Monsoon travel tips you should not skip

Monsoon in India isn’t just a season—it’s a feeling. The hills wrap themselves in mist, waterfalls roar back to life, and the scent of wet earth stirs up nostalgia and promise.

As everything slows down, monsoons also bring lush landscapes, romantic rain showers, and refreshing escapes.

Travelling during the monsoon season can be a magical experience. It’s one of those lovely times when your surroundings take all your worries away, and you are reduced to a mute spectator, basking in the glory of the moment.

The monsoon season is one of the best times of the year for travellers to explore a rainforest, a beachside town, or a hilly city that offers ecstasy, beauty, and divine delight.

As a traveller, you must be careful while wandering around during the monsoon due to extreme weather conditions. The wet season can make travel more complicated.

If you’re planning a trip during this rainy season, constant temperature shifts can take a toll on your skin, leaving it irritated and oily. The high humidity can also negatively affect skin health.

Like any trip to a faraway destination, preparation is key. The following practical tips explain how to travel during the rainy season:

1. Eat Healthy

It’s OK to splurge on vacation, but maintaining balance is a good idea.

Hitting the road or catching a flight for a monsoon trip this year? Travelling can make it tough to maintain healthy habits.

If you’re trying to eat healthy, dining while travelling and being away from home can derail even the best of intentions. Whether you find yourself famished at the airport or tempted by fast-food joints along the interstate, the challenges are there.

Prioritise steaming-hot cooked foods, peelable fresh fruits, and safe hydration. Avoid raw vegetables, street-vendor items, and tap water.

If you’re selecting food from a buffet or salad bar, make sure the hot food is steaming and the cold food is chilled.

Avoid eating raw foods. Fruits or vegetables may be safer to eat if you can peel them yourself or wash them in bottled or disinfected water.

Carbonated drinks in bottles or cans, such as sodas or sparkling water, are typically safe because the bubbles indicate that the bottle was sealed at the factory and not tampered with. Avoid drinks that have ice. Hot coffee or tea should be safe if it is served steaming hot.

Do not drink coffee or tea that is served warm or at room temperature.

2. Use Waterproof Sunscreen

Despite the rain and cloud cover during the monsoon season, UV rays can still harm our skin, even on overcast days.

The sun is barely visible during this season, so people tend to skip sunscreen, thinking their skin will not get damaged because the weather is cloudy and rainy. However, UV radiation can still be harmful on cloudy days because clouds can reflect and scatter UV rays, increasing their intensity.

The weather is humid, and thick sunscreen formulations can make your skin oily, sticky, and prone to sweating throughout the day.

So, it would be a good idea to pick something that is gel-based, lightweight, and does not clog your pores. During the monsoon season, one must opt for water-resistant sunscreen. A single application will not protect your skin throughout the day. Sunscreen must be reapplied every three hours for the best results, and you should strictly reapply it after prolonged sun exposure, heavy sweating, swimming, or intense exercise.

3. Keep It Minimal

Applying makeup can be challenging during humid weather while travelling, as it may melt in the rain.

In the monsoon season, less is always more. So, you may want to consider avoiding heavy moisturisers and facial oils for skin preparation.

Embrace a minimalistic approach to your makeup routine. Opt for a natural, dewy look with gel-based moisturisers and lightweight serums enriched with hyaluronic acid that enhance your features rather than masking them. For your base, you can also substitute foundation with a BB or CC cream to even out your complexion, followed by a hydrating concealer to cover up any blemishes.

4. Antifungal Treatment

A jump in a puddle in the rain might satisfy your inner child, but this could cause a host of fungal infections.

High levels of humidity in the air allow bacteria and fungi to multiply with ease, which can lead to problems like itching, swelling, and a foul smell. The air is saturated with moisture during the rainy season, making it an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

In humans, fungal infections happen when an attacking fungus takes over a part of the body and the immune system is not capable enough of warding it off.

Lotion-based moisturisers are better than cream-based ones during this season. Pure coconut oil may provide instant relief. In its unheated form, coconut oil can work as an antifungal agent. Applying it to the skin may make it a useful topical remedy.

Neem oil is considered a natural antifungal. Neem is easily available and is often used as a treatment for fungal infections. Washing the infected area with neem water may help. To make neem water, boil neem leaves in water for a few minutes and let it cool. It can be used to massage the feet and applied to the toes. Lightly dab neem oil onto the affected area using a cotton swab or cotton ball, and allow it to soak in for up to 30 minutes. Wash off the oil with warm water.

Dry and crush some neem leaves. Add this powder to sandalwood powder and make a paste with rose water. Apply this paste to the infected areas on the feet and nails.

5. Don’t Forget Your Rainy-Day Essentials

A signature fragrance makes everything better, especially on grey days. Carry a soft fabric wipe or mini handkerchief misted with your signature scent. It gives your preparation a feminine and unforgettable touch.

A raincoat is an essential item that you should always keep in your vehicle’s seat compartment for maximum protection during a downpour.

Create a playlist of songs that match your rainy-season mood and relax as you listen to the rain outside.

Styling during the monsoon isn’t about staying dry. It is about staying divine while staying dry.

Whether you get caught in a downpour or are forced to walk through an unavoidable puddle, waterproof boots are rightfully beloved for their ability to shield your feet from the discomfort of damp conditions.

So, waterproof shoes are essential for maintaining comfort and dryness during rainy-season travel. Choosing the right pair of waterproof shoes can be a daunting task for travellers. It’s critical to try shoes before you buy them whenever possible to ensure the upper fits the way you like. Preferably, buy sneakers that are comfortable to walk in and are skid-free.

Invest in a pair of popular-brand waterproof, windproof, and breathable socks that live up to their name.Not only will they keep your feet safe from dirty water and slippery paths, but they can also make for a great statement piece for your outfits!

(The author is an internationally famous beauty expert and is called the herbal queen of India)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shahnaz Husain

Shahnaz Husain[email protected]