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2012 Passage to Sri Lanka via India and the Maldives   12 November - 10 December 2012Escorted Tour - Last cabins available nowSpice up your imagination with a wonderful opportunity to experience India's 'Golden Triangle, cruise the Arabian Sea and the grande finale a wonderful tour of Sri Lanka. See the symmetry and beauty of the Taj Mahal; Delhi, capital of the largest democracy on earth; cruise to the heart of South India and Cochin before a visit to the Maldives. The finale – an extensive tour of Sri Lanka, home of elephants, spices, cricket and tea plantations including a special train journey through tea plantations to the English Town of Nuwava Eliya. Highlights
This is a three in one opportunity at a premium time of the year
Tour Escort
Jim Murphy is the owner operator of Pukekohe Travel and escorted his first tour in 1976.
He has visiting the 'Golden Triangle' and went to Sri Lanka in February 2012 to fine tune the tour and meet our operators. Inclusions
Full tour
Itinerary
Option 1 – Full Tour
November 2012 Monday 12 Auckland – Singapore – Delhi Depart Auckland on Singapore Airlines, change planes at Singapore and fly onto Delhi Tuesday 13 Delhi B D Arrive Delhi for an early morning check in to your centrally- located hotel. This afternoon’s sightseeing tour of New Delhi includes Humayun’s Tomb, India Gate War Memorial arch and a modern Hindu temple. Drive past the President’s House, Parliament House, Government Secretariat Buildings and Connaught Place-shopping centre. Welcome Dinner tonight Wednesday 14 Delhi – Jaipur B L D Morning tour of Old Delhi where we visit the Red Fort, one of the largest mosques built in 1848, the cremation sites of Mahatma Ghandi and Jawahalal Nehru and drive past Chandni Chowk, the oldest and busiest market in the city. After lunch travel by coach to the pink city of Jaipur for two nights Thursday 15 Jaipur B A full day of sightseeing, including the Amber Fort by Jeep and elephant, the Jagmandir or the ‘Hall of Victory’ glittering with mirrors, Jai Mahal and Temple of Kali the Maharaja’s City Palace and observatory, the Palace of the Winds and the residential and business areas of Jaipur Friday 16 Jaipur – Agra B L Today coach to Fatehpur Sikri, a city built in 1569 and later abandoned due to lack of water – later travel onto Agra for a two night stay Saturday 17 Agra B D The morning tour includes Akbar’s Musoleum at Sikandra - a fusion of Hindu and Muslim architecture and the Itmad-ud-Daulah built by Empress Noor Jahan. Later continue to the Taj Mahal built by Emperor Shahjehan in 1630 and Agra Fort containing public and private halls and other palaces. Highlight will be staying on to see the sun set over the Taj Mahal Sunday 18 Agra – Delhi – Mumbai B D Today coach to Delhi and fly to Mumbai. On arrival transfer to the Port to board the ‘Aegean Odyssey.’ Settle into your staterooms for your all inclusive nine-night cruise. Shore excursions and gratuities are included plus wine, beer or soft drinks with dinner Monday 19 Mumbai B L D The ‘Aegean Odyssey’ remains in Mumbai. A sightseeing tour of Mumbai is included. Sail at 6 pm. Tuesday 20 Marmugao B L D 1pm: Arrive in Mormugao in South Goa, an area developed by the Portuguese in the 1700’s when threatened by the Marathas. The city now is an important port and well connected by rail. Depart at 10 pm Wednesday 21 Day at Sea B L D Relax and enjoy on-board life including lectures, the pool and library Thursday 22 Cochin B L D Arrive 7 am. A day to explore Cochin (Kochi) on the South West Coast of India, often referred to the Gateway of Kerala. The Arabs, British, Chinese, Dutch, Portuguese and British have all left indelible marks on the development of Cochin. The city is flanked by the Western Ghats and Arabian Sea; the mountains provide a varied and rich experience. Overnight in Cochin Friday 23 Cochin B L D A day to continue exploring Cochin before departing at 8 pm Saturday 24 Day at Sea B L D Sunday 25 Male (Maldives) B L D 7am: Arrive in Male, capital of the Maldives, an Islamic nation of fishing and trading people with a language and culture all of its own - 1190 tiny coral islands with white sandy beaches, swaying palm trees and turquoise lagoons. There will be time for an afternoon at Kuda Banos beach. Sail at 6pm Monday 26 Day at Sea B L D Tuesday 27 Colombo (Sri Lanka) – Negombo B D 7am: Arrive in Colombo after breakfast and disembark ‘Aegean Odyssey’ Option 2 concludes here, but includes two nights in Colombo (+breakfast), ½ & full day sightseeing including Kandy (117km). Thursday 29 - Depart Colombo for home or other destinations Option 1 continues / Option 3 begins Tuesday 27 Negombo