South India: Elephants, tea plantations, cities and the sea
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Price$1250+ flight to Mumbai and from Kochi back home
- Physical grade 2/5
- Service grade Standard
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Duration18 days
In 18 days we will travel about 3000 km from the heart of India - Mumbai to Kochi - the legendary port of Malabar coast. We will visit four southern states – Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, enjoying quiet beaches, magnificent mountain resorts, Hampi - the magical former capital of the ancient empire and Mysore - the city of spices. We will also visit picturesque tea plantations, famous palaces of rajas, get glimpses of wild animals, explore ancient temples and the iconic Meenakshi Amman - the main Hindu temple of Southern India.
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Day 1-2Morning arrival in Mumbai, the business capital of India. Checking into a hotel close to the famous Victoria Terminus Station. We will walk in the historic Kolaba district, explore Mumbai's famous seafront and proceed to the oldest docks in the city where fishing boats have been unloading fish and shrimps for centuries. From there we get to the colorful Crawford market, ride subway to Chowpatty beach, visit Mahatma Gandhi museum and walk to the nearby ancient Babulnath Shiva temple.
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Day 3-5Night bus to Hospet, Karnataka state (15 hours on the way), then a 30 minutes rickshaw ride to a nearby village of Hampi, the impressive capital of the 12th-17th century Vijayanagara state. Hampi is surrounded by the picturesque mountains around the Tungabhadra river and boasts magical ancient temples, old palaces of stunning beauty and tranquil nature. We will stay in a local simple bungalows and visit all the best sights. At the end of our stay we will take a night bus (or daytime jeeps) to the town of Gokarna.
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Day 6-9Arrival in Gokarna, checking into simple bungalows on Kudle beach. During our two days here we will relax on several lovely beaches and explore the old town of Gokarna which preserved colonial Portuguese architecture, some temples and tiny medieval streets. At the end of our stay we will take a night bus to Mysore, the spices capital of India, where we will check into a local hotel. Here we will visit the town’s famous Palace of rajas and the old market.
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Day 10-12In the morning we take a 5-hours bus trip to the mountain resort town of Ooti 2000 meters above sea level. Here we will spend one night in a local hotel, enjoy unique Botanical garden and lovely mountain landscapes. Next morning we will ride a historic railway which was built by the British in 1911 and will take us from Ooti down to the valley in 3 hours. We then take a bus to Madurai (7 hours) where we will check into a hotel in the center and visit Sri Meenakshi - one of the oldest temples in India.
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Day 13-16We depart from Madurai by jeeps to Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. There we will take a simple 1 hour hike, enjoying views of the river, forests and mountains and visiting ancient cave paintings. We might also get a glimpse of wild animals and spend a night in the Sanctuary’s very simple wooden houses near the river. Then we proceed to Munnar, the old British mountain resort town 1600 meters above sea level. We check into a local hotel and spend one and a half days, taking rickshaw trips to the breathtaking mountain tea estates. We will also visit panoramic Top Station and are very likely to stumble upon herds of wild elephants and bisons. From Munnar we ride local bus to Kochi (4-5 hours) and check into a hotel in the historic Fort Kochi district.
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Day 17During our one and a half days in Kochi we will explore historic Fort Kochi with its Spanish and Portuguese architecture and ride rickshaws to the old Jewish district where we will visit the oldest synagogue in India. We will also visit Raja’s Palace with its unique murals and photographs and enjoy sea food on one of the most authentic seafood markets in India. Flight back home.
| Dates | Availability |
|---|---|
| 2019 | |
| 25.11 - 13.12 | Available for booking |
| 2020 | |
| 01.02 - 18.02 | Available for booking |
| Departures | Availability | Price | Deposit | This group speaks | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | |||||
| 25 November - 13 December | Available for booking | $1250 | $570 | Rus.,Ukr.,Eng. | Book |
| 2020 | |||||
| 01 February - 18 February | Available for booking | $1250 | $570 | Rus. | Book |
| Departures | 25.11.2019 - 13.12.2019 |
| Availability | Available for booking |
| Price | $1250 |
| Deposit | $570 |
| This group speaks | Rus.,Ukr.,Eng. |
| Book | Book |
| Departures | 01.02.2020 - 18.02.2020 |
| Availability | Available for booking |
| Price | $1250 |
| Deposit | $570 |
| This group speaks | Rus. |
| Book | Book |
In 18 days we will travel about 3000 km from the heart of India - Mumbai to Kochi - the legendary port of Malabar coast. We will visit four southern states – Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, enjoying quiet beaches, magnificent mountain resorts, Hampi - the magical former capital of the ancient empire and Mysore - the city of spices. We will also visit picturesque tea plantations, famous palaces of rajas, get glimpses of wild animals, explore ancient temples and the iconic Meenakshi Amman - the main Hindu temple of Southern India.
Is this trip for you?
The trip is of easy physical grade. It consists of visiting cities, small towns and villages. The trip includes long city walks and short easy hikes in the national park. We will also take two overnight comfortable bus (or train) rides with sleeping benches and air conditioning and several short bus trips of up to 6 hours. Accommodation in tourist class hotels, guesthouses and bungalows, all will have hot water, most of them - wifi internet.
Price of the trip includes:
- Accommodation in double (sometimes triple and more) rooms of simple hotels and bungalows;
- Train tickets (3АС class - with comfortable sleeping benches and air conditioning), bus tickets (overnight buses - with sleeping benches and air conditioning), public transport and rented vehicles, including rickshaws;
- Professional guiding services.
To be paid separately:
- Flight to Mumbai and from Kochi back home;
- Entrance fees to attractions, including museums, palaces and parks ($50);
- Food ($7-12 per person per day);
- Medical insurance (mandatory);
- Indian visa ($103).
| Dates | Availability |
|---|---|
| 2019 | |
| 25.11 - 13.12 | Available for booking |
| 2020 | |
| 01.02 - 18.02 | Available for booking |
In 18 days we will travel about 3000 km from the heart of India - Mumbai to Kochi - the legendary port of Malabar coast. We will visit four southern states – Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, enjoying quiet beaches, magnificent mountain resorts, Hampi - the magical former capital of the ancient empire and Mysore - the city of spices. We will also visit picturesque tea plantations, famous palaces of rajas, get glimpses of wild animals, explore ancient temples and the iconic Meenakshi Amman - the main Hindu temple of Southern India.
| Dates | Availability |
|---|---|
| 2019 | |
| 25.11 - 13.12 | Available for booking |
| 2020 | |
| 01.02 - 18.02 | Available for booking |
Citizens of almost all countries need a visa to enter India.
Visa can be obtained online or in the embassy prior to the trip.
We provide free visa consulting for our clients.
| Dates | Availability |
|---|---|
| 2019 | |
| 25.11 - 13.12 | Available for booking |
| 2020 | |
| 01.02 - 18.02 | Available for booking |
Olha Grudzinskaya
- Price: + $30
| Dates | Availability |
|---|---|
| 2019 | |
| 25.11 - 13.12 | Available for booking |
| 2020 | |
| 01.02 - 18.02 | Available for booking |
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