Featured · International
Planning your first family trip to Dubai
Your first family trip to Dubai: how many nights you need, the best months, visas for Indian travellers, and which experiences suit children.
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Notes from our travel desk
Practical guides written by the people who plan these trips every week. Read before you book, or before you pack.
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35 guides to plan your trip
International
Planning your first family trip to Dubai
Your first family trip to Dubai: how many nights you need, the best months, visas for Indian travellers, and which experiences suit children.
International
Dubai desert safari and dhow cruise: what to expect
What happens on a Dubai desert safari with BBQ dinner and a dhow cruise: timings, what is included, who should skip dune bashing, and what to wear.
International
Singapore and Malaysia in one trip
Plan Singapore and Kuala Lumpur together: how to split the nights, road or air between the two, Sentosa and Genting, and visas for Indian travellers.
International
Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand in 9 days
Three countries in one holiday: how our 8-night Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Thailand tours are routed, Phuket versus Pattaya, and what to know first.
International
Choosing a Maldives resort: seaplane, speedboat or local island
How transfers change a Maldives holiday: seaplane versus speedboat resorts, local islands, arrival times, meal plans and the best time to go.
India
Kashmir by season: what each month is like
Tulips in spring, green meadows in summer, gold in autumn and snow in winter: how to choose your month for Kashmir and what changes in the itinerary.
India
Srinagar, Gulmarg and Pahalgam: how to plan 5 days
A practical 5-day Kashmir plan: Srinagar sightseeing, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and where to stay each night, with the drive times from our own itineraries.
India
Gulmarg, Pahalgam or Sonmarg: which to choose
Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonmarg compared: what each is best for, how far they are from Srinagar and whether to stay overnight or visit on a day trip.
India
Leh Ladakh for first-timers: acclimatisation and planning
Planning a first Leh Ladakh trip: why the first day is for rest, how to acclimatise safely, when to go and how many days you need.
India
Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake: how to route your Ladakh trip
How to plan Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake from Leh: distances and drive times, whether to stay overnight, and the order we recommend.
India
Shimla and Manali in one trip: a first-timer's plan
How to plan Shimla and Manali together: how many days, drive times, Kufri, Solang Valley and Rohtang, and when each season suits you.
India
Manali by overnight Volvo from Delhi: what to expect
Travelling Delhi to Manali by overnight Volvo bus: how long it takes, how to sleep, what to carry and how our Volvo packages are arranged.
India
Amritsar, Dalhousie and Dharamshala: a 6-day circuit
Plan Amritsar, Dalhousie and Dharamshala together: Golden Temple and Wagah Border, Khajjiar, McLeod Ganj, and how many days to allow.
Pilgrimage
Char Dham Yatra: how to plan the route and days
Plan the Char Dham Yatra: the traditional order (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath), days from Haridwar or Delhi, drive times and the season.
Pilgrimage
Char Dham Yatra: registration, fitness and packing list
Before the Char Dham Yatra: registration with the Uttarakhand government, getting fit for the treks, medical advice and a practical packing list.
Pilgrimage
Reaching Kedarnath: trek, pony, palki or helicopter
The ways to reach Kedarnath temple: the trek from Gaurikund, ponies, palkis and helicopter services, with tips on timing and booking.
Pilgrimage
Do Dham Yatra: Kedarnath and Badrinath in 5 or 6 days
The Do Dham Yatra to Kedarnath and Badrinath from Haridwar: the 5-day and 6-day routes, drive times, Mana village and who it suits.
Pilgrimage
Amarnath Yatra: Baltal route or Pahalgam route?
Choosing between the Baltal and Pahalgam routes to the Amarnath cave: distances, days, difficulty, registration and the health certificate.
Pilgrimage
Amarnath Yatra by helicopter: how it works
How the Amarnath helicopter yatra works: from Neelgrath (Baltal) to Panchtarni, the walk to the cave, timing, weather and our 2- and 3-night packages.
Pilgrimage
Adding Mata Vaishno Devi to a Kashmir trip
How to combine Mata Vaishno Devi with Kashmir: the drive from Srinagar to Katra, the trek from Katra, yatra registration and ending at Jammu.
India
Kerala for first-timers: Munnar, Thekkady and a houseboat
A first Kerala trip: the classic Cochin, Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey route, the drive times, how many nights to give each stop and when to go.
India
An Alleppey houseboat night: what to expect
What an Alleppey (Alappuzha) houseboat stay includes: check-in and check-out times, meals, rooms, day cruise versus overnight, and tips for families.
India
Mysore with Ooty, Coorg or Wayanad: which to choose
Planning a South India hill trip from Bangalore: Mysore with Ooty, Coorg, Kodaikanal or Wayanad compared, with the route and nights for each.
India
Darjeeling and Gangtok: planning your first trip
Plan Darjeeling and Gangtok together: arriving via Bagdogra or New Jalpaiguri, Tiger Hill sunrise, the toy train, Tsomgo Lake and how many nights you need.
India
North Sikkim: Lachung, Yumthang and Gurudongmar Lake
What to know before visiting North Sikkim: Lachung and Lachen, Yumthang Valley and Gurudongmar Lake, permits, altitude and the best season.
India
Nainital and Jim Corbett: a hills-and-safari trip from Delhi
Plan Nainital and Jim Corbett together from Delhi: drive times, the lake tour, jeep safari tips, and adding Ranikhet, Kausani or Almora.
India
Haridwar, Rishikesh and Mussoorie in a long weekend
A short Uttarakhand trip from Delhi: the Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri, Rishikesh's ashrams and bridges, and Mussoorie's hill views in 3–4 days.
India
North Goa or South Goa: where to stay
North Goa and South Goa compared: beaches, nightlife, pace and families, plus Old Goa, Panaji, Dudhsagar and the best time to go.
Booking tips
How the 35% advance and balance payment work
What the 35% advance secures, when the balance is due, why flight and train tickets are paid in full, and how to pay Holiday Guru Travel safely.
Booking tips
Travel insurance: what to check before you buy
A travel insurance checklist: medical cover and evacuation, trip cancellation, baggage and delays, adventure activities and pre-existing conditions.
Booking tips
How to customise a holiday package
Our packages are a starting point: how to change hotels, add or drop nights, adjust sightseeing and plan for senior citizens or children.
Booking tips
Inclusions and exclusions: reading a package quote
How to read a holiday package quote: what inclusions and exclusions usually mean, GST, extra-person charges, local transport and entry tickets.
Booking tips
Where to travel in India, month by month
A month-by-month guide to where to travel in India: snow, hills, beaches, backwaters, Ladakh and the pilgrimage seasons.
Booking tips
Your first trip abroad: a document checklist
Before your first international holiday: passport validity, visas, forex and cards, insurance, mobile roaming and copies of your documents.
Booking tips
Planning a holiday with senior citizens
How to plan a comfortable trip for parents and grandparents: shorter drives, hotel choices, pilgrimages with ponies or helicopters, and health tips.
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