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Day 1 London/Kochi (Cochin)
Depart London Heathrow by overnight Emirates scheduled flight via Dubai.

Day 2 Kochi (Cochin)
Arrive Kochi this morning and transfer to Brunton Boat Yard, your hotel for a 2-night stay (Standard Seaview Room & Breakfast). Remainder of day at leisure.

Day 3 Kochi (Cochin)
Spread across islands and promontories between the Arabian Sea and the Kerala Backwaters. Kochi. was founded in 1341 after a flood created a natural safe port. Cochin was on the main trade route between Europe and China and became the principal harbour for the Malabar Coast's spice trade. People of various religions settled here, and both Jewish and the Christian communities grew up, with their own places of worship. A full day's sightseeing tour includes the Dutch Palace at Mattancherry (renowned for its wall murals depicting scenes from the Ramayanas); the Jewish Synagogue at the heart of what is locally called the Jew Town, with many spice traders and curio shops; the St Francis Church (oldest European church in India); and the Santa Cruz Basilica, built in 1557 by the Portuguese. In the evening enjoy a Kathakali dance performance. Kathakali is the classical dance drama of Kerala, which dates from the 17th century and is rooted in Hindu mythology.

Day 4 Kochi (Cochin)/Munnar
After breakfast leave by road for Munnar (84 miles/4 hours 30minutes). Check-in at the Windamere Estate for a 2-night stay (Cottage accommodation & Breakfast). Afternoon sightseeing tour of Munnar, including a tea factory visit. Set at over 5,000 ft above sea level, at the confluence of three mountain streams, this was once the main South India summer hill station of the British Raj. Sprawling tea plantations, picture-book towns and winding lanes all make this a popular resort. Among the exotic flora found in the forests and grasslands here is the Neelakurinji - bathing the hills in blue every twelve years. Munnar also has the highest peak in South India, Anamudi, which reaches to nearly 9,000 ft.

Day 5 Munnar
Day to relax or to explore Munnar on your own - or to visit Eravikulam National Park (not included in tour cost). Originally established to protect the Nilgiri Tahr (Ibex), this beautiful park covers an area of 37 square miles of rolling grasslands and high level evergreen forest.

Day 6 Munnar/Periyar
Leave this morning for the drive to Periyar (70 miles/3 hours 30 minutes), with overnight at the Spice Village - Thekkady (Standard Villa & Breakfast). Afternoon at leisure. Periyar is South India's most popular wildlife sanctuary, encompassing an area of 300 square miles and situated around the attractive man-made Periyar Lake. It was made a part of Project Tiger in 1973 - but today it is better known for its many elephant.

Day 7 Periyar
Morning visit to local tea and spice plantations. In the afternoon enjoy a boat ride on Lake Periyar to see the wildlife that frequents the banks of the lake. As well as elephant, you can normally expect to see bison, sambar, wild boar, langaur, otters and flying squirrels. There are also no less than 246 species of birds and 112 species of butterfly to look out for!

Day 8 Periyar/Kumarakom
After breakfast drive down to Kumarakom (80 miles/3 hours) in the Kerala Backwaters. Enjoy lunch en route at Kanjirappally Plantation Bungalow, a Syrian Catholic heritage home in the midst of plantations. Continue to the attractive village resort of Kumarakom where the Coconut Lagoon Resort is your base for two nights (Bungalow accommodation & Breakfast). It lies on the shore of peaceful Vembanad lake, about 10 miles from Kottayam, in a setting where a former lakeside rubber plantation has been developed into a bird sanctuary (a path leads through the swamp to the main nesting area, and an island in the lake can be reached by boat).

Day 9 Kumarakom
Full day at leisure - a chance for an optional backwaters cruise or to visit Kuttanad, 'the Rice Bowl of Kerala'). Kuttanad is a land of lush paddy fields extending for some 50 miles and sandwiched between the sea and the hills. Fringing the coast of Kerala and far inland a vast network of lagoons, lakes, rivers and canals - together known as the Kerala Backwaters - are unique in India. A short backwaters cruise is one of the highlights of a visit to Kerala. You can also meet with the local population and learn about their lifestyle - seeing how people live on narrow spits of reclaimed land only a few metres wide.

Day 10 Kumarakom/Kochi (Cochin)
After breakfast, drive to Cochin (50 Miles/2 hours) for an overnight stay at Brunton Boat Yard (Standard Seaview - Room & Breakfast). Remainder of day at leisure or for independent sightseeing.

Day 11 Kochi (Cochin)/Goa
Morning at leisure. In the afternoon transfer to the airport for your flight to Goa (70 mins). Transfer on arrival to the Leela Palace, where you stay for the next three nights (Pavilion Room & Breakfast).

Days 12/13 Goa
Two full days to relax by the beach or your hotel pool - and for independent sightseeing. The former Portuguese enclave of Goa is undoubtedly India's most popular international beach resorts - with magnificent palm-fringed beaches, excellent hotels and watersports, lively markets, cosmopolitan restaurants, bars and nightlife - and a unique Portuguese cultural and architectural heritage dating from its colonial heyday.

Day 14 Goa/Mumbai
Morning at leisure. Afternoon transfer to the airport for your Jet Airways flight to Mumbai. Transfer to The Oberoi for overnight (Deluxe Room & Breakfast).

Day 15 Mumbai
Mumbai (formerly Bombay), the capital of Maharashtra State, is the economic powerhouse of India - the fastest-moving, most affluent and cosmopolitan - and most industrialised - city in India. Yet once it was no more than a group of low-lying, swampy and malarial mud flats presented to the British by its Portuguese occupiers as a wedding gift in 1661! Enjoy a full-day sightseeing tour of today's Mumbai - visiting the grandiose Prince of Wales Museum, driving along Marine Drive (the city's most popular seaside promenade), and see the Kamla Nehru Park and Hanging Gardens on the slopes of the Malabar Hills, overlooking Chowpatty beach. Other highlights include the Jain temple, Mani Bhawan (where Mahatma Gandhi used to stay), the Dhobi Ghat, the Flora Fountain, colourful Crawford Market and Victoria Terminus railway station, the Hare Krishna ISKCON temple complex and Juhu Beach.

Day 16 Mumbai/London
At leisure. Transfer later in the day to the airport for your overnight scheduled flight to London.

Day 18 London
Arrive London Heathrow.

INCLUSIVE PRICES from £2546 per person (sharing twin room)

Single supplements on request
Supplements apply for July/August and December departures - details on request

Price Includes: Economy Class round-trip Emirates flights from London to Kochi and from Mumbai to London (both via Dubai) and internal flights Kochi/Goa/Mumbai • 14 nights shared twin accommodation as detailed • Daily buffet breakfast • Private air-conditioned car transfers, road travel and sightseeing as detailed • Current Airport Departure Tax, Airline Insurance and Fuel Surcharges (all subject to change - please check with us for details) • Entrance fees at monuments described in itinerary, road taxes, parking fees, fuel charges, interstate taxes and porterage at all airports • Local English-speaking guide for sightseeing and excursions (except where shown) • Assistance of our local representatives.

Price Excludes: Personal insurance and any special insurance for activity sports • Government taxes • Tips and expenses of a personal nature. A valid passport (minimum validity 6 months from return date) is required. Clients must be fully insured from the time of booking.

Note: Hotel Check-In/Check-out time is 12 noon. Prices are subject to change. Holders of British Passports require a visa for entry to India - details on request.

For Bookings & Enquiries please call us on: 020 8893 1781 or email: tours@goldendays.co.uk

All our tours can be tailor made to meet your exact requirements.

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