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Tour Program Summary

India, it is often said, is not a country, but a continent. Stretching from the frozen summits of the Himalayas to the tropical greenery of Kerala, its expansive borders encompass an incomparable range of landscapes, cultures and people. Walk the streets of any Indian city and you’ll rub shoulders with representatives of several of the world’s great faiths, a multitude of castes and outcastes, fair-skinned, turbaned Punjabis and dark-skinned Tamils. You’ll also encounter temple rituals that have been performed since the time of the Egyptian Pharaohs, onion-domed mosques erected centuries before the Taj Mahal was built, and quirky echoes of the British Raj on every corner.

Mumbai is the commercial capital of India, also known as the city that never sleeps. It has the perfect blend of culture, customs and lifestyles. Being India's most cosmopolitan city, Mumbai sports itself as the financial powerhouse, the nerve center of India's fashion industry, and the capital of India’s movie industry - Bollywood.

Set at an altitude of 6000ft in Idukki District, Munnar was the favored summer resort of the British rulers in the colonial days. Munnar contains an unending expanse of tea plantations, pristine valleys and mountains, exotic species of colonial bungalows, flora and fauna in its wild forests, and an aroma of spice in the cool air.

Periyar National Park is a large wildlife sanctuary located in Thekkady, Kerala. Elephants, tigers, macaques, deer, leopards, and Indian Bison roam the park freely. Explore the expansive park and enjoy the beautiful scenery of untouched nature.

Explore the lake and canal back country in the Alleppey region on a houseboat on your

way to Kochi, a vibrant city situated on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the breathtakingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala. It is hailed as ‘God's Own Country.’ Explore the many sites that relate to the long history of India’s maritime center.

Goa is India’s smallest state in area and the 4th smallest in population, but that doesn’t

mean it’s an unattractive place to visit. Goa has world class beaches and an exciting town. It’s a huge vacation spot and a place where most Indian traditions don’t stand. Enjoy the incredible and lively Goa Carnival during your stay at this beach town.

Tour Itinerary Text Color Keys:

● Things that are on your own ● Hotel accommodations ● Time & transportation methods

= flights that are not included in the land price

= flight, = private car, = cruise, (included in the land price)

● Meals <B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner> ● Shows / Performances

Tour Daily Itinerary

Feb 19 Depart Fly from North America on your own cross-Pacific flight to India

Wed (AAT can assist upon request).

Feb 20 Mumbai Arrive in Mumbai, India today. Met by our rep and driver, and

Thu transfer to the Vivanta by Taj President Mumbai (Superior Charm

Room) for check-in. Take a brief rest and enjoy a group Welcome

Reception & Dinner. The rest of the night is at your leisure. <D>

Feb 21 Mumbai Breakfast at the hotel; met by our guide in hotel lobby and set out for

Fri a full day “Five Sense Tour” of Mumbai. First, take a historic walk

through Mumbai’s premier colonial architecture to SEE landmarks

such as the Gateway, VT station, Taj, and the Yacht Club.

Next, HEAR some Bollywood music at a local dance studio

and learn a traditional dance. TASTE some street food at a famous

old Mumbai restaurant which has been around since the 1940s.

SMELL the spices at the Mumbai spice market and watch

how they are made. Lastly, your sense of TOUCH will be expanded

as your heart will be touched when you visit a school for disabled

kids. Learn about these kids and their struggles along with what this

school is doing to help. Lunch will be at the Khyber Restaurant.

Return to your hotel where dinner and the evening are at

your own leisure. <B-L>

Feb 22 Mumbai Early breakfast in hotel; met by our guide and driver for a transfer to

Sat Kochi Mumbai Airport for your flight 6E495 (9:10-11:15; coach class) to

Munnar Kochi. Upon arrival, met by our local guide and driver. Have lunch

at a local restaurant. Then, start driving towards Munnar.

Once arrive in Munnar, start our exploration right away and

visit Pothamedu View Point for great views and KDHP Museum at

Tata Tea Nallathanni Estate. Later in the afternoon, check in at

Fragrant Nature Hotel (Tropic Green Room) in Munnar for relaxation

and enjoy dinner at the hotel restaurant. <B-L-D>

Feb 23 Munnar Breakfast at the hotel; meet our guide in hotel lobby this morning and

Sun Periyar take an excursion to Erivikulam National Park which contains the

endangered Nilgiri Tahr. You will see other wildlife such as otters,

mongoose, and striped squirrels. Have lunch in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, travel to Periyar. Upon arrival, check into

the Spice Village Resort. In the evening, attend a Kalaripayattu (old

Indian marital arts) show. Return to our hotel for dinner. <B-L-D>

Feb 24 Periyar At 6AM, meet our guide and go on an early morning nature walk.

