Luxury Rail: discover central India on the Deccan Odyssey

17 days
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USTOA

Private Guided
A country by name, but a continent in scale, India in one word is diversity. To guide you where to go when faced with such rich variety, our India specialists use the experience of their own travels to create your tailor-made holiday to India. The north is banded by the snow-crowned peaks of the Himalaya. Moving south, you pass through Rajasthan, a microcosm...
From$8,802
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Overview

Trip type
Private Guided
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

What's this trip about?

    A country by name, but a continent in scale, India in one word is diversity. To guide you where to go when faced with such rich variety, our India specialists use the experience of their own travels to create your tailor-made holiday to India. The north is banded by the snow-crowned peaks of the Himalaya. Moving south, you pass through Rajasthan, a microcosm of India with its forts, palaces and temples, as well as the Taj Mahal. Central India shelters leopards, elephants and the Bengal tiger. In India’s northeast corner, Calcutta still exudes its colonial heritage in a landscape of Bengali mansions and neo-Gothic architecture. West-coast Mumbai is an improbable proposition — a hub of manufacturing where you can wander among Art Deco architecture or through a teeming bazaar. Down in India’s south, cruising Kerala’s backwaters on a converted rice barge is a suitably relaxed way to embrace this region’s laid-back approach to life.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeIntimate group - 12 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityMumbai
End CityCochin

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Train & Rail Journeys

Destinations

  • Asia
  • India

Attractions

  • Kerala
  • Mumbai

Activities

  • Culture
  • Historic sightseeing
  • History
  • Mountaineering
  • Nature
  • Relaxing Retreat
  • Trains & Rail

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Itinerary

Day 1 : International outbound flight

Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Mumbai (Bombay).

Day 2 : Mumbai (Bombay)

Arriving into Mumbai airport, you're met by one of our local representatives. Your private driver will then take you into the city. Depending on your flight time, you may have time to enjoy lunch before heading to the station ready to board your luxury train. After a royal welcome, board the Deccan Odyssey and depart around 3:30pm.

Day 3 : Mumbai (Bombay)

Day two on board the Deccan Odyssey. After arriving into Bijapur, disembark to visit Gol Gumbaz, the second largest tomb in the world, as well as Jumma Masjid mosque and other key sights. You're back on board the train for lunch. Spend the afternoon and evening journeying north.

Day 4 : Mumbai (Bombay)

Day three on board the Deccan Odyssey. This morning explore the holy shrines and historical sites of Aihole and Pattadakal. Later, visit the impressive rock-cut caves and temples at Badami before continuing to travel towards Hampi.

Day 5 : Mumbai (Bombay)

Day four on board the Deccan Odyssey. Today is a busy day exploring in and around Hampi. With ancient monuments, unique landscapes, royal baths and elephant stables, there is plenty to see and the history is fascinating. Lunch and dinner are served on board the train.

Day 6 : Mumbai (Bombay)

Day five on board the Deccan Odyssey. This morning wake in Hyderabad. After breakfast, explore the impressive fort of Golconda 11km away, before returning to stroll through the city's vibrant bazaars. Later, visit the beautiful Falaknuma Palace, which is now a luxurious Taj hotel.

Day 7 : Mumbai (Bombay)

Day six on board the Deccan Odyssey. Explore the impressive UNESCO-protected Ellora Caves at Aurangabad this morning. Considered one of the finest examples of cave-temple architecture in India, they date back to the 4th and 5th century AD. After lunch back on board the train, enjoy a leisurely afternoon.

Day 8 : Mumbai (Bombay)

Day seven on board the Deccan Odyssey. After breakfast you can learn about and explore the Ajanta Caves which were painstakingly and impressively carved from rock thousands of years ago. After lunch, you can pay a visit to Gandhi's memorial before your final evening on board the train.

Day 9 : Mumbai (Bombay)

Day eight on board the Deccan Odyssey. Enjoy breakfast before bidding farewell to your fellow guests and disembarking. An Audley driver will meet you from the station and take you to your hotel in the city for the next two nights.

Day 10 : Mumbai (Bombay)

A local and knowledgeable guide will help you discover the bustling metropolis of Mumbai today. Start at dawn to really appreciate how this enormous city comes to life each day. After a rest this afternoon, head back out to explore with your taste buds on a street food walking tour.

