Overseas SM Adventure Travel Since 1978
Soul of India: The Colorful South 2019 18-Day Small Group Adventure
EXTEND YOUR TRIP PRE-TRIP Sri Lanka: The Resplendent Island POST-TRIPS New! Rajasthan: Udaipur, Jodhpur & Desert Retreat OR Dubai’s Timeless Desert & Modern Wonders
Your Day-to-Day Itinerary OVERSEAS ADVENTURE TRAVEL
Overseas Adventure Travel, founded in 1978, is America’s leading adventure travel company. The New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, The Los Angeles Times, Travel + Leisure, The Wall Street Journal, US News & World Report, and others have recommended O.A.T. trips. But our most impressive reviews come from our customers: Thousands of travelers have joined our trips, and 95% of them say they’d gladly travel with us again, and recommend us to their friends.
A WORD ABOUT ADVENTURE TRAVEL
Our Soul of India trip is designed for people who want a different kind of travel experience. We seek out unusual adventures in out-of-the-way places where ordinary tours don’t go. India is a developing country, and the overall quality of travel services is not what you would find in the United States or Europe. To enjoy this trip, you need an open curiosity, an adventurous spirit, and a healthy sense of humor about the unpredictable nature of travel in India—flexibility is important.
And of course, India is a populous nation without the smooth infrastructure you’re familiar with. You can expect dusty and bumpy roads, long drives, streets teeming with vendors and supplicants, unfamiliar (and spicy) foods, uncertain weather, and primitive public toilet conditions. Also, remember that coaches in India are locally built. Though comfortable, they cannot be compared to those from Europe or other developed nations.
Part of the adventure of travel in India is the distinct possibility that things may change—which may make it impossible for us to follow this trip itinerary exactly. When we are confronted with changing circumstances, this plan is the one we strive to follow. However, it’s important for you to know in advance that we may not be able to follow this plan exactly; the sequence of places visited may vary.
To best enjoy this trip, bring an open curiosity, an adventurous spirit and a willingness to adapt and make the best of every situation. After all, that is the definition of adventure.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE
»» International airfare, airport transfers, »» 8 small group activities government taxes, fees, and airline fuel »» Explore in a small group of 8-16 travelers surcharges unless you choose to make (average group size of 14) your own air arrangements »» Services of a local O.A.T. Trip Leader »» All land transportation »» Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and »» Accommodations for 16 nights, including luggage porters two nights aboard a houseboat in Kerala »» 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your »» 34 meals—daily breakfast, 9 next adventure—an average of $329 lunches, and 10 dinners (including 1 Home-Hosted Dinner)
WHAT THIS TRIP IS LIKE
PACING TERRAIN & TRANSPORTATION »» 7 locations in 17 days »» Travel over some rugged paths, as well as bumpy, unpaved, dusty roads, both by bus »» We make 4 long overland drives of and on foot approximately 3-5.5 hours each »» Travel via bus (no heat or toilet on board), PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS rickshaw, Jeep, and game-viewing vehicle; »» Not appropriate for travelers using our vehicles are locally made and are the wheelchairs or other mobility aids best available in the region
»» Must be able to walk 3 miles unassisted FLIGHT INFORMATION each day and participate in 3-5 hours of »» Travel time will be 21-31 hours daily physical activities, including scaling several steep steps without handrails ACCOMMODATIONS & FACILITIES »» We reserve the right for Trip Leaders »» All accommodations are hotel-standard, to restrict participation, or in some with a variety of amenities, as well as circumstances send travelers home, if their private baths with basic Western-style limitations impact the group’s experience toilet facilities
»» Houseboat accommodations are small and CLIMATE basic, but comfortable, with private baths »» Daytime temperatures range from 90-100°F »» Asian squat-style toilets must be used in some villages without other facilities »» South India has a tropical climate; the rainy season occurs from June to October
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 CUISINE »» Meals will be based on the local cuisine, which features Indian spices; mild Western-style food is limited but available
»» A variety of vegetarian options will be available
CULTURAL INSIGHT »» We may see people living in poverty, which could be distressing for some travelers
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 Soul of India: The Colorful South 2019
Brimming with natural splendor and cultural diversity, South India is a mystical land of rock-hewn temples, palm-fringed shores, and fragrant spices. Fall under the spell of this captivating region as you journey in a small group from multicultural Chennai to the enchanting backwaters of Kerala, stopping to meet with locals in a rural village and enter the home of a family in Trichy to share a meal and gain a deeper insight into South India’s distinctive culture. And your knowledgeable Trip Leader will be on hand every step of the way to help you unveil the architectural wonders of Mahabalipuram, discover the historic Meenakshi temple of Madurai, and explore the lush jungles of Periyar. With its endless exoticism, indescribable colors, and enchanting magic, we welcome you to discover the other side of India.
EXTEND YOUR TRIP
Sri Lanka: The Resplendent Island 9 NIGHTS PRE-TRIP Sri Lanka is home to many landscapes, each more exotic than the next. This tear-shaped island’s natural bounty is a cornucopia, from tea fields to coconut plantations. Discover the land that inspired Mark Twain to exclaim: “Dear me, it is beautiful. And most sumptuously tropical.”
