Inclusions

• Flights: International economy flights from the UK with Emirates via Dubai, including airline taxes and checked baggage.
• Accommodation: 15 nights across Bangalore (1), Mysore (2), Ooty (1), Cochin (2), an overnight backwaters houseboat cruise (1), Kumarakom (1), Thekkady (2), Madurai (1), Tanjore (2), Pondicherry (1) and Chennai (1), with daily breakfast (half board on the houseboat cruise).
• Transport: Private car with English-speaking driver throughout, plus all airport transfers.
• Sightseeing: Guided touring including an afternoon Bangalore city tour (Tipu Sultan’s Palace, Bull Temple, Lalbagh Gardens, Cubbon Park and Vidhana Soudha), en-route visits to Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace at Srirangapatnam and Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, a Mysore city tour (Mysore Palace, the Nandi Bull and Chamundi Hills), sightseeing around Ooty (the Botanical Gardens, Ooty Lake, Doddabetta and the tea plantations), a half-day Kochi tour (the Dutch Palace, Jew Street, the Jewish Synagogue, St Francis Church and the Chinese fishing nets), a Madurai sightseeing tour (Meenakshi Temple, Thirumalai Nayak Palace, Koodal Azhagar Temple and the Gandhi Museum) with an evening Pooja ceremony, Trichy’s Rock Fort and temples en route to Tanjore, a Tanjore tour (Brihadeeswara Temple, Saraswathi Mahal Library and the Art Gallery), Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram en route to Pondicherry, Auroville, the Pondicherry Museum and Botanical Garden, and Mahabalipuram’s Shore Temple, Arjuna’s Penance and Artisans Village en route to Chennai.
• Experiences: A toy train ride through the hills to Coonoor, a Kathakali dance performance in Kochi, an overnight backwaters houseboat cruise from Alappuzha to Kumarakom, and an evening boat safari on Lake Periyar.
• Meals: Lunch and dinner aboard the overnight backwaters houseboat cruise.
• Protection: ATOL and full financial protection

Accommodation

• 1 night accommodation in Bangalore
• 2 nights accommodation in Mysore
• 1 night accommodation in Ooty
• 2 nights accommodation in Cochin
• 1 night accommodation in Backwater Cruise
• 1 night accommodation in Kumarakom
• 2 nights accommodation in Thekkady
• 1 night accommodation in Madurai
• 2 nights accommodation in Tanjore
• 1 night accommodation in Pondicherry
• 1 night accommodation in Chennai

Tour duration is shown in days and includes overnight flights. Hotel accommodation totals 15 nights, as listed above.

Day 9: Kumarakom

Arrive at Kumarakom around 09:30 am after a relaxing breakfast on board.

Check into your hotel with the rest of the day free. You can opt for an Ayurvedic Full Body Massage at the resort.

Overnight: Kumarakom
Meals: Breakfast included

Day 10: Thekkady

Add on an optional early morning visit to the nearby bird sanctuary if you wish.

After breakfast, drive to Thekkady and check in to your chosen hotel.

In the afternoon, visit the spice plantations and Kumily town.

Overnight: Thekaddy
Meals: Breakfast included

Day 11: Thekkady

Enjoy the morning at leisure. Add on an easy trek through the forest if you wish.

In the evening, you can enjoy boating on Lake Periyar to view the wildlife.

Overnight: Thekkady
Meals: Breakfast included

Day 12: Madurai

After an early breakfast, drive to Madurai and check into your chosen hotel.

Enjoy an afternoon tour of Madurai including Meenakshi Temple, Thirumalai Naicker Palace, Koodal Azhagar Temple and the Gandhi Museum.

In the evening visit Sri Meenakshi Temple and attend a Pooja ceremony.

Overnight: Madurai
Meals: Breakfast included

Day 13: Tanjore

After an early breakfast, drive to Tanjore, with a visit to Trichy en-route.

Visit the Rock Fort, Vinayaka Temple, Tayumanaswamy and Sriranqam temples.

Afterwards, drive on to Tanjore and check into your chosen hotel.

Overnight: Tanjore
Meals: Breakfast included

Day 14: Tanjore

After breakfast, enjoy a tour of Tanjore.

Visit the Brihadeeswara Temple, Saraswathi Mahal Library and the Art Gallery with its large collection of Chola bronzes.

Overnight: Tanjore
Meals: Breakfast included

Day 15: Pondicherry

After an early breakfast, drive to Pondicherry.

En-route, visit Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram.

In the afternoon explore nearby Auroville, Pondicherry Museum and the Botanical Garden.

In the evening you can enjoy a stroll on the promenade.

Overnight: Pondicherry
Meals: Breakfast included

Day 16: Chennai

After breakfast, drive towards Chennai.

En-route, visit Mahabalipuram and visit the Shore Temple, Arjuna's Penance and the Artisans Village at Mahabalipuram.

Afterwards proceed to Chennai and check into your chosen hotel.

Overnight: Chennai
Meals: Breakfast included

Day 17: Chennai - UK

Transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK.

Day 18: Arrive UK

Arrive back in the UK.

Do you cater for Solo Travellers & Families?

Yes, we have many solo travellers. India can present some challenges to travelling alone, which is why being accompanied by a professional driver and guide can take so much of the concern away.

India is suitable for adventurous families of all ages and we can tailor something specifically to fit your family's needs.

Bear in mind that driving distances can be long in India and a family holiday to India requires some careful planning.

How long have you been organising holidays to India?

We've been organising tailor made holidays to India for over 10 years.

Our team has a wealth of combined experience in the industry and our Director has been involved in organising holidays to India since the early 1990's.

Our partners on the ground in India have over 20 years experience in operating there.

They understand the country inside out and have a strong infrastructure of staff, guides and vehicles.

We've had the same partnerships in India for over 10 years.

How do I get the most out of my India trip?

India is such a large country that it's often overwhelming looking at the different destinations and trying to work out what to include.

We often find that our customers come with a 'shopping list' of destinations for a tour of India that has run out of control.

In our experience we usually need to tone down people's expectations of how much of India they can see in one trip and we try to steer the focus on to one or two areas.

Rajasthan for instance is like a country in its own right and its the perfect place to start for first time visitors to India. Delhi, Agra and Rajasthan is the perfect combination for a first time trip.

Varanasi, Shimla and one of the Tiger Reserves in Madhya Pradesh can also be added.

Of course we're guided by you, but we recommend trying to include a variety of sights or activities on a trip and also to allow some days to slow down the pace as India can feel quite intense.