Frequently Asked Questions

As a cultural agency, we like to be always in the process of discovering more about India. Adding to our vast pool of knowledge, is four decades of expertise in travel curation, and an illustrious portfolio of collaborations with partners from across the globe. Our network of six offices stretch across India. Besides this, our team of pathfinders are drawn from diverse walks of life and bring the local dexterity required to navigate this country of multiple realities.

We believe that travel is not only about the place, but also about the traveller. Keeping India’s culture at the heart of our journeys, we craft and curate holistic tailor-made experiences that follow the pace of your liking. Every site, every destination has many stories to tell, and as a cultural agency, we help you in listening to not only to the ones that are most confound, but also to the one which are frail and easily lost in the bustle of India.

India is a country of multiple realities, and often a challenging terrain for the traveller. With our local insight and understanding of India, we curate unique journeys with the traveller at heart that muddles the lake, stirring up experiences that are often cascaded by the standardization that modernity has brought upon us.

We lay emphasis on the detailing of our process that is customised to the T. We are experts in curating holistic experiences, which always includes guides and experts who are brimming with local insight. All types of domestic transfers via air, rail, road and waterways are included in the itinerary and their bookings are taken care of by us, so you can simply tell us your preferences and experience your journey fully, without having to worry about anything else.

Kamalan currently does not book inbound to or outbound flights from India, and travelers have to fly at their own cost.

Where you stay is crucial to your experience of a destination. Our process of crafting takes your preferences into account and, our experts suggest hotels and experiences that match best with your interests. You can choose the hotel of your liking from an exhaustive list of hotels; however, bookings will have to be made only through us.

We have Special Edition Journeys that have a limited number of bookings and are scheduled journeys with artists or experts who accompany or lead the journey to share their creative vision of India. Special Edition Journeys may be across destinations and may last for more than a week to ten days, depending on various factors. You may buy tickets to upcoming Special Edition journeys from the Special Edition category on our menu.

If you are a group or community who would like to take a journey to India, we can craft a group journey with your specific interests in mind.

Our process of crafting bespoke journeys involves a great deal of detailing which requires a sustained conversation with the traveler via email or over phone. Depending on the specific requirements and promptness of communication with the traveller, crafting a journey may take anywhere between six to twelve weeks.

Once we receive your requirements, we inform you about the feasibility of your journey and recommend the best time to travel. You will be required to make a token payment of 25% of the whole amount at the time of booking, and the remaining 75% within 45 days before commencement. If you book a journey that is to commence in less than 45 days, you are required to make the full payment at the timing of booking.

The cost of your journey is directly dependent on its duration, places to be visited, number of people and selection of experiences, amongst various other factors. All of this may add up to a total of 2500 dollars per couple for a week on average.

We accept payments through wire transfer and most major credit cards.

During the process of crafting, we send a price proposal to our travelers. This proposal has an approximation of the cost that is to be incurred during travel and may increase or decrease depending on specific alterations if and as requested. At a later stage, you’d be requested to handpick experiences which will have an indicative price, so you’d be better equipped to understand the price breakdown of your journey.

On the incidence of cancellation, travelers may have to incur costs depending on factors like proximity to day of commencement, and the type of bookings made. In some case, refunds may be made as well. In most cases, 75% of the total cost is refunded if the cancellation happens 45 days prior to the day of commencement. Between 45 to 21 days, 50% of the cost is refunded. If a journey is cancelled less than 21 days prior to the day of arrival, unfortunately, we will not be able to make a refund.

We do not provide travel insurance, although we would be happy to offer suggestions regardingt the same when you travel with us.

You do not require an entry visa to travel to India. However, you are required to get a tourist visa.

The list of countries which require tourist visa can be found on - https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html

Kamalan is a registered cultural agency, certified by the government of India.

We, along with you, are always looking for more places that can be explored in this vast country and we’d be more than pleased to craft a less-taken journey only for you.

After you show interest in a journey, a designated pathfinder will reach out and register you as a traveler by giving you access to your Kamalan account. The Pathfinder might ask you for more details, and with the help of an expert research team, send you a journey idea with a price proposal. You may offer your feedback directly to the pathfinder or select experiences of your liking on your Kamalan account, after which, you would be required to make a token payment to us. A detailed price proposal and day-to-day itinerary of your journey will follow soon after.

For more details, visit our Process Page on the menu.

Kamalan provides the traveller with an immense cultural experience and the whole journey will be crafted by us, keeping your interests and concerns in mind. Booking only transportation with us, however, would not be possible.

We at Kamalan believe that a journey has context and is enriched with deeper insight when guided by a local person. We have expert guides for all our stops and destinations who would be glad to accompany you to sites. Our guides love to share their observations and keep things open to interpretation, which helps in developing a whole new perspective to travel.

Since crafting/planning a journey requires time and effort, no refund would be available if the trip is cancelled half-way. However, credit vouchers will be made available for the next journey you might plan with us.

Kamalan does not provide health or travel insurance for the traveller. However, the drivers who accompany the travellers are insured.