Preparing for Your Journey
The Textiles of Jaipur: Block Printing, Mud Resist, and Natural Dyeing
Jaipur, India | November 9 to 18, 2025
WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU!
We are so excited to spend time with you in Jaipur, India. Your Ace Camps Travel trip will connect you to an incredible community where you’ll meet and form bonds with many wonderful individuals. Given the small-group nature of Ace Camps Travel trips, the health, safety, and well being of you, other guests, the instructors and workshop hosts, and the local communities are a key priority for us.
Please take a moment to read through this document in full as it contains important information that will help you prepare for your Ace Camps Travel trip.
GENERAL
Your Ace Camps Travel Co-Hosts: Tanya Staples + Megan Smith
We want every aspect of your trip to be an amazing experience. To help us do that, you will have the support of an Ace Camps Travel Host who travels with the group and is there to make sure your trip runs as smoothly as possible. Tanya Staples and Megan Smith will be your Ace Camps Travel Co-Hosts.
Tanya is one of the co-owners of Ace Camps Travel and is also the trip designer for this journey to Jaipur, India. Megan is a long-time Ace Camps Travel Host, including hosting recent trips to Eswatini, Jaipur, and Puglia. Megan is based in Cape Town, South Africa and is the founder of Cloth&Print, a brand that explores the theme of storytelling and memory through a unique collection of hand-printed textiles. Megan was inspired to start her business after traveling to Jaipur, India on her first Ace Camps Travel trip back in 2014!
While Tanya and Megan are not a local guides, they will assist you in answering questions you may have along the way. We will send you Tanya and Megan’s contact info closer to the Trip start date. If you have questions between now and then, please continue to email us at hello@acecampstravel.com.
Group Travel Etiquette
Please remember this is a small-group travel experience. It is important for you to join us with compassion, patience, and respect for everyone you interface with during your Trip. For example, if you asked to meet at a certain time, please be on time to avoid keeping the rest of the group waiting. If you choose to skip any activities or meals, please confirm your absence with the Ace Camps Travel Host directly so we’re not worried about your location or well being.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is required for all guests that includes: trip cancellation/disruption insurance; travel medical insurance; and medical evacuation insurance. Ace Camps Travel does not sell travel insurance. If you have questions, we suggest you discuss concerns about your coverage directly with a local travel insurance provider. Please ensure your listed emergency contact has all of your travel and medical insurance coverage details.
Itinerary Disclaimer
We do our best to keep to the itinerary on the Trip Details page of the Ace Camps Travel website. However, sometimes adjustments may occur. For example, we may need to make changes to the itinerary due to inclement weather, timetable changes, or circumstances beyond our control. While we do our best to plan ahead and prevent this from happening, it may be unavoidable. It can also happen with little notice, so please bear with us if we have to make modifications to the itinerary on the fly.
Smoking, Illegal Drug Use + Alcohol
Unless it is specified on the itinerary, alcohol is not usually included with meals. If you would like to have alcoholic beverages during your trip, you will need to pay for these separately.
Ace Camps Travel Trips are 100% smoke free and we do not tolerate any kind of illegal drug use. We require responsible alcohol consumption.
COMMUNICATION
On-the-Ground Communication with WhatsApp
While on the ground in Jaipur, India, we will be using WhatsApp to communicate. Before you arrive in India, please make sure you have the most up-to-date version of WhatsApp downloaded, installed, and an account set up and working on your mobile device. Your Ace Camps Travel Host, will use WhatsApp to send you daily reminders, updates, and any other important information during the course of your trip. In addition to one-on-one communication with your Ace Camps Travel Host, we’ll be creating a group chat with all registered guests where we will send updates that affect the entire group while on the trip. We encourage everyone to engage on the group chat, as it’s a great place to get to know the rest of your new Ace Camps Travel friends, discuss travel plans and ideas, and share trip photos.
Emergency Numbers
In the case of an emergency, the local emergency number to dial in INDIA is 112 (for medical, fire, or police).
Mobile Phone Usage
Here are a few other resources you may find helpful when traveling:
Using an ‘e-sim’ app to have data on your phone while you travel (depending on your phone model). There are several companies offering e-sims that can save money instead of roaming through your network provider. Companies like Airalo offer various options to choose from.
Note: While e-sims are great, they do take some time to set up and install so be sure to spend some time before you leave your home country setting it up so you can just turn it on once you land (while we love to help where we can, our Ace Camps Travel Hosts aren’t tech support specialists).
