Day 1: Mumbai

On arrival at Mumbai airport assistance & transfer to hotel (check in/out time 12pm). Mumbai is disciplined by no time frame neither day nor night. Dazzling shopping arcades, exciting sport activity, nightclubs & discotheques, theatre, music & gourmet restaurants offers visitors a heady mix of all this and more. Rest time free for personal activities. Overnight at hotel.

 

Day 2: Mumbai (B)

City tour of Mumbai. Drive via Marine Drive one of the most beautifully laid boulevards in the city to reach Gateway of India. Board a ferry from here to reach Elephanta Caves (Monday closed). A flight of 100 steps takes you to the top of the hill where caves are located. Afterwards cruise back to Gateway of India and then city tour. Drive pass CST & Parliament House. Visit Dhobhi Ghat to see the city famous open air laundry in action. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalay, a grade I Heritage Building of the city counted amongst one of the most prominent museums of India. The complex exhibits a myriad collection of ancient artefacts, artwork and sculptors of the country which give a unique insight into our past. Overnight at hotel. Overnight at hotel.

 

Day 3: Mumbai - Alibaug (100kms) (B)

Drive to Alibaug check in at hotel. Rest time free to relax. Overnight at hotel.

 

Day 4: Alibaug (B)

Morning optional excursion to visit Kankeshwar Temple located on a 1200 feet high hilltop in the village of Mapgaon around 12km from Alibaug. One has to climb 750 steps to reach the temple. The unique architecture temple was built in 1674 and is one of the finest example of Hoysala style of architecture. The main sanctum of the temple houses 4 feet long Shiv lingam. Another feature of Kanakeshwar Temple is Pushkarni a tank that remains filled with water all the time. Kanakeshwar is a place to feel the jungle and silence of the jungle and hills. Overnight at hotel.

 

Day 5: Alibaug - Ratnagiri (300kms) (B)

Drive to Ratnagiri via visiting Murud-Janjira Fort, the majestic fort palace located on a cliff overlooking the sea. It remained unconquered by the Marathas, the Dutch and the English. Janjira is considered one of the strongest marine forts in India and can be approached by sailboats from Rajapuri jetty. The main gate of the fort faces Rajapuri on the shore and can be seen only when one is about 40 feet (12 m) away from it. It has a small postern gate towards the open sea for escape. The fort has 26 rounded bastions, still intact. There are many cannons of native and European make rusting on the bastions. The palace of the Nawabs of Janjira at Murud is still in good shape. Special attraction of this fort are 3 gigantic cannons named Kalalbangdi, Chavri and Landa Kasam. These cannons were said to be feared for their shooting range. 
Continue drive to Ratnagiri, check in & overnight at hotel.

 

Day 6: Ratnagiri - Goa (295kms) (B)

Visit Thibaw Palace a three-storeyed brick and teakwood palace situated at the hem of the hill, where King Thibaw, the last king of Myanmar, was under house arrest by the British. It provides a picturesque view of the sunset at Arabian sea.
Drive to Goa enroute visit Sindhudurg Fort, an ancient fortress occupying an islet in the Arabian Sea off the coast. This imposing construction is spread over an area of 48 acres, with its massive walls standing tall against the crashing waves of the sea. The main entrance of the fort is hidden away in such a manner that no one can identify it from the outside. The Sindhudurg Fort is a tangible example of the Maratha foresight and resourcefulness. Built by Chhatrapati Shivaji, Fort has 42 bastions, which still stand tall and is surrounded by several smaller forts such as the Padmagad, Rajkot and Sarjekot Fort. A small temple dedicated to the Chhatrapati also finds a place within the bounds of the fort. 
Arrive Goa check in & overnight at hotel.

 

Day 7: Goa (B)

City tour of Goa. Visit Old Goa monument the Basilica of Bom Jesus a 16th century church dedicated to infant Jesus housing the tomb of St. Francis Xavier. The other Churches in the same area are St. Cathedral, Church of Our Lady of Miracles, Church of our Lady of Rosary and Nunnery of St. Monica. The Aguada Fort built by the Portuguese on the mouth of the Mondovi River and a 4-storey Portuguese lighthouse oldest of its kind in Asia. In South Goa visit Mangueshi Temple, Shanta Durga Temple & Margao the headquarters of South Goa. Drive Pass the charming beaches such as Calangute, Dona Paula, Miramar and Baga Beach. Overnight at hotel. Overnight at hotel.

 

Day 8: Goa (B)

Day free to relax & explore the site of your interest with your driver. Overnight at hotel.

