Private India Tours · Built for Australia
Private guided tours with AUD pricing, direct-flight advice, e-Visa help, and 24/7 support throughout your trip. TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice 2024–25.
Plan My India Trip | Build a Custom Itinerary
1,800+ trips completed · 98% client satisfaction · 15+ years operating · 🏆 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice 2024–25 📞 WhatsApp: +91 9990812499
Why Australian Travelers Choose India
India sits closer to Australia than almost any other Australians realise — a shorter flight than London, comparable to a long-haul hop to the US west coast — and it delivers a complete change of scenery that’s hard to match anywhere else in that flight radius.
The Taj Mahal at sunrise. A Bengal tiger emerging from the forest at dawn in Ranthambore. The Ganga Aarti fire ceremony at dusk on Varanasi’s ghats. Jaipur’s Amber Fort glowing gold in the early light. For Australians used to measuring “overseas” in Bali or Fiji terms, India is the trip that resets what a holiday abroad can be.
The challenge is logistics, not distance. India’s scale and pace can turn an ambitious trip into an exhausting one without the right planning. That’s where Squid Travel India comes in. We handle every element — pre-booked Taj Mahal tickets, Ranthambore safari permits, heritage hotel bookings, domestic transfers, and 24/7 on-trip support — so you can be fully present for the experience.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Flight, Melbourne to Delhi | ~11h direct (Air India) |
| Flight, Sydney to Delhi | ~11.5h direct/one-stop |
| India e-Visa for Australians | From ~$38 AUD |
| UNESCO sites in 7 days | 5 |
| $1 AUD buys (approx.) | ₹57 |
Most Popular India Tours for Australian Travelers
Every itinerary is private — your own vehicle, your own guide, your own pace. No shared coaches, no fixed timetables.
Classic Golden Triangle
7 to 10 Nights — Delhi → Agra → Jaipur → Delhi
India’s most famous circuit and the ideal first India trip. The Taj Mahal at sunrise, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Amber Fort, and Jaipur’s bazaars — three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, comfortably covered in a standard fortnight of leave.
From $780 AUD per person (ground package, excl. flights) Enquire About This Route
Golden Triangle + Ranthambore Tiger Safari
9 to 12 Nights — Delhi → Agra → Ranthambore → Jaipur → Delhi
The complete North India experience. Monuments plus a genuine chance of a wild Bengal tiger sighting — sighting rates run high through the dry season (November to April), which lines up well with Australian winter travel.
From $1,300 AUD per person (ground package, excl. flights) Enquire About This Route
Golden Triangle + Varanasi
10 to 12 Nights — Delhi → Agra → Jaipur → Varanasi
Adds India’s spiritual heart to the classic circuit. The Ganga Aarti fire ceremony at dusk and a dawn boat ride past the ghats are, for many Australians, the single most memorable two days of the whole trip.
From $1,450 AUD per person (ground package, excl. flights) Enquire About This Route
North India + Kerala Backwaters
14 to 16 Nights — Golden Triangle north, then houseboats and beaches south
For Australians taking genuine extended leave. Monuments and wildlife in the north, then a complete change of pace on Kerala’s backwaters and beaches in the south — two very different Indias in one trip, and a natural fit for a longer school-holiday break.
From $2,350 AUD per person (ground package, excl. flights) Enquire About This Route
Build Your Own Tour
Any Duration — Any cities, any pace, any level
Tell us your travel dates, group size, interests, and budget. We design your India itinerary from scratch and send you a full AUD cost breakdown within 24 hours. No obligation.
Free quote, no commitment Get Started
Everything Australian Travelers Need to Know Before Visiting India
Practical information written specifically for Australians — not generic advice that applies to anyone.
India e-Visa for Australian Citizens
Australian passport holders need a visa to enter India — there’s no visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry for ordinary Australian passports. Almost everyone can apply online through the official e-Visa portal, indianvisaonline.gov.in, with no need to visit a consulate.
| Visa Type | Cost (approx.) | Stay |
|---|---|---|
| 30-day e-Tourist Visa (double entry) | US$25 (~$38 AUD) | 30 days from arrival |
| 1-year e-Tourist Visa (multiple entry) | US$40 (~$61 AUD) | Up to 180 days per visit |
| 5-year e-Tourist Visa (multiple entry) | US$80 (~$122 AUD) | Up to 180 days per visit |
A processing fee of roughly 2.5% is added at payment, and the fee is non-refundable whether or not your application is approved. Apply a minimum of 4 days before arrival (and no more than 30 days out) — most approvals arrive within a few business days. Print your ETA and carry it with your passport; diplomatic/official passport holders and anyone with a current or former military, defence, or police background must apply for a regular visa through the High Commission instead.
A second, separate step most first-time travelers miss: since April 2026, every international visitor — Australians and OCI cardholders included — must also complete a mandatory digital arrival declaration (the e-Arrival Card) up to 72 hours before travel, at indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival/. This is not optional and not the same thing as the e-Visa. Airlines have already started denying boarding to passengers who can’t produce the QR code at check-in, so treat it with the same priority as your visa. It takes about 5 minutes.
Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date, with two blank visa pages.
Flights from Australia to India
Melbourne has the most convenient connection: Air India flies direct to Delhi in around 11 hours. Sydney also has direct and near-direct options running roughly 11.5 hours. From Perth, Brisbane, or other Australian cities, expect a connection through Singapore (adding 1–3 hours) or via the Gulf on Emirates, Qatar Airways, or Etihad (typically 15–18 hours total).
Return economy fares from Melbourne or Sydney generally run $1,400–$2,200 AUD depending on season and how far ahead you book. July school holidays and the December–January window both see higher demand — book 3–4 months out for the best fares.
Time Zone Adjustment
India Standard Time sits 4.5 hours behind AEST (Sydney/Melbourne) and 2.5 hours behind AEDT is not applicable since India doesn’t observe daylight saving, so the gap shifts slightly across the year — check the current offset close to your travel dates. The relatively short flight and modest time difference make this one of the easier long-haul adjustments for Australian travelers; still, we recommend a gentle first day rather than sightseeing straight off the plane.
DFAT Travel Advice
As of 2026, Smartraveller (DFAT) advises “Exercise a high degree of caution” for India overall, with specific “Do Not Travel” callouts for the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir (border districts), the India–Pakistan border area, and Manipur, plus “Exercise a high degree of caution” for parts of Northeast India. None of these appear in any of our standard itineraries. For the destinations covered above — Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Rajasthan, Kerala — this is a standard-caution posture broadly similar to the advice UK and Canadian authorities currently give for the same regions. Smartraveller also specifically flags the mandatory e-Arrival Card requirement covered above. We’d always recommend checking smartraveller.gov.au directly before you travel, since regional callouts are reviewed and updated regularly.
Currency and Money
India uses the Indian Rupee (INR). As of 2026, $1 AUD buys approximately ₹57. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted at hotels, quality restaurants, and larger shops in tourist areas; carry rupees for bazaars, auto-rickshaws, tips, and smaller vendors. A card with no international transaction fees (Wise, or one of the fee-free Australian travel cards) will save meaningfully over a standard debit card withdrawal abroad.
Health and Vaccinations
See your GP or a travel health clinic 4–6 weeks before departure. Hepatitis A and Typhoid are commonly recommended for India; confirm routine vaccinations are current. Malaria prophylaxis is not generally required for the standard Golden Triangle circuit — ask your clinic specifically if your itinerary extends into rural Rajasthan or forested wildlife areas. Drink only sealed bottled water throughout your trip, and carry basic rehydration salts.
Travel Insurance
Non-negotiable — Medicare provides no cover outside Australia. Choose a comprehensive policy that explicitly covers India, includes emergency medical evacuation, and lists any planned activities (jeep safaris, hot air balloon rides) by name. A good policy for a 10-to-16-night India trip is a small fraction of the total trip cost and genuinely important given the distance from home.
Best Time to Visit India from Australia
Matched to the Australian holiday calendar — winter school holidays, and the escape-the-heat window works in reverse for Australians compared to the Northern Hemisphere.
| Window | India Conditions | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| June–July (Winter School Holidays) | Monsoon in most of India, but hill stations and Ladakh are excellent | Good for the north — avoid the Golden Triangle plains, consider Himachal or Ladakh instead |
| September–October Holidays | Post-monsoon freshness, start of peak season | Very good — Dussehra and early Diwali season |
| December–January (Summer Holidays) | Peak season — cool, dry, sunny across North India | Excellent, and the most popular window for Australian travelers taking their main summer break |
| April–May | Extreme heat, 40°C+ in Agra and Jaipur | Not recommended for first-time visitors |
| February–March | Still within peak season, warming toward the end | Very good |
For the Golden Triangle specifically, October through March is the sweet spot — and December/January conveniently lines up with the long Australian summer break, making it the natural first-choice window for most Australian travelers.
What Every Squid Travel India Package Includes
Every tour is fully private. No shared coaches. No fixed timetables. No surprises.
- Private Transport — Your own air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced driver throughout. Never a shared coach or minibus.
- Pre-Booked Tickets — Taj Mahal tickets booked in advance so you never queue at the gate. Ranthambore safari permits secured months ahead.
- English-Speaking Expert Guides — Vetted, knowledgeable local guides at every destination, not a driver doubling as a guide.
- Hand-Picked Hotels — From comfortable 3-star through to Oberoi and Taj Group luxury, chosen for location and quality, never for commission.
- Airport & Station Transfers — Someone with a name board meets you on arrival, every time.
- 24/7 WhatsApp Support — Reachable throughout your trip from our New Delhi team, whatever the hour.
- Female Guides on Request — Arranged at any destination for solo or group female travelers.
- Free Cancellation — Up to 24 hours before departure.
What Does an India Trip Cost from Australia?
