AA SOUTHSOUTH INDIAINDIA FEAST!FEAST! TAKE A 14-DAY SOUTH INDIA CULINARY TOUR WITH RENOWNED CHEF VINOD LOHTIA FOR JUST $$ 4,3954,395PER PERSON / LAND ONLY

14 DAYS / 13 NIGHTS DEPARTS SEPTEMBER 17, 2016 Tour highlights include: Visit THE COLOURFUL MARKETS OF SOUTH INDIA WITH CHEF LOHTIA

Take cooking lessons under the guidence of Chef lohtia and learn the secrets of south indian cuisine

visit exciting culinary centres like chennai, pondicherry, madurai, periyar, kumarakom and cochin! DAY BY DAY PROGRAM

Day 1 - Arrival in Chennai (B) Upon arrival at the airport in Chennai, you will be met for transportation to the hotel for a traditional Indian welcome followed by check-in. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. Stay two nights in Chennai.

Day 2 – Chennai (B/L/D) Depart on your full day city tour visiting Fort St. George and the St Thomas Cathedral. You will then proceed to Mylapore, which was inhabited in the 16th century by the Portuguese, and the San Thome Church, named for the Christian disciple who lived and taught here in the first century. A Tamil vegetarian lunch is included during your tour giving you your first taste of South Indian cuisine. In the afternoon, tour more of Chennai, and in the evening experience the rich taste of Southern India at a famed local restaurant.

Day 3 – Chennai / Pondicherry (B/L/D) Depart for Pondicherry, en-route visiting Auroville, an international community devel- oped around the ashram of the Indian yogi, Sri Aurobindo. On arrival in Pondicherry, we will check-in before our afternoon city tour. Pondicherry is a former French colony presenting an unusual combination of European culture and Indian traditions. Visit the Pondicherry museum, which has sculptures, archaeological finds, and memorabilia of the French colonists. See the Sacred Heart Church with its Gothic architecture, and in the evening walk along the sea front to view the architecture, a legacy of the French, who governed this town until 1957. Tonight, learn South Indian specialty dishes during a cooking class.

Day 4 – Pondicherry / Swamimalai (B/L/D) This morning, drive to the town of Swamimalai, a haven for Tamil culture for centuries, and settle here for a 2 night stay to begin your insight into the regional culture and cu- Rock Fort. A climb of 434 steps leads to the ancient temple of Ganapati on top and linary arts. Amma in Tamil means mother, and for centuries Amma’s have provided the a further climb takes us to a Shiva Temple. After lunch, drive to Madurai, one of the best meals in the region. These Ammas will be our culinary teachers with their years oldest cities in South India, and the centre of learning and pilgrimage for centuries. of experience and intuitive style of cooking. We will also meet a family of sari weavers, This evening, proceed for dinner at a roof-top vegetarian restaurant with a view of spend time in their humble home and watch them weave an intricately designed sari Meenakshi Temple. Late evening, visit the Meenakshi Temple to attend the night of splendorous colors. Meander through the local village, meeting the locals, learning ceremony. about their lifestyles and ways of cooking. Day 7 – Madurai (B/L/D) Day 5 – Swamimalai (B/L/D) Tour the great Meenakshi Temple, one of the most notable in all of South India, After breakfast, visit the Kumbakonam circle temples, famous as the location for the dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva. Also visit the Tirumala Nayak Palace, a gracious Mahamaham festival, occurring once every 12 years. Visit the famous Darasuram 17th century building in the Indo-Saracenic style famous for stuccowork on its domes Airadheeswarar Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The four large temples - the and arches. Enjoy lunch at the Meenakshi Temple, a traditionally served but delectably Sarangapani, the Kumbeswarar, the Nageswarar and Ramasamy - located here are flavorful meal of vegetarian cuisine, and then have the afternoon at your leisure. noted for their excellent sculpture and carvings. This evening, enjoy a cooking demon- This evening, a culinary expert will take you on a visit of the popular restaurants and stration of South Indian dishes followed by dinner. roadside eateries which serve traditional Madurai food. On the walk, you will get the opportunity to sample local delicacies with a pinch of the city's cultural history thrown Day 6 – Swamimalai / Madurai (B/L/D) in. Included during your tour in Madurai is a rickshaw ride to admire the city amongst Depart after breakfast to Madurai, en route visiting Trichy. In Trichy, visit the landmark the hustle & bustle at street level. Day 10 – Periyar / Kumarakom (B/L/D) This morning drive to Kumarakom, a sleepy little village tucked away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Visit a tea plantation en route and learn the process of planting tea. We will stop in Kanjirappally for lunch to sample the best of authentic Kerala cooking, as made in a traditional home. Lunch will be served on the large front lawn. Savour the flavours of estate life under a large mango tree, surrounded by birdsong, gentle breeze and friendly conversation. After lunch, continue to Kumarakom.