Day 11 : Cochin

Transfer to the airport today by private transfer before taking a short two-hour flight south to Cochin, in Kerala. On arrival, your local driver will meet you and take you to your hotel for the next two nights.

Day 12 : Cochin

Explore the colonial city of Cochin today with an experienced local guide. This afternoon and evening will be at your leisure, you might like to consider an evening cruise in the harbour.

Day 13 : Backwaters

A short journey south today will take you to the beautiful Backwaters which are synonymous with Kerala. Board your own private houseboat this afternoon and enjoy cruising around this relaxing, palm-fringed region.

Day 14 : Marari Beach

After breakfast, leave your houseboat and meet your driver once again, who will take you south to Marari Beach, where you'll spend the next three nights.

Day 15 : Marari Beach

At leisure. Enjoy time relaxing on Marari's beautiful beach or in the hotel's swimming pool.

Day 16 : Marari Beach

At leisure. Book a spa treatment or unwind with some yoga.

Day 17 : International return flight

Drive back to Cochin today to the airport, where you'll connect with your onwards flight(s). Your return flight will arrive the same day.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $8,802
Price per day$518
Last Updated: 0/12/2022

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Audley Travel.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Our trips don’t come off the shelf. There’s no set recipe. Each itinerary is tailor-made down to the finest detail, built around your tastes and interests. Quite simply, we listen to what you want and then carefully design an individual trip to match, working to your budget and with an absolute commitment to quality.

We have experts for each and every one of our destinations, with the knowledge that comes from having visited many times or even lived there. Our specialists will design a trip around you, show you the highlights from a different angle, and introduce you to places and experiences that others might miss.

Our flexibility promise

As the world adjusts to travel in times of uncertainty, we want you to be able to look ahead to your next trip knowing you can change your plans if needed. And, with specialists who are experts in their destinations and remain your single point of contact before and while you travel, we promise you can book with us in absolute confidence.

Our flexibility promise

Change your plans free of charge up to 30 days before departure

We’ll move your travel dates or switch the value of your booked trip to another destination at no expense to you up to 30 days before you’re due to depart. You’ll receive a 100% travel credit equivalent to the amount you paid toward your original booking.

Valid for new bookings made on or before October 31, 2020, for travel by Dec. 31, 2021. Travel dates may be moved to departures up to December 31, 2022. Excludes select cruises and airfare. Additional charges may be incurred based on changes to your trip such as accommodation and/or seasonality.

Full-refund guarantee on trips close to home

14-day cancellation policy for trips to the US, Canada or Caribbean

We want to help you navigate the uncertainty that remains around travel by giving you the flexibility to book a trip to any of our destinations in the United States, Canada or the Caribbean this year in complete confidence. With our 14-day cancellation policy, you can cancel your trip up to two weeks before you’re due to depart for any reason and receive a full refund, when you book your trip on or before October 31, 2020 for travel before December 14, 2021**.

Valid on new bookings within the US, Canada or Caribbean made on or before October 31, 2020 for travel by December 14, 2021. Certain policy variations may apply dependent on property selection and dates. Specific details will be provided by your specialist. Any portion of a new booking paid with an existing travel credit will be refunded in the form of a travel credit. Excludes flights and select properties.

 

Set your travel plans in motion with a video appointment

 

Talking face to face with your specialist can be an invaluable starting point for sharing thoughts and ideas as you begin to imagine your next trip. You can take as much time as you need to speak to your specialist and discuss all your plans with one of our video appointments. Just think of it as your own personal webinar — your specialist will share a wealth of insight, aided by images, maps and other visuals, to inspire you and provide advice for your trip, based on what you want to experience.

It's easy to arrange

  • Book a video appointment (we’ll ask you for a few details about your travel plans).
  • One of our specialists, who’s an expert in your chosen destination, will get in touch to arrange a time and date to suit you. If your travel companions are in different households, we’ll invite them to join, too, so you can all chat together.
  • Your specialist will send you a link to your video appointment by email. We suggest using a computer or laptop, which means there’s no software to download.
  • Settle down with a drink, click on the link to join the appointment and your specialist will be there to welcome you.
 

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Age Requirements
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Trip ID
audley-audley-travel-39817

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