Social Media
If you are taking photos and would like to share them as a part of our trip story please tag your posts and/or stories on Instagram with @acecampstravel or hashtag #acecampstravel
ARRIVAL + DEPARTURE, including obtaining a required Entry Visa
Obtaining an Entry Visa for India (required for all travelers):
In order to enter India, you must obtain a tourist visa, which you’ll need to do prior to travel (sadly, we can’t do this for you–you have to apply for the visa yourself). The format of your visa may vary depending on the country who issued your passport and your arrival date. We suggest looking at the requirements as soon as possible so you know what to expect.
Many nationalities can now apply for an e-Visa via this government of India website (tip: watch out for visa scams, there are a lot of fake companies and websites if you just google “India Visas”):
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html.
As well as entering your travel details, you may need to provide:
A photograph of yourself with a white background that meets the specifications listed on the website
The photo page of your passport showing your personal details. Your passport must be valid for at least six months in order to apply for an e-Visa.
Additional documents may be required depending on the type of e-Visa required. You can pay the application fee online with your debit or credit card.
Once you complete your application, you will receive an Application ID and the ETA for your visa
will be sent to you via email within three to five days. Make sure the status of your application shows "GRANTED" before you travel. You will need to have a PRINTED copy of the ETA with you when you arrive in India and present it at the immigration counter at the airport. An immigration officer will stamp your passport with your e-Visa for entry into India.
You can use the following contact details for your visa application:
89, Dhuleshwar Garden, Sardar Patel Marg, C Scheme, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302001, India
+91 14 1220 0770
For e-Tourist Visas (valid for stays up to 30 days), applicants of the eligible countries/territories may apply 30 days in advance of the proposed date of entry. This means you will most likely need to apply for your visa in October, given we are traveling in November. For e-Tourist Visa (30 days), the validity would be 30 days from the date of your first arrival in India. Double entries will be granted within the e-Visa validity period stamped on your Passport. Your first arrival must be between the date of issue and expiry of ETA.
Travel Within India Airports
To enter any airport in India you will need to carry a physical printout of your airline ticket or boarding pass, as you may be asked to show it, along with your passport, to security staff before they will allow you entry to the airport terminal building.
Arrival Information: Sunday, November 9, 2025
This trip begins and ends in Jaipur, India. The closest airport is the Jaipur International Airport, located about 12 km outside the city center of Jaipur. If you arrive at the Jaipur airport on Sunday, November 9, 2025, your airport transfer is included in the cost of the trip (this also applies to those of you who have booked additional nights at the hotel with us directly). Once we have your flight information, we’ll share share an airport arrival transfer schedule with you. If you arrive in Jaipur on a different day, you’ll need to arrange your own transportation to our hotel. Please try to arrange your travel so you can arrive and check into our hotel in Jaipur before 4pm local time so you have some time to get settled before our group Welcome Dinner that evening.
Please fill out the Arrival and Departure Form so we have the information we need to schedule your pick up.
You can check into our hotel, Dileep Kothi anytime after 3:00pm on Sunday, November 9, 2025. If you arrive earlier than 3:00pm, you can drop off your luggage at the front desk and they will store it for you until your room is ready. All hotel rooms have been preassigned using the name you provided on your Booking and Registration form.
Obtaining an Entry Visa for India (required for all travelers):
In order to enter India, you must obtain a tourist visa, which you’ll need to do prior to travel (sadly, we can’t do this for you–you have to apply for the visa yourself). The format of your visa may vary depending on the country who issued your passport and your arrival date. We suggest looking at the requirements as soon as possible so you know what to expect.
Many nationalities can now apply for an e-Visa via this government of India website (tip: watch out for visa scams, there are a lot of fake companies and websites if you just google “India Visas”):
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html.
As well as entering your travel details, you may need to provide:
A photograph of yourself with a white background that meets the specifications listed on the website
The photo page of your passport showing your personal details. Your passport must be valid for at least six months in order to apply for an e-Visa.
Additional documents may be required depending on the type of e-Visa required. You can pay the application fee online with your debit or credit card.
Once you complete your application, you will receive an Application ID and the ETA for your visa
will be sent to you via email within three to five days. Make sure the status of your application shows "GRANTED" before you travel. You will need to have a PRINTED copy of the ETA with you when you arrive in India and present it at the immigration counter at the airport. An immigration officer will stamp your passport with your e-Visa for entry into India.
