Discover South India with the Goodness of Ayurveda & Yoga

Day 1: Europe – Bangalore

On arrival in Bangalore (Bengaluru), welcome by your guide from INDIA WITH MATHEW: assistance and departure to your hotel close to the airport to take rest after your long international flight. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Bangalore – Mysore

This morning, departure to Mysore (duration: 3h30). Check in for 2 nights at your hotel. Lunch at the hotel. Then in the early afternoon you will be invited to visit the famous Maharajah’s Palace, known to be one of the most beautiful buildings in India. Inside you will find a kaleidoscope of stained glass windows, beautiful carved wooden doors and mosaic floors. Continue with a group walking tour of the city (3.5 hours) and discover its rich historical heritage. Experience the city at your own pace, pass by its colonial mansions, discover its silk, sandalwood and cotton craftsmen and learn the stories behind the walls of its monuments and temples. You will be invited to create your own incense, the famous Sandalwood, native to Karnataka. Combine this tour with a food tour through the back streets of Mysore, and the local fruit and vegetable market where exotic smells emanate from the stalls lining the streets. Take a break at the counter and enjoy a chai tea (“one meter”) with a Mysore Pak (dessert), a Mysore Masala Dosa (salted rice pancake) or a Mysore Churumuri (spicy snack) and the list goes on… Return to your hotel. Yoga session before your dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 3: Mysore – Srirangaptna – Mysore

In the morning, after your energizing yoga session and breakfast at the hotel, depart for the city of Srirangapatna, the island fortress of Sultan Tipu, and former capital of the Woodiyar dynasty. Here you will discover the Sultan’s Mosque with its two minarets built in 1787, its Summer Palace (known as Daria Daulat Bagh) built entirely of wood and transformed into a museum housing fantastic artefacts and portraits of Sultans Haider Ali and Tipu. You will pass the magnificent Sri Ranganathaswamy temple and authentic Karnataka villages nestled between the Kaveri River and tropical fruit fields, sources of local life. During the day you will enjoy a bike ride near the Sultan’s Mosque away from the crowds and the usual roads. Return to your hotel to relax. In the late afternoon prepare for a highlight, visiting an ashram and meeting one of its representatives for a presentation, followed by a Satsang with mantra chanting. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Mysore – Kodagu (Coorg) – Bylakuppe – Cannanore (Kannur)

Breakfast at the hotel and morning yoga session with your teacher. You will then take the road to Kodagu (also called Coorg) at 1500 m altitude, in the heart of coffee and spice plantations in a breathtaking setting. It is the ideal starting point for beautiful walks. Then, discover the Tibetan temple of Byalkuppe (40 km from Coorg) (Visit subject to permission). The town of Bylakuppe consists of a number of agricultural settlements, several monasteries in all the Tibetan Buddhist traditions and numerous Buddhist universities for advanced spiritual practice. Lunch en route with traditional Coorg cuisine. Arrive late in the day at your beach bungalows (5.5 hour drive in total). Yoga session on the beach in front of the hotel, before your dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 5: Cannanore (Kannur)

Breakfast at the hotel. After your morning yoga session on the beach with your teacher, take a guided tour of Kannur, home of ageless folk arts such as Theyyam and folk music. Visit the Hindu temple Parassini Kadavu and experience the famous ritual dance of Theyyam with its unique costumes and lively footwork. The dancer transforms into a deity with extreme devotion and rhythmic chanting of mantras. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 6: Cannanore (Kannur)

Breakfast at the hotel. After your morning yoga session on the beach with your teacher, enjoy the Arabian Sea coastline near the beach of Chera Rocks Resort: see the fish market, kalarippayattu martial arts show. Stroll and free access to the beach.

Day 7: Cannanore (Kannur)

Breakfast at the hotel. Yoga session on the beach with your teacher. Relaxation day. Possible walks and free access to the beach.  Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 8: Cannanore (Kannur) – Calicut (Kozhikode)

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning yoga session on the beach. Then head to Calicut (or Kozhikode), the port city where Vasco De Gama landed in 1498 (2h30 drive). Settle in at your hotel, in the enchanting setting of a specialised traditional Ayurveda centre. After a consultation with the centre’s doctor, your personalised Ayurvedic cure can begin for the days to come.  First treatments on the same day if required by the doctor’s protocol (2 massages included in total). Dinner according to your adapted Ayurvedic diet and night at the hotel.

