Travellers to India have a lot in store for their vacation, whether it’s exploring historic buildings such as the Taj Mahal, visiting ancient cities like Varanasi or laying on the beaches of Goa, adventure is around every corner. No matter what you’re hoping to experience on your travels, Travel Guard can help you plan.

Travel insurance is not a requirement for tourists visiting India, but there are plenty of reasons to still get coverage for your trip. Flights to India can be expensive, and when you add resort or hotel accommodations and any guided tours or excursions, the cost can add up.  Additionally, the cost of any medical expenses may be entirely out-of-pocket as your provincial or territorial health plan may not cover your out of country medical costs. A travel insurance plan can provide trip cancellation and interruption coverage, emergency medical expense coverage and other benefits to help protect you and your travel investment. You’ve likely spent a lot of time planning for your trip to India; great travel planning should include Travel Guard travel insurance. Worried about the unexpected? Let Travel Guard reduce some of the stress and provide extra peace of mind against some of those sudden and unforeseen circumstances that might make your Indian adventure turn to disaster!

Every traveller has different needs, which is why our All-Inclusive Package is a great option. Our All-Inclusive Package provides comprehensive coverage including coverage for trip cancellation and trip interruption. This package also includes emergency medical insurance, baggage insurance and 24/7 emergency travel assistance. Be sure to review the policy wording for a full list of the terms and conditions of coverage, including the covered risks and benefits of the All-Inclusive Packages.  We offer some packages online; however additional Travel Guard travel insurance options may be available through our World Service Centre or through one of our travel industry partners.

Typically, a Travel Guard travel insurance plan costs between 5-7% of the total price of your trip. Several factors can come into play when pricing your plan, such as the type of travel insurance benefits you need, the non-refundable trip cost you need to insure, your age and trip length. Travel Guard offers a variety of travel insurance plans and packages designed for different travellers’ needs. The cost of the insurance plan will depend on the type of travel insurance protection you need for your trip to India. Make sure you choose a Travel Guard plan that meets your individual needs. If you have questions about coverage options or require more information, we are here to help. For more details on pricing, check out our article on how much travel insurance costs, or contact our World Service Centre to speak with one of our licensed customer service representatives about Travel Guard travel insurance products.

When travelling to India, exercise increased caution on your trip. Because of the country’s size and diversity, security risks, cultural concerns and environmental risks can vary significantly from place to place. In general, India has a heightened threat of crime, civil unrest and terrorist activity. 

To reduce security-related risks, be sure to carefully research the locations you plan to visit. Pickpocketing, bag snatching and theft of unattended items are common in most locations, and thieves often use crowds and other distractions to their advantage. Be vigilant of your surroundings, especially if travelling alone. Dress to blend in, avoid travelling after dark or in isolated areas and use pre-arranged transportation when possible. Women should take additional precautions, as harassment and sexual violence is a significant concern, especially on various forms of public transportation. Scams are common, so be extra cautious, utilize legitimate tour companies – preferably booked in advance of your trip – and be wary of strangers. 

If a strike or demonstration is taking place, stay away from large crowds and be prepared to find alternate means of transport. Terrorist and insurgent attacks are typically focused on government targets or occur in disputed territories, but visitors could face collateral risks. Stay aware of your surroundings and have an exit plan in the event of an emergency.

Be aware of health concerns specific to your destination, such as food and water safety, air quality and altitude sickness. Additionally, India is impacted by monsoons, flooding and landslides, depending on the location and time of year. Monitor local reports when traveling and follow all instructions issued by local authorities.

Visit the Government of Canada website for up-to-date information on travel advisory levels and safety information for travellers to India.

All Canadian travellers should enrol in the Registration of Canadians Abroad program, a free service offered to Canadian citizens travelling and living abroad. Enrolling in this program allows you to receive important information from the Government of Canada and helps them contact you in an emergency.

When visiting India, avoid spending lengthy amounts of time in crowds and keep your distance from individuals showing signs of illness. Additionally, many diseases and illnesses are spread through bug bites like mosquitos, so it’s crucial to prevent bites by covering up with loose clothing, using mosquito nets, use bug spray and do your best to minimalize your exposure to insects. Visit the Government of Canada website for more information on preventing illness while vacationing to India. 

Yellow Fever is a required vaccination for your trip to India. However, there are a variety of preventable diseases you could get vaccinated against such as Malaria, Rabies, Typhoid, Measles and others that can be viewed on the official Government of Canada website. Finally, when planning a vacation to India, be sure to check with your primary care doctor to see if there are any routine vaccinations that you should receive before travelling.