New! Rajasthan: Udaipur, Jodhpur & Desert Retreat 7 NIGHTS POST-TRIP Nestled among the fairytale landscapes and sweeping desert vistas of Rajasthan—India’s legendary Land of Kings—are two of the country’s most spellbinding destinations. We invite you to unveil the romantic allure of Udaipur and the blue-tinged magic of Jodhpur to discover how these cities captured the hearts of India’s mighty maharajas. Then, venture into the mighty Thar Desert for a relaxing 3-night desert retreat where you’ll enjoy an up-close glimpse of life in rural Rajasthan.
Dubai’s Timeless Desert & Modern Wonders 3 NIGHTS POST-TRIP Experience the interplay of the United Arab Emirates’ sleepy Bedouin past and its bustling cosmopolitan present. Exquisite architecture, antique and modern, surrounds us as we explore the culture, history, and traditions of the UAE’s two most populous cities: Dubai, the gem of the Persian Gulf, and Abu Dhabi, the country’s capital.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1 Depart U.S. Company. This area has been an important Today, you’ll depart the U.S. for your economic and cultural center for nearly 2,000 flight to Chennai, India, via Dubai, United years, thanks to its perfect position at the Arab Emirates. nexus of three rivers and the Bay of Bengal. We’ll visit Mylapore, a vibrant neighborhood that came into existence long before Chennai Day 2 Arrive Dubai, United Arab Emirates itself. Lunch will be on your own, but your Trip Leader may have recommendations for • Fly to Chennai where to experience your first taste of the Today you’ll arrive in Dubai, where you’ll local flavors. meet your connecting flight to Chennai, India. Depending on your flight schedule, you’ll This afternoon is free to make your own arrive late on Day 2 or very early on Day 3. discoveries in Chennai. The city is famous for Travelers who took our pre-trip to Sri Lanka: its confluence of cultures, and is one of the The Resplendent Island will arrive in Chennai few places on Earth with national celebrations this afternoon. for almost all major religious holidays. Perhaps you’ll visit the Santhome Cathedral, a striking white church whose towering spires Day 3 Chennai pierce the sky. The cathedral was built in the This morning, we’ll have time to sleep in 16th century over the tomb of St. Thomas; for and enjoy a leisurely breakfast before we this reason, it also sometimes known as the join our Trip Leader for a Welcome Briefing. St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica. This evening, Afterward, we’ll have lunch together at the we’ll gather for a Welcome Dinner together at Writer’s Cafe, a bakery that employs burn a local restaurant. victims. This afternoon, we’ll go on an Breakfast, Dinner orientation walk around our hotel, then you’ll have the rest of the day to spend at your leisure, with dinner on your own. Your Trip Day 5 Chennai • Overland to Leader may suggest some ways to spend your Mahabalipuram free time in Chennai, perhaps recommending After breakfast, we’ll continue to explore a trip to Marina Beach, a visit to one of the Chennai. Our discoveries this morning city’s temples or cathedrals, or a stroll around include learning about a unique and ancient the city to absorb the unique Tamil culture. ritual of Tamil Nadu, during which the bus Breakfast, Lunch for our upcoming journey will be blessed at the popular Bodyguard Temple. We’ll also take a walk through the historic Georgetown Day 4 Chennai neighborhood, where vendors offer vegetables, After breakfast, we’ll set out to explore flowers, and clothing in a scene of buzzing Chennai, a bustling hub of commerce from activity. its inception in 1639 by the British East India
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 Later this morning, we’ll depart Chennai experiences living in the village—an intimate and travel south along the coast to the cross-cultural experience that is only possible stone-carving village of Mahabalipuram (also because of our small group size. called Mamallapuram), with a stop for lunch along the way. Believed by many historians This afternoon, we’ll return to our hotel for to have been the site of a training school some free time. Then, we’ll make the short for sculptors, Mahabalipuram is situated drive out to Stone Temple, set along the Bay between a shimmering lagoon and a silver, of Bengal. Built between 700 and 728 AD, sandy beach with rocky outcroppings. With the Shore Temple is one of the oldest stone its remarkable rock temples overlooking the temples in South India. Then, we’ll visit shining Bay of Bengal and graceful casuarina Five Rathas, a monument complex that is trees swaying in the tropical breeze, this home to five monolithic temples built in the open-air museum is truly a sight to behold. early seventh century AD—each carved from a single rock. After returning to our hotel, After checking into our hotel, we’ll explore the we’ll enjoy dinner together at our hotel’s rock sculptures of Mahabalipuram, beginning restaurant. with the stunning Arjuna’s Penance, often Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner called the “Descent of the Ganges.” This bas-relief is renowned as the ultimate example of Mahabalipuram’s breathtaking Day 7 Overland to Trichy stonework—as well as a crowning jewel of This morning, we’ll embark on a drive to ancient Indian art. On this massive bolder, Trichy—a NEW destination for 2019. While we’ll see images of Hindu mythology, local Trichy is now a major Indian city, it was animals, and everyday life, as well as a natural once an important Chola cultural center in cleft that was meant to represent the holy the third century BC. Our journey will take River Ganges. This evening, we’ll return to us approximately 4.5 hours, and we’ll break our hotel. Dinner is on your own. up the drive with stops at points of interest Breakfast, Lunch along the way.