Day 9: Calicut (Kozhikode)

Breakfast at the hotel. Two Ayurvedic treatments (included) as prescribed by the doctor and free time for relaxation. This leaves ample time for meditation and relaxation in the enchanting surroundings of your centre. This evening you will be treated to an Ayurvedic cooking lesson with demonstration, trial and tasting of course. Dinner according to your adapted Ayurvedic diet and overnight at the hotel.

Day 10: Calicut – Alleppey

This morning, after breakfast at the hotel and check-out, you will be invited to a very famous school of kalarippayattu, the ancient martial art of Kerala. This centre was established 60 years ago by the late Sri K. Narayanan Gurrukal, a master of kalarippayattu teaching. Its members regularly participate in stage demonstrations and kalari massages and ayurvedic treatments are also performed here.  Continue to Calicut station to catch your express train to Allepey (called Alappuzha since 1990). Experience the typical local experience of India’s most used means of transport. On arrival, board a houseboat for a cruise on the Backwaters. These houseboats are a reworked version of the traditional Kerala boats built from large planks of jackfruit wood and joined by ropes made from coconut fibres. Stop during the navigation to visit villages, temples and walk in the rice fields where time seems to have stopped. The journey continues through lush vegetation. Yoga session on board, before your typical Kerala dinner and overnight on board.

Day 11: Allepey – Cochin

In the morning, after breakfast on board, and your yoga session, disembark at Allepey. Then, departure by road to Fort Cochin (55 km), “the Queen of the Arabian Sea”, the largest natural harbour in India! Check in at the hotel, then with your guide, you will discover the local life of this colonial and historical city… Start with the visit of the oldest Indian church built, the Saint-François church, then visit the Dutch Palace with its superb murals dating from the 16th century, appreciate the facades of the old Portuguese houses and admire the fineness of the blue tiles of the Synagogue… Pass the famous Chinese nets, imported from China around 1350, then take a tuk tuk – the most popular mode of transport – and stop at the bustling Dhobi Khana (laundry area). Continue through the narrow streets of Mattanchery, and the local fruit and vegetable market. Don’t miss a stop at the Spice Market, where the exotic smells of ginger, cloves, cardamom, turmeric and pepper emanate from the warehouses lining the streets. Late afternoon: aperitif and dinner on the terrace of your hotel overlooking the Arabian Sea, enjoying the sunset, followed in the evening by a Kathakali show, a very expressive and narrative ritual dance born in Kerala. The actors, wearing spectacular make-up masks, perform a theatrical dance, whose finger gestures and positions will undoubtedly attract you. Return to the hotel for the night.

Day 12: Cochin

In the morning, after a balanced breakfast and your yoga session: meet a specialist in yoga and Hindu religion who will give you a lecture (duration: 2 hours) and an experiential insight into Kerala culture and spiritual practices related to yoga and Hinduism. India being an ancient land, deepen your understanding of ancient legends and Hinduism: is there a rebirth? What is dharma or karma? Why do Hindus pray to idols and perform rituals? What is a caste? What are the Vedas and Upanishads? Discover this vibrant, ancient and mystical religion, the oldest religion in the world. Then, this lunchtime you will be invited to a typical Kerala family to learn the basics of traditional and authentic Cochin cuisine. At the end of the course you will taste your home-made dish.  The rest of the day is free in the old city. In the afternoon, explore Fort Kochi on your own or with your guide. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 13: Cochin – Bangalore – Europe

In the morning, after a balanced breakfast and your yoga session, transfer to the airport for your return flight to Bangalore and then Europe. Assistance with check-in formalities with the guide. Flight from Bangalore to Europe. (Meals on board included depending on your airline.)

Day 14: Europe

Arrival at your destination.

