An Indian Odyssey From Bombay to the Backwaters of Kerala

Day 1 London
Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service® transports you from your front door to London Heathrow Airport for your direct, scheduled Jet Airways flight to Mumbai.

Day 2 Mumbai
On arrival at Mumbai we will be transferred to the Trident Nariman Point Hotel, our base for two nights. Over 20 million people reside in Mumbai, India’s largest city. Named Bombay until 1995, this vibrant and contrasting city is both the country’s commercial capital and home to the hugely popular Bollywood film industry. The remainder of the day is free for you to relax.

Day 3 Mumbai
Our morning tour commences by boat through the Mumbai harbour to Elephanta Island, where we view the fascinating UNESCO listed basalt cave temples and their sculpted panels. This afternoon we tour Mumbai city including the huge Gateway of India, one of the most famous landmarks. You will also see the UNESCO listed Victoria Terminus,one of the busiest train stations in the world, colourful Crawford Market, the 280ft gothic Rajabhai Clock Tower, and Flora Fountain, located at the heart of the city. Slightly further a-field we visit the stunning Jain Temple and also Mani Bhavan, home for Mahatma Gandi for over 17 years during his visits to the city.

Day 4 Mumbai – Cochin
Today we depart for Mumbai airport and our flight to Cochin, located in the heart of Kerala, whose Malabar Coast dips into the Arabian Sea to the west and climbs to the natural border of the Western Ghats to the east. Cochin, now officially Kochi, is one of the oldest port cities. Upon arrival we transfer to the Trident Hotel where we stay for two nights.

Day 5 Cochin
We embark on a fascinating tour of Cochin today, which includes the Dutch Palace, St Francis Church and Santa Cruz Basilica, all originally constructed by the Portuguese in the 16th century. We also view the Synagogue and learn of over two thousand years of Jewish history in the region. Later we view the unique Chinese Fishing Nets; of bamboo and wood construction, this style of fishing has been practiced here and in many other areas in Kerala, since their introduction by 14th century Chinese traders. Our tour ends in the Fort Kochi area. This evening we witness a superb Kathakali dance performance, based on stories from Ramayana and Mahabharata. The dancers are elaborately made up with paint and masks, accompanied by drummers and musicians.

Day 6 Cochin – Kumarakom
Today we travel to Kumarakom, which lines the shore of Lake Vembanad, the largest in Kerala, fed by many of the sinuous waterways for which the area is famous. After checking in at the Zuri Resort & Spa, our base for a two night stay, the remainder of the day is free.

Day 7 Kumarakom
Today is at leisure to relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings and the resort facilities. You may wish to familiarise yourself with the ancient Ayurvedic practice or perhaps visit the bird sanctuary nearby which is an ornithologist’s paradise. This evening we embark on a sunset backwaters cruise through the intricate maze of waterways that mesmerise and surprise at every turn.

Day 8 Kumarakom – Periyar
Today we travel into the Cardamom Hills, which form part of the Western Ghats. We spend two nights at the Elephant Court Hotel in Thekaddy, which is a short distance from Periyar National Park, the focus of tomorrow’s activities.

Day 9 Periyar
This morning we take a guided nature walk in the National Park to get up close to the varied flora, while keeping a look out for the famous fauna that inhabits this region, which include the gaur, an Indian bison, deer, and if we are lucky, a herd of elephant too. In the afternoon we visit a spice plantation. We see not only pepper growing in its natural environment, but the cardamom, cinnamon, clove, vanilla, ginger, tea and coffee aromas will also awaken the senses during this fascinating excursion.

Day 10 Periyar – Madurai
We cross into the state of Tamil Nadu and onwards to Madurai, its oldest and most sacred city. We stay for two nights at the Heritage Hotel, where the remainder of the day is free.

Day 11 Madurai
At Madurai’s heart lies the vast and multicoloured temple complex of Meenakshi, one of India’s largest and certainly one not to be missed. The temple is dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva and is notable for its gateway towers rising high above the surrounds. The rest of the day is free before we return this evening to the Meenakshi Temple to see the closing ceremony.

Day 12 Madurai – Chennai
This morning we depart for Madurai airport and our flight to Chennai. Upon arrival we commence a tour of India’s fourth-largest city, known as Madras until the official change in 1996. British colonial history started here in 1639 when the British East India Company procured a small parcel of land from the local rulers and built Fort St George, the first British fort in India. Our tour includes the fort, St Mary’s Church that is contained within its walls, and we drive along the marina to San Thome Basilica and the Mylapore Temple. We stay for two nights at the Trident Hotel.

Day 13 Chennai
Today we explore the UNESCO listed site at Mahabalipuram, which showcases a large variety of sculptures and cave and rock temples. The day also includes a visit to Kanchipuram, an important Hindu pilgrimage city.

Day 14 Chennai – London
We transfer to Chennai Airport for our Jet Airways flight to Mumbai or Delhi and onward connecting flight to London Heathrow Airport. On arrival our staff will greet you and transfer you to Titan transport for the return journey home to your own front door.

Titan Travel have a reputation for innovative and enthralling escorted holiday itineraries, and through the guidance of their founding principles, “quality, service and value” which have remained unchanged since the 1970′s, their expertise and experience are second to none.

Titan Travel strive to ensure that aspect of their holidays whispers quality, before you fly, you get to appreciate a comfortable, chauffeur-driven transfer from your front door to the airport with our peerless VIP Home Departure Service, check-in assistance and complimentary porterage. All international flights are with world-renowned scheduled airlines and cruises with acclaimed operators. Touring holidays are expertly designed by the product team to present a comprehensive, imaginative introduction to the destination of choice yet still offer plenty of time for relaxation. The services of a tour manager or cruise manager are included throughout. When you return to the UK, you are met in the arrivals hall of the airport and shown to your VIP Home Departure Service vehicle, waiting to return you to your front door.

Our Opinion
“Titan Travel’s guiding principles of customer service, quality of product and value for money are undoubtedly a contributing factor to them being voted, on many occasions, the UK’s best tour operator.”