Kerala & India’s Beautiful South

Pancha, Ratha Temples

Explore an idyllic land of ancient ports, labyrinthine backwaters and forested uplands dotted with colourful temples and tea plantations.

Fishing nets, Cochin Tea Plantations, Kerala

Available Feb to May, Sep to Nov 2022, Jan to May & Sep to Nov 2023 Fly from (flight upgrades available). Prices from

• Gatwick £1,945 (UK connecting flights available – call us for details) Personalise your holiday

• Periyar Guided Trek (half day) – from £20 • Kalaripayattu Show (full day) - from £22 Room for Sole Use from £745

Please note: Visas are required by British Citizens travelling to India. Please see page 198. Local laws prohibit some hotels in Kerala from selling alcohol.

Kerala Houseboat

Bangalore Chennai Mahabalipuram

Mysore

Ooty

Kochi Pondicherry

India

Coimbatore Periyar

Madurai

Alleppey

• Fly into modern Bangalore, India’s

‘Garden City’ • Cross the Mysore Plateau and visit ancient battle-site Srirangapatna • See Mysore’s beautifully illuminated

Maharaja’s Palace • Journey through the idyllic foothills of the Western Ghats • Ride from hill-station ‘Ooty’ through stunning scenery on the Toy Train and visit a tea plantation with lunch en route • Journey to Kochi by Express Train • See Kochi’s famous Chinese fishing nets • Visit idyllic Periyars Wildlife Sanctuary • Explore temple-town Madurai • Enjoy a cycle-rickshaw ride to Madurai’s colourful markets • Discover French colonial Pondicherry • Relax in seaside resort Mahabalipuram • Enjoy a panoramic tour of Chennai • 14 nights’ carefully chosen dinner, bed and breakfast accommodation, one night’s full-board accommodation on a traditional Keralan houseboat, plus two nights on the aircraft • Outbound flight to Bangalore via Dubai, returning from Chennai via Dubai, with coach travel and transfers throughout • Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager

This extraordinary tour includes stays in some of Northern India’s finest heritage hotels and is crammed with memorable experiences, as first Delhi, then Agra, then Rajasthan’s glorious past and rich traditions, stupendous palaces, great forts and decorated havelis, are brought thrillingly to life. With included safaris by boat and jeep, fine dining in some astonishing settings, and a host of tours and excursions, this is India at its finest.

Day One – Fly to India Fly overnight to Bangalore. Day Two – Travel to your hotel in Bangalore Upon arrival, meet your tour manager and transfer to your welcoming hotel in the thriving city of Bangalore. Enjoy the chance to rest and relax and a first dinner at the hotel. Day Three – Explore Bangalore and travel to Mysore Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Bangalore, where highlights will include the 16th-century Bull Temple. You’ll then journey across the plain to charming Mysore, where you’ll enjoy an evening at leisure. Day Four – Explore the sights of Mysore Take in Mysore’s spectacular, domed, Maharaja’s Palace, then visit the Railway Museum. This afternoon, head to Somnathpur to see the Keshava Vishnu temple. Return to Mysore to enjoy the extraordinary sight of the illuminated Maharaja’s Palace – a tour highlight. Day Five – Travel to Ooty Board the coach for the scenic journey into the foothills of the Western Ghat mountains. En route, travel past the forests of the Bandipur National Park and by afternoon, you’ll arrive in famed ‘Ooty’ (a shortened version of its less pronounceable name Udhagamandalam). Day Six – Ride on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway Board the historic, narrow-gauge Nilgiri Blue Mountain Railway to journey down through the spectacular hills to plantation town Coonoor for lunch. Tour a tea factory before an onward, steam-hauled journey brings you to Mettupalayam, from where you’ll transfer to your overnight hotel in nearby Coimbatore. Day Seven – Rail travel to Kochi Transfer to Coimbatore Station to board the Ernakulam Express, which will speed you in air-conditioned comfort into Kerala. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel in Kochi, where dinner will be served this evening. Day Eight – Included tour of Kochi Today, you’ll enjoy an included guided tour of historic Kochi, including ‘Dutch’ Mattancherry Palace and enchanting Fort Kochi. This evening, experience a traditional Kathakali dance performance, a colourful spectacle. Day Nine – Cruise on a traditional houseboat Travel to Alleppey to board a traditional, thatched-roofed kettuvallam houseboat to lazily cruise the labyrinth of waterways lined by coconut groves and dotted with temples. This evening, enjoy a guided walk through a traditional Keralan village. Day 10 – Travel to Periyar and visit a spice plantation Journey up into a lush, rolling landscape to Periyar for a two-night stay. After check-in, join the guide to explore the spice plantation, then enjoy dinner and a cooking demonstration at the hotel. Day 11 – See Periyar’s wildlife on an optional excursion This morning, rest and relax or join the optional excursion into the Wildlife Sanctuary. This afternoon, complete your visit to enchanting Periyar with a boat ride on serene Periyar Lake. Day 12 – Travel to Madurai Journey east into Tamil Nadu, where you’ll spend the next two nights in Madurai, one of Asia’s oldest cities. Soak up the atmosphere of this unforgettable metropolis, dominated by the vast, colourful Meenakshi temple. Day 13 – Explore Madurai A guided sightseeing tour introduces the Old City, where the ornately carved façade, shrines and quartet of towering gopurams of the temple are the breathtaking highlights. This evening, journey by cyclerickshaw from the hotel to discover the city’s narrow, bustling streets and colourful market. Day 14 – Journey to French-speaking Pondicherry A scenic journey takes you to Pondicherry, a decidedly Gallic-influenced town that boasts an authentic Hôtel de Ville, where French is still widely spoken. Enjoy an overnight stay in a place that formed a backdrop to Yann Martel’s seminal novel Life of Pi. Day 15 – Explore Pondicherry and travel to Mahabalipuram This morning, pay a visit to the Pondicherry Museum, with its outstanding collection, before you journey north to an elegant coastal resort Mahabalipuram for a last two-night stay. Day 16 – Sightseeing tour of Mahabalipuram A morning sightseeing tour includes a visit to the extraordinary, 8th-century Shore Temple. This afternoon, rest and relax on the beach for a few hours before enjoying a farewell dinner at the hotel. Day 17 – Explore Chennai before flying home Bid farewell to your hosts and transfer to Chennai, where highlights include the Fort Museum and the famous Chepauk Cricket Stadium. After the tour, transfer to the airport for the return flight. Day 18 – Arrive home Arrive back in the UK, at the end of a colourful, enthralling journey.

