Travellers and trade visitors from the UAE and the wider Gulf are a natural audience for Himalayan village stays: Dehradun is reached from India's main airports, and the villages sit in the hills above it. This guide covers the practical steps, using the Indian government's own e-Visa page, and a note for food buyers.
The India e-Tourist Visa
The official e-Visa page lists the UAE among the countries whose citizens can apply. For other Gulf countries, check the eligibility list on the same page, because we have confirmed only the UAE. According to the page:
- You need a return or onward ticket and enough funds for your stay.
- The passport must be valid for at least six months when you apply and have at least two blank pages.
- Options are a 30-day multiple-entry visa, a one-year and a five-year multiple-entry visa (maximum stay of 180 days in a calendar year), and a six-month e-T2.
- Apply at least four days before arrival, and up to 120 days ahead. Carry the authorisation showing "GRANTED".
- The e-Visa is not valid for protected, restricted or cantonment areas without prior permission.
Apply only on the official portal, https://indianvisaonline.gov.in. We do not process visas. Rules change, so read the current page and your own government's travel advice, and arrange health preparation and insurance separately.
What a village stay looks like
Our agro-tourism page describes day visits, multi-night homestay circuits, an Aipan art workshop, retreats and buyer visits in Kumaon and Garhwal. Itineraries start in Dehradun, with mountain transfers arranged on our side. The exact programme depends on season, host availability and road conditions, and is confirmed in writing before you travel. Pricing is on request.
Read the planning guide for questions to settle with any host, and the responsible visit notes. Dietary needs, including halal or vegetarian requirements, should be raised at planning time so the host can plan meals. We will tell you what can and cannot be arranged.
When to go
Our planning guidance is March to June and September to November for comfortable walking, with monsoon and winter routes depending on district, altitude and road access. See the harvest calendar.
A note for food buyers
Himalayan produce is already reaching Gulf markets. ETV Bharat reported that Ladakh sent its first apricot exports, 20 tonnes, to Dubai in 2021, and that 1.5 tonnes of fresh Halman apricots were shipped to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar in 2025. That is Ladakh, not Uttarakhand, and the volumes are small, but it shows that Himalayan fruit is moving to the region.
If you source for retail or hospitality in the Gulf, a buyer familiarisation tour lets you see Self-Help Group facilities and packing units before you order. Tell us which products you need, such as sea buckthorn, Gucchi morel or Himalayan grains. Import rules and labelling requirements differ by country, so confirm them with your import adviser. We give no regulatory guidance here.
How to start
- Decide your dates and group size.
- Send an enquiry through the agro-tourism page or the contact form.
- We reply with a proposal. Nothing is binding until the written itinerary is confirmed.
- Apply for your visa once dates are firm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can UAE citizens apply for the Indian e-Visa?
The official e-Visa page lists the UAE among eligible countries. Check it for current conditions.
Do I need to apply early?
Apply at least four days before arrival. Applications are accepted up to 120 days ahead.
Can dietary needs be met?
Raise them when you enquire. We confirm what the host can arrange before you travel.
Does Himalayan Region run tours in Ladakh or Kashmir?
No. Our programmes are in Uttarakhand.
Last updated: 18 October 2026.
Sources: Government of India, Indian Visa Online, e-Tourist Visa, read on 18 October 2026; ETV Bharat, "Ladakh apricots begin new journey to international markets", 2025; Himalayan Region agro-tourism page. General information, not immigration advice.