Indus Travels is inviting travellers to consider India for long-stay vacations, even as the Vancouver-based tour operator concedes that the country hasn’t traditionally been considered for that type of holiday.

The company is offering long-stays in the southern India jurisdiction of Kerala, with the vacations costing US$1,790 per person for 30 days. Rates include taxes, daily breakfast and airport transfers.

“People opt for long-stay vacations anywhere mainly for two reasons – to get away from bleak weather and/or to experience and explore a different culture in depth while staying in affordable and comfortable accommodations, and India fits the bill in all the categories,” says Indus Travels’ Praveen Syal.

Syal says some traditional long-stay destinations are “pricing themselves out of the market” and India “has seized the opportunity by offering beachfront, modern accommodations with all up-to-date amenities and services. Plus India boasts state-of-the-art medical services and high-tech communication infrastructure that adds to its appeal as a safe home away from home.”

Syal concedes India’s distance from Canada may be an impediment to some, but notes that “many airlines of international reputation” serve the country.

Other pros include “wide use of English, diversity of cuisine, culture and history,” and an exotic landscape and sightseeing opportunities.

India’s long coast ensures visitors can find attractive beaches, Syal continues.

Go to www.industravels.ca for more.

Bestway Tours & Safaris is inviting Beatles fans on what may be seen as a magical mysticism tour to India, taking tour participants to many of the same sites that lured the Fab Four when they became enchanted with the Asian nation, which influenced much of their music.

The February 2011 The Beatles In India Tour is being promoted as a “journey of enlightenment” that will celebrate the Beatles 1968 visit to the country and will be led by film producer Paul Saltzman, who stayed with the Beatles during that journey, photographing them on it.

“The Beatles learned Indian spirituality, yoga, as well as sitar playing,” Bestway’s chief explorer Mahmood Poonja says. “They also wrote some of their best songs while in India. This tour is not just going to places where the Beatles went, but also include lessons on yoga and meditation, meet some folks who performed with the Beatles and observe George Harrison’s birthday in Delhi. We are also working for a meeting with their guru, Ravi Shankar.”

Harrison, in particular, became caught up in Indian mysticism during the 1960s. The 18-day tour will visit Rishikesh -- a holy city on the Ganges River -- and other spiritual sites visited by the Beatles and participants will meet Indian musicians who performed with them. Those musicians may include Grammy Award winning sitar player Shankar, whose music won the group over, and Ajit Singh, who performed with Harrison.

Many Beatles songs – such as Norwegian Wood and Within You, Without You, the latter found on the acclaimed Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album – featured the sitar.

“To many people, the Beatles brought about a revolution, and pop music has never been the same since then,” Poonja says. “It was the opening of music from different cultures and instruments being played in a manner that has opened the world to all.”

“Through our travels across incredible India, we will use the Beatles’ music, words and photographs to evoke the magic of both the country and the iconic group,” Saltzman said of a tour that will also visit the likes of the Pink City of Jaipur, Udaipur, Mumbai, the capital of New Delhi and Agra, home to the Taj Mahal.

Optional yoga sessions, whitewater rafting and spa treatments can be added to the tour, which will start in the southern city of Trivandrum and end in New Delhi. The tour includes air travel within India, five-star accommodations and breakfast and dinner for 17 days.

Visit www.bestway.com for more.