ITC WelcomHotel

Radisson Blu Atria, Bangalore night 2

Located in the heart of the city and close to the greenery of Cubbon Park as well as a shopping mall, this hotel has a nice restaurant and coffee shop and the bar, The ‘Tea & Wine Lounge’. There is a pool and all of the comfortable rooms are well-equipped with a TV, tea/ coffee-making facilities and a safe. Radisson Blu Hotel, Mysore nights 3-4

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Chamundi Hills, the spacious hotel in the heart of the city has a restaurant, gym and outdoor pool. The rooms are contemporary and all have a TV, mini-bar and tea/coffeemaking facilities. Fortune Resort Sullivan Court, Ooty night 5

Surrounded by green lawns and a pretty garden, this hotel has a restaurant and, in colonial style, a charming bar. All comfortable rooms have tea and coffee-making facilities and safe. ITC WelcomHotel, Coimbatore night 6

Lovely new rooms with coffee-maker, TV and mini-bar while the hotel also has colourful restaurant with extensive buffet and a welcoming bar. There is also an outdoor pool, gym and spa.

Trident Hotel

Trident Hotel, Kochi nights 7-8

Set around a central courtyard with spacious grounds and a pool, the hotel offers a restaurant, bar and Ayurvedic Therapy Centre. Rooms here are light and airy. Keralan Houseboat night 9

This traditional thatched houseboat offers an authentic way of experiencing relaxing and mesmerising Kerala. Houseboats are simple, but comfortable, and offer two or three cabins with private facilities with three crew members including, a chef. Greenwoods, Periyar nights 10-11

Close to the wildlife park, this hotel offers a restaurant, bar, pool and spa, as well as a treehouse coffee-shop. Well-appointed rooms are in small blocks in the grounds.

Courtyard by Marriott

Courtyard by Marriott, Madurai nights 12-13

This modern hotel has a restaurant, lounge and bar. There is a gym and outdoor pool and all rooms are well-finished with modern facilities. Atithi TGI Grand, Pondicherry night 14

The hotel has a restaurant and bar as well as a spa and a rooftop pool. Rooms are wellequipped with modern facilities. Grand Bay Resort & Spa, Mahabalipuram nights 15-16

Set right by the beach and a great place to relax on the lawn or by the pool at the end of the tour. Rooms have a TV, mini-bar, tea/ coffee-making facilities and a safe.