Health and travel
Travel arrangements
Trivandrum (TRV) is the nearest airport. Scheduled flights depart daily from London (Heathrow and Gatwick) throughout the year. Operators include: Emirates, Etihad, Kuwait Air, Sri Lankan Airlines, Qatar Airlines and Gulf Air. It is also possible to link to Trivandrum though other Indian cities with operators such as Kingfisher Airlines and British Airways. A non-stop charter flight (Monarch Airlines) operated by Thomas Cook, currently links Manchester (UK) with Trivandrum. There are also regular scheduled connections from Birmingham and Manchester and other major British and European cities and beyond.
Travel arrangements and insurance are your own responsibility. Please contact Free Spirit Travel UK (our booking agent) if you need help and advice - including how to book on line. Tel +44(0) 1273 564230.
A visa is required to travel. In the UK, visas are issued by VFS Global (www.in.vfsglobal.co.uk) on behalf of the Indian High Commission. There are Visa Application Centres in London, Hayes, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Glasgow. Forms can be completed and payment made online - but you (or your representative) must either take your passport and application to a Visa Application Centre - or send your passport by post for the visa to be issued. This normally takes 2-3 working days (in person) or 15 days, plus transit time (by post).
See www.in.vfsglobal.co.uk or call 09057570045 for more information.
Health
Your doctor will be able to advise you about immunisations – there
are currently no compulsory ones for India, unless you have come from
an area with yellow fever. Both homoeopathic and allopathic medicines
are available against malaria, although the risk is very small in this
area and many people prefer not to take allopathic drugs.
Most visitors to Kerala enjoy excellent health whilst here – and even feel better than at home. We advise you to drink only bottled water (easily available everywhere) and to avoid ice and drinks diluted with water.
The beach area and the path between Kailasam and the sea are flat, but some of the paths are uneven and there are steep hills in Kovalam. This may not, therefore, be a suitable holiday if you have breathing or walking difficulties.
Whilst we will do all we can to ensure your enjoyment and safety, we do expect you to take responsibility for yourself and for your yoga practice whilst staying with us.