Preparing Details: 

Passport/Visa Requirements: Canadian citizens require a valid passport for travel to India. Ensure the expiry date is more than six months from date of departure. Visitors cannot enter India without a current tourist visa, obtained online prior to travel. Detailed instructions are given closer to application time frame. 

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Travel Health Insurance: It is mandatory for participants to have travel health insurance prior to departure. Ensure your policy either covers mountain biking or purchase extra coverage for extreme sports. No vaccinations are required to enter India (including Covid-19). 

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Baggage/Trip Cancellation Insurance: is an optional insurance purchased within 48 hours of flight booking. Alternatively consider purchasing flights with a credit card that includes trip cancellation insurance.

 

Currency: Indian currency is the rupee with the exchange rate approximately Rs 60 to CAD. We suggest changing some cash at the airport Currency Exchange kiosk in arrivals hall on arrival ($200). ATMS are available but don't always work. Ensure your PIN is 4 digits. Hotels and guest houses also offer currency exchange at a good rate. Another option is to obtain rupees from a bank before departure. Maximum RS to bring into Indian is 25,000 (about $400 CAD). Credit cards are handy to have for emergencies. 

 

Safeguarding Valuables: Transport valuable documents and currency in a light cotton waist-style money belt under the clothes. It can be locked in luggage in guest house rooms. Safes are not available. Make a copy of all important documents and keep in separate place from money belt, such as daypack or purse.

 

Staying Healthy: Bring all current medications in original bottles plus extra prescriptions for important ones you cannot do without. If you carry a syringe (for diabetes or allergies) have a letter from your doctor to avoid problems at customs. Ensure you are healthy before your trip, that your teeth are in good repair and you have an extra pair of glasses if you wear them. A small medical kit is essential and can be shared between roommates (see the What to Bring section).

 

Immunizations: At this time, no vaccines are mandatory to enter India and stay at our accommodations. If you choose to consult a travel clinic, make an appointment 6 weeks prior to travel. 

 

Other Health Concerns:    

Insect Bites: There are mosquitoes, although they are not prevalent enough to require bed needs. However, prevention is always a good thing. Dawn and dusk are the active times. Consider a bug repellent spray for ankles around dusk, or rubber insect repellent wrist bands (child-safe ones are non-toxic) that can be worn or placed beside beds. Carry treatments for bites and infections, resist the urge to scratch insect bites to avoid infection.      

Dehli Belly: Simple traveller's diarrhea is a common complaint among travellers worldwide. Any upset in routine, food choices and bowel habits can cause a bout as well as extra spicy food. Keeping hands clean, choosing freshly cooked food, eat yogurt (curd), and probiotics are all recommended practices. Number one preventative is frequent hand washing and avoid drinking local tap water, including ice cubes. Bottled water is widely available and filtered water is available at our accommodations. We enjoy delicious home-cooked food at our arrival guest house and cleanly prepared meals at our hotels. Keep well hydrated.

Climate: October-March is the less humid season up in the hills of the Western Ghats. Days hover around 26 degrees C and the nights can plummet to 22 degrees C! With the global weather changing, it could be around 32C during the days. In the tropical lowlands, it will likely be around 30-32C. You'll feel very comfortable in short sleeves and light pants.

Respectful Travel: Modest behaviour and dress for women in the norm in India. As we are guests in a relatively conservative country, our dress signals a respect for local culture. For women this means wearing tops that reach the hips such as an Indian tunic over pants or a skirt. Men have less restrictions, most local men wear trousers and dress shirts. For biking attire, women will get less unwanted attention with baggy mountain-bike shorts (as opposed to road bike tights) and bike jerseys with long or short sleeves. 

 

                                                                               What to Bring

Necessities:

suitcase/backpack-consider the airline weight restrictions

money belt-cotton, light, waist-style

change purse-for the day's need of money

daypack/bag-small one for daily trips 

earplugs-indispensable! India can be loud

eye shades-for plane ride

water bottle-bring empty and fill up in departure lounge. Avoids using many plastic bottles.

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Clothing

4 undies-quick dry, we will be able to do daily hand washing.

2 bras-your most comfy

1 pair socks

1 pair sandals/walking shoes-ensure you can walk in them for 4 hrs per day without pain.

1 pair flip flops for short trips and around town

1 sun hat

sleepwear-summerweight 

2 pairs pants-loose comfortable, capris are acceptable.

3 long shirts-short or long sleeves, hip length or longer tunic style

1 sweater/hoodie/fleece for plane

tank and tights for yoga 

1 pair compression socks for DVT prevention on the flight

 

Toiletries

toothbrush/paste/floss-manual brush as sometimes no outlet for electric toothbrushes

deodorant

travel size travel wipes/moist towelettes-individually wrapped (Wet Ones) 

hand sanitizer

lip balm

shampoo/conditioner-2 in 1 are great, small containers

moisturizer-for the plane

insect repellent

feminine hygiene products

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Medical Kit  Consider splitting the kit with your roommate.

regular medications

Gravol or Gravol ginger-if you get motion sick in vehicles

Tylenol/Ibuprofen

eyeglasses/sunglasses-bring an extra pair of prescription specs and a hard case

contact lens gear-if you wear them, bring all the solutions

moleskin/molefoam/bandaids-for blisters or rough spots on feet

alcohol prep pads, tensor, dressings, polysporin in case of biking spill

sunscreen-SPF 35 or more

masks-cloth or medical style for plane if you wear

chamois buttr or similar anti-chafing product

Emergen-C or similar vitamin powder-to keep strong immunity

Electrolyte powder-for your water bottle

Energy bars-for that mid-ride boost

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Miscellaneous

luggage lock

phone/camera-bring charger, adapter for plugs

flashlight or headlamp-small one

journal-write down your thoughts

12 foot length of string or laundry line/pegs

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Bike Gear

helmet (MBK also has)

Hydration pack such as Platypus or Camelbak

water bottle

elbow/knee pads

glasses

gloves

riding shoes

2 pairs mountain bike shorts

chamois liners if not in shorts

1 pair light socks

3-4 riding jerseys-bring separate arm sleeves if shirts are short-sleeved. The sun is HOT!

buff to protect neck from sun

Check out mountainbikekerala.com/kerala-singletrack for advice on what equipment to bring if bringing own bike.

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