You can use the following contact details for your visa application:
89, Dhuleshwar Garden, Sardar Patel Marg, C Scheme, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302001, India
+91 14 1220 0770
For e-Tourist Visas (valid for stays up to 30 days), applicants of the eligible countries/territories may apply 30 days in advance of the proposed date of entry. This means you will most likely need to apply for your visa in October, given we are traveling in November. For e-Tourist Visa (30 days), the validity would be 30 days from the date of your first arrival in India. Double entries will be granted within the e-Visa validity period stamped on your Passport. Your first arrival must be between the date of issue and expiry of ETA.
Helpful App for Jet Lag
Help manage jet lag with Timeshifter.
Welcome Dinner: Sunday, November 9, 2025
Tonight we’ll gather together for a welcome dinner at our hotel, Dileep Kothi. We’ll enjoy our heritage surroundings and savor dishes crafted from timeless family recipes, while getting to know the group. Please plan to arrive at our hotel no later than 4:00 pm on Sunday, November 9, 2025, if you want to join the welcome dinner. This will give you enough time to check in and get settled before dinner. We’ll share more specific details about when and where to meet for dinner a few days before the Trip start date. If you aren’t able to join the welcome dinner, your Ace Camps Travel Host will be in touch with you to make sure you have all the information you need to join the group the next morning.
Departure Information: Tuesday, November 18, 2025
There are no planned activities on departure day, though breakfast will be provided. For those departing from the Jaipur International Airport on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 airport, your airport transfer is included in the cost of the trip. Once we have your flight information, we’ll share an airport departure transfer schedule with you. If you depart Jaipur on a different day, you’ll need to arrange your own transportation.
Keep a Photo ID with you at all times
While traveling in India we suggest carrying some form of photo ID, such as a Driver’s license, with you at all times. We also suggest keeping extra photocopies of your passport in your luggage and sending an photo of your passport to your email address.
HOTEL
For the duration of our stay, we will stay at the following hotel:
Dileep Kothi
89, Dhuleshwar Garden, Sardar Patel Marg, C Scheme, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302001, India
+91 96 6002 0209
About Dileep Kothi:
Dileep Kothi is a heritage luxury hotel located in the “C Scheme” area of Jaipur, India. It is nestled in a quaint locality within the city's heart, offering a blend of traditional and contemporary amenities. Jaipur as a city is quite spread out and you’ll typically need a car to get from one area of the city to another. If you need transportation outside of our group activities, the team at Dileep Kothi can help arrange ground transportation for you.
Amenities include:
Air Conditioning in each room
Hair Dryers
Iron/ironing board upon request
Laundry service is available, typically this takes one day or less and the cost is based on number of items sent to be cleaned
Shampoo + Soap in each bathroom
Wet bar in each room, including a small fridge and a kettle for making tea and coffee
Bottled water in the room and in the van during our excursions. You can also bring your own refillable water bottle, as the hotel is setup with an advanced filtration system for safe drinking water
Garden and common spaces for relaxing and catching up with other members of the group
HEALTH
Illness (including COVID)
Our goal is for each of our guests to enjoy the amazing trip we’ve put together. To ensure that happens, we make the health and safety of the group as our top priority. Please keep in mind while traveling with a group, you may need to take additional precautions.
In the days leading up to and during your Ace Camps Travel Trip, thoroughly washing your hands, wearing a KN95 mask if you feel ill or if you display symptoms of illness, and keeping a safe distance from others who exhibit signs of illness are small, but impactful, things you can do to keep the trip safe for everyone. Please make sure you bring KN95 masks, hand sanitizer, and a few COVID tests on the trip in case you or those around you start to have symptoms of an illness.
During the trip, if you feel unwell, please alert your Ace Camps Travel Host immediately, wear a mask, and keep a safe distance from others until we know more about your situation. If you exhibit signs of, or test positive for an illness, you should be prepared to follow the advice of local health authorities as well as the Ace Camps Travel Host to ensure the health and safety of the entire group. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, viral nature of your illness, and where we are staying, there may be a need to mask, distance, self isolate, or remove yourself completely from the trip which will be determined by the Ace Camps Travel Host with the best interests of the group health and safety as the main priority.
Per the Ace Camps Travel Terms and Conditions, you are responsible for any additional costs if, due to illness, including COVID, you have to leave a trip early as determined by a health care provider or the Ace Camps Travel Host. This is one of the many reasons we require you to purchase travel insurance.
Medications and Vaccines
You should consult with your doctor and a specialized travel doctor to determine if you need any vaccinations, prescriptions, or special considerations based on your medical history/conditions and based on the you’ll be traveling. For example, you may want to ask about a wide spectrum antibiotic in case of gastrointestinal or other infections and if your doctor recommends preventative Malaria medication. The CDC has several vaccine, prescription and over the counter recommendations for travel to India and a travel doctor will be able to assist you in confirming what is right for you.