 

Day 9: Goa - Gokarna (235km) (B)

Drive to Gokarna enroute stop at Karwar to visit INS Chapal (K94) Warship Museum, situated in Rabindranath Tagore beach. INS Chapal is a missile warship and was used in the 1971 Indo - Pak war. In 2006, the ship was converted into a museum to display sea-artefacts, a video of the ship being converted into this museum among other collectibles. And Sadashivgad Fort, built atop a hill on the north bank of the Kali river. It is mostly in ruins, having been pulled apart by the British, after multiple change of hands. A Durga temple is situated in this fort, the Shantadurga deity being installed by Shivaji for the locals to worship. 
Arrive Gokarna check in at hotel. City tour of Gokarna a town on the Arabian Sea, and a popular pilgrimage destination for Hindus, known for sacred sites Mahabaleshwar Temple, which has a shrine dedicated to the deity Shiva. A 6 feet tall Shiva Linga here built using white granite is a classic example of the beauty of Dravidian architecture. A 1500 years old carved stone Lord Shiva idol in the standing position represents the main deity. The temple has been mentioned in the Hindu Mythics of Mahabharata and Ramayana and it is said to be as significant as Kashi. Nearby, Koti Teertha is a temple tank where devotees wash in the holy waters. The town is also home to beaches such as palm-lined Gokarna, Kudle and Om beach, a hippy paradise. Rest time free and easy to relax on the beach. Overnight at hotel.

 

Day 10: Gokarna - Mangalore (235km) (B)

Drive to Mangalore enroute visit 13th-century Sri Krishna Temple, adorned with jewels and a golden chariot. What makes the temple unique, is its worshipping pattern. The prayers and process of the whole worship take place only through a silver-plated window with nine holes called the Navagraha Kitiki. A temple known as Udupi Anantheshwara Temple surrounds the Shree Krishna Matha. This temple traces back to 1,000 years. The temple bears a resemblance to a living ashram, fostering daily life and devotion. 
Continue drive to Mangalore, check in at hotel. Later city tour of Mangalore visit Kadri Manjunath Temple, built in 1068 AD, this temple has the typical Hindu architectural style on the basic Vijaynagri style. The temple has many caves around it as it is located on hillocks. These caves have depictions that go back to prehistoric times. Mangaladevi Temple dedicated to Goddess Shakti, it is the oldest temple in Mangalore built in 900 AD. The grand temple spacious complex allows devotees to sit and meditate or chant after offering their prayers to feel rejuvenated and at peace. 
Also visit St Aloysius Chapel, a Catholic Church and a famous attraction set atop the Lighthouse Hill and has a regal look which is breathtaking right from the entrance. The unique wall paintings of St. Aloysius Chapel are stunning. The view of the Arabian Sea from the campus is worth the trip if one wishes to capture a part of the history and the natural landscape of this part of the city. Rosario Cathedral, a 16th-century Roman Catholic church, a magnificent structure with a beautiful interior. The cross and the dome on the Cathedral are easily visible to the ships approaching the Mangalore Harbour. The Cross is lit every evening and serves as guiding light for fishermen and seamen. Overnight at hotel.

 

Day 11: Mangalore - Kozhikode (250kms) (B)

Drive to Kozhikode enroute visit Bekal Fort, built in 1650 by Shivappa Nayaka, it is one of the largest and most preserved forts in Kerala. Nestled in the lap of nature, Bekal Fort is surrounded by a beautiful beach offering an enchanting view of Arabian Sea from its high observation tower where once the cannons were placed. Bekal Fort is a keyhole-shaped lofty structure that stands still against the rocky shores of sea. The beautiful walkway, illuminated beach and the grand architecture of the Bekal Fort amuse its visitors with its finesse. 
Further drive to Kannur & visit St Angelos Fort, famous for the gripping history and the intriguing tales it has to tell. This fort was a point of interest for many dynasties of domestic as well as the international origin and has seen many bitter battles in the quest to conquer it. Walking around the walls of this majestic fort, you can almost picture the battles that this fortress has seen. There are tombstones of the soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the fort, barracks and an old chapel here that you can explore. Kannur`s first ever lighthouse also stands next to the fort. 
Next stop to visit the Thalassery Fort, built in 1703 by the East India Company as a testimony to show the power and ability of the imperial rulers, it played a prominent role in the military as well as commercial activities of the English during their colonial rule in India. The fort has a square shape, massive walls and doors which are artistically carved. It has laterite blocks and walls with holes of loops which are aided by strong supporters. The fort comprises of a large gateway as well as a lighthouse. Near the fort lies the bungalow of the sub-collector, St. Rosary Church and Brennen cemetery. 
Continue drive to Kozhikode, check in & overnight at hotel.

 

Day 12: Kozhikode - Cochin (190kms) (B)

Visit Kappad Beach, famous for being the destination of Vasco Da Gama, the famous Portuguese explorer to reach India by sea in 1498. It is lined with palm trees and sedimentary rocks that decorate the shore and give any visitor a serene feeling. Mishkal Palli Mosque, believed to be constructed around 700 years ago by an Arab merchant Nakhooda Mishkal it doesn`t have any minarets making it unique.
Drive to Cochin enroute visit Guruvayoor Temple, one of the most sacred pilgrim hubs where deity Lord Vishnu is worshipped in Balkrishna Avtar. The idol of Lord is made out of a rare mixture called Padala Anjanam, instead of stone or metal. Lord idol is adorned with four hands each carrying a conch, a mace, a discus and a lotus and garlanded with the Basil and pearl necklace. Only Hindu can enter the sanctum of temple. And Mammiyur Mahadeva Temple, famous for its large murals, this temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is believed that Lord Shiva was the original owner of Guruvayur temple and decided to relocate to the current site to place the Vishnu idol in Guruvayur temple. Hence, every pilgrim completes their pilgrimage by visiting this temple located just 500 meter from Guruvayoor temple housing the shrines of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.
Arrive Cochin check in & overnight at hotel.

