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Adventure destinations
Ideal Destinations
The Adventure Company offers over 250 activity holidays to many destinations spanning every continent. We have many perfect destinations for your adventure travel, whatever your needs
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Featured private group holidays
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Fancy one of our fantastic adventures but only want to travel with people you know? Do it your way as a private group. We make private group trips for everyone, from big families to scouts and cadets.
Holiday Types
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Feature adventure holidays
Solo Traveller
We’ve developed a range of dedicated solo holidays & solo travel packages; exclusively for people booking on their own. Around 40% of all our passengers are solo travellers.
Classic South India
Transport - Train, Boat, Private vehicle
Accommodation - Hotel (13 nts), Heritage Property (1 nt)
Meals - 14 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 2 Dinners
Transport - Train, Boat, Private vehicle
Accommodation - Hotel (13 nts), Heritage Property (1 nt)
Meals - 14 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 2 Dinners
The pace of southern India is as relaxed as the wonderful people who live in the area. This trip delves into the lush tropical forests, through rolling tea, rubber and coffee plantations and weaves through Hindu Temples and bazaars lined with colourful spices. Enjoy a guided walk through Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary with chances to spot tigers; cruise the twisting palm-fringed backwaters of Kerala and relax on the beaches of Kovalam – a truly unique trip.
Fly to Kochi
On arrival after your overnight flight, you will be transferred to your hotel where you will be free to relax until the welcome meeting with your leader at 1:00pm. Details of where this will take place will have been left at the hotel's reception.
From the tightly packed streets the scents of cinnamon, cloves and countless other spices mingle in the sea breeze. On the western shore of the Fort Cochin peninsular, rows of cantilevered Chinese fishing nets remind you of Kerala’s trade links with the outside world. The area is also home to a small community of Jews whose descendants sailed into exile some 2,000 years ago; a synagogue still remains. Close by is Mattancherry Palace, originally built by the Portuguese and given to the Raja of Kochi in exchange for trading rights. Here you’ll see the remarkable series of murals, which illustrate tales from the sacred epic of the Ramayana.
There is plenty of time to wander through the narrow lanes lined with houses built by the Portuguese, Dutch and British in their own distinctive styles. However it’s not only the extraordinary assortment of architectural styles that can be found but also an array of interesting and tasty local dishes. Still strong on rice, coconuts and fish, local cuisine also embraces influences from Europe and the Arab world. Visit the Dutch Palace, built by the Portuguese in the middle of the 16th century. It waqs taken over by the Dutch in 1663, who added some improvements before presenting it to the Rajas of Cochin. You’ll also take in a Kathakali show, a traditional dance drama in which performers wear an incredible amount of colourful costume and make-up. They sway to the music as local legends are retold by this art form dating back 500 years or more. Hotel - 1 night
Munnar
From Kochi you travel to the small hill town of Munnar (approx. 5.5 hrs). Cradled in a picturesque valley, Munnar is an old British hill station. At a height of 1,525m (4,575 ft), this area is generally much cooler than the lower altitudes so it's wise to bring sufficient warm clothing. This very different environment is perfect for growing tea. Drive out to the nearby tea garden and spend some time in the lush greenery. There may also be time to visit the tea museum, although the time keeping here can be a little erratic.
An interesting optional visit here is to the Mattupetti Dam. Situated at an altitude of 1700m above sea level, approximately 13 km from Munnar, it's famous for the Indo-Swiss livestock project. Hotel - 1 night
Periyar National Park
Today you'll drive through lush pineapple and rubber plantations to Periyar (approx. 4 hrs). Set high in the ranges of the Western Ghats is the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve. This wildlife sanctuary surrounds a picturesque lake, formed by the building of a dam in 1895. It meanders around the contours of the wooded hills and provides a permanent source of water for the local wildlife. Although it's a tiger reserve, many people come here to view the Indian elephants in the act of ablution and playfulness by the lake.
