Fixed departure

How fixed departures work

The operator plans, say, a 12-day Europe tour leaving Mumbai on 18 May, blocks group air fares and hotels, and sells seats until the coach is full, typically 30–45 travellers. The price is per person, twin sharing, and usually includes return flights, hotels, breakfasts and many Indian dinners, coach travel, listed sightseeing, a tour manager and visa assistance.

Why Indian families choose them

• No planning: hotels, coaches and timings are fixed for you.
• Indian meals in places where vegetarian food is hard to find.
• One person to help if a passport is lost or someone falls ill.
• Visa support, which matters for Schengen.

The honest downsides

• Pace: six or seven countries in 12 days means long coach days and 7 am starts.
• Hotels: to keep prices down, European tours often use hotels on city outskirts, 30–60 minutes from the centre.
• Optional tours: some excursions, such as certain cable cars or river cruises, may be extras sold on the road. Ask for the full list and prices before booking.
• Minimum numbers: if a date doesn't fill, it may be merged with another or rescheduled.

Before you pay

• Read the cancellation slabs; losses rise sharply in the last 30–45 days. Pair the booking with trip cancellation cover.
• Check the taxes: 5% GST and, from 1 April 2026, 2% TCS on overseas packages are added to the total.
• Ask whether tips for the tour manager, driver and guides are included.