If you are already taking prescription medication make sure you bring enough with you to cover your time in India, plus a bit extra. When you pack, be sure to have all your required and important medication in your carry-on luggage.
We encourage you to travel with medications that can help you if you encounter health issues. Here are a few common concerns you may want to consider bringing medications for, though what you choose to travel with is up to you and/or you and your doctor
High quality, EPA-registered mosquito repellant, such as DEET and/or After Bite, as Dengue Fever is possible to contract from mosquito bites. You may also consider wearing light-weight, long sleeves and pants, if you are prone to mosquito bites.
Motion sickness, if car or bus rides affects you as we will be driving most days, including an hour to and from Bagru for our block-printing workshops
Nausea, indigestion, or an upset stomach
Diarrhea/Dysentery
Constipation
Minor aches and pains
Minor and severe allergies
Cold/flu symptoms
Bug repellant/spray
Minor cuts and bruises
Stomach Issues
Stomach issues can occur when traveling and eating new types of cuisine. We strongly recommend bringing various medications to ensure if you have any issues, you are able to manage them and continue enjoying your trip.
Eye Glasses + Contact Lenses
If you wear eyeglasses, it is advisable to carry an extra pair on the trip. If you wear contact lenses, you may want to bring extra contacts and an extra pair of back-up regular glasses.
General Fitness
To take full advantage of your trip to Jaipur, India it is best to be in good health. Sightseeing can be tiring and several of our tours will involve walking or standing, including stairs and uneven surfaces. In addition, our block carving and block printing workshops will involve working in authentic studios where you will be sitting on the ground or small stools and/or standing for long periods of time.
Water
Tap water is not safe to drink in India. Our hotel, Dileep Kothi, will provide bottled water in the room and in the van during our excursions. You can also bring your own refillable water bottle, as the hotel is setup with an advanced filtration system for safe drinking water. Note: we also suggest using bottled water to brush your teeth, instead of tap water. If you inadvertently use tap water to brush your teeth, you can sterilize your toothbrush in boiling water, using the kettle in your room.
MONEY
Cash + Credit Cards
The national currency in India is the Indian Rupee (INR). In most cases, you can use your regular debit card to take cash out at ATM’s and there are two ATMs within a short walk of our hotel (we’ll show you where they are, once you arrive). That said, we recommend you come to India with some Indian Rupees. You can usually order Indian Rupees from your bank or at a local currency exchange prior to departure. If you bring cash in a major currency, such as US dollars, British pounds, or Euros you can also exchange these in India for Indian Rupee (be sure to check the exchange rate first to make sure you’re getting a good deal, as exchange rates can vary).
India is in a transition between cash and credit cards. Major shops and restaurants in Jaipur will most likely take credit cards, but smaller shops and markets, especially those outside of Jaipur, will most likely take cash only. The most commonly used credit cards are Visa and MasterCard. American Express and Diner’s Club are not widely accepted in India.
Gratuities
Tips and gratuities for your guides, group drivers, and group meals are taken care of by Ace Camps Travel. At the end of our time at Dileep Kothi, we’ll pass around an envelope to collect a tip for the hotel staff, which you can contribute to, if you choose to.
In most restaurants, a service fee is automatically added to the bill. If it is not, the tipping standard is usually 10-15% of the bill. In India, it is customary to tip all service providers, such as drivers, servers, and porters, preferably in cash.
CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS
India is an incredible place with rich history and culture. That said, sometimes it can look and feel very different from other western countries and cultures. Here are a few tips to be mindful of as you travel to India.
Ask permission before taking photographs of people in India, especially women.
Always ask before taking photos at a religious site or ceremony, or of people bathing on the ghats or river banks. It is forbidden to photograph military installations which can include some train stations, bridges and airports.
Have reasonable standards for cleanliness.
It’s normal to see large piles of garbage on the streets, and the large cities have a haze of pollution. Surfaces may be dustier than what you would find at home. Public bathrooms can vary widely in terms of comfort and cleanliness. Bring an open mind, a sense of humor, hand sanitizer, and some extra toilet paper at all times and you’ll be good to go!
Poverty is an unfortunate reality in India.
You should be prepared to encounter a large number of beggars and hawkers. Although it may be difficult to resist, please don’t hand out money, sweets or other goods to children on the streets.
Is it forbidden to drink alcohol in India?