The quality of medical care can vary throughout the country but is typically better in major cities. Government hospitals offer travellers some services at lower costs or in some cases at no cost at all. However, private hospitals are known to have a higher care quality but are more expensive. It’s highly recommended to have a travel insurance plan with emergency medical expense coverage in case you suddenly become sick or injured and need medical care.

A government or public hospital stay in India is around $24 CAD per day, while a private hospital stay can cost up to $500 CAD a day.

Some medical care may be free to tourists if they visit a government hospital, however, the quality of care can vary from city to city. Private hospitals are most expensive and medical insurance is necessary for keeping costs low.

No. Antibiotics are not available over the counter and will need to be prescribed by a healthcare professional.

The Canadian Embassy in India is in New Delhi. Visit the official Government of Canada website for a list of up-to-date phone numbers and addresses.

The official currency in India is the Indian Rupee (RS). Travellers will be able to exchange currency at Indian banks, ATMs or at an exchange kiosk at the airport before or after arrival. During your trip, it’s a best practice to only carry a small amount of cash due to potential crimes that may happen in the country.

You will be able to use your credit and debit cards as normal, but smaller vendors and markets may not accept them as a form of payment.

While the exchange rate can shift on a day-to-day basis, the average conversion is $1 CAD to $61 RS.

While there is no national language in India, Hindi is the official language of the central government of India with English listed as a sub-language and commonly spoken as well. Because India adopts official languages at the state level, there are also many languages and dialects spoken throughout India, such as Bengali, Marathi, Tamil and more.

You’ll find English speakers in larger cities across India, but depending on your travel plans, we suggest learning common Hindi sayings and phrases, as well as downloading a translator app that works offline, to ensure the best communication for your trip.

India’s international dial code is +91 for placing incoming calls and +00 for outgoing calls from the country. When placing international calls, be sure to check with your phone company to avoid unexpected fees and charges and remember connecting to a landline is often less costly than a cell phone.

Visitors travelling to India will not be able to use their electronics as normal because India uses a higher voltage than Canada. You will need a power transformer and a universal adaptor to ensure you are able to charge and use your devices without interruption.

Banned medications include Amidopyrine, various vitamin combinations, Penicillin skin/eye Ointment, Tetracycline Liquid Oral preparation and a variety of other medications. For a complete list of banned medications, visit the official Department of Drug Control website for India.

Yes. Both visas and passports are required for your trip to India though different rules may apply depending on the type of passport you have. For example, travellers with an “X” identification on their passport may face discrimination and can be denied entry to the country. Additionally, travellers can only stay for 180 days on a tourist visa. Be sure you apply for the correct visa by visiting the official visa website for travel to India.

Weather in India tends to be very warm, though different areas of the country can experience a slightly diverse range of seasons. If travelling to Northern India, you may experience some colder weather, but for the most part heat is more than likely to welcome you on your travels.

Though the country’s monsoon season is between June and December, there are plenty of festivals and events worth attending if you decide to visit during this time. You may wish to consider a travel insurance plan to cover flight cancellations and delays in case of inclement weather.

The best time of year to visit India depends on the types of festivities you’re hoping to see. If you’re hoping to experience the culture of India, there are a number of festivals to plan your trip around. Some of these include the Pushkar Camel Fair which takes place in November or the Jaisalmer Desert Festival which takes place in February. If you’re hoping for a first-person experience of Indian celebrations, the Sunburn Goa music festival in December or the Baghmora Winter Carnival may be the fun you’re hoping to find in India.

There are a few documents required for travel to India with children in order to receive a visa. You’ll need a Minor Consent form, birth certificate and copies of both parent’s birth certificates. For single parents, you will need a child custody order from the courts or death certification. For more information visit the official Canadian government website. 

India can be a great vacation spot for seniors as there is a variety of different activities, cultures and climates to explore throughout the country. 

Always check with your doctor before travelling if you are pregnant. While you can travel to India up to week 35 of pregnancy, travel insurance may only provide coverage for complications that occur in the first 31 weeks of pregnancy. Also, it is not recommended to visit countries where Malaria is present for the entirety of your pregnancy.

The most popular way to travel India is by train, though you’ll want to research the rail system before your visit since the prices and comfort levels vary per train.

A local SIM card may be necessary for cellular use in India if you don’t have access to global roaming or do not want to pay the fees that come along with it.