Tour 2 - Trivandrum to Mumbai
Departure on the 1 st of the month.
Trivandrum/Thelliyor/Cochin/Udupi/Goa/Chiplun/Mumbai
The Spice Bus returns from Mumbai to Trivandrum on the 15th of each month.
Book on any one of four departures or combine any two itineraries.
Itinerary:
DAY 1 - ARRIVE TRIVANDRUM After arrival at Trivandrum International Airport the Spice Trails group will
be met by our friendly representative and transferred by coach to the hotel.
DAY 2 - IN KOVALAM Kovalam, a former fishing village, is just 16 km away from Trivandrum, Kerala’s
capital city. Kovalam, an evergreen beach resort with a pleasant climate, is a dreamy place for tourists
from throughout the world. Ayurvedic massage centres, water sports facilities and yoga centres enhance
Kovalam’s well deserved reputation as one of South India’s biggest tourist havens.
DAY 3 - KOVALAM / ALLEPPEY After breakfast drive to Alleppey to board a houseboat for a memorable
overnight trip along tranquil backwaters. On arrival board the house boat for overnight trip. Lunch and dinner
on the boat.
DAY 4 - HOUSEBOAT / KUMARKOM After a fun night on your ‘floating hotel’ you will arrive at
Kumarkom. Cultural home stay – at Tharavadu Heritage Home. The heritage home is surrounded with (
small ) canals and rich lush ever green trees, flanked on the opposite river bank with a traditional Hindu
Temple. The village of Kumarakom is cluster of little island of the Vembanad Lake and this small water world
is part of Kuttanadu region. This beautiful village Kumarakom is the merger of Mangrove Forest, Emerald
Green paddy fields and Coconut groves inter-spread with waterway and canals adorned with wild Lilly.
Overnight at the Heritage Hotel.
DAY 5 - KUMARKOM / COCHIN After breakfast drive to Cochin via Vaikom. In the evening you will have
a good seat to watch a colourful Kathakali dance performance. Ornate costumes and unusual music will
make this a night to remember.
DAY 6 - IN COCHIN By far the most important place in Kerala for the commercial traveller, Cochin, or Kochi
as it’s officially known, is the business capital of the palm dotted south western Indian state. The pleasant
city with its fine natural harbour is widely acclaimed as the “Queen of the Arabian Sea”.The 16th century
Dutch Palace, the oldest synagogue in the British Commonwealth, the St. Francis Church built in 1503,
the picturesque 13th century Chinese fishing nets, Bolghatty Palace, the Hill Palace Museum and the bird
sanctuary are just a few of the area’s main attractions.
DAY 7 - COCHIN / CALICUT After breakfast, we board the Spice Trails coach for the 225 km drive to
Calicut. Enroute visit the Elephant training camp at Guruvayoor. This is the capital of the Malabar region of
Kerala known the world over for its natural spices. Vasco da Gama first landed here in 1498 when the city
was the capital of the powerful Zamorins. The art gallery, the Pazhassiraja Museum and the Kalari Centre are
the major places of interest in this town.
DAY 8 - KOZHIKODE (CALICUT) / UDUPI Drive to Udupi via Mahe and on arrival transfer to Hotel.
Have a free day to relax, go swimming or walking. In the evening we visit the Krishna Mutt and Temple.
DAY 9 - UDUPI / GOA After a great South Indian breakfast we drive to Goa.
DAY 10 - IN GOA Today the choice is yours. Have a day at a world famous beach or visit Panaji, the
capital of Goa. Panaji, or Panjim as its also known, does not have many great buildings or well-known
attractions. It does, however, have a lot of character because of its Portuguese influences. That is more
than reason enough for a willing visitor to have a look around. The Church Square or Largo de lgreja is the
focal point of the city. The Church of the Immaculate Conception, designed in Portuguese Baroque style and
modelled on the church at Reis Magos is the draw card of the square.
DAY 11 - GOA / CHIPLUN After breakfast it’s time to say goodbye to the delights of Goa and board your
Spice Trails coach for the 330 km drive to Chiplun.En route we will visit the Walawalkar Shivaji Museum
which contains many exhibits pertaining to the life of Maratha ruler, Shivaji.
DAY 12 - CHIPLUN / MUMBAI In the morning there is time for boating, mountain biking and indoor
games. We depart in the early afternoon for the 260 km drive to Mumbai via the Karnala Bird Sanctuary.
DAY 13 - IN MUMBAI Mumbai is a massive city offering the glamour of Bollywood cinema, weekend cricket
on the massive maidan in the heart of the city, bhel puri on the beach at Chowpatty, red double-decker
buses, value for money shopping and a wealth of attractions. Mumbai has vital street life, India’s best
nightlife and more bazaars than you could ever explore. The full day city tour visits the imposing Gateway of
India, Mani Bhawan, the Prince of Wales Museum, Marine Drive, the Hanging Gardens, Chowpatty Beach
and the Towers of Silence. The evening’s ‘farewell dinner’ is at a trendy Mumbai restaurant.
DAY 14 - DEPART MUMBAI Enjoy your final few hours in this mega city by shopping or just relaxing.
The Spice Trails group is transferred to Sahar International Airport in time to board their homebound flight.
Alternatively you may wish to further your journey on the next Spice Bus tour or travel through Incredible
India independently.
Travel Options
Join our groups (minimum 20 passengers) by yourself or
with your friends.
Charter a Spice Bus departure. You only need 15 paying passengers.
Take your family and friends. No age limit.
You can combine both itineraries for a 28-day tour.
Travel independently within India after you complete any tour.
Spice Trails will tailor make an itinerary to suit your needs. |