Mon You will have the chance to see various wildlife and enjoy beautiful

views of fields and jungle. Return to the hotel for breakfast.

Later in the morning, enjoy a cooking demonstration by local

Manayath people followed by lunch. After eating, visit a spice

plantation and learn about the many spices that are popular in the

region. Return to our hotel afterwards for relaxation. <B-L>

Feb 25 Periyar Breakfast at the hotel; met by our guide and driver for the travel to

Tue Alleppey Kumarakom to board a houseboat. These traditional boats give the

traveler a chance to see the backwaters the way Indians did in the old

days. Sail through the river and enjoy the charming scenery.

Enjoy dinner and overnight on deluxe houseboat. <B-L-D>

Feb 26 Alleppey Breakfast on the houseboat; afterwards, disembark from the boat and

Wed Kochi meet our guide and driver for transfer to Kochi. Upon arrival, go to

the Crowne Plaza Hotel (Deluxe Room) for check-in and lunch.

In the afternoon, visit Fort Kochi to see one of the oldest

examples of Portuguese architecture in the country. See the Jewish

Synagogue, the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth of

Nations. In the evening, go to see a Kathakali Dance Performance.

Return to your hotel for rest and own dinner. <B-L>

Feb 27 Kochi Breakfast at the hotel; your own leisure in the morning and lunch on

Thu Goa own. Meet our guide and driver, and enjoy a half-day of tour of

Kochi - an old port city with a laid-back atmosphere and leisurely

pace. Visit St. Francis Church, Mattancherry Palace or “Dutch

Palace”, the Chinese Fishing Nets and the Spice Market. Enjoy

dinner in a nice local restaurant.

Transfer to airport and fly 6E977 (9:40pm-11:00pm; coach

class) to Goa. Upon arrival, met by our local guide and transfer to

Radisson Goa Candolim (Standard Room) for check-in and rest. <B-D>

Feb 28 Goa Breakfast at the hotel; meet our guide in hotel lobby and go out to

Fri explore this former Portuguese colony – India's smallest state by area,

the fourth-smallest by population, and having the highest GDP per

capita among all Indian states, 2 & 1/2 times that of the country.

We will first take a morning Cooking Class. Go to the market

to obtain your ingredients and learn how to cook a couple of local

dishes with a local chef. Eat lunch prepared by the master chef.

After lunch, take a half day tour of the city. Visit the churches

of Old Goa, the capital city of Panaji, and tour the Portuguese Latin

Quarters; afterwards, explore and relax on Miramar beach.

Enjoy a group dinner in a local restaurant before returning to

hotel for your own leisure in the evening. <B-L-D>

Feb 29 Goa Breakfast at the hotel; today is free for your own exploration and

Sat relaxation. Our local guide will give us many useful suggestions as

to what to do and to see. Meals are on own today. <B>

Mar 01 Goa Breakfast at the hotel; check out of hotel and transfer to airport for

Sun Mumbai flight 6E712 (2:45pm-4:05pm; coach class) to Mumbai; upon arrival,

home connecting to your own homebound flight. Farewell to India. <B>

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Changes to Itinerary: Access Asia Tours has made all possible attempts to ensure the accuracy of tour itineraries. Circumstances

beyond our control may occur. We reserve the right to change itineraries, sightseeing activities, and common carriers, and to substitute

hotels when necessary. Service of a similar category and standard will be maintained if such changes are made. The Service Voucher in

your last pre-departure packet will provide the operational itinerary summary, final transport and hotel information.

Designated Quality Hotels Selected for Your Tour

Vivanta by Taj President Mumbai

Set in a sleek, modern building, this upscale hotel is 2 km from Bombay High Court and 9 km from the Haji Ali Dargah mausoleum. Breakfast and parking are free. There are 2 restaurants, a bar and a deli, plus a pool, a gym and a spa. The hotel also has a business center and meeting space.

Radisson Goa Candolim

The hotel is 1.9 mi from the famous Calangute Beach, 2.5 mi from Aguada Fort and 5 mi from Saturday Night Market. Amenities include an outdoor pool and a restaurant. The beach is just 1,650 feet away.

