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DAY 9 • Overland to Periyar • Visit a spice plantation
Depart for Thekkady, a spice-trading town in the Cardamum Hills next to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Visit a spice plantation to learn about the spices grown here, including pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves.
Meals: B, D | Greenwoods Resort or similar
DAY 10 • Nature trek in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary Set off on an early morning nature trek in Piriyar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in India. Later, a female communist party leader will meet with us to discuss the Controversial Topic of the present state and future of her party and its strong, lasting roots in Kerala.
Meals: B, D | Greenwoods Resort or similar
DAY 11 • Overland to Nedumudi • Kerala backwater cruise
Visit a rubber plantation on our way to Nedumudi, where we’ ll board our houseboat and begin our cruise of Kerala’ s scenic“ backwaters”— a system of interconnected lagoons, lakes, and canals that stretches along the western edge of Southern India.
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DAY 16 • Mumbai • Visit Dhobi Ghat Visit Dhobi Ghat, Mumbai’ s open-air laundromat where half a million articles of clothing are laundered each day by hand. Later, enjoy a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant.
Meals: B, L, D | Gordon House Hotel or similar
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DAY 17 • Visit Dharavi slum Our destination this morning is Dharavi, a sprawling slum that is home to an estimated one million people and boasts an active black market economy.
Meals: B, L | Gordon House Hotel or similar
DAY 18 • Return to U. S. • Or begin posttrip extension
Head to the airport for your return flight to the U. S. via Doha, Qatar. Or fly to Kathmandu to begin your Nepal: Kathmandu, Pokhara & the Himalayas post-trip extension.
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Meenakshi Temple, Madurai
DAY 4 • A Day in the Life of a farming village Experience A Day in the Life of an Indian farming village, including a community lunch with members of the village. This evening, enjoy a Welcome Dinner.
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Meals: B, L, D | InterContinental Mahabalipuram Resort or similar
DAY 5 • Overland to Trichy Travel overland to Trichy, an ancient city whose rich history dates back to the third century B. C.
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Meals: B, D | Courtyard by Marriott Trichy or similar
DAY 6 • Trichy • Optional Brihadishwara Temple tour • Home-Hosted Dinner
Join an optional tour to nearby Thanjavur’ s most renowned landmark: the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Brihadishwara Temple. We’ ll regroup tonight as we meet a local family for a Home-Hosted Dinner.
Meals: B, D | Courtyard by Marriott Trichy or similar
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Meals: B, L, D | Spice Route Houseboat
DAY 12 • Cruise Kerala’ s backwaters • Visit backwater villages
Embark on smaller shikara boats to explore narrow canals and stop in the small village of Venattukadu. We’ ll visit a local toddy shop, makeshift establishments that sell a local brew made from fermented coconut palm.
Meals: B, L, D | Spice Route Houseboat
DAY 13 • Overland to Cochin • Kathakali performance
We’ ll disembark our houseboat and depart for Cochin( Kochi), the cosmopolitan“ Queen of the Arabian Sea.” Tonight, enjoy an exclusive Kathakali performance.
Meals: B, L | The Killians Boutique or similar
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Want to know more? Find the full itinerary and dates & pricing at www. oattravel. com / soi
CUSTOMIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE
OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS
Sri Lanka: Colombo, Habarana, Kandy & Matara
PRE-TRIP: 8 nights from $ 2,395
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DAY 7 • Overland to Madurai Set out for Madurai, a temple city that draws streams of worshippers making puja( prayer ceremonies) each day. |
Meals: B, L | Grand Madurai by GRT Hotels or similar
DAY 8 • Madurai • Meenakshi Amman Temple • Thirumalai Nayak Palace
Visit Meenakshi Amman Temple, featuring towers( gopurams) that are blanketed with elaborate sculptures depicting animals, gods, and demons. Then, visit Thirumalai Nayak Palace, a palace complex built in 1636 to house Nayak kings.
Meals: B, L | Grand Madurai by GRT Hotels or similar
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DAY 14 • Cochin • Sunset cruise We’ ll hop on the back of motorbikes and young residents will show us their city. Then, visit Fort Cochin and the coast, where traditional fishing nets can be viewed. Later, we’ ll enjoy a sunset cruise on the backwaters of Cochin.
Meals: B, L | The Killians Boutique or similar
DAY 15 • Fly to Mumbai Fly to Mumbai( formerly Bombay), India’ s largest city and home to some 18 million residents.
Meals: B | Gordon House Hotel or similar
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Nepal: Kathmandu, Pokhara & the Himalayas
POST-TRIP: 5 nights from $ 1,495
ARRIVE EARLY We recommend that you relax after a long flight or explore more in depth before your trip. Prices shown include accommodations and private airport transfer.
• Arrive early in Colombo before your Sri Lanka pre-trip extension from $ 270 per room, per night
• Arrive early in Mahabalipuram before your main adventure from $ 190 room, per night
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