PLANNED HOTELS:

Ville	Hôtel*	Nbre de nuits
Bangalore	Royal Orchid	1
Mysore	Windflower	2
Kannur	Chera Rocks	4
Calicut	Harivihar	2
Alleppey	Houseboats	1
Cochin	Fort House	2

(Arrival and departure time as per hotel policy.)

Total nights: 12 nights.

* Or hotels of similar category.

 

South India: group  Date to be determined	Net price in EUROS
	VALIDITY: to be determined
Programme (based on 12 people)	…….. per person
Single room supplement	…….. per person

IMPORTANT :

Please note that the names of the hotels mentioned above only indicate that our rates are based on the use of these hotels and should not be interpreted to mean that accommodation is confirmed at these hotels until we pass on this confirmation to you.  In the event that accommodation is not available at any of the above hotels, we will book alternative accommodation at a similar hotel or at the best available hotel and pass on the difference in rate (surcharge or discount, if any) to you.

Our offer is based on the use of the basic room category in the hotels mentioned (unless otherwise stated) and if this room category is not available, we will try to confirm accommodation in the next available higher room category and will inform you of the extra cost involved and the status.

Please consult us if you require a higher category room (suite type) in the same hotels.

RATES INCLUDE (costs included):

A.HOTEL

– 12 nights hotel accommodation in double occupancy with all applicable taxes.

(Full board from day 02 to day 12.)

1.​MEALS

– Accommodation with breakfast + dinner in all places and lunch in local restaurants.

1.​TRANSPORT

– Meeting and assistance on arrival and departure by the representative of INDIA WITH MATHEW

– All transfers to and from the hotel.

– Sightseeing, excursions and surface travel as per the programme.

– Cost based on air-conditioned transport as below:

 

Nombre de passagers	Type de véhicule	Capacité maximum
15	Air-conditioned mini-bus	22 seats

1. GUIDE

English or French speaking tour guide Mathew THAMBI (unless there is a compelling reason for him not to be present) according to the programme from day 01 to day 13 (stay in different hotels).

 

1. ​ENTRY AND SPECIAL SERVICES

• – Entrance fees to all places (01 visit/place)

  – Walking tours in Mysore as described with your tour guide.

  – Bike tour in Srirangapatna city with your tour guide

  – 2 Yoga classes per day taught by Elodie according to the day’s schedule.

  – Transport included as per itinerary description above in 22 person Minibus depending on the number of participants (air conditioned vehicle).

  – Walking tour to Fort Kochi and Auto-rickshaw with your guide

  – Day trip to Vemabad Lake by Houseboat with lunch included.

  – Visit to a Kalari school in Calicut.

  – Visit to an ashram in Mysore and meet one of its representatives.

  – Visit a Kalari school in Calicut and a Theyyam temple in Kannur.

  – Visit an ashram in Mysore and meet a representative.

  – Visit to plantations in Coorg and the Tibetan Buddhist Temple in Byalkuppe.

  – Ayurveda treatments at the Ayurvedic Centre in Calicut (2 massages per person in total).

  – All applicable taxes.

 

1. COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:

   1.​ITEMS OF A PERSONAL NATURE – such as laundry, table drinks, telephone bills, tips to waiters, drivers, guides, personal clothing, including sleeping bags, etc.

   2.​Visa fees for India to be arranged and paid directly by the clients (separate billing). Check the VISA rules with the nearest Indian Embassy/Mission before applying for an Indian VISA.

   3.​Travel and health insurance should be arranged and paid directly by the clients.

   4.​Any airfare* (charged separately if INDIA WITH MATHEW provides this service).

   5.​Airport taxes and fuel surcharges, which are subject to change without notice.

   6.​All drinks, gratuities, expenses of a personal nature.

   7.​Anything not mentioned in the “Costs Included” column.

   8.​Any early check-in or late check-out.

* INDIA WITH MATHEW can arrange for you to book international or domestic flights for your convenience.

 This service is provided free of charge, without commission, without profit by INDIA WITH MATHEW.

 INDIA WITH MATHEW cannot be held responsible for any cancellation, delay or other incident during these    air travels.

INDIA WITH MATHEW does not provide additional cancellation insurance and advises you to take out appropriate insurance or check your insurance cover.