Classic South India

 

Chennai	Taj Connemara Hotel	2 nights
Mysore	Regaalis Mysore	3 nights
Ooty	Taj Savoy Hotel	2 nights
Cochin	Taj Malabar Hotel	2 nights
Alleppey	Lake Palace Hotel	1 night
Periyar	Spice Village	1 night
Madurai	The Gateway Hotel	2 nights
Chennai	Taj Connemara Hotel	1 night

16 days from £1745

excluding international flights

DAY 1 - Depart UK.

Depart UK. Recommended flight from London: British Airways from London Heathrow (see below). If you are travelling from a country other than the UK we would be happy to give you guidance on your flight options.

DAY 2 - Arrive Chennai (Madras).

On arrival in Chennai in the early hours of the morning you will be met by a representative of World Discovery outside immigration and customs. You will then be taken by private car direct to your hotel. The morning has been left free for sleep and relaxation. In the afternoon your World Discovery India holiday gets under way when your guide meets you at your hotel and takes you on a brief sightseeing tour of South India's largest city, founded by the British in the 17th century. Visits will include Fort St. George (1666) and the interesting St. Mary's Church, the first English church built in India.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 3 – Kanchipuram, Mamallapuram.

A full day excursion to two of the most important religious sites of Southern India, Kanchipuram and Mamallapuram. Return to Chennai by early evening.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch.

DAY 4 - Fly to Bangalore. Continue to Mysore.

In the morning fly to Bangalore where you will be met and driven south to the city of Mysore, the former capital of the princely state famous for its sandalwood, silks and jasmine.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 5 - Mysore sightseeing.

Morning sightseeing in Mysore. The afternoon is at leisure.
Meals Included: Full breakfast.

DAY 6 - Somnathpur, Srirangapatnam.

This morning visit the exquisite temple of Somnathpur, and Srirangapatnam, the summer palace of Tipu Sultan. The afternoon is free.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 7 - Drive to 'Ooty'.

Your journey today will take you up into the cool air of the Nilgiri Hills to reach the old British hill station of Ootacamund, better known as 'Ooty'. Located at 2,286m/7,500ft, Ooty was a summer retreat from the heat of the southern plains for the government officials of the Madras Residency, and also attracted coffee and tea planters from the early 19th century onwards.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 8 - Ooty.

Ooty has grown considerably since British times but nostalgic vestiges of the past can still be discovered. This morning you will visit the Botanical Gardens, containing over 1,000 varieties of plant, shrub and tree including orchids, ferns and medicinal plants. St. Stephen's Church, dating from the 1820s, retains the atmosphere of a vanished way of life. The afternoon is free. Worth experiencing is the delightful narrow gauge steam Mountan Railway, opened in 1899, which travels between Ooty and the smaller hill station of Coonoor.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 9 - Drive to Cochin.

A long drive today brings you to the state of Kerala and the port of Cochin.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch.

DAY 10 - Cochin.

Cochin is one of the most charming of India'scities, set picturesquely overlooking Lake Vembanad, separated by anarrow island from the Arabian Sea. This strategic port has been foughtover by the Arabs, British, Chinese, Dutch, and Portuguese, each ofwhich has left indelible marks on the city's history. This morning takea tour of Fort Cochin (Kochi), the oldest part of the city, visitingthe Dutch-style Mattancherry Palace, now a museum, the 16th century Church of St Francis, the market area and the distinctive Chinese fishing nets (pictured) that line the entrance to the harbour. The afternoon is at leisure.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 11 - Drive to Alleppey.

Drive south from Cochin into the famous backwaters of Kerala. Check into your hotel and in the afternoon enjoy a relaxing cruise through the lush tropical channels and lagoons, lined by palm trees. From the boat you will see papaya, mangoes, jack fruit and tapioca growing and you should witness the everyday activities along the waterways - coir making, rice-growing, fishing and the constant traffic of dugout canoes along the channels.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 12 – By boat and road to Lake Periyar.

A further cruise this morning will bring you the the Coconut Lagoon, where you will have lunch before transferring by boat to Kumarakom. Your driver will be waiting for you and will drive you past the plantations and spice gardens of the Kerala countryside to reach Lake Periyar and the adjoining Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Your hotel is located in Thekkady, close to the entrance to the sanctuary.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch.

DAY 13 - Boat ride on Lake Periyar.

An early rise to enjoy a boat ride on Lake Periyar. Although Periyar is officially a 'Project Tiger' reserve, it is very rare to see these magnificent beasts, but you will see lots of birds (there are some 246 species here), bisons, wild boars and deer, and there are frequently herds of elephants at the water's edge. In the afternoon drive to Madurai.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 14 - Madurai.

Morning sightseeing in the holy city of Madurai. The afternoon is at leisure.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 15 – Fly back to Chennai.

In the morning fly back to Chennai and return to your first hotel. The rest of the day is free until your departure after midnight to the airport.
Meals included: Full breakfast

DAY 16 – Depart for UK.

Private transfer to the airport for your international flight home.

International Flights.

We recommend the services of British Airways from London Heathrow. Current timings (subject to possible change) are as follows:
Heathrow/Chennai. Depart at 09.40; arrive Chennai at 00.55 (after midnight)
Chennai/Heathrow. Depart at 04.00; arrive Heathrow at 09.40

India Holidays: Classic South India (Tour Reference: WDIN015)
2012 Departures
Price per person based on a minimum of two persons travelling together:

Daily departures (except Wed, Thur)	Price
Jan to 15 Apr	£1895
Sep	£1745
Oct to Dec	£1945

Single Room Supplements on request.

The price includes:

• Scheduled domestic flights from Chennai to Bangalore, and from Madurai to Chennai, including airport taxes.
• Hotel accommodation as listed above in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities.
• 13 full breakfasts and 3 lunches as shown in the itinerary.
• Private transportation throughout.
• All sightseeing as shown (unless indicated as ‘optional’), including entrance fees.
• The services of private English-speaking drivers throughout. The cruise on Lake Periyar is not exclusive to passengers of World Discovery.
• The services of private guides for the included sightseeing.
  

Not included in the price:

• International flights (see our recommendation above). We are happy to discuss the flights with you and give you further guidance.
• Optional sightseeing.
• International airport taxes.
• Tipping. We will be pleased to give guidance in this often sensitive matter.
• An Indian Visa. This should be obtained before departure from the United Kingdom. Applications should be made online through VFS Global, the official representatives of the High Commission in London - http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/.

A deposit of £250 per person is required at the time of booking. The balance of the price for your India Holiday must be paid at least 8 weeks before your departure date.