Independent Travel

Hi All
My wife and I plan on traveling through India in the near future. Using trains and public busses.Has any one any advice.ie. How easy is it to get safe clean accommodation. Places you must visit. How much money to allow per week. Best guide books.
Our previous experience in India, Nepal and Pakistan etc.is trekking with K.E Adventure travel where everything is arranged for you. So I guess we are a bit green on independent travel in far off places. ps we are in our 60s.

I would be grateful on any feedback.

John and Donna Kelsall

I don't know how you can reach the border between Iran and Pakistan and cross the last one but it's not difficult to reach Iran, overland from UK except you can't be there on your own. You must use a guide or a travel agency.
You have some posts dedicated to independent travellers in Iran when you are British. Check on this forum.

Michel

You have more than one road to the border with Iran.
It's a question of choice.

Michel

@mvbergen - I can't help thinking your two posts belong somewhere else. Iran? Pakistan? Not mentioned by the OP in his question. If you agree perhaps you can delete them both as distractions.

@johnkelsall4293368

My wife and I plan on traveling through India in the near future.

When, exactly? If the near future means April and May it will be blisteringly hot on the northern plains. If the near future means June-October, it will be monsoon time. And how long do you plan to travel for?

Using trains and public busses.

Trains are fine - buses are really the option of last resort.

Has any one any advice.ie. How easy is it to get safe clean accommodation.

Well, you need to define clean. Even in mid-range hotels, the sheets and the towels are not going to be as clean as yours. They will have been laundered, but you should really expect grey instead of white; and stains aren't uncommon.

Has any one any advice. Places you must visit.

That entirely depends on your interests, and the time available.

The question always is, what are you interested in? What do you want to see, do, and experience on your trip? Because that determines where you go. Forts and Palaces? Temples and Monasteries? Ancient Ruins? Big cities? Shopping? Beaches? Hill Stations? Boat Cruises? Art and Craft? Mountains and Trekking? Wildlife Safaris?

Hampi https://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/karnataka/hampi

Agra / Taj Mahal https://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/uttar-pradesh/agra

Kerala backwaters https://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/kerala/alappuzha-alleppey

The Golden Temple of Amritsar https://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/punjab-and-haryana/amritsar

Delhi https://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/delhi

Jaisalmer https://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/rajasthan/jaisalmer

Varanasi https://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/uttar-pradesh/varanasi

Ajanta Caves https://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/maharashtra/ajanta

Mumbai https://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/mumbai-bombay

Khajuraho https://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/madhya-pradesh-and-chhattisgarh/khajuraho

Gompas of Pelling https://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/sikkim/pelling

Has any one any advice. How much money to allow per week.

Famously you can probably still get around India on $200 a week. I wouldn't, but it can be done.

Has any one any advice. Best guide books.

LonelyPlanet of course.
https://shop.lonelyplanet.com/categories/india

It is certainly possible to arrange your travel via bus and train. Be aware that due to the popularity of train travel in India, you have to book your train travel as far in advance as possible. Many posters on this forum suggest at least 2 months in advance, more if possible. Also, booking in advance requires a somewhat confusing and complicated (at least for some) process to set up an account to pay online. Take a look at this link Seat61-How to book trains in India for instruction on how to set it all up. Many people say they tried multiple times and it never worked. Others say it work the first time. I haven't done it myself.

It is also fairly easy to fine safe, clean accommodation. Many people just show up somewhere and look around to find a room. Others prefer to book ahead rather than spend time searching in the heat and humidity. I have done both successfully. Both methods work best if you have done a little research either online or from a guide book.

As to an itinerary, it is best if first you look at a guide book (Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, etc.) or online site (This LP site, Trip Advisor) to at least get a general idea of places that interests you both, decide on a daily budget (especially for accommodations), make a list of what comforts are a must for accommodation (air-con, private bathroom, pool). Then come back to this forum and ask more detailed questions. In your post, state all that you decided for the previous issues, a little about your likes/dislikes (eg: we love historic temples/hate big cities). If you want to hike, state your fitness/endurance level. The more information you give the better responses you will get.

Sorry.
You have more than one roadto reach Iran from UK.
It can be Central and Eastern Europe before Turkey or by the Balkans too.
It's "impossible" to bypass Turkey but OP can reach the border with Iran from Turkey or choose to pass through Georgia and Armenia or even Georgia and Azerbaijan.
It will be by a mix of buses and trains.
As I'm Belgian and I was in Iran on my own, I'm not able to help for this part of the trip.
I can't say nothing about Pakistan.

Michel

As an older, healthy person traveling solo, my experience in northern India was positive. The Indian people I met respected age far more than in the US, seats became available when there none, doors were opened when your hands were full, etc. etc. Life Support's advice on clean and safe is very accurate. I traveled with a single cotton sheet either to use on top of me or under me when sleeping. The AC 2nd or 3rd class trains was fine for me.

You have more than one roadto reach Iran from UK.

Michel,

Please read the OP again:

My wife and I plan on traveling through India in the near future.

Sorry because OP posted also on the UK branch.
I was thinking it was a trip from UK.
English is not my mother tongue.

Michel

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