 

Day 13: Cochin (B)

City tour of Cochin the lovely seaside city flanked by the Western Ghats on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west. You will find here a unique mix and match of traditional as well Western architecture and lifestyle. Visit Fort Cochin a charming seaside area known for its Dutch, Portuguese & British colonial architecture and elaborate bamboo fishing nets at Fort Kochi Beach. St. Francis Church was the original burial site of explorer Vasco da Gama. Upscale eateries and chic cafes serve Keralan specialties, and quaint shops sell cotton clothing and handmade souvenirs. Heritage buildings house contemporary art galleries. Also visit Jewish Synagogue & the Mattancherry Dutch`s Palace. In the evening enjoy Kathakali, a traditional dance form of Kerala with lavish costumes, exotic makeup, masks etc. Overnight at hotel.

 

Day 14: Cochin - Alleppey (60kms) (B)

Transfer to Alleppey boat jetty to board houseboat and sail through the tropical countryside enchanting backwaters. While sailing enjoy palm fringed narrow canals winding through the vast expanse of paddy fields and the neat tiny hamlets lined up along either side of the canals, the panoramic sights one can never forget. Pass through one of the few areas in the world where farming is done below sea level. Alleppey is referred as the Venice of the East, due to canals, backwaters, and lagoons. Boats are the main mode of transportation here, you can see Shikara boats, small motor boats, passenger boats, cargo boat, and houseboats. Evening enjoy sunset from the sun-deck of the houseboats. The Houseboats have generated electricity, sitting cum dining area, separate bedroom with attached English toilets, sun deck and fully loaded kitchen with a chef & driver. Overnight in houseboat.

 

Day 15: Cochin - Departure (B)

Drive to Cochin & drop off to airport.

Assistance on arrival at airport.

14 Nights accommodation in selected price category hotels.

Meal as per day plan (B- Breakfast, L- Lunch, D- Dinner)

Private air conditioned deluxe car for an airport transfer, sightseeing and excursion as per program.

English speaking tour guide on sightseeing days (local guide in each city), as per program.

Monuments entrances and activities charges mentioned in the itinerary.

Bottled drinking water in car.

Government taxes.

 

Hotels used or similar for 14 night accommodation

Mumbai x 2 nights
3* - Hotel Suba Palace/ BW Hotel Sahil
4* - Sun-N-Sand Hotel/ Fariyas Hotel
5* - Trident Hotel/ ITC Grand Central

Alibaug x 2 nights
3* - Elysium Spa Resort/ Hotel Sahyadri
4* - The Fern Silvanus Resort/ Maple IVY
5* - Radisson Blu Resort & Spa/ U Tropicana

Ratnagiri x 1 night
3* - Elysium Spa Resort/ Hotel Sahyadri
4* / 5* - Kohinoor Samudra Beach Resort

Goa x 3 nights 
3* - Varca Le Palm/ Lambana Resort
4* - Lemon Tree Hotel Candolim/ The Chances Resort & Casino
5* - Zuri Varca Goa White Sand Resort & Casino/ Alila Diwa Goa

Gokarna x 1 night
3* - Red Earth Gokarna/Arthigamya Resort & Spa
4* - Kudle Beach View Resort & Spa/ Namaste Yoga Farm
5* - SwaSwara/ Kahani Paradise

Mangalore x 1 night
3* - Resort River Roost Resorts/ Treebo Trend Pappilon Palace
4* - The Ocean Pearl/ Goldfinch Mangalore
5* - The Gateway Hotel Old Port Rd Mangalore

Kozhikode x 1 night
3* - Keys Hotel Malabar Gate/ Paramount Tower Hotel
4* - Malabar Palace/Copper Folia
5* - The Raviz Calicut/ The Gateway Hotel Beach Road Calicut

Cochin x 2 nights
3* - The Dune Hotel/ Abad Plaza
4* - Casino Hotel/ The Avenue Regent
5* - Xandari Harbour/ Le Meridien

Alleppey x 1 night
3* - Deluxe Houseboat (ATDC Houseboat/ Dream Boats)
4* - Premium Houseboat (Abad Premium Houseboats/ Rainbow Premium Houseboats)
5* - Luxury Houseboat (Xandari Riverscapes/ Lakes & Lagoons)

Any flight tickets.

Camera charges at monuments.

Meals other than mentioned in day plan.

Expenses of personal nature like liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, internet etc. 

Gratuities & optional activities.

Anything not mentioned in inclusions.