INDIA & HIMALAYASINDIA 100 " I have never enjoyed a trip so much and met such lovely people. I would like to thank Imaginative Traveller for a great tour." Sara Stock india & himalayas South Indian Highlights Imaginative Facts Tour code: HTSI • Activities: Jungle trek and boat trip on Periyar Lake • Accommodation: 12 nights tourist class hotels, 1 night houseboat, 1 night sleeper train • Transport: Private air- conditioned coach, houseboat, train • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of local guides • Imaginative Traveller Suggests: Chill out on the beach by adding our ' Goa Beach Extension' DAYS 1 & 2: MAMALLAPURAM- On arrival at Chennai ( Madras) airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Mamallapuram. This ancient seaport is now a coastal retreat with a long sandy beach. The next day you will visit the fabulous rock- cut temples, giant frieze and Shore Temple, carved out of rock along the Coromandel Coast. Afternoon at leisure. ( Day 2 - B) DAY 3: PONDICHERRY- Drive to the former French colony of Pondicherry. Afternoon at leisure to stroll around the boulevards or visit the community of Auroville, a unique experiment in international living. ( B) DAY 4: THANJAVUR- Drive to Thanjavur. Afternoon visit to the Sri Brihadeshwari Temple, a World Heritage monument. ( B) DAYS 5 & 6: MADURAI- Drive to Madurai. Stop en route in Tiruchirappali to visit the Rock Fort Temple towering above the city, as well as the gigantic Srirangam Temple. Madurai is full of colourful bazaars, street tailors, throngs of pilgrims and joyful religious processions. The main attraction is the famous temple dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi. ( B) DAYS 7 & 8: THEKKADY ( PERIYAR)- Thekkady is the best place to stay for a visit to Periyar Wildlife Reserve, one of the largest in India, deep in the scenic Cardamom Hills. There are numerous elephants, sambhar, wild pig, flying squirrel and over 260 species of birds. We take a walk through the jungle, followed by a boat cruise on Periyar Lake. ( B) DAY 9: HOUSEBOAT- Take a houseboat cruise through Kerala's famous backwaters and lagoons. Relax and watch the world go by, enjoying the sheer peace of the palm-fringed waterways. Spend the night on board the houseboat. ( BLD) DAYS 10 & 11: KOCHI ( COCHIN)- Kochi is set on a cluster of islands and narrow peninsulas and has one of the best natural harbours in the world. It is one of the most unique and fascinating towns in South India. Watch an evening performance of Kathakali dancing. In the morning of Day 11 take a tour of Fort Cochin and a cruise through the harbour. That evening board the sleeper train to Bangalore. ( B) DAYS 12 & 13: MYSORE- Arrive and drive to Mysore, a friendly and easy- going city of shady trees and buildings of faded grandeur. Visit the Maharajah's palace and Chamundi Hill. Mysore is also a crafts centre, and there are numerous shops selling a large range of sandalwood, rosewood, teak carvings and furniture. ( B) DAY 14: MYSORE - CHENNAI ( MADRAS)- We take the Shatabdi Express from Mysore to Chennai. ( B) DAY 15: CHENNAI- Tour ends. ( B) Take a leisurely journey through Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka • Meander the peaceful tropical waterways of Kerala by houseboat • Explore the lively cultural centres of Mysore and Chennai ( Madras) • Tour the diverse architectural templesat Madurai, Thanjavur and Trichy • Take a boat and walking safari in Periyar Wildlife Reserve • Visit colonial Pondicherry and cosmopolitan Kochi India Bangalore Mysore Madurai Kochi Chennai Mamallapuram Pondicherry Thanjavur Backwaters South Indian Highlights Thekkady Sri Lanka Discovery Sri Lanka Colombo Negombo Anuradhapura Polonnaruwa Nuwara Eliya Kaudulla Sigiriya Dambulla Kandy World's End Belihuloya Bentota Tanamalwila • Xmas / New Year Supplement £ 90 Single Supplement £ 485 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 19.25 * Price includes tour price of £ 880and local payment of INR12,000All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 1030pp Land Only * traveller Tour duration 15 days © Imaginative Traveller © Imaginative Traveller Starts SunEnds Sun ChennaiChennai ( Mamallapuram) 2009 04- Jan- 0918- Jan- 09 01- Feb- 0915- Feb- 09 01- Mar- 0915- Mar- 09 29- Mar- 0912- Apr- 09 27- Sep- 0911- Oct- 09 18- Oct- 0901- Nov- 09 08- Nov- 0922- Nov- 09 29- Nov- 0913- Dec- 09 20- Dec- 0903- Jan- 10 • Starts SunEnds Sun ChennaiChennai ( Mamallapuram) 2010 10- Jan- 1024- Jan- 10 31- Jan- 1014- Feb- 10 21- Feb- 1007- Mar- 10 14- Mar- 1028- Mar- 10 04- Apr- 1018- Apr- 10 26- Sep- 1010- Oct- 10 17- Oct- 1031- Oct- 10 07- Nov- 1021- Nov- 10 28- Nov- 1012- Dec- 10 19- Dec- 1002- Jan- 11 • • Xmas / New Year Supplement There are 