Explore Holidays releases biggest ever India brochure
Explore Holidays has tabled what the company says represents it’s biggest-ever range of India product with the release of ‘India 2008’.
New product for 2008 includes a new range of independent tour options, and new ‘experiential’ city stays in the temple city of Varanasi, Agra, the city of the Taj Mahal and the southern seaport of Cochin.
Hotel choice too has been expanded with the inclusion of two of India’s more original hotels, the Dune Eco Beach Hotel near the former French colony of Pondicherry and the Elephant Valley Eco Lodge near Kodaikanal.
One of five new tour inclusions, the 18-day/17-night ‘Ultimate India’ tour offers a good fit for those looking to sample the subcontinent’s distinct northern and southern cultures and geography in the one hit.
Operating ex-Delhi, highlights of the northern program include historical Agra and a Taj Mahal sunrise tour plus visits to the palaces, forts and temples of India’s largest state, Rajasthan.
The itinerary includes an elephant ride in Jaipur and an afternoon cruise on picturesque Lake Pichola near Udaipur.
The southern part of the program begins in Cochin and offers a good insight into the country’s slower paced and more rural regions.
Features include Kumarakom, Bangalore and Mysore, home to the seven-storey tall Chamundeswari Temple.
The southern program also includes one night aboard a traditional houseboat with dinner, cruising between Alleppey and Kumarakom.
The ‘Ultimate India’ program is priced from $5195* per person twin share.
This includes accommodation, meals and sightseeing as per itinerary and all transportation including domestic economy flights between Jaipur and Udaipur, Udaipur and Cochin via Mumbai, Cochin and Bangalore and Bangalore to Mumbai.
India’s southern region is also included as part of an eight-day/seven-night ‘Kerala Delight’ program which includes Cochin, Munnar, Thekkady and Kumarakom.
Priced from $1506* per person twin share, the ‘Kerala Delight’ itinerary combines well with an optional extension to the beachside area of Mararikulam and the Marari Beach Resort which has been built to resemble a traditional fishing village complete with thatched roof villas, set in 25 acres of coconut palm groves.
The Mararikulam extension is priced from $326* per person twin share.
Also new for 2008 is a luxury eight-day/seven-night “Nilgiri Hills & Tea Gardens’ program operating ex-Bangalore.
Highlights include the Mysore Palace and Chamundi Hills, the Ootacamund Hill Station, picturesque Coonoor and the Nilgiri Mountains.
Prices start from $1978* per person twin share inclusive of 5-star accommodation, meals as per itinerary, sightseeing and transportation.
*Conditions apply. Prices are based on low season travel. Please note prices do not include international airfares.
For more information, contact Explore Holidays on 1300 73 1000 or (02) 9423 8000, visit www.exploreholidays.com.au or book via CalypsoNet.
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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