Fragrant Nature Hotel Munnar

On a leafy hillside, this refined hotel is 3 km from the nature trails at Hydel Park and 8 km from Attukad Waterfall. Amenities include a buffet-style eatery, a glass-enclosed restaurant and a coffee shop, as well as a bar. There's also an Ayurvedic spa and a fitness centre.

Spice Village Periyar

Set in landscaped gardens on the edge of the mountainous Periyar Tiger Reserve, this tranquil eco-resort is 5 km from Abraham's Spice Garden and 10 km from Periyar Lake. There's a cozy bar, a farm-to-table buffet restaurant and an antiques-filled, open-sided tearoom. Other amenities include an

outdoor pool, sports courts and an Ayurvedic spa. Activities consist of cookery classes, yoga, fishing and bullock cart rides, plus guided treks and safaris.

Deluxe Houseboat Alleppey

Deluxe houseboats offer an enchanting holiday experience as you step on board the breath-taking backwaters of Kerala. Houseboats are fitted out with state-of-the-art amenities and promise an experience of a lifetime. Located at Alleppey, the Venice of the East and strategically at a vantage point on the

backwaters, these houseboats have well planned routes that present the traveler with a kaleidoscope of activity on the rural backwaters. Every houseboat comes with its own crew consisting of a driver, assistant and a personal cook who dishes out tantalizing local cuisine.

Crown Plaza Kochi

This upscale hotel facing the Kochi Backwaters is 5 km from shopping along Mahatma Gandhi Road and a moderate drive from Fort Kochi. Amenities include 3 restaurants, a deli and a bar, plus a posh spa with a sauna and a 24-hour fitness centre. There are also 2 outdoor pools, as well as a garden.

Tour Land Prices Inclusions & Exclusion

Tour Land Price: $2,980 USD per person, double occupancy (group size 10-18 travelers) Single Supplement: $730 USD per person, single occupancy in hotels throughout the tour

What's Included in Tour Land Price: Designated quality first class hotel accommodations, double occupancy with daily breakfast

Domestic flights on economy class (Mumbai – Kochi, Kochi – Goa, Goa – Mumbai)

Arrival and departure transfers by private vehicle

Pre-departure information packets

All tour related in-country domestic taxes All sightseeing, activities, and cultural events listed in the itinerary All meals as specified in the itinerary English-speaking tour leader/manager from AAT with 10 and more travelers in the group Service of a private professional English-speaking local tour guide/assistant when applicable Private and clean vehicles with air-conditioning and a professional driver when applicable

Gratuities to local guides and driver What's Not Included in Tour Land Price:

Cross-Pacific international air tickets (AAT will quote and book separately upon request)

Early check-ins and late check-outs (subject to availability/ extra cost)

Optional activities and tours (will quote separately upon request)

Any beverages including alcohol during meals on the tour

Visa processing fees and services if applicable

Trip cancellation, baggage, accident, and medical insurance Gratuities to AAT tour leader/manager Items not listed and/or specified as included in the itinerary

Deposit and Cancellation Policy: 20% of Total Tour Price as deposit to be paid at the time of signing up. Tour Balance is due 90 days prior to tour date. All

cancellation notices must be received in writing and will become effective as of the date of receipt by Access Asia Tours. We assess cancellation fees of all tours

according to the following schedule:

90 days or more prior to departure --------------------------------------------------------------- 10% of Total Tour Price

89 to 60 days prior to departure ---------------------------------------------------------------- 30% of Total Tour Price

59 to 30 days prior to departure ---------------------------------------------------------------- 50% of Total Tour Price

29 to 15 days prior to departure ---------------------------------------------------------------- 70% of Total Tour Price

Within 14 days of departure .............100% forfeiture of the tour price per person

* Plus any charges assessed by government agencies, land suppliers, cruise companies and airlines.

Access Asia Tours will not grant partial refunds for any unused trip arrangements after the trip has commenced or any refunds to participants who do not

complete any portion of the itinerary. Any airline tickets issued are subject to the carrier’s refund and cancellation policy. We strongly recommend you purchase

trip cancellation/interruption insurance to protect your travel investment. If a tour is forced to be cancelled by Access Asia Tours due to government’s travel

warnings, declared or undeclared wars, hostilities, civil disturbances, strike, riot, epidemic, and quarantines, Access Asia Tours will refund all participants’ payment less

any irretrievable expenses and loss including but not limited to visa fees, airline penalties, communication cost, and non-refundable booking cost, etc. However, Access Asia Tours will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by tour participants (e.g., non-refundable “advance purchase” international air tickets, insurance & medical

expenses, passport and visa expenses, etc.