Bazaars & Backwaters in India Trip Notes

kerala
Duration

Day Plan

13 Day/12 Night

Group Size

16People

Languages

English

If this trip isn’t for you then please see our Highlights of Portugal (/portugal-holidays/culture/highlights-portugal/adp-0)
trip
Brace yourself. This two-week extravaganza explores one of the world’s most magni

cent lands. A whirlwind tour of the Golden
Triangle in the north sees you checking out the highlights in style, with sunrise yoga at the Taj Mahal and a night in a palatial fort.
Then head south to Kerala for adventures through the spice-scented countryside and glorious backwaters. You’ll see remarkable
wildlife, mingle with the locals and taste extraordinary

avours. To experience the spirituality, history, traditions, cuisine and culture

of India, you have to dive right in.
Day 1
Arrive in vibrant Delhi

On arrival in Delhi, you’ll transfer to a hotel in the popular Karol Bagh area, known for its eclectic and colourful market.
Depending on your arrival time, you may have a little while to start to explore this cacophonous place.
Hotel: Jivitesh

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Day 2
Get under the skin of Old Delhi

This morning is dedicated to exploring the sights and sounds of Delhi in ways that support local communities and charities.
First there’s an off-the-grid walking tour, exploring Old Delhi with true experts – ex-street children. They’ll show you a side of
Old Delhi not seen on standard tours. Curious and enthusiastic, they’re just as likely to ask questions as to answer them as you
make your way around the hectic streets and bustling alleyways.
Next, you’ll visit the kitchens of a Sikh Temple to meet the people who serve food to thousands of Delhi’s most impoverished
citizens every day. You’ll eat alongside the diners before leaving Delhi and taking the expressway to Agra, home of the
alluring Taj Mahal.
Hotel: Howard Plaza Fern
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3
Sunrise yoga at the Taj Mahal

A yoga class at dawn, with the Taj Mahal bathed in the morning light as your backdrop, will surely be a seminal moment of
your trip. Breakfast is back at the hotel before you return to the Taj Mahal for a tour of this beautiful and majestic building.
Later, you’ll put your dancing shoes on for a lesson in the most energetic moves on the planet -- Bollywood style.
Hotel: Howard Plaza Fern
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 4
On to Jaipur for a bazaar and street food tour

Today you’ll travel to the enthralling city of Jaipur, stopping at Abhaneri Stepwell en route. Not your ordinary water well, this
architectural gem is a real marvel and is one of the oldest and deepest stepwells in Rajasthan.
You’ll arrive in Jaipur with plenty of time to explore the colourful bazaars with your tour leader on a foodie walking tour,
feasting on delicious pre-dinner street food snacks.
Hotel: KK Royal
Meals included: Breakfast

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Day 5
A day with locals

This morning you’ll visit Amber Fort, a magni

cent complex crafted from yellow and pink sandstone. Then it’s on to a Dhula
village to meet local families and artisans such as potters and bangle makers. You’ll have the opportunity to get hands-on,
helping farmers milk cows or plough

elds and genuinely experience rural life.

In the evening, there’s time to explore exotic Jaipur and the chaotic streets that thrum with camels, buses and motorbikes.
Hotel: KK Royal
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6
Feel like royalty at a Fort Palace stay

Today you’ll head to the glorious 15th-century Neemrana Fort-Palace, now a spectacular hotel. It’s a sprawling resort that
extends over nine palace wings. But before you wander the Fort-Palace’s hanging gardens or , swim in the pools that look
out over the hillsides, you’ll take a dromedary (an Arabian camel) for an unforgettable ride around the local area.
Then, as the sun sets, enjoy the magical atmosphere as hundreds of fairy lights sparkle across the resort.
Hotel: Neemrana Fort Palace Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7
Fly south to Kerala

Leaving your palatial surroundings behind, head to Delhi airport for a

ight south to Cochin (or Kochi as it’s otherwise known)

in Kerala. There’s a wild mix of history and culture here, curated from the in

uences of over 600 years of traders and
travellers. The Cochin of today is a centre of Keralan arts and wandering the quaint lanes lined with cafes, galleries and
handicraft shops give you a sense of this traditional and contemporary art scene. Dinner this evening is on a pier at a
waterfront restaurant, serving seafood specialities.
Hotel: No 18 Fort Cochin
Meals included: Breakfast

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Day 8
Cycle around historic Fort Cochin

Arguably the best way to see Fort Cochin is by bike. So today you’ll take a leisurely cycle ride, stopping to try your hand at
working the Chinese Fishing Nets, the imposing cantilevered contraptions that are a legacy of ancient traders. After, the time
is your own to continue exploring Cochin. This evening there’s a private sundowner cruise to enjoy another blazing Indian
sunset with drinks and snacks.
Hotel: No 18 Fort Cochin
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 9
Explore a spice plantation

Today head inland to the misty, spice-scented valleys of Periyar National Park. There’s time to settle into the hotel after the
journey before joining a local specialist on a spice garden walking tour to learn how spices grow, smell and taste. This
evening there’s a mesmerising martial arts performance and dinner.
Hotel: Cardamon County
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10
Hike and raft through Periyar National Park

After breakfast, you’ll explore Periyar National Park. As you walk through the forest, your ranger will point out animal tracks,
perhaps from bison, sambar, wild boar or elephants. Although elusive, there are tigers here too. Next, take to the lake on a
bamboo raft for a serene and re

ective look at the majesty of the park. There’s a picnic for lunch, and then the afternoon is

free to indulge in the hotel’s spa and wellness facilities.
Hotel: Cardamom County
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11
Stay on a houseboat in Alleppey

Transfer to the glorious water-world of Alleppey. It’s the centre of Kerala’s backwaters and a maze of waterways. The
houseboats here are a famous feature and you’ll stay onboard one of these basic but beautiful vessels tonight. Boarding in
time for lunch you will see local village life unfold as we pass through green paddy

elds and verdant countryside. Tonight,

your houseboat crew will prepare a traditional Keralan dinner.
Kerala Houseboat
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Accommodation
Hotels and Houseboat

Jivitesh, Delhi
Comfortable and well-equipped rooms within easy reach of local shops and entertainment.
Howard Plaza - The Fern, Agra
This hotel is close to the iconic Taj Mahal. Along with comfortable rooms and excellent facilities, it’s got top eco-credentials.
Day 12
Kick back on Cherai Beach

Leaving your houseboat in Alleppey behind, you’re bound for Cherai Beach on Vypeen Island. The pace here is decidedly
unhurried (a world away from your city experiences) and the day is yours to relax on the beach, lapped by the Arabian Sea.
If you’re looking for more adventure, there are plenty of watersports to try. Or simply kick back and enjoy the sound of the
waves as a

tting farewell to your Indian immersion.

Hotel: Sea Lagoon
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 13
A
nal breakfast

Your Indian adventure comes to an end after breakfast when you can join the free transfer to Cochin airport.
Meals included: Breakfast
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