PLEASE BE AWARE THAT DUE TO THE POPULARITY OF THIS TOUR, WE MAY EXPERIENCE SOME QUEUING FOR THE CABLE CAR.

A cable-car ride up the World Heritage Site of Table Mountain is a highlight of any visit to Cape Town, and it is the centrepiece of today’s tour.

Departing our ship we will enjoy a brief tour of Cape Town “by night” before we drive up Kloof Nek and follow the road which leads to the top of Signal Hill. The views from here are dramatic, especially at night when the lights of the city sparkle like jewels in the surrounding darkness.

This tour will allow us to discover Stellenbosch, the undisputed heart of the Winelands and sample the delights of one of South Africa’s most important wine regions.

The Kathakali dance performance will be followed by a short Kalaripayattu performance. Kalaripayattu is a martial art that originated in the temples of Kerala. A rigorous discipline is enforced on the students and a display of this martial art will leave us exhilarated.

The backwaters are comprised of a myriad network of waterways and lagoons, at times only a few yards inland from the sea.

For those of us not wishing to travel too far, this combination of a city tour and harbour cruise rolled into one offers an ideal choice.

Allapuzha is nestled in the midst of a thick tangle of lush tropical waterways, and it is here that we will board a Houseboat or the Kettuvullom (as called locally) for an idyllic trip through the palm shaded narrow canals.

THIS EXCLUSIVE TOUR WILL HAVE A LIMITED CAPACITY - PRE BOOKING IS RECOMMENDED

A wonderful tour for those of us wanting to take a peek into the local traditional village lifestyle of the Backwaters of Kerala.

Our tour will take us to the Mattancherry area where we shall visit the Dutch Palace, built by the Portuguese in 1555 and renovated by the Dutch in 1663. Although this quadrangular palace, with a temple in the inner courtyard, is not an opulent building – white walls with sloping brown roofs – it is an interesting historical site.

For reference, the distance into the city from our berth is approximately ten kilometres (six miles). Passengers are reminded that beggars may be a prominent sight when visiting India, we respectfully ask that you do not give them money. If you would like to make a donation, our local agent will be happy to put you in contact with local charity organisations and development projects to which you may donate money or other useful items.

For your reference the coaches used will not have toilet facilities onboard and may not have seatbelts (as these are not required by Indian law). A deep step may be encountered in order to board the coaches. Air-conditioned coaches are very limited and will be allocated to the longer tours first.

The official currency of Cochin is the Indian Rupee.
 

A walk through the Fort Cochin area is a journey back in time!

Experience the sights and sounds of every day life in the busy city of Mumbai, the commercial capital of India.

The Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the new seven wonders of the world, and some historians have even noted that its architectural beauty has never been surpassed, especially when viewed at dawn or sunset. On a foggy morning, the Taj Mahal appears as if it is suspended in the air, when viewed from across the Jamuna River.

Our overland tour will enable us to visit Delhi as well as the world-renowned Taj Mahal.

NOT BOOKABLE ONLINE PLEASE COMPLETE & RETURN BOOKING FORM

Evening is a great time to see the Gateway of India, the city’s most famous landmark; an Indo-Saracenic archway built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King Geroge V and Queen Mary.

Mumbai is a cluster of seven islands and was first home to the Koli fishing folk, who still occupy parts of the city shoreline today. Mumbai, the local name for Bombay was derived from Mumba or Maha-Amba – the name of the Hindu goddess ‘Mumbadevi’ and ‘Aai’ – Mother in the local Marathi language. The islands were ruled by a succession of Hindu dynasties, invaded by Muslims in the 14th century and then ceded to Portugal by the Sultan of Gujarat in 1534. The Portuguese called it Bom Baim (Good Bay) and set up a trade centre. The Portuguese did little to develop them before the major island of the group was included in Catherine of Braganza’s dowry where she married England’s Charles II in 1661.

Mumbai is a bustling city of skyscrapers but there are still areas that have managed to retain their Old World charm.

Our guides will bring to life the panels as they elucidate stories from Indian mythology. The carvings centre on the life of Lord Shiva, the Destroyer, but the most impressive panel is that of the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva; the Creator, the Preserver and the Destroyer.
 

In the heart of the city we will find some of the most beautiful buildings dating from the British period.

Departing from the quayside, we will be invited to enjoy many of the prominent landmarks that Mumbai is famous for.