Day 1 - Fly overnight from London Heathrow
to Chennai
Day 2 - Arrive in Chennai - 3 nights at Taj
Fisherman's Cove in Covelong
Chennai (formerly known as Madras) is the fourth largest city in
India and sprawls over 50 square miles. Once an impressive Dutch
Fort, Fisherman's Cove is now one of the finest beach resorts in
Southern India, set amidst whispering casuarinas and palm trees, on
miles of fine, white sand. There are 88 luxury cottages and
comfortably appointed rooms, with all the facilities and amenities
you'd expect from a 5 star property, plus friendly service to
boot.
Day 5 - Covelong to Cochin - 2 nights at
The Taj Malabar
Cochin, as you will discover, is believed to be the oldest
European settlement in India. It is a cluster of islands hugging
the west coast. To this day, the old harbour front of Cochin looks
as if it's straight out of an ancient book: there are Arab dhows in
the foreground and behind, the elongated tree-shaded buildings of
the spice traders and coconut merchants - the descendants of the
families who sold gold, ivory, timber and peacocks to King Solomon
19 centuries ago! From time immemorial, Arab, Dutch, Chinese,
English and Portuguese voyagers have followed the sea-routes to
Cochin and left their imprint on the town.
Day 7 - Cochin to the backwaters of Kerala - 1
night on a houseboat
The backwaters of Kerala offer an enchanting experience of fun
and relaxation and a chance to see authentic local life: a world of
coconut trees, shallow lakes, deep canals and long boats…. No
traffic jams, no noise - only nature's marvels on display. In
earlier times, the canals provided the easiest and cheapest means
of communication when road travel was almost non-existent. Even
today, much of the travel in Kerala is via the backwaters. Sailing
down a maze of canals, you'll see many different scenes of Indian
village life.
Day 8 - Backwaters of Kerala to Kumarakom -
2 nights at Coconut Lagoon
You'll have 1½ days to relax at the hotel here where you can
choose from a variety of activities, including a backwater cruise
on Vembanad Lake (India's longest lake), an Ayurvedic massage
treatment or a visit to the Kavanar Bird Sanctuary and farms.
Experience organic farming and fish cultivation, enjoy a cookery
demonstration where you'll learn to cook with spices, or simply
take a sedate stroll through the village.
Day 10 - Kumarakom to Kovalam - 2 nights at The
Leela Kempinski Kovalam Beach
A short drive from Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) Airport
unfolds The Leela Kempinski Kovalam Beach, Kerala. With 182 rooms
and suites sprinkled over many verdant acres, Kerala's largest
resort is cradled between two sweeping beaches. Perched on a
rock-face, this 5 star deluxe resort offers the most panoramic
views of the famed Kovalam shoreline.
Day 12 - Kovalam to Mumbai - 2 nights at The
Taj Mahal Palace and Towers
Mumbai (formerly Bombay), is India's commercial capital and city
of fortune. The very name conjures up a host of visions of glamour
and mega-stars, industrialists and business houses - a multifarious
and futuristic lifestyle which is likely to become even more
intense as Mumbai moves closer and closer to it becoming the
world's 2nd largest metropolitan area (after Tokyo), by the year
2015.
Day 14 - Mumbai to London Heathrow