Everything You Need to Know Before You Travel With Us

Tusk Travel Pvt. Ltd. is a New Delhi-based travel company planning private and tailor-made journeys across India and other destinations in Asia. Our team coordinates routes, hotels, private transport, guides and travel experiences, with support before arrival and during the journey.

You can learn more on our About Tusk Travel and Our Team pages.

Most Tusk Travel itineraries are private and tailor-made. You travel with arrangements organised for your party rather than following a fixed large-group schedule. This makes it easier to choose your hotel style, sightseeing pace, route, arrival city, departure city and experiences.

Yes. A published itinerary can be used as a starting point, or we can build your trip around your dates, budget, hotel preference, interests and preferred pace. Extra nights, slower travel days, domestic flights, trains, wildlife safaris, beach stays, cultural experiences and neighbouring countries can be added when practical.

Yes. Many guests use a private tour because India can involve long distances, different transport options and a large choice of regions. For a first visit, we normally suggest a balanced route with manageable travel times, reliable hotels, guided sightseeing and enough free time.

See our First-Time India tours for route ideas.

Yes. Multi-country planning is one of the ways we can customise a longer Asia journey. Depending on your dates and flight connections, India can be combined with destinations such as Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Maldives and other Asian countries.

Browse our Multi-Country Tours for examples.

It depends on the route. Around 7 to 10 days can work well for one main circuit such as the Golden Triangle or a focused regional trip. For Rajasthan, Kerala, Varanasi, wildlife, South India or a combination of regions, 12 to 16 days usually allows a more comfortable pace. Longer journeys can combine several regions or countries.

The exact inclusions depend on your confirmed itinerary. A private tour can include hotel accommodation, breakfast and specified meals, airport transfers, a private air-conditioned vehicle with driver, local guides, sightseeing, domestic flights or trains, entrance fees, safaris and activities when they are specifically listed.

Your final proposal is the reference for what is and is not included.

Unless specifically stated in your itinerary, common exclusions can include:

• International airfare.
• Visa fees and travel insurance.
• Meals, entrance fees, permits or guides not listed as included.
• Personal expenses, tips and medical or emergency costs.
• Extra costs created by weather, cancellations, road closures or other circumstances beyond the confirmed services.

We can plan with comfortable standard hotels, boutique properties, heritage stays, palace hotels, resorts and luxury hotels, depending on the destination and your budget. Tell us what matters most to you, such as location, room comfort, character, accessibility, swimming pool or a particular hotel brand.

Most private India itineraries include a dedicated air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver for the road sectors shown in the program. Vehicle size depends on the number of travellers, luggage and route. For very long distances, we may recommend a train or domestic flight instead of spending an entire day on the road.

Guides can be included for sightseeing in major cities, monuments and selected experiences. English-speaking guides are commonly arranged. Guides in languages such as Spanish, French, German or Italian may also be available in selected destinations, subject to availability.

Yes, domestic flights and train journeys can be included when they form part of the confirmed itinerary. Ticket availability, fare rules and baggage allowances are controlled by the relevant airline or rail service, so the exact details will be shown or shared with your booking.

Yes. Depending on the route, we can arrange wildlife safaris, boat rides, heritage walks, food experiences, cultural activities, yoga or wellness stays, village visits and other destination-based experiences. Safari permits and some special services are capacity-controlled, so early planning is recommended.

Yes. We can adjust daily driving time, hotel style, sightseeing pace, room arrangements and activity levels for families and senior travellers. Share mobility, dietary or comfort requirements before booking so we can design the route more realistically.

Send us your travel dates, number of travellers, destinations, preferred hotel level and interests. We will prepare or refine an itinerary and quotation. A booking contract takes effect when your travel services are confirmed and the required deposit has been received.

Our published payment policy currently requires a minimum deposit of 25% of the total tour cost at the time of booking to secure the reservation.

Certain peak-season trips, festival periods or special train journeys can require full payment at booking. Your booking confirmation will show the applicable requirement.

The remaining balance is normally due 15 days before the start of the services. For a booking made within 15 days of the start date, full payment is required at the time of booking.

International clients can pay by bank transfer or credit/debit card according to the payment instructions supplied with the booking. Bank remittance charges are borne by the payer, and payment gateway processing fees may apply to card transactions.

Tusk Travel employees or agents should not ask you to share CVV numbers, OTPs, passwords or net-banking credentials. You should not be asked to transfer money to a personal account or install remote-access software such as AnyDesk or TeamViewer. Use only payment instructions supplied through official Tusk Travel communication.

