DAY 1 - Trip startsin New Delhi.
Arrive in New Delhi, India's bustling capital which successfully combinesthe ancient with the modern.
Amidst the tall and modern skyscrapers, there are still the remnants of a bygone timewith numerous
monuments and temples.
For those arriving today our Leader plansto meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for thewelcome
meeting and suggest evening dining options. Should you missthewelcome meeting, your Leader will
inform you of any essential information assoon as you catch up.
If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into New Delhi's
Indira Gandhi International airport (airport codeDEL), which is 18km, around 40 minutesfrom our hotel.
There are no activities planned on our first day.
DAY 2 - Full day in New Delhi, exploring the city by metro and rickshaw.
This morning, wewill travel to Old Delhi by metro and walk around the narrow, packed lanes of this
fascinating part of the city, culminating with a jamboree of sounds at Chandni Chowk and Chawari
Bazaar. A short cycle rickshaw ride then takes usto the Jama Masjid mosque, a sublime example of
Mughal architecture built by Emperor Shah Jahan and a welcomed oasis of calm in the midst of the city.
Whilst in Old Delhi wewill take a detour to Pranthaewali gali, a narrow side street, to try some of the
capital'sstreet food treatsstraight from the stall sellers. Try aloo chaat (fried potato and spice mix) or
paneer tikka (cottage cheese marinated in spices) along with freshly cooked breadssuch as parathas and
rotis. The afternoon is kept free for further exploration or to relax at our hotel.
DAY 3 - Travel to Agra and visit itsfort. Take a rickshaw to witnesssunset at the magnificent
Taj Mahal.
Leaving Delhi, we drive south to Agra (around 4 hour's drive) known to theworld asthe city of the 'Taj
Mahal'. Agra isstill associated with the Mughals, who besides being the countriesrulers were also great
builders. Agra Fort, which isthe seat and the stronghold of the Mughal Empire is a vivid reminder of the
opulence and makes Agra one of the mostremarkable citiesin India.
Our firststop isthe imposing Agra Fort, whose grandeur and importance hasseen it inscribed on the
UNESCO World Heritage List. Built by Emperor Akbar and then embellished by his grandson, Shah Jahan,
this was once a great city, with palaces, mosques and halls all lying behind the protective embrace of 20m
high walls.
Towardsthe end of the day we make a sunset visit of theworld-renowned Taj Mahal by rickshaw.
Celebrated for its architectural magnificence and aesthetic beauty, Emperor Shah Jahan built this
exquisitewhite marble mausoleum for hisfavourite queen, Mumtaz Mahal, commissioned in 1631. The
palace took 20,000 artisanstwenty two yearsto complete.
Watching the sun set over this great monument is a wonderful way of witnessing the fading light.
Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Taj Mahal has always evoked varying emotionsfrom
wonder to poetic verse and over the centuries has become a symbol of love and flawless beauty.
DAY 4 - Continue to Jaipur with a stop at the beautiful Keoladeo Ghana National Park for a
rickshaw bird watching tour.
This morning we drive to the Keoladeo Ghana National Park in Bharatpur. Initially a Maharaja's hunting
estate built in 1956, it is now a bird sanctuary to some 375 species of birdsincluding egrets, darters,
cormorants, herons and painted storks with their colourful beaks and plumage.
After a busy first two daysthe pace relaxes as we take a bird-watching tour by cycle rickshaw and hope
to see some of these magnificent birds.
Our journey continues on to Jaipur, the vibrant capital of Rajasthan which isrenowned for itsforts and
palacesthat have encapsulated an image of the 'Pink City' due to its pink-coloured buildings. An ideal
base for touring the royal state, the city hasthe distinction of being the third jewel of India's'Golden
Triangle'. Its main claim to fame isthat it isIndia'sfirst 'planned' city built by the famous 18th century
astronomer King Sawai Jai Singh II.
DAY 5 - Full day in Jaipur, known asthe 'pink city'. Visit the Amber Palace and Fortress and
Hawa Mahal also known asthe Palace of the Winds.
After breakfast we head to the fabulous Amber Fortsituated on a ridge just outside Jaipur city. The fort
issurrounded by fortified battlements with ruinsthat are spread over the surrounding Aravalli hills. Our
visit incorporatesthe chambers and hallways of the palace, famousfor its design and decoration as well
as Ganesh Pol, an imposing gateway painted with images of the elephant-headed god, Ganesh. We also
make a stop at theHawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) - a five-storied wonder with a spectacular pyramidal
facadewith overhanging windows with latticed screens, domes and spires.In the afternoon, we visit the City Palace Museum which has a superb collection of Rajasthani costumes,
armoury including swords with chiselled handles, an art gallery with an excellent collection of miniature
paintings and rare astronomical works. We also see the awe-inspiring Jantar Mantar Observatory, a
stone astrological and astronomical observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh in the 18th century.
During thewinter monthsthe Mandawa Haveli hotel in Jaipur provides puppetshow for inhouse guests,
please speak to the hotel reception for details.
DAY 6 - Fly to Kochi in Southern India.
Bidding farewell to northern India, we fly to Kochi a port city on the Indian Ocean and the commercial
capital of Kerala. Cochin or Kochi haslong been praised asthe 'Queen of the Arabian Sea'. Strategically
located on the east-westsea route, Kochi is Kerala's major port and boasts one of the finest natural
harboursin theworld and isthe most cosmopolitan of the state's cities.
