Travelling to India for the first time? This guide covers the practical things, visas, flights, where to stay and eat, renting an outfit, and what to see while you’re here. Specific recommendations and booking links will be added as we confirm them.
Most visitors need a visa to enter India. The simplest option for tourists is the e-Visa, applied for online before you travel at the official portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in). You’ll also need to complete an Arrival Card, which must be filed within 48 hours before you land. Apply for your visa at least 1–2 weeks ahead. Your passport should be valid for at least six months from your date of arrival and have two blank pages. Always check the current visa requirements for your nationality.
It’s worth checking with your doctor or a travel clinic which vaccinations or health precautions are recommended for India, and getting any shots you need. These don’t have to be close to your travel dates, so book them in whenever suits you best.
Jaipur’s airport (JAI) has limited direct international routes, so most guests fly into Delhi (DEL) or Mumbai (BOM) and take a short domestic connection to Jaipur. Carriers serving India include Air India, IndiGo and Vistara domestically, and Emirates, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, British Airways and Air France internationally. Delhi to Jaipur is also an easy 4–5 hour drive or train if you prefer to land once.
For guests coming from Paris, we’d recommend Emirates via Dubai to Jaipur (JAI), around 13 hours in total including the layover. Another option is Air France from CDG to Jaipur, usually with a layover (often via Amsterdam and Delhi), roughly 15–20 hours all in. You can also fly Paris to Delhi direct and take a taxi the rest of the way: it’s about 300 km, roughly a 4–5 hour drive.
Jaipur has everything from heritage palace hotels to boutique guesthouses. Convenient areas include Civil Lines and C-Scheme (central, leafy), and around Amer for views and heritage stays. We’ll share a shortlist with group rates , in the meantime, booking early for February is wise as it’s peak season.
You don’t need to buy traditional wear, renting is easy and popular. Jaipur and Delhi have many shops and online services renting sarees, lehengas, sherwanis and kurtas, often with delivery to your hotel and help with draping. If you’d like to buy, Jaipur is famous for block-printed and bandhani fabrics.
Direct booking links will be confirmed closer to the date, ask us if you’d like a personal recommendation.
Jaipur is a paradise for vegetarian food. Try Rajasthani thalis (dal-baati-churma), street snacks like pyaaz kachori and ghewar, and lassi in a clay cup. Well-known spots include Laxmi Misthan Bhandar (LMB), Rawat Mishthan Bhandar and Chokhi Dhani for a village-style cultural dinner. Tap water isn’t safe to drink, stick to bottled or filtered water.
If you have spare days, Jaipur’s highlights include the Amber Fort, City Palace, Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), the Jantar Mantar observatory, and Nahargarh Fort for sunset views. For shopping, head to Johari Bazaar and Bapu Bazaar for jewellery, textiles and souvenirs. Agra (the Taj Mahal) is around 4–5 hours away if you want to extend your trip.
Many guests fly into Delhi and spend a day or two before we all travel on to Jaipur together. If you have the time, it’s well worth exploring: the Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb and Qutub Minar (all UNESCO World Heritage sites), India Gate, the bustling markets of Chandni Chowk and Dilli Haat, and the peaceful Lotus Temple and Akshardham. On the evening of the 21st or the morning of the 22nd, we’ll provide a private bus for everyone to travel together to Jaipur.
Money: the currency is the Indian Rupee (INR); cards work in hotels, carry cash for markets and tips. Connectivity: a local SIM or eSIM is cheap and handy. Getting around: Uber and Ola work well in the city. Weather: February is warm and sunny by day, cooler at night, bring a light layer. Plugs: 230V, type D/M sockets, bring an adapter.