Golden Triangle & Kerala - 14 days

Saturday. Upon arrival at Delhi you will be met and transferred to hotel. The following morning, attend our welcome meeting before we set out on a full day sightseeing tour of Delhi. In the evening, we enjoy a Namaste Dinner at an Indian restaurant. Overnight - New Delhi (B:1, D:1) Overnight - Hotel

Delhi - Jaipur. Today, we drive to the Pink City of Jaipur - the vibrant capital of the state of Rajasthan. Sightseeing includes a tour of the City Palace which is a wonderful example of Rajput architecture and Jantar Mantar - the world’s largest stone astronomical observatory . Early on day 4, we travel beyond Jaipur to the beautiful 16th century Amber Fort. In true Indian style we take an elephant ride* up to the entrance of the fort and tour the well-preserved interior and grounds. Returning to Jaipur, spend the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight - Jaipur (B:2) Overnight - Hotel

Jaipur - Bharatpur via Abhaneri and Peharsar. Bidding farewell to Jaipur, our first port of call today is the amazing Chand Baori in Abhaneri village, which is the largest and deepest step well in the world. The square well has an incredible 3500 steps and is 13 stories deep. Then driving on to the small rural village of Perharsar, we walk the backstreets to gain an insight into local life, traditions and (if open) visit the village school where we operate our ‘Change for Children’ programme. Here, we’ll also visit a charming haveli (mansion house) with small courtyard, lawned gardens and rustic ‘shabby chic’ appeal carefully being restored to glory of better farming years. After hotel check in at Bharatpur and time to freshen up we visit Keoladeo Ghana National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where we’ll enjoy a leisurely bicycle rickshaw ride through the park. Overnight - Bharatpur (B, D) Overnight - Hotel

Bharaptur - Agra. First stop today is Fatehpur Sikri, an abandoned ghost town which was once the grand capital of Mughal India. After exploring the wonderfully preserved red sandstone remains we travel to Agra to tour Agra Fort and India’s most enduring landmark - the Taj Mahal. As the sunsets we witness the most extravagant monument ever built for love fade into the night. Overnight - Agra (B) Overnight - Hotel

Agra - Delhi - breakfast. After breakfast we drive back to Delhi. Spend the remains of the day at leisure in India’s bustling capital. Overnight - New Delhi (B) Overnight - Hotel

Delhi - Kochi - breakfast. We catch an early morning flight to Kochi today in the beautiful southern state of Kerala. Long famed in the history books, Kochi (formerly known as Cochin) offered refuge to Jews more than 2,500 years ago. The Portuguese founded the first European colony in Kochi in the 16th century. The Dutch quickly followed and eventually, the British. The cosmopolitan mix of cultures makes the city fascinating. This evening we watch a Kathakali performance this evening. Kathakali is the fascinating traditional dance form of Kerala. Overnight - Kochi (B) Overnight - Hotel

Kochi - Munnar - breakfast. This morning we enjoy a guided tour of historic Fort Kochi. We see the elegant Chinese fishing nets and explore the winding streets of the old town, visiting St Francis’ Church, Parsi Synagogue (exterior only) and a Dutch palace. After our sightseeing in Kochi we drive east to Munnar - a picturesque hill station nestled on the verdant slopes of tea plantations. Located at a lofty height of 1600m, Munnar in South India offers breathtaking views of the surrounding hills carpeted with tea plantations. From many locations in Munnar, one can view Anamudi (2695m), South India’s highest peak. The rest of the afternoon is free to relax or explore the area. The next morning we’ll visit a tea plantation and museum, where we learn about the various stages of tea processing. Overnight - Munnar (B:2, D:2) Overnight - Hotel

Munnar - Alleppey - Keralan backwaters - breakfast. Departing Munnar early we drive to Alleppey and at midday we board a simply furnished private rice-boat for a journey through the lush backwaters. Our private rice-boat takes us sedately along the enchanting palm-fringed backwaters, covering a distance of some 20 kms, during which time the boat will glides past local villages and fascinating scenes of everyday rural life. Watch a beautiful sunset over the backwaters and enjoy a tasty meals prepared by the onboard chef, using fresh local produce. Overnight - Deluxe Rice Boat (B, L, D) Overnight - Hotel

Keralan Backwaters - Kumarakom - breakfast. We disembark the houseboat after breakfast this morning at Kumarakom. Perched sleepily amongst a tangle of lush tropical waterways known as the Keralan backwaters, Kumarakom is technically a cluster of islands on Lake Vembanad - one of Asia’s largest freshwater lakes. This is an ideal place to relax for the next two days and enjoy the beautiful scenery. There is also a wonderful bird sanctuary spread across 14 acres, which is a favoured haunt of migratory birds and certainly worthy of a visit. Overnight - Kumarakom (B:2) Overnight - Hotel

Kumarakom - Kochi - breakfast. Today marks the end of our memorable journey. After breakfast we travel back to Kochi and included transfer to the airport. Overnight - Hotel