The current published FIT cancellation schedule is:

Peak seasons, festival dates, safaris, flights, luxury trains and other special services can have stricter or non-refundable rules. A minimum 10% service charge applies to cancellations under the published terms. Always review the booking-specific conditions before payment.

Under the published refund policy, eligible refunds may take approximately 2 to 6 weeks because of banking procedures. Bank charges may be deducted, and refund requests must be made in writing. Recoverability can also depend on the hotel, airline, safari or other service provider involved.

Prices are based on the rates and government charges available when the quotation is prepared. Changes to hotel or airline rates, government taxes, monument fees, fuel costs or guide charges can affect the final amount. We will explain any applicable change if it affects your booking.

Foreign nationals generally need valid travel documents to enter India. Our published terms state that foreign travellers should hold the required visa and a passport valid for at least six months, subject to nationality-specific rules and exemptions. Visa requirements can change, so always verify the latest rules through the official Indian visa service or the relevant Indian mission before travel.

International airfare is normally not included in our tour packages. We can help you plan the most practical arrival and departure cities for your itinerary so you know which international sectors to book. Domestic or regional flights can be included when specifically shown in your confirmed itinerary.

No. Travel insurance is not included in the tour cost. Our published terms recommend arranging your own insurance to cover matters such as medical emergencies, accident, theft, cancellation and other potential losses. Check that the policy is appropriate for the destinations and activities in your itinerary.

Identification requirements depend on traveller status and the services booked. Foreign nationals may need to provide passport and visa details for hotels, flights, trains, safari permits or other reservations. Please send documents only through the communication method requested by your travel consultant.

If airport assistance and transfer are included, your itinerary will state the meeting arrangements. We recommend sharing your final arrival flight details in advance so the local team can coordinate the scheduled pickup. Standard hotel check-in times generally fall between midday and mid-afternoon, with early check-in subject to availability.

A private itinerary can reduce many of the practical challenges of travelling independently. Planned transfers, selected hotels, private drivers, local guides and on-trip coordination can make the journey easier for first-time visitors, families and senior travellers. Tell us your comfort or mobility needs before the itinerary is finalised.

Yes. Our operations team coordinates with drivers, guides, hotels and local partners during the journey. You will receive relevant contact information before or around arrival so you know whom to contact for travel coordination and practical assistance.

Yes. Weather, road closures, flight disruption, government restrictions, local conditions or other events outside our control can require changes. When this happens, the team will help coordinate practical alternatives based on availability and the services affected.

The vehicle is provided for the services listed in the confirmed itinerary. Additional transfers, extended vehicle use or sightseeing outside the agreed program can involve extra charges and should be coordinated with the operations team rather than assumed to be included.

Vegetarian food is widely available in India, and many hotels can also assist with vegan and other dietary preferences. Please tell us in advance about allergies, medical dietary requirements or religious restrictions so we can pass the information to the relevant hotels and local team.

Modest clothing is advisable at temples, mosques, gurudwaras and other sacred places. Shoulders and knees may need to be covered, footwear is often removed, and some sites require a head covering. Your guide can advise you about the local practice before entry.

Refunds for unused services depend on the reason and on what can be recovered from the relevant providers. The published terms state that unused accommodation, transport, meals or other services are not automatically refundable when a tour is cancelled or interrupted mid-journey.

Yes. Domestic travellers can request private holidays and customised regional itineraries in the same way as overseas guests. Share your starting city, dates, number of travellers and preferred destinations, and we can plan around the transport and hotel arrangements you need.

Our published identification requirements currently state:

• Domestic clients: Driving Licence, Voter ID or Passport.
• NRI travellers: Passport.
• OCI/PIO travellers: Passport plus the relevant OCI/PIO card.

Some airlines, hotels, trains, permits or local authorities can have additional requirements.

Under the published Tusk Travel terms, wildlife safari bookings at national parks and sanctuaries are non-refundable, and a requested date change is treated as a cancellation. Because permits are limited, confirm names, dates and identification details carefully before booking.

Yes. The published group cancellation schedule is different from an individual FIT booking:

Yes. Luxury trains, helicopter services, some pilgrimage arrangements, group bookings and destinations such as Andaman & Nicobar or Lakshadweep can have their own payment, cancellation, permit or operational conditions. Those terms are shared according to the specific service being booked.

Please read our full Terms & Conditions before confirming a booking. The terms page contains the detailed rules for deposits, balances, cancellations, refunds, identification, extra vehicle usage, special services, liabilities and force majeure.