Day 11 – Kumarakom (B/L/D) Enjoy the facilities at the hotel from yoga, meditation and/or the Ayurveda wellness center (own account). In the early afternoon, depart for the Kanjirakkatu home-stay in Kottayam to have a Sadya lunch, a traditional vegetarian feast of Kerala. Later, the group can walk around the Meenachil River through some villages and return for high tea at Kanjirakkatu. In the evening, we’ll visit Phillipkutty’s Farm, an excellent effort on part of a local Keralite family, who showcase the backwaters of Kerala and real rural India in its simplest and purely natural form. Dinner at Phillipkutty’s Farm is a lavish affair with local home cooked dishes on the main menu.

Day 12 – Kumarakom / Cochin (B/L/D) This morning, depart for Cochin stopping en route in Alleppey to enjoy a ‘day cruise’ on a Kettuvallam Houseboat on the Vembanad Lake and backwaters. The backwaters are a network of canals, lakes, lagoons and estuaries stretching over almost 1000 square miles. Here, palm-fringed narrow canals wind through a vast expanse of paddy fields. As we float along, enjoy the picturesque hamlets that line the banks, migratory birds in abundance, water lilies and coconut groves. Later, continue the drive to Cochin and check in to the hotel. This evening, enjoy dinner accompanied by a renowned chef.

Day 8 – Madurai / Periyar (B/L/D) Day 13 – Cochin (B/L/D) Drive uphill through the Western Ghats for Periyar and then check-in to your hotel. This morning, proceed for your city tour of Cochin including a visit to the Dutch Palace, Periyar is the “Land of the Spices” Columbus was seeking when he stumbled on the the Synagogue, St. Francis Church, and the Chinese Fishing Nets, including a short New World, and Kerala’s Malabar Coast is famous for its fabulous spice crops. Walk to boat cruise in the sea-backwaters. The group will visit some markets during the tour the neighboring pepper plantation to see traditional plantation techniques walking including vegetable and fish markets. Lunch today is organized at Nimmy & Paul’s amidst the rows of vines creeping upwards on trellises. This is the starting point of the Residence. In keeping with the tradition of their families they enjoy having guests centuries old spice trade. Dinner will include a cooking demo with a focus on Kerala and serving good food. Nimmy conducts cookery classes and she teaches guests the cuisine and an emphasis on the flavours created by the region’s fresh spices. nuances of traditional Kerala recipes. This evening, enjoy cultural entertainment at the Kerala Kaleidoscope show. Dinner will be at a venue whose layout and décor is inspired Day 9 – Periyar (B/L/D) by a traditional ‘Kettuvallam’ rice boat. With a show kitchen, guests can interact with This morning, take a nature trek in the Periyar National Park with a naturalist. There chefs to create customized specialities. are different nature trails traversing diverse habitats that form the trekking routes, generally 4 to 5 km in length. This is an interpretive programme offering excellent op- Day 14 –Cochin / Departure (B) portunities to watch birds, butterflies and other wildlife. The trails often pass through Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and the morning at your leisure. Checkout at 12 noon. At evergreen and moist deciduous forests interspersed with marshy grasslands. Later the appointed time, you will be met at the hotel for your transportation to the airport today, enjoy a guided visit to the Spice Market in the town of Thekkady. The afternoon for your departure flight. is free to explore the local surroundings, take a light walk, or do some bird-watching at your leisure. Tour costs TOUR INCLUDES: Tour Escort: Chef Vinod Lohtia twin sharing $4,395 per person Airport transportation with meet & greet single room supplement $995 per person Accommodation for 13 nights at hotels as mentioned Daily breakfast, lunches, and dinners as outlined Cooking demos, cooking classes, and culinary insights Tours & admissions as noted on the itinerary Transportation throughout the tour by A/C chartered vehicle ACCOMMODATION Services of expert English speaking local guide chennai: radisson blu city centre 5-star PONDICHERRY: PALAIS DE MAHE HOTEL 3-STAR tour does not include: International Airfare (in Chennai / out Cochin) SWAMIMALAI: INDECO HOTEL 3-STAR India Entry Visa Tips & gratuities MADURAI: THE GATEWAY HOTEL 4-star Items of a personal nature (ie; tel. calls, laundry, beverages, etc) PERIYAR: SPICE VILLAGE 4-STAR Travel Insurance Camera fees at monuments KUMARAKOM: COCONUT LAGOON 4-STAR Anything else not mentioned cochin: vivanta by taj malabar 5-STAR For international flights, please contact [email protected] or call 1.877.578.8888 ext. 2236 for preferred rates. DON'T BE DISAPPOINTED - BOOK NOW! Contact [email protected] with your reservation request and/or any questions that you may have.