We’ll arrive in Trichy this afternoon and Day 6 Mahabalipuram • A Day in the Life you’ll have the afternoon free to make your of an Indian farming village own discoveries, perhaps visiting one of the Today, we’ll dive deeper into the vibrant city’s many temples or churches or choosing culture of South India when we experience A to relax at the hotel. We’ll meet for dinner Day in the Life of an Indian farming village. together at our hotel, where we’ll also watch a After breakfast, we’ll visit an elementary traditional dance performance. school, where we’ll interact with the young Breakfast, Dinner students (when school is in session). Then, we’ll drive to Vadakadambadi, a small village near Mahabalipuram, where our small group Day 8 Trichy • Optional Brihadishwara will slip into the rhythm of daily life. We’ll Temple Tour • Home-Hosted Dinner join the Village Chief for a community lunch After breakfast this morning, you may choose made just as they would cook for themselves. to join an optional tour to Thanjavur’s most We’ll also chat with local women about their renowned landmark (and one of India’s
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 crowning architectural jewels): the UNESCO Day 10 Sri Meenakshi Temple • World Heritage Site of Brihadishwara Temple, Thirumalai Naicker Palace built between 1003 and 1010 AD to reflect the This morning after breakfast, visit Sri power of Chola king Rajaraja I and honor the Meenakshi Temple for a daylight viewing Hindu god Shiva. Lunch is included on this of its tall and fascinating gopurams. These optional tour. pyramid-shaped structures often function as gateways to the temple complex, but at Sri Otherwise, remain in Trichy for a relaxing Meenakshi they rise above mere gateways morning, with lunch on your own. The due to the riotous and highly colored tiers of afternoon is free to discover more of sculptures culminating in shell-like finials. Trichy. You may take advantage of the city’s With over 1500 figures, the Southern Tower is well-developed bus system to explore at tallest and most impressive. Sri Meenakshi’s your own leisure. Tonight, our small group labyrinthine grounds are dedicated to the size will enable us to be immersed in Tamil Hindu Lord Shiva who, as legend has it, culture, as we meet a local family for a descended on Madurai to bless the city Home-Hosted Dinner. during its first days and showered divine Breakfast, Dinner nectar down from his locks, giving Madurai its original name, Madhurapuri, the “City of Divine Nectar.” Day 9 Transfer to Madurai This morning we continue to Madurai, the Next, we’ll visit Thirumalai Naicker Palace, second-largest city in the state of Tamil a stunning fusion of diverse architectural Nadu. An important Hindu pilgrimage influences, including Italian, Dravidian, site, Madurai is a temple city that draws and Islamic. streams of worshippers making puja (prayer Enjoy some free time this afternoon after ceremonies) every day. This cultural hub an included lunch. Dinner tonight is on dates back more than 2,500 years, making your own. it one of the oldest continually inhabited Breakfast, Lunch cities in the entire subcontinent—and also one of the most culturally diverse. You’ll feel the pulse of these ancient grounds in the bustling marketplaces and streets that merge Day 11 Transfer to Periyar • Visit spice concentrically like lotus petals around Sri plantation Meenakshi Temple, the glorious fortress-like After breakfast at our hotel, we’ll embark temple in the center of the city. on a scenic transfer overland to Periyar in Thekkady, set high in the rugged mountains We’ll stop for lunch along the way in in the state of Kerala. Kerala is another Chettinad. When we arrive in Madurai, we’ll timeless region thought to have been check into our hotel and you’ll have some free inhabited since Neolithic times.On the way, to explore. Dinner this evening is at our hotel. we’ll make a couple stops. We’ll arrive in Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Periyar in the afternoon and check in to our hotel. You’ll have the afternoon free to explore, with lunch on your own. You can choose to stroll in a spice garden, take a jeep
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 to the nearby spice market, visit a cultural rice barges, these distinctive boats were later center that showcases Kathakali dance—the used by royalty when touring. Once aboard choice is yours. Later this afternoon, we’ll our Kettuvellam, we’ll enjoy lunch and begin visit a local spice plantation, where we’ll learn our cruise of Kerala’s scenic “backwaters”—a about the many spices that grow in Thekkady, system of interconnected lagoons, lakes, including pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, and canals that stretches along the western and cloves. edge of Southern India. Like Louisiana’s bayou country, the waterways are a unique Dinner is at our hotel tonight. ecosystem, lushly overgrown and labyrinthine, Breakfast, Dinner but now scattered with communities ranging from small enclaves to large towns. Today, we’ll drift through the backwaters of Alleppey, Day 12 Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary known as “God’s own country” for its South India is home to an extraordinary serene natural beauty. Dinner is on board variety of flora and fauna, and many of this evening. its most exotic species are native to the Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner region. We’ll learn more about the area’s rich biodiversity today when we visit Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary—one of South India’s Day 14 Cruise Kerala’s backwaters • Visit most renowned national parks, set high in backwater villages the Cardamom Hills. This interpretive activity Today we’ll continue our discoveries of is an opportunity to have a close encounter Kerala’s palm-fringed canals as we float past with nature’s landscape. The trails often small villages and backwater communities, pass through stunning scenery that includes stopping along the way to interact with locals. evergreen and moist, deciduous forests We’ll have lunch aboard our houseboat before interspersed with marshy grasslands. One can continuing our exploration of the canals. feel nature, hear her whispers, and smell her flowers while led by a trained guide. This evening, we’ll walk through a typical village on the backwaters and learn about You’ll have some free time this afternoon, life there. We’ll then enjoy dinner on our with lunch on your own. This evening, we’ll houseboat. have dinner at a local restaurant. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Breakfast, Dinner