Your flight details will be provided by our trip leader asthese are booked locally. Depending on which
flight we take, there may be time to wander around the historic centre before dinner.
DAY 7 - Drive to Fort Kochi, visit the Mattancherry Palace and watch the famous Kathakali
Dancers
We take an auto-rickshaw (3-wheeler automated 'scooter') to Fort Kochi. Fort Kochi isthe oldest
European settlement in India, dating back to 1500, with a blend of English, Dutch and Portuguese
influence. This morning we take our time to explore this great city and take in some of the sitesincluding
the bustling fish markets as well asthe historic Jewish quarter.
Later in the morning we head to Mattancherry Palace, built by the Portuguese in the 16th century. The
Palace featuresseveral exquisite Kerala murals depicting Hindu temple art, portraits and exhibits of the
Rajas of Kochi. A blend of colonial and Kerala architecture, it was a gift to the local ruler by the
Portuguese in exchange for trading rights. The palacewaslater renovated by theDutch and is widely
referred to astheDutch Palace these days.
This evening we see the famous Kathakali dancers. With its origins coming from the traditional temple
rituals and an art form known as Koodiyattam, the performers use face makeup which can take up to
three hoursto paint on and makesthis dance so uniquewithin the country. Their features are heavily
emphasised with their facial expressions and coordinated eye movements being important within the
dance - during our visit, we can see the process of applying the make-up.
DAY 8 - Drive to Thekkady, free afternoon
This morning we drive to Thekkady via the meandering roadsthrough the high ranges and pastrubber
and tea plantations. We should arrive early afternoon; the rest of the day isfree.
DAY 9 - Boat trip in Periyar National Park, visit a tea factory and drive to Mancombo village
for a homestay visit.
After breakfast, we drive to Thekkady which isthe closestsettlement to the Periyar National Park. A
stunning setting on the shores of Lake Periyar, our base is home to a myriad of wildlife such as elephant,
wild pigs, monkey and the flying squirrel. The park also boastssome 260 species of birdsincluding
darters, ospreys and kingfishers. We take a guided boat trip in the hope of spotting some of thesewild
creatures although sightings cannot be guaranteed. The park itself is made up of a variety of habitats
including open grasslands and semi-evergreen forests with an abundant number of ferns, orchids and air-
plants all making up a beautiful ecosystem.
Later in the day, drive to the rural Chennmkary Village to visit a tea factory. The site houses photographs
and machines depicting the flourishing tea industry that the region isfamousfor with an explanation of
each stage of the tea making process.
There is ample time to further explore the village and meet our hostsfor the next two days. Optionsfor
this afternoon include taking a short walk amongst the fruit and medicinal plantsthatsurround the
village, as well asstrolling through banana and coconut plantations. There is also the option to travel by
canoe and visit the famoustemples of Karumadikuttan, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Accommodation at
Mancombo village, close to Chennmkary isspread over several village housesthat issimply styled with
traditional Kerala furniture. Due to space constraints, families may need to share a room together. The
houses are close together, approx. 5-10 minutes walk between them and all have bedding and towels
provided. The locals will cook the mealsfor the group and we all dine together giving the opportunity to
understand how they live. The villagers grow their own rice, vegetables, coconuts and spices which are
all used in the meals.
DAY 10 - Free day to explore Mancombo Village including nature walks and canoe trips.
Today isleft free to explore the area with the opportunity to take a stroll through the serene Kerala
hamlets and experience the tropical forestsfilled with the fragrance of medicinal flowers. To cover more
expanses you can sail through the interior villages and backwatersin a non-mechanized open canoe to
get a chance of experiencing traditional Kerala hamlets.
DAY 11 - Drive to Alleppey and board a houseboat to explore the Kerala Backwaters
This morning we drive to the lively backwater centre of Alleppey wherewe board our houseboats and
begin our relaxing cruise into the network of the Kerala backwaters.
On the more open canals, you can see boats with large sails- the bow often carved in the shape of a
dragon. These vessels are a lifeline for the villages with a number acting astaxis, mail delivery carriages
and goodstransport. You may see great pyramids of coconuts or even the odd buffalo being carried along
in thistime honoured fashion. We plan to stop off atseveral points of interest en-route including the
Chambakulam Saint Foreine Church and Chambakulam Chundan - the famoussnake boats.
Our houseboats are converted from old rice-barges, with walls and roofs of coir. Furnishings are simple
yet comfortablewith en-suite bathrooms and an area to relax and watch riverside life as we go by. Whilst
the engine boat isrunning therewill be some power supply to charge cameras. The air conditioning will
be limited to night time only in order to conserve power. Traditional Kerala cuisine isserved on board.
DAY 12 - Drive to the beach resort of Mararikulam
Disembarking the houseboat, we drive the short journey to the resort in Mararikulam with the rest of the
day free to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere and beach activities. Mararikulam is a typical fishing village
which islocated on the southwest coast of Central Kerala and offers an unblemished and pristine
shoreline,swaying coconut palms, thatched huts and a view point to watch the striking sunsets.
DAY 13 - Full day at the resort of Mararikulam
Today is a free day at Mararikulam to enjoy the beach.
DAY 14 - Trip endsin Mararikulam
The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Mararikulam.
There are no activities planned today,so you are free to depart from Mararikulam at any time. If your
flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to
receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you need to depart from Cochin International Airport
(airport code COK), which is 75km, around two hoursfrom the hotel.