Check your routine vaccinations required for any trip.

Vaccinations

No vaccination is mandatory for India. However, you will be travelling to a remote region of the world. So a few precautions may be necessary. Here is the list of vaccinations recommended by the Pasteur Institute:

• Keep up to date with diphtheria, polio and tetanus
• Hepatitis A (if you travel frequently)
• Typhoid (particularly if you travel after the monsoon)
• Hepatitis B (for long or repeated stays)
• Rabies (for solo travellers and trips on the Tibetan plateau in Ladakh)

Anti-malarial Treatment

Almost eradicated in major urban centres and absent in mountains above 2,000 metres, malaria persists in forested and marshy zones. Consult your doctor or a vaccination centre depending on the areas you will visit during your trip to India.

Dengue and Chikungunya

Like malaria, these diseases are transmitted by insect bites. There is no vaccine; the best approach is to protect yourself and prevent bites. A good insect repellent and clothing covering your arms and ankles in the evening are the best preventive measures.

Food

Although your guide will advise you, it is wise to follow these guidelines:

• Do not eat poorly washed fruits or vegetables
• Do not eat raw meat or vegetables
• Avoid unpasteurised milk
• Avoid brushing your teeth with tap water in rural areas
• Do not add ice to your drinks
• Wash your hands frequently using hand sanitiser

Diarrhoea is one of the inconveniences of an India trip. Often due to a change in diet and/or the heat, it rarely lasts more than 48 hours. Always keep an anti-diarrhoeal medication on hand. Don't hesitate to inform your guide of your health status, who can make decisions for your wellbeing if needed.

Personal First Aid Kit

The main risk in India comes from water. Be careful to drink only boiled and/or filtered water. Stomach troubles are common during an India trip. With appropriate treatment, they pass within a few days. Consult your doctor to prepare your first aid kit.

Itching, indigestion, a blister, a small wound—these minor issues can quickly spoil your trip. Here's what your personal first aid kit might look like:

• Anti-diarrheal and constipation relief medication
• Broad-spectrum antibiotics
• Mosquito and insect repellent
• Soothing cream for insect bites or plant-related irritation
• Sunscreen
• After-sun cream or aloe vera gel
• Disinfectant
• Sterile compresses and plasters, including blister plasters
• Elastic and breathable bandage
• Paracetamol
• Cream for bruises and muscle soreness
• Throat lozenges, eye drops for dry eyes
• Tweezers
• Water purification tablets