In the evening, enjoy a tour around a local spice plantation and a delicious meal prepared by the owner's family. The next day you venture into the acclaimed Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary for a guided nature walk in the hope of glimpsing animals such as sambars, bison, elephants, spotted deer and if you are very lucky, tigers and leopards. Hotel – 2 nights
Alleppey/Kerala Backwaters
From Periyar you head down out of the hills towards the backwaters of Kerala (approx 5 hrs). Alleppey's sleepy, palm-shaded backwaters are Kerala's hidden treasure. Once an important trading port and now famous for its August 'snake boat' races, Alleppey is the starting point for most journeys into the backwaters and also hosts a mid-December musical festival. Allepey was once known as the Venice of the East, and is one of the best tourist destinations in Kerala. The Backwaters are formed by the accumulation of sea water at the beach. As the waves moved to and fro, they made their way tearing the ground and forming backwaters. They are essentially inland lakes connected by a network of canals. During the two days you have here, there is time to take a leisurely boat ride around the lake and enjoy the outstanding scenery, or enjoy a walk through nearby villages, strolling under palm trees and weaving in between the rice fields that cover the island, discovering the local lifestyles. You can also experience the rejuvenating bliss of an ayurvedic massage. Hotel – 2 nights
Varkala
Next stop is the temple town of Varkala (approx 2.5hrs). Along the way, you pause to see the age-old Hindu traditions of worship at the Mannarasala Nagaraja (Snake) Temple, where women go to pray in the hope of being blessed with a child. You also stop off at the Krishnapuram Palace. Noted for its characteristic style of Kerala architecture featuring gabled roofs, narrow corridors, dorma windows and pent roofs, it also houses one of the largest single panel mural paintings so far discovered in Kerala, known as ˜Gajendra Moksha'.
In Varkala you will discover the dramatic cliff top views over the coast and you might like to wander down to the beach. This picturesque town is known for it's temples and you will visit some of them, including the fantastic Janardhana Swarmy Temple, which is said to be 2000 years old and has a Vishnu shrine. It's also said that the original temple was engulfed and destroyed by tidal waves. Also worth seeing are the peaceful gardens of Sivagiri Ashram, which is devoted to Kerala's most eminent spiritual and social reformer, Sree Narayana Guru. Hotel – 2 nights
Trivandrum/Kovalam Beach
Drive to the beach town of Kovalam - meaning 'grove of coconut trees' (approx 2 hours). About 30 years ago, Kovalam was a sleepy coastal village, mainly producing coconuts and fresh fish. Today it is home to one of the most sought after beaches in India.
Along the way there is time to visit Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, one of the ancient temples of south India and popularly described as 'Sabarimala of the Women', as women form the major portion of devotees, or visit Anchuthengu Fort (additional charge). Constructed in the 17th century, it's a brilliant symbol of British architectural elegance. Hotel - 1 night
Fly home
The tour ends for Land Only passengers. Those on our group flights will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.
Total number of meals included: 9 breakfasts, 2 lunches & 3 dinners
Culture & Discovery Collection
On these fantastic classic adventure tours you’ll travel in added comfort and style and stay in hand-picked accommodation that offers a genuine flavour of the places we visit and explore. Some hotels may be boutique, others are more simple abodes, but stand out from the choice in the area; and sometimes it is the fantastic setting or incredible location that makes the place so special.
Alleppey / Kerala Backwaters
Cruise the palm-fringed backwaters of Kerala to the market town of Alleppey. Enjoy a relaxing cruise through winding waterways. Meet the locals on a village walk.
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Visit the colourful and aromatic spice garden with lunch served by owner's family. Venture into the acclaimed Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary on a guided nature walk viewing colourful flowers, lush trees and wildlife and possibly tigers and leopards.
Our Classic South India trip is just one of our many India tours. To find out more visit our India holidays page.
Prices from
5% off when you book 8 months in advance on this trip
Hurry though, as this offer ends 30 June 2013. This discount excludes flights (see 'without flight' price).