Honest AUD numbers — ground package only, based on two adults traveling together. International flights from Australia are excluded unless stated.
| Tier | Hotels | Per Person, 7 Nights | Per Person, 10 Nights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | 3-star | $530–$900 | $750–$1,300 |
| Standard | 4-star | $900–$1,500 | $1,300–$2,150 |
| Premium | Boutique / Heritage | $1,500–$2,700 | $2,150–$3,800 |
| Luxury | Oberoi / Taj Group | $3,000–$6,700 | $4,250–$9,000 |
All-in cost summary, 10 nights from Melbourne or Sydney (flights + ground package + extras):
| Travel Style | Total (per person) |
|---|---|
| Budget | ~$2,650 AUD |
| Standard | ~$3,600 AUD |
| Premium | ~$5,100 AUD |
| Luxury | ~$9,200 AUD |
For comparison, a 10-night Bali or Fiji package for two typically runs $2,000–$3,500 AUD per person — a standard-tier India trip costs somewhat more but delivers a fundamentally different, far more immersive kind of trip for a similar flight-time investment.
Monument entry (Taj Mahal ~$21 AUD, Amber Fort ~$16 AUD, and similar) typically adds $115–$160 AUD per person across a standard 7-night circuit.
How to Book Your India Trip with Us
- Tell Us Your Vision — Use our Make Your Own Tour form, email, or WhatsApp directly. Share your travel dates, group size, destinations of interest, and budget. We reply within 24 hours.
- Receive Your Custom Itinerary — A day-by-day plan built around your group, with hotel recommendations and a full AUD cost breakdown. No obligation at this stage.
- Refine and Confirm — We adjust based on your feedback — different hotels, added destinations, pace changes. A 20% deposit confirms your booking and secures hotels and permits.
- We Handle Everything — Taj Mahal tickets, Ranthambore permits, heritage hotel bookings, domestic flights, e-Visa and e-Arrival guidance — all pre-arranged before you fly.
- Travel with Full Support — Your driver meets you at Delhi arrivals with a name board. Your guide is at every monument. We’re on WhatsApp 24/7 throughout your trip.
Frequently Asked Questions from Australian Travelers
Do Australians need a visa for India?
Yes. Australian passport holders need an India e-Visa, applied for online at indianvisaonline.gov.in. The 30-day e-Tourist Visa costs around US$25 (~$38 AUD) and is typically processed within a few business days. Since April 2026, you must also separately complete the e-Arrival Card up to 72 hours before travel — a different step from the visa, and enforced at boarding.
How long is the flight from Australia to India?
Melbourne to Delhi runs approximately 11 hours direct on Air India. Sydney to Delhi is around 11.5 hours direct or one-stop. From Perth, Brisbane, or other cities, expect a connection through Singapore or the Gulf, typically bringing total travel time to 15–18 hours.
Is India safe for Australian tourists?
Yes, with the usual caveats for any major international destination. Smartraveller (DFAT) advises a high degree of caution nationwide, with specific “Do Not Travel” callouts for Jammu & Kashmir border districts, the Pakistan border area, and Manipur — none of which appear in any standard tourist itinerary. Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Rajasthan, and Kerala are all well-established, heavily visited destinations. The realistic risks for tourists are petty theft and scams rather than violent crime, and a reputable operator who pre-arranges transport and guides largely removes both.
What is the best time to visit India from Australia?
October through March is the best window for the Golden Triangle — cool, dry weather across North India. December and January line up neatly with the long Australian summer break and are the most popular months for Australian travelers. June–July (Australian winter school holidays) fall during India’s monsoon on the plains, so that window suits the Himalayas better than the classic circuit.
How much does an India trip cost from Australia?
A standard 10-night Golden Triangle trip runs approximately $3,600 AUD per person all-in (flights, hotels, private guided touring, entries). Budget options start around $2,650 AUD. Luxury with Oberoi or Taj Group properties runs $9,000 AUD+ per person. We provide a full AUD breakdown with every quote.
Can I see a tiger on safari in India? Yes — sighting rates at Ranthambore National Park, three hours from Jaipur, run high through the dry season (November to April). We handle all safari permit bookings months in advance, since popular dates sell out.
Do you offer group tours for Australians?
No — every tour is entirely private. Your own vehicle, your own guide, your own pace, with no fixed itinerary shared with strangers. This is typically more flexible and better value than a group coach tour for couples, families, and groups of three or more traveling together.
What’s included in your India tour packages?
Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver, English-speaking local guides at every city, pre-booked monument tickets, hand-picked hotels, airport and station transfers, safari permit bookings where relevant, daily breakfast, and 24/7 WhatsApp support. International flights and travel insurance are arranged separately.
Can you help with the India e-Visa and e-Arrival Card?
Yes — we provide free guidance for Australian travelers on both: which portal to use, what documents you need, and how the two steps differ. Apply at indianvisaonline.gov.in, the official government portal — we never charge for this advice.
Ready to Plan Your India Trip?
Tell us your travel dates, group size, and what matters most to you. We’ll design your perfect India itinerary and send a full AUD quote within 24 hours.
📞 WhatsApp: +91 9990812499 📧 Squidtravelindia@gmail.com 🌐 squidtravelindia.com 🏆 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice 2024–25
© 2026 Squid Travel India · 1,800+ trips completed · 98% client satisfaction All prices are estimates based on 2026 rates. Tour inclusions and costs confirmed at time of booking.
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