:
Food is a way of life in India. You can snack for a bargain or dine in the finest Indian restaurants. Generally, you can eat very cheaply in India. There is a huge choice of restaurants and street stalls serving traditional and local Indian food. In bigger restaurants in areas frequented by more tourists, there is a choice between Indian, Chinese and Western-style food. Here are some ideas of what to try: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/best-food-in-india/
https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/foodies-guide-south-india/

Please note that service in restaurants (especially with a group) can be quite slow so patience is a must.

India caters very well towards vegetarians and vegans with almost all restaurants having a veg and pure veg section of the menu. If in doubt please check with your group leader or local representative. See our guide to eating vegan in India here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/india-vegan-food-guide/

Your group leader or local representative will be able to direct you towards restaurants that are known to have better hygiene, especially in tourist areas where they are travelling with our groups regularly. For some more advice on avoiding "Delhi belly", see our article here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/how-to-avoid-delhi-belly-in-india/

FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS
As a country of many cultures and religions, India has many festivals and public holidays. Here are some of the key dates and events:

HOLI (Festival of Colours)
2025 18-19 March

DIWALI (Festival of Light)
2024 01 November
2025 21 October

RAMADAN (Muslim Holy Month)
2025 28 February – 1 March

WEATHER IN INDIA
Due to India's size and topography, there's a huge amount of variation in its climate. We recommend you consider both the season and the part of India you intend to visit, so that you can best pack for your adventure.

For much of the country, a good time to visit India is from September to March with warm days and cool nights.

During winter (December to January), temperatures can get quite cold in Delhi and the north, especially at night. Hotels in some regions may not have adequate heating. In these months you may like to bring thermals for sleeping and a warm jacket for mornings and evenings. Fog can delay trains travelling throughout this region.

Monsoon is from May to October and offers hot and humid conditions. It is not unusual for trains to be delayed, and for activities in towns near rivers and lakes (ie Varanasi) to require amendment at this time of year. Your group leader or local representative will be able to advise you locally on any changes.

During Summer (June to September), temperatures can get extremely hot in Delhi and the north. Itineraries may be amended to avoid the hottest parts of the day. Your group leader or local representative will be able to advise you locally on any changes.

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us

In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:

Available for phone call or WhatsApp call on +919560849444

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.

Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.