Day 15 Overland to Cochin • Kathakali Day 13 Transfer to Nedumudi • Kerala performance backwater cruise After breakfast, we’ll depart for Cochin This morning, we’ll travel west to India’s (Kochi), the cosmopolitan “Queen of sun-soaked coast, breaking up our drive with the Arabian Sea,” with its fine natural a stop at a rubber plantation. In the afternoon, harbor—where mariners from Arabia, we’ll arrive in the small Kerala village of China, Holland, and elsewhere have left Nedumudi, where our small group size allows their mark among inimitable South Indian us to board a Kettuvellam (houseboat)—our tradition and style. Our morning wraps home for two nights. Originally designed as
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 up as we explore the Jewish Quarter in the Day 17 Explore Cochin Mattancherry neighborhood. Jews were once Today we spend an additional day and night granted protection by the local king, and in Cochin—a NEW feature for 2019. This we’ll see the Paradesi Synogogue which was morning, we will first explore two of the established here. multiple cultures for which Cochin is famous. By motorbike, we’ll visit the Muslim We’ll have an included lunch, and then neighborhood with local youth. These “Youth the afternoon is yours. You can continue of Cochin” will take us through their city and exploring the neighborhood, perhaps bartering show us the neighborhood where they have with local merchants for a memento to lived all these years through their eyes. Then, take home or choosing to return to the we’ll explore Fort Cochin and walk along the hotel. This evening, enjoy an exclusive coast, where we’ll see the traditional Chinese Kathakali performance, an Indian tradition fishing nets that are still used here. of storytelling through dance and music. You don’t need to worry about speaking the After an included lunch, we return to the language because Kathakali dramas have hotel. The afternoon is free for you to make no dialogue; instead, the drama unfolds your own discoveries and to start packing. through the actors’ dancing and gestures, Dinner is on your own. called mudras. The dancers’ elaborate Breakfast, Lunch movements and painstakingly crafted costumes and makeup come together to create a truly unforgettable visual performance. Day 18 Return to U.S. Dinner this evening is on your own. Very early this morning, you’ll transfer to the Breakfast, Lunch airport for your return flight to the U.S. via Dubai. Travelers taking our Dubai’s Timeless Desert & Modern Wonders post-trip will remain in Dubai and begin Day 1 of their extension. Day 16 Explore Cochin • Sunset cruise Travelers who are joining our New! Rajasthan: This morning’s discoveries begin with a visit Udaipur, Jodhpur & Desert Retreat post-trip will to the Broadway Market, a lively thoroughfare transfer to the airport this morning for their lined with colorful shops hawking wares flight to Udaipur via Delhi. of all kinds. From the market, we’ll walk to the Broadway Synagogue, a non-active synagogue that is rumored to date back to medieval times.
You’ll have the afternoon free to explore the Broadway area or venture further afield, and get lunch on your own. Later, we’ll enjoy a sunset cruise on the Cochin backwaters. Then, we’ll raise a glass of sula wine as we celebrate our journey over a festive Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant. Breakfast, Dinner
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 OPTIONAL TOURS
During your trip you will be able to book optional tours directly with your Trip Leader. He or she will ask you to confirm the payment for these tours by filling out a payment form. Optional tours can only be purchased with a credit or debit card. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit cards. We also accept Visa and MasterCard debit cards, but it must be a debit card that allows you to sign for purchases.
In order to correctly process these charges, there can be a delay of 2-3 months from the date of your return for the charges to be posted to your account. Therefore we ask that you use a card that will not expire in the 2-3 months following your return.
Please note: Optional tour prices are listed in U.S. dollar estimates determined at the time of publication and are subject to change. Optional tours may vary.
Brihadiswara Temple (Day 8 $20 per person)
Venture to Thanjavur to explore the magnificent 10th century Brihadiswara Temple. In its prime, the temple worshipped the god by employing as many as 400 female dancers and a total of 200 dance teachers, musicians, astrologers, accountants, tailors, laundrymen, and other ritual attendants—the names and addresses of whom were diligently inscribed on the temple wall. We’ll also visit a bronze foundry to learn about the ancient art of bronze making and enjoy lunch together before returning to Trichy.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 PRE-TRIP Sri Lanka: The Resplendent Island
INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE
»» International airfare from Dubai to »» 6 small group activities Colombo and Colombo to Chennai »» All land transportation »» Accommodations for 1 night in Dubai, 2 »» Services of a local O.A.T. Trip Leader nights in Colombo, 2 nights in Habarana, 2 nights in Kandy, and 2 nights in Galle »» Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and luggage porters »» 20 meals—daily breakfast, 5 lunches, and 6 dinners »» All transfers
PRE-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY
Sri Lanka is home to many landscapes, each more exotic than the next. This tear-shaped island’s natural bounty is a cornucopia, from tea fields to coconut plantations. Discover the land that inspired Mark Twain to exclaim: “Dear me, it is beautiful. And most sumptuously tropical.”
