The Ultimate Indian Ocean Adventure: India, Sri Lanka And Maldives
Embark on a 26-day-long tour that is sure to leave you with enough incredible memories to last a lifetime. Start your journey in the bustling metropolis of Mumbai, India and explore urban life in a world removed. Explore the countryside of Sri Lanka on a walking tour of the tea plantations. Appreciate the natural wonders of Southern Asia on multiple safari treks. And spend the last days of your adventurous tour unwinding in the stunning and tranquil Maldives.
Highlights
- KERALA BACKWATERS
- GALLE
- DREAM BEACH
Inclusions
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Accommodation
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Transport
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Guide
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Entrances
Extensions
Destinations
- India
- Maldives
- Sri Lanka
Trip Plan
DAY 1 (MUMBAI)
Touch down in Mumbai, India’s most affluent locale. Your driver will be waiting to take you to your luxury hotel. Check in, rest and feel refreshed. The rest of the day is yours to explore your surroundings and relax before the busy days ahead.DAY 2 (MUMBAI)
Today your private guide will take you on a whirlwind tour of bustling, vibrant Mumbai. Starting with the Prince of Wales Museum and a look to India’s fascinating past. Next up, Victoria station, the historic railway station is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Finish off the tour with a visit to the markets of Malabar Hill. Take in the colors and chaos of the space with its many foreign sights, scents and sounds. Enjoy dinner at one of your hotels on-site fine dining restaurants.DAY 3 (COCHIN)
Wake at your leisure and enjoy a delicious breakfast at the hotel. Today you will transfer to Cochin. Check in and spend the rest of the day relaxing and exploring the hotel and surrounding sights.DAY 4 (COCHIN)
Today you will explore Cochin Bay, and take the Colonial Cochin Tour. The winding, narrow streets of this southern city will transport you back in time. Take in the charming blend of colonial architecture and native aesthetics as they meet in a beautiful fusion of culture.DAY 5 (KUMARAKOM)
Rise and shine early this morning, before visiting Cochin’s famous Jew Town, Paradesi Synagogue, and the beautiful Dutch Palace before packing up and transferring to Kumarakom. Check in at the luxury Kumarakom Lake Resort.DAY 6 (KUMARAKOM)
Kumarakom is home to a rich ecosystem of mangrove forests, paddy fields, coconut groves and a plethora of exotic bird species. Take a boat through the backwaters and visit the Bird Sanctuary. Round off the day with a sunset cruise.DAY 7 (CHENNAI)
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before transferring to Chennai. Check in to the Leela or Park Hyatt hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.DAY 8 (CHENNAI)
Today you will visit the country’s most impressive artesian commune, the Cholamandal Artists’ Village. Next, learn of the region’s social-political landscape with a visit to the Government Museum. Last stop on today’s tour is the city’s oldest railway station, the Southern Railway Terminus. Spend the evening relaxing at your hotel.DAY 9 (BANGALORE)
Enjoy a scrumptious breakfast before your departure to Bangalore, India’s third-largest city. Check in to your suite. Rest, refresh and relax for the rest of the day.DAY 10 (COLOMBO)
You will spend the first half of the day exploring Bangalore, the country’s tech hub. Visit Lal Bagh botanical gardens, home to India’s most extensive collection of tropical plants. Next see the Dodda Basavana Gudi, or Bull Temple and the Bangalore Palace. Depart for Colombo and check in for the evening.DAY 11 (COLOMBO)
Start your day off with a spiritually-inspiring visit to the Gangaramaya Temple. Continue on to the Seema Malakaya Temple, a temple in the middle of a lake only reachable by a small bridge. Take a tour of the National Museum and stop at the historic military fort. As the sun begins to set, head for the local markets and shop for some traditional trinkets or try some of the local foods.DAY 12 (SIGIRIYA)
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before departing for Sigiriya, a four-hour drive away. Check in to your hotel and freshen up before climbing up Sigiriya Rock Fortress. At the top, witness the ruins of this once great fortress and take in the panoramic views of the surrounding plains.DAY 13 (SIGIRIYA)
