South India Highlights
• The hustle and bustle of Bombay home to Bollywood movies
• The historic Portuguese and Jewish town of Fort Cochin
• Old Goa town for history, churches and unique Goan cuisine
• The incredible ancient town of Hampi, dotted with temples from the 7th Century
• Opulent Mysore Palace and the centuries-old Devaraja Market, filled with spices and silk
• Ooty in the cool Nilgiri Mountains
• The green and lush backwaters of Allepey & Kumarakom
• The tea & spice plantations of Munnar
• The Spiritual hub of Gorkana and Om Beach
• Varkala and Kovalam, beautiful beach resorts overlooking the Arabian Sea
• Abundance of wellbeing Ayuredic resorts, clinics & Ashrams
Daily Itinerary
Days 1 & 2 – Mumbai (Bombay)
• Arrive Mumbai International Airport, private taxi transfer to hotel
• Mumbai (formerly called Bombay) is India’s largest city.
• Sites to visit, Gateway of India stone arch, built by the British Raj in 1924, Elephanta Island which with ancient cave temples dedicated to the Hindu God Lord Shiva
• South district of Colaba for shops and markets
Stay 2 nights Mumbai
Days 3, 4 & 5 – Goa
• Fly from Mumbai to the state of Goa, check into beach resort overlooking the Arabian coast
• Visit the Latin Quarter, Panjim and Old Goa, including the UNESCO World Heritage site, Basilica of Bom, Anjuna Markets, Cabo da Rama, one of Goa’s most ancient forts
• Enjoy nightlife, restaurants and seafood on the beach
Days 6|7 – Gorkana
• After breakfast check out of hotel and drive 3-4 hours south to the Shiva coastal town
of Gorkana
• Wander around this small and remote holy town, with four of India’s most secluded and
pristine beaches
• Visit the ancient temples devoted to Lord Shiva and wander the arrange of local markets
Days 8|9|10 – Hampi
• After leisurely breakfast, depart for a scenic drive from coastal Gorkana to Hampi
• Explore the
• Spend some days exploring the 7th Century temples and museums and relax by the cafes overlooking the River Tungabhadra
• Also southeast of Hampi, Daroji Bear Sanctuary is home to the Indian sloth bear
Day 11 – Bangalore
• Depart on early for drive or train to Bangalore, the capital city of Karnataka, sub continents capital of IT & technology
• Check into hotel, relax, dinner
Stay 1 nights Bangalore 4*
Days 12|13 – Mysore
• Depart after breakfast to one of South India’s most green cities
• A center of sandalwood-carving, silk and incense production and yoga enthusiasts
• Mysore Palace is a magnificent edifice also known as the Amba Vilas Palace, it is the former palace of the royal family of Mysore and is still their official residence
• Also the bustling Devaraja Flower Markets
Days 14/15/16 – Ooty
• After breakfast depart to the beautiful Ooty Hills a popular town in the cool Nilgiri Mountains
• Enjoy a ride on the “Toy train” Situated at an altitude of 1858m
• Explore, the wonderful array of spice markets and tea plantations
Day 17 – Coimbatore
• Depart after breakfast for a scenic day trip to Coimbatore
• A small convenient town enroute to Kochi
Days 18|19 – Kochi
• Depart to Fort Cochin, a stunning location on the Arabian Sea
• Visit the Chinese Fishing nets, Portuguese temples and churches
• This area is enjoyable for wandering and relaxing in local cafes and bookstores
Day 20 – Allepey (Backwaters Private Houseboat)
• Depart in taxi south en-route the gateway of the famous Kerala Backwater canals
• Spend a day/night cruising in your own private houseboat, complete with private chef and all meals, stop through local villages and shop for seafood
1 overnight luxury houseboat
Days 21 – Kumarakom
• Disembark the houseboat after breakfast and continue onto village of Kumarakom
• Situated near Kottayam, Kumarakom is a sleepy little village on Vembanad Lake. It offers wide variety of flora, and a wonderful bird sanctuary spread across 14 acres, home for many migratory birds like Siberian stork
• Relax around the lake and stroll around the local villages
Day 22 – Trivandrum
• Depart Kumarakom mid-morning and transfer in taxi to Trivandrum international airport for flight back to Australia
Tour Package Includes:
• Tour Escort for whole journey – minimum 4 pax
• All airport, train station and hotel transfers in private taxi with driver
• 22 days Private Vehicle, for whole tour as per itinerary, with driver, inclusive of drivers expenses, road tolls, fuel, insurance, and parking
• Hotels – 21 nights – mix of 3* & 4* hotels inclusive of daily buffet breakfast
• All sightseeing excursions with local guides
• Meals – 1 main vegetarian meal per day (either lunch or dinner)
• Backwaters fully inclusive private house boat cruise (3 meals a day, with staff)
• Bottled Mineral Water & Wet wipes – for car journey
• Tour Contact in Sydney & Varanasi offices – Meredith Wilks, Mr. Sunit Tiwari
Tour Package excludes:
• International Airline tickets
• Comprehensive Travel insurance (compulsory) Tiwari provides 25% off Aussie Travel Cover
• Indian tourist visas
• Any shopping or items of personal nature
• Any meals food or drinks outside included meals as per itinerary
• Entrance fees to sightseeing
• Tipping to local staff and drivers
• Any costs associated with changing of the itinerary, such as cancelling hotels and re-booking and or
Details
• This is designed for families, couples, and singles
• Tour can operate with a minimum of 2 pax (4 pax for Tour escort)
• Itinerary can be adjusted in direction and any dates can be chosen
Hotels – Mix of 3 & 4 * boutique resorts & properties, to be confirmed at booking