Day 1 Depart U.S. Day 4 Explore Colombo • Meet Depart the U.S. today for your flight to Dubai, local monk United Arab Emirates. After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll enjoy a Welcome Briefing with our Trip Leader, Then, we’ll experience the spiritual side of Sri Day 2 Arrive in Dubai, United Lanka by meeting a Buddhist monk. While Arab Emirates Sri Lanka houses many religions, about 70% This evening, arrive in Dubai, where you’ll of its people practice Buddhism, which came spend the night before your connecting flight to the country in 247 BC when Mahinda, the to Colombo, Sri Lanka tomorrow afternoon. son of Indian emperor Ashoka, sent Buddhist missionaries to the island—eventually making Sri Lanka one of the first countries to convert to Buddhism. We’ll learn more Day 3 Fly to Colombo, Sri Lanka about Buddhism in Sri Lanka during a After breakfast, we’ll transfer to the airport question-and-answer session with the monk. for our flight to Colombo, Sri Lanka. When we Later, the monk will also teach us how to arrive, we will transfer to our hotel and check meditate and guide us through a prayer in. You’ll have some free time this evening to ceremony, before we all enjoy a vegetarian explore the city, with dinner on your own. lunch together in his home. Breakfast
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 This afternoon, we’ll explore Colombo—Sri learn more about the role of Buddhism in Sri Lanka’s bustling commercial capital. While Lanka, then return to Habarana. Dinner this Colombo was once known as the “garden evening is at our hotel. city of the East,” today it’s flourishing as a Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner cosmopolitan hub, filled with a growing array of chic restaurants, museums, shops, and cafés. In the north lies the Fort district, with Day 6 Visit Sigiriya its unusual combination of modern financial Today we’ll visit the immense Sigiriya intuitions (like the World Trade Center) and rock fortress. Rising 600 feet above the colonial buildings, while the south is home surrounding jungle, this monolith is visible to the fashionable and evocatively named from miles away. Dubbed “The Lion Rock” Cinnamon Gardens neighborhood. because bricks and stucco were originally Following our city tour of some of Colombo’s added to form the shape of a giant lion, most vibrant attractions, we will partake in a we’ll see all that remains of this façade as tea break. This evening, our small group will we enter: two enormous clawed, feline feet sit down to a traditional Sri Lankan meal at a flanking the 1,001 steps to the top. We’ll have local restaurant. time to explore the terraced gardens of the fortress, as well as the lush Water Garden and Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner the ancient Boulder Garden. And we’ll climb the spiral staircase to see the Mirror Wall and colorful frescoes of the sensual Cloud Day 5 Overland to Habarana • Dambulla Maidens, whose beauty inspired visitors from Cave Temple long ago to scribble graffiti on the polished After breakfast this morning, we’ll drive lime wall. Next, we’ll visit a nearby farm and north to Habarana, a small village known for meet the farmer to get a firsthand glimpse of its location at the crossroads of Sri Lanka’s agriculture in rural Sri Lanka. Afterwards we Cultural Triangle—an area of lush green hills enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and you’ll that was once called “The King’s Land” due have the afternoon free to rest or explore on to its history as the bastion of early Sinhalese your own. civilization. We’ll stop en route at a small village known for growing pineapples. This evening, we’ll gather for dinner at the hotel. Once in Habarena, we’ll check in to our hotel Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and have lunch, then set out for the nearby village of Dambulla. Here, we’ll visit the Dambulla Cave Temple, a UNESCO World Day 7 Overland to Kandy Heritage Site and the largest of Sri Lanka’s cave temple complexes. Hewn from a massive We’ll say goodbye to Habarana this morning rock towering more than 500 feet above the as we begin our four-hour drive to Kandy, a surrounding hills, the temple is made up of city encircled by mountains and the Mahaweli more than 80 caves and contains dozens of River. This was the last capital of the Sri Buddha statues. We’ll explore the caves and Lankan kings, now designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the imperialist scramble of the 17th and 18th centuries,
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 several European countries tried to scoop up lush 147-acre grounds, which also boast a beautiful Kandy to add to their burgeoning suspension bridge, a lake, spice beds, and a empires. But neither the Portuguese, nor pavilion-sized fig tree. the Dutch, nor the British navy could break through Kandy’s natural mountain fortress; Later, our small group will enjoy dinner after the Portuguese succeeded in their coastal together at a local restaurant. conquests, Kandy became the last independent Breakfast, Dinner kingdom on the island.