Gujarat is India’s only dry state, but drinking laws are in place throughout the country. Each state may have designated dry days when the sale of liquor is forbidden. Both local and imported brands are readily available in larger cities such as Delhi or Mumbai, however be prepared to pay a liquor tax. Note that as a rule, few vegetarian restaurants serve alcohol.
When visiting religious monuments and shrines, you may need to cover up.
Make sure you pack some long skirts and pants. In some locations women must cover their head and shoulders, it is a good idea to throw in a scarf or shawl that you can use to cover yourself if required.
WHAT TO BRING
Now onto the fun stuff - what should you bring?!? Below are some suggestions, based on our experience. Below are some suggestions, based on our experience. India may not have many of the resources you’re used to at home, so please keep this in mind when you’re planning and packing. Out of respect for local culture and customs we encourage everyone to wear modest clothes. For example, wearing a tank top and shorts is generally not appropriate in Rajasthan and can invite unwanted attention.
General
PASSPORT (make sure it has at least six months on it) and consider bringing a photocopy and/or passport photos. In the (hopefully!) unlikely event your passport gets lost or stolen, an extra set of passport photos can make it easier for you to get a replacement).
ENTRY VISA to India (see the info in the Arrival + Departure section for more info).
Travel plug adapters and/or voltage converters, depending on the country you are traveling from and the types of electronics you’re bringing with you (we suggest not bringing things like hair dryers, straighteners, and curling irons and, instead, use what the hotel provides).
Leave room or bring an extra bag. You’ll need some space to bring back the blocks you carved, as well as the textiles you hand print during our workshops. If you think you are going to do a lot of shopping in India (it’s hard to resist all the #shopportunities), we suggest bringing an extra duffle bag or suitcase. It’s not always easy to find an extra suitcase or duffel bag at a reasonable cost.
Supplies
Workshop supplies for our block carving, block printing, and embroidery workshop are included. You may want to bring a notebook/sketchbook or pen/pencil for taking notes.
Clothing
Lightweight, fast-dry clothing you can layer as the temperatures warm up during the day and cool off at night, including a light jacket, and scarf or shawl, for cool mornings and evenings, with much hotter daytime temperatures.
Rain shell and/or small umbrella (rain showers are uncommon at this time of year, but always a possibility!).
Comfortable workshop clothing you don’t mind getting messy during your block carving, block printing, and natural dyeing workshops. Keep in mind you’ll be sitting on the floor or small tools and standing for long periods of time in non-air conditioned spaces during our block carving, block printing, and natural dyeing workshops.
A zippered day pack and/or a small-ish bag you can safely carry around each day.
Footwear
Comfortable, supportive walking shoes, as well as shoes you don’t mind getting messy during our block carving, block printing, and natural dyeing workshops. Keep in mind you’ll be sitting on the floor or small tools and standing for long periods of time during our block carving, block printing, and natural dyeing workshops.
Personal Items
Glasses and/or prescription sunglasses if needed.
Earplugs (high quality foam or sleep focused noise dampening, such as Loop).
Toiletries kit, including your own shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, if you are particular or there are certain brands you prefer to use while traveling.
Sunscreen with SPF of 30 or higher, sunhat, sunglasses, and lip balm with sunscreen.
High quality, EPA-registered mosquito repellant, such as DEET and/or After Bite, as Dengue Fever is possible to contract from mosquito bites.
Hand sanitizer.
Tissues, both for runny noses and time when we encounter restrooms with limited resources.
Reusable water bottle, if you want to use the hotel’s filtration system for drinking water (bottle water will be provided in your hotel room and in our vans).
KN95 masks–in an effort to keep our group as safe as possible, you may be asked to wear a mask.
Luggage
We suggest keeping important items in your carry-on in case your luggage gets lost en route to Jaipur, India. We also suggest putting AirTags in your luggage so you can track their location, in the event they get lost in transit. Note: AirTags need to be in proximity of another Apple device in order to start working after a period of no connectivity. It’s not uncommon
Weather
November is considered one of the best times to visit Jaipur, as temperatures have cooled slightly and rain season is over. Day time temperatures average the mid 80s F (mid 20s C), but can drop to the mid 50s (mid teens C) at night. We suggest bringing layers so you can add or remove layers as the temperature naturally warms up and cools off throughout the day. While rain is unlikely at this time of year, it is possible, so we suggest bringing a light rain jacket and/or umbrella, just in case.
THANK YOU AND SEE YOU SOON!
Thank you for taking the time to review this information, we hope these details help with your travel planning and prepare you for your time exploring Jaipur, India. If you have questions between now and then, please continue to email us at hello@acecampstravel.com. See you in Jaipur!