This morning, visit Dambulla Cave Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This complex of caves was carved over several centuries, dating back to the 1st century BCE. In the afternoon, go on an elephant safari at Minneriya Park where you can observe wild elephants and other protected wildlife in their natural environment. If you arrive in autumn during the dry season, you may be able to witness the spectacular 'elephant gathering' when hundreds of wild elephants head to this watering hole.DAY 14 (KANDY)
Take a half-day trip to the ancient kingdom of Polonnaruwa, yet another UNESCO site of the beautiful region. An afternoon departure will bring you to Kandy, Sri Lanka’s cultural capital. Check into your hotel and relax poolside or explore your surroundings and get a good night’s rest.DAY 15 (BOGAWANTALAWA VALLEY)
This morning you’ll explore the city of Kandy, tour the Bahirawakanda Monastery and experience life through the eyes of a Sri Lankan monk. Visit the Temple of the Tooth and be amazed by its adornment in tiny white lights. Then transfer to Ceylon Tea Trails hotel in the central highlands, where each room and suite comes with a personal butler. Have your personal butler draw you a bath and relax.DAY 16 (BOGAWANTALAWA VALLEY)
The region is known for its tea and sprawling estates - today you will take the Ceylon Tea Trail working plantation hike. Feel refreshed after a tea tasting at the plantations. Return to your suite and enjoy the exclusive royal treatment offered by your hotel.DAY 17 (GALLE)
Enjoy a hearty breakfast before a half-day trek up Adam’s Peak, a sacred space of worship for centuries. Next, on to the stunning coastal city of Galle, where you will check into the Amangalla hotel. Enjoy the five-star treatment you will receive at this historic hotel and spend the rest of the day relaxing.DAY 18 (GALLE)
Begin the day with a spectacular experience – take a whale watching tour! Next check out the Ancient Port of Galle, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Round off the day of incredible sights with a visit to the Yatagala and Rhumasala temples.DAY 19 (TANGALLE)
After breakfast depart for Tangalle. Here you will experience the unique opportunity to view baby sea turtles hatching on a remote, isolated beach. Check in to the Amanwella resort before taking a local cooking class and learning some of the secrets of the delicious Sri Lankan dishes.DAY 20 (TANGALLE)
Today visit the impressive Mulkirigala Rock temple, standing 676-feet tall. This unique temple is unlike any other in the world. Make your way through the winding cave temples of Mulkirigala. Enjoy a relaxing evening at the luxury hotel.DAY 21 (TANGALLE)
Today embark on an exciting safari through Yala National Park on a full day tour. This wildlife sanctuary is home to a rich array of aquatic bird species, tropical plants and many natural wonders. Return to your hotel for a good night’s rest.DAY 22 (MALDIVES)
Today depart for the final destination on the tour, the stunning Maldives. It’s time to unwind. Fly in to the capital of Male, then hop on a speedboat or seaplane onward to your luxury resort of choice.DAY 23 (MALDIVES)
Start your day with a relaxing and invigorating yoga session on the soft beach sand. After breakfast, you’ll take an unforgettable sea plane flight through the Maldives, giving you an epic view of the country’s stunning scenery. In the afternoon, you may enjoy some leisure time on the beach. Toast the sunset aboard a Dolphin Cruise, and enjoy a tasty beachside dinner.DAY 24 (MALDIVES)
A leisurely beach morning can be broken up with snorkel sessions through the vibrant reefs that line the shores of the atoll. Later on, give parasailing a try, and enjoy yet another bird’s-eye view of the exquisite beaches that surround you. In the afternoon, you’ll unlock the secrets behind Maldivian cooking. Relax afterwards with an indulgent spa treatment, to help you wind down for the evening.DAY 25 (MALDIVES)
Keep your zen vibe going with some early morning Tai Chi. Mid-morning, you’ll learn all about the pink corals that add such color to the surrounding crystal waters from a resident marine biologist. You’ll even get to replenish the coral population by planting some yourself! Laze the afternoon away on the beach. Return home to freshen up ahead of a romantic private beach dinner tonight.DAY 26 (DEPARTURE)
Say goodbye to the Maldives today, as you’re whisked away by speedboat to Male, where you’ll be assisted with check in for your international departure flight for your onward travels.