En route, we’ll stop at local vegetable market Day 9 Explore Galle Fort • Visit and a batik factory run by women to learn Tsunami Museum about this ancient art tradition. We’ll have En route to Matara, we’ll stop to explore lunch on the way. Galle, an ancient fortified city that was the We’ll arrive in Kandy mid-afternoon, main port on the island for more than 200 and you’ll have the rest of the day to get years. The city experienced its heyday in acquainted with this historic city. Dinner is on the 18th century during Dutch colonial rule, your own. erupting into an exotic hotspot for spice traders traveling between Europe and Asia. Breakfast, Lunch However, when the British took control of Galle in 1796, they quickly turned their attention to Colombo for most of their Day 8 Explore Kandy • Temple of the commercial needs, leaving Galle to flourish Tooth • Royal Botanic Gardens as Sri Lanka’s secondary port. Today, the city After breakfast, we’ll walk to the Temple of still handles some shipping and yachts, but the Tooth, nestled within the royal palace has refined its reputation as the island’s art complex. Here lies what is said to be a sacred mecca, with artists from around the world tooth of the Buddha, which has been revered drawn to its rich contrast of Dutch colonial throughout the ages as a good luck charm of architecture and breezy tropical charm. sorts (it’s believed that whoever holds the tooth holds the country in his hands as well, Our time there will begin with Galle Fort, built and ancient kings fought over it as they did by the Dutch in 1663. Designated a UNESCO over their land). World Heritage Site, Galle Fort is the largest fortress in Asia built by Europeans and has You’ll have some free time after our temple been remarkably well-preserved over the visit to explore more of Kandy and have lunch centuries. In fact, the 36-hectare fort still on your own. Later this afternoon, we’ll contains working administrative offices, venture about three miles west of the city courts, and export companies. to explore the lovely Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya. The locale that comprises Later, we’ll learn about a tragic event in Sri the gardens has been a royal site since 1371, Lanka’s history: the mass devastation caused when King Wickramabahu III held court by the December 26, 2004 tsunami. Galle was here. Now, 4,000 species—including more one of the areas worst-hit by the tsunami, than 300 varieties of orchids—thrive on the which killed an estimated 40,000 Sri Lankans and left another 2.5 million displaced. We’ll
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 visit Galle’s Tsunami Museum, which was can be seen throughout Matara. We’ll begin constructed in remembrance of the tragedy, the morning’s discoveries with a visit to the to see how Sri Lanka is still dealing with the Matara Fort, a star-shaped fortress initially aftermath of this natural disaster. built by the Portuguese, and later re-built by the Dutch. Inside the Fort, we’ll see the Then we’ll continue on to Matara for check in Dutch Reform Church, whose spare interior is and dinner at the hotel. consistent with Dutch Calvinist ideology. Breakfast, Dinner Afterwards, we’ll return to our hotel and check out. From there we transfer to the Day 10 Explore tea estate • Matara airport in Colombo, where we’ll meet our flight to Chennai, India. When we arrive in Today we’ll dive into the history of Sri Chennai, we’ll meet our Indian Trip Leader Lanka’s most important crop: tea. The British and drive to our hotel, beginning Day 2 of our were the first to introduce tea to Sri Lanka, Soul of India adventure. bringing a single camellia sinensis plant from China to the then-colonized island in Breakfast 1824 with the intention of displaying it in the Royal Botanic Gardens. However, only decades later, Sri Lanka blossomed into a center for tea production—partially thanks to Thomas Lipton, who exported the product to London. By 1965, Sri Lanka was the largest tea exporter in the world. Today, the country still earns an estimated $1.5 billion each year from its thriving tea export industry. We’ll learn more about the history of tea in Sri Lanka by visiting a local tea factory and estate, where we’ll have a chance to witness the tea production process and interact with some of the planters. We’ll enjoy lunch on the estate.
After returning to the hotel, we will have the afternoon free to explore Matara before gathering for dinner together at the hotel. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11 Matara Fort • Fly to Chennai, India • Begin main trip After breakfast, we’ll set out on a city tour of Matara. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, this sprawling coastal city changed hands many times, but few left their mark like the Dutch, whose graceful architecture
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 POST-TRIP New! Rajasthan: Udaipur, Jodhpur & Desert Retreat
INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE
»» Airfare from Cochin to Udaipur via Delhi, »» 4 small group activities and Jodhpur to Delhi »» Services of a local O.A.T. Trip Leader »» Accommodations for 2 nights in Udaipur, 1 »» Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and night in Jodhpur, 3 nights in Khimsar, and luggage porters 1 night in Delhi »» All transfers »» 17 meals—7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 6 dinners
POST-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY
Nestled among the fairytale landscapes and sweeping desert vistas of Rajasthan—India’s legendary Land of Kings—are two of the country’s most spellbinding destinations. We invite you to unveil the romantic allure of Udaipur and the blue-tinged magic of Jodhpur to discover how these cities captured the hearts of India’s mighty maharajas. Then, venture into the mighty Thar Desert for a relaxing 3-night desert retreat where you’ll enjoy an up-close glimpse of life in rural Rajasthan.
