Traveling thru india with vague plans, good or bad idea?

Carlee

Hi all,

I'm a 25 year old female wishing to travel through India in November this year for at least 6 weeks starting in Delhi. I'm a first time traveler and will be traveling alone.

I was looking at joing a tour group for when I first arrive to help me land on my feet, then on my own or with new found friends I want to explore at my own pace with no set times or bookings for anything, just to see and do where the wind takes me. Obviously there are certain places I wish to go but on no certain time scheudle.

Has anyone experienced traveling in this fashion before, how did you find it? Many difficuilities with accomodation?

PeakXV

Welcome to IndiaMike Carlee. I'm sure there will be some Female IM'ers along soon to offer you sage advice for your particular Indian travel style & experience.

I, personally think too much planning on itineraries takes a little(alot ) of the magic out of it all ..... and "winging it" adds the most excitement & drama to your adventure.

And today with websites like IndiaMike you can/could easily familiarize(& take good notes) yourself on three or four routes of interest that you might(or might not) tackle upon arrival ..... and then choose one depending on which way the wind is blowing and your interest de jour.

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We shall not cease from exploration and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started ...and know the place for the first time.
T.S. Eliot

Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

SitaParityaga

Dear Carlee,

Had to answer your question from my own perspective. My first trip to India was at your age, grl traveler alone. My first trip outside the US.

OK..first things first. Pick a hotel within your budget in Delhi. Most of them will gladly pick you up from the airport for a small fee.

Beginning of December will likely not be a problem for hotel reservations. As the end of Dec holidays approach, you may have difficulties with reservations in major tourist areas for some hotels.

Where are you planning to go?

Carlee

I'd love to visit Delhi, Kolkata, Agra (gotta see the Taj Mahal),Varanasi, Udaipur and If I make it South Mysore Mumbai and Goa. I definatly want to go on a scenic train ride, elephant ride and see some nature and wildlife.

To be honest there seems to be so many places worth going and so many options of ways to get there that i'm really dumbfounded as how to plan my trip.

All I know is that I will land in Delhi and thats about it!

ananda2193

Agree with PeakXV. I always wing it when I travel. Deciding your whole itinerary beforehand takes the adventure and spontanaity out of it. Hopefully you'll meet other travelers and you'll hook up with them and your previous plans will change.
I usually make a rough plan but never set it in stone.

rangers

Thats way to travel India carlee.

Just do it on your own.

miles of smiles

sanjay

www.beachrangers.multiply.com

machadinha

If anything (and keep asking and answering! ) hopefully this board will offer some inspiration, so browse around. Have you checked the India For Beginners sub-forum yet?

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Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

Darmabum

in stone and in sand . . . they've both worked for me . . . as long as I've left myself open to possibilities.

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Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure - Marianne Williamson