B D After disembarkation, meet your Sri Lanka guide and coach driver and travel to the coastal town of Negombo, Sri Lanka’s oldest beach resort. The area is famous for the cultivation of some of the best cinnamon in the world and now one of the island’s most important fishing ports. Negombo is the centre for Roman Catholicism, thus dominated by beautiful shrines and churches Wednesday 28 Negombo – Dambula – Habarana B L D Today’s sightseeing includes the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, established in 1975 to feed, nurse and house young elephants found abandoned by their mothers, wounded or displaced from their natural environment. Later perhaps enjoy an optional elephant ride and a batik factory enroute to the inland resort town of Habarana for a three night stay Thursday 29 Habarana B L Sightseeing today includes travelling to the ancient rock fortress and palace ruins of Sigiriya. – a 150m high rock plateau of reddish gneiss which has been inhabited since 3 BC. See woodcarving and the Polonnaruwa Ruins - another witness to several civilisations from the 12th century before going into decline towards the end of the 13th century Friday 30 Habarana B L Visit the Anuradhapura Ruins, a permanent example of Sri Lankan culture and a principal shrine of Buddism. A cutting from the fig tree of Bodhi spreads over the centre of the site. Later visit the Minneriya National Park to observe large gatherings of calf, juvenile and adult elephants and perhaps the lemur, sambar deer and macaque December Saturday 01 Habarana – Matale – Kandy B L D Travel to Matale to see the 1st century Buddhist rock monastery and spice gardens. Continue to Kandy, founded in the 14th century and the southern tip of Sri Lanka’s ‘Cultural Triangle,’ for a two night stay. Sunday 02 Kandy B A day to see Kandy with a cultural show included Monday 03 Kandy – Nuwara Eliya B D A train journey to remember - climbing to 2000 metres – through tea plantations to the ‘English’ town of Nuwara Eliya, a favourite hill station during British colonial times and in the heart of the southern hill country Tuesday 04 Nuwara Eliya – Yala B L D Local sightseeing and visit a tea plantation among the rolling tea estates, before travelling to Yala National Park for a two night stay. Rahuna (Yala) National Park established in 1938 is one of Sri Lanka’s largest and most famous parks with a continuous water supply and is rich in bird and wildlife Wednesday 05 Yala B L D Included today are morning and evening safaris with time to relax in between. The park has elephant, Sambar, Leopard and many more species Thursday 06 Yala – Galle – Bentota Beach B L Visit the fortified city of Galle – devasted in the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, now rebuilt and even has a new cricket stadium. Perhaps we will be lucky and see a cricket match!! Also visit a Turtle Farm and enjoy a glass bottomed boat ride to see the Hikkaduwa coral Friday 07 Bentota Beach B L D A day to relax at this tourist resort with choice of activities Saturday 08 Bentota Beach – Colombo B D Return to Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. Enjoy a city sightseeing tour before checking into your hotel. A highlight of the evening will be a hosted dinner with a local family in their large colonial-era home Sunday 09 Colombo – Singapore B Morning free. Transfer to the airport for the Singapore Airlines flight to Singapore – change planes at Singapore and continue on to Auckland Monday 10 Singapore – Auckland A late morning arrival into Auckland The tour is also available in modules Option 2: India and cruise to Colombo Option 3: Sri Lanka only Option 2 begins here – finishes Colombo Option 3 Sri Lanka begins 27 November Exclusions
Booking Conditions
A non refundable deposit per person of
Option 1 - $1500 Option 2 - $1500 Option 3 - $500 will secure a place on the tour Full payment is due no later than 01 September 2012 Cancellations and RefundsDate of booking to 01 September 2012 - full deposit is non-refundableAfter final payment - no refund Documentation
Cost
Cost per Person*
OPTION 1 Passage to Sri Lanka via India & the Maldives Category L - Premium Inside Cabin, Twin 130 sq ft, Belvedere & Columbus Decks Fixed twin, shower SOLD OUT $ Category J – Premium Outside Cabin 130 sq ft, Belvedere & Columbus Decks Fixed twin, shower SOLD OUT $ Category C – Deluxe Balcony Stateroom 275 sq ft, Bridge or Belvedere Decks Bath / shower or walk-in shower Double or twin beds, balcony & sitting area 13,852 OPTION 2 India & Cruise to Colombo
OPTION 3 Sri Lanka only
For Land Only costs (minus airflights to and from start and finish destinations) Previous Tour Client Discount $100 Booking Form |