Day 1 Fly to Udaipur We’ll arrive in the afternoon and check into Early this morning, transfer to the airport in our hotel. Then you’ll have some free time to Cochin for your flight to Udaipur—a city that begin getting acquainted with the city before British East India Company officer James Tod an included dinner. once described as the “most romantic spot Breakfast, Dinner on the continent of India.” Since Tod’s time, Udaipur has grown into one of the largest cities in Rajasthan, while still showcasing Day 2 Explore Udaipur • Boat ride on its legendary charm with shimmering Lake Lake Pichola Pichola, fairy-tale palaces, bustling bazaars, After breakfast, we’ll embark on a tour and a breathtaking location in the rolling of Udaipur, beginning with a closer look Aravalli Hills. In fact, it is this old-world at the City Palace—the largest royal allure that gave Udaipur its nickname of the complex in Rajasthan. While the palace “Venice of the East.” was originally built by Maharana Udai Singh II, the maharanas who followed added their own touches over a 300-year period, creating a towering conglomeration of structures—eleven of which are
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 considered mahals, or palaces, in their own four temples, the 15th-century Chaumukha right. We’ll learn more about the palace’s (or “Four-Faced”) Temple is the most history—and the lives of the maharanas impressive. This massive temple—dedicated who lived here—by exploring the City Palace to Adinath, the first Jain tirthankara, or Museum, which is elaborately decorated with teacher—contains 29 halls, 80 domes, and paintings, mosaics, and stained glass. 1,444 pillars so elaborately carved that no two are the same. Later, we’ll visit the ornate 17th-century Jagdish Temple, the oldest Hindu temple We’ll have lunch at a local restaurant before in Udaipur. Here, we’ll admire the intricate continuing on to Jodhpur—the so-called carvings on the temple—which is dedicated “Blue City” on the eastern edge of Rajasthan’s to Jagdish, an incarnation of Vishnu. We’ll Thar Desert. As we’ll learn, Jodhpur has return to the hotel and you’ll have some free certainly earned its nickname, as most of the time to explore more of Udaipur, with lunch color-washed homes in its old city exude a on your own. romantic blue glow—a hue that once marked the home of a Brahmin. This azure sea of This afternoon, our small group will houses is surrounded by a six-mile-long, reconvene for a boat ride on the shimmering 16th-century wall that keeps out the harsh Lake Pichola. In the 16th century, the desert sands—although the city now extends magnificence of the lake captivated Maharana well beyond the wall’s limits. As we’ll Udai Singh II, who eventually decided to learn during our time here, Jodhpur—the move the capital of Mewar from Chittorgarh second-largest city in Rajasthan—was to its scenic shores, giving rise to the city of the capital of the state of Marwar for five Udaipur. Udai Singh later ordered that the lake centuries. The city was originally founded be widened, while also building his illustrious by (and named after) Rao Jodha, chief of the City Palace along its sparkling waters—a mighty Rathore clan, which is said to trace its stunning site that we’ll see today. We’ll also lineage back to Lord Rama, a revered Hindu view Lake Pichola’s two island palaces—one deity. of which was reportedly Shah Jahan’s model for the iconic Taj Mahal. We’ll arrive in the Blue City this evening and check in to our hotel. Dinner is on your After our boat ride, we’ll enjoy dinner own tonight. together at a local restaurant. Breakfast, Lunch Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 Mehrangarh Fort • Overland Day 3 Overland to Jodhpur • to Khimsar Visit Ranakpur We’ll check out of our hotel this morning and This morning, we’ll depart Udaipur and depart Jodhpur on our overland transfer to our drive north to Jodhpur. En route, we’ll desert retreat in Khimsar. stop at Ranakpur—one of the largest and most important Jain temple complexes in Before we leave the city, however, we’ll visit India, hidden in the remote shadow of a Jaswant Thada—an elegant marble cenotaph wooded valley. While the complex features dedicated to Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, whose
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 irrigation plans brought prosperity to this themselves to save a small grove of khejri otherwise dry region. Today, many locals visit trees. We may also have a chance to spot local the memorial to offer prayers and flowers to wildlife, perhaps including nilgai, antelopes, the deceased maharaja—as well as to indulge and gazelles. in what is said to be the best view of one of Jodhpur’s most spectacular sights: the lavish Later in the afternoon, we’ll head back to Mehrangarh Fort. We’ll visit this impressive Khimsar where we’ll see a vibrant cultural landmark that overlooks the Blue City from dance show highlighting the nomadic rituals its perch on a towering sandstone outcrop. before dinner at our lodge. The fort itself was built from chiseled pieces Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner of its sandstone base, creating an image that Rudyard Kipling once described as “the work of angels, fairies, and giants.” Day 6 Kishandas ji Temple • Camel Ride Today, we’ll board a bus where we’ll return Lunch today is at a local restaurant where to the outskirts of the sandy town to visit the you can savor local cuisine or opt for Western historic Jain temple, Kishan Das Ji. Spend time options before we commence our drive admiring the intricate red-rock carvings on through the rugged desert landscape. When the temple’s walls that date back hundreds we arrive in Khimsar, we’ll check into our of years. desert fort accommodations and you’ll have time to settle in. We’ll enjoy a local dance and We’ll then embark on a short village walk in puppet show, a centuries’ old tradition, before Tankla, meeting local herders along the way. dinner at the hotel. A visit to a weaving house will introduce us Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner to local craftspeople who spin the fibers of the land. The villagers make handspun cotton items such as home furnishing, shirts, and Day 5 Desert Safari shawls following traditional hand-weaving Enjoy the morning in the desert as we take methods using locally sourced materials. a leisurely stroll through the remote town. They also weave traditional durries, beautiful We’ll pass by a women’s cooperative, the floor tapestries, made from wool, camel, and local hospital, and police station, and may goat hair. even have a chance to talk with community We’ll drive back to our hotel where we’ll enjoy officials. lunch, featuring local dishes. Afterwards, we’ll After lunch at back at our hotel, we’ll indulge drive to a dune camp where we’ll embark on in a unique glimpse of life in rural Rajasthan a camel ride across the majestic sand dunes. on a jeep safari through several remote We’ll enjoy a dinner at the desert camp. Bishnoi villages to meet the members of this Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner socio-religious Hindu sect. As we’ll learn, the Bishnoi people are known for their love of nature, believing that the life of a plant or Day 7 Fly to Delhi animal is as important as that of a human After a final breakfast at our desert retreat, being. In fact, in one famous instance in 1730, we’ll transfer to the Jodhpur airport and fly more than 360 Bishnoi villagers sacrificed to Delhi early this afternoon. We’ll arrive
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 in Delhi mid-afternoon, and you’ll have some free time to explore the city before an included dinner at our hotel. Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 Return to U.S. Very early this morning, you’ll transfer to the airport for your flight to the U.S. via Dubai.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 POST-TRIP Dubai’s Timeless Desert & Modern Wonders
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»» Accommodations for 3 nights in Dubai »» Services of a local O.A.T. Trip Leader
»» 6 meals—3 breakfasts, 1 lunch, »» Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and and 2 dinners luggage porters
»» 2 small group activities »» All transfers
POST-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY
Experience the interplay of the United Arab Emirates’ sleepy Bedouin past and its bustling cosmopolitan present. Exquisite architecture, antique and modern, surrounds us as we explore the culture, history, and traditions of the UAE’s two most populous cities: Dubai, the gem of the Persian Gulf, and Abu Dhabi, the country’s capital.
Day 1 Fly to Dubai • Visit Palm Island overlooking the Dubai Creek, a glistening We wake up for an early breakfast and take a saltwater creek that affords excellent views of morning flight to Dubai. After some time to the city’s ultra-sleek skyline. freshen up and relax at the hotel, we’ll have a Dinner briefing with our Trip Leader and then depart for Palm Jumeirah, an artificially created island in the shape of a palm tree within Day 2 Desert Safari • Dubai city tour a crescent. The island is part of a series of After breakfast, we’ll head out for a thrilling projects, some of them controversial, all in drive through the dunes in the sandy desert various stages of completion. These projects, outside the city on our Desert Safari. We’ll and many other kinds of enterprises and stop at a camel farm to see how these animals governmental reforms are the brainchildren of are raised and used locally. We will also have Sheikh Mohammed’s “Vision 2021”—a plan the opportunity to ride camels, which have with the aim to make the UAE “one of the best a special place in the UAE—they are still countries in the world” by that year. ridden in the desert, but they are now also used for their meat and milk. You are likely to Next, we see another of these projects, the find camel burger on the menu of an Emirati Burj Khalifa—the tallest artificial structure restaurant, or camel milk cappuccino or ice in the world. After stopping near this cream at a café. Other products made from landmark, we’ll return to our hotel. Later this camel dairy are various cheeses and laban, evening, we’ll enjoy our first Emirate meal: a fermented product that is a healthy a traditional barbecue at a local restaurant alternative to milk.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925 After exploring the desert, we’ll return to for falcons. There we will experience an Dubai for some free time, with lunch on your enthralling show as a seasoned falconer own. Later this afternoon, our small group displays his prowess and the magnificent will reconvene for a city tour to discover raptor’s range of hunting skills. After the Dubai’s history, traditions, and culture. We’ll performance, you’ll have the opportunity for pass the opulent palace of Sheikh Mohammed a close look at these graceful birds. We have bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Emir of Dubai. It lunch at a local restaurant, and then return to is located near the Al Bastakiya Quarter, a Dubai. You’ll have the rest of the evening free densely packed neighborhood that houses to explore the city, with dinner on your own. historical sites, restaurants, cafes, galleries, Breakfast, Lunch mosques, and museums. The last surviving section of the Old City Wall—what remains of the defenses that surrounded the original Day 4 Return to the U.S. town of Bur Dubai—is located here. We will This morning, transfer to the airport for your see the 18th century Al Fahidi Fort, which flight home. houses the Dubai Museum and the beautifully restored home of Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum. Breakfast
This evening, we’ll sit down to a traditional dinner at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, an organization devoted to raising awareness of the different religions, cultures and customs of the United Arab Emirates and to removing the barriers dividing its peoples. The Centre is housed in one of the most interesting buildings in the neighborhood, and our time there is sure to be filled with fascinating cultural discoveries and conversation. Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 Discover Abu Dhabi After breakfast we drive to Abu Dhabi. Upon arrival, we behold the almost surreal beauty of a modern wonder: the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The façade of this regal, dream-like building is made of all white marble and looks as if it is floating, being held aloft by its 82 domes of various sizes.
We have a quick city orientation and then visit the unique Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, the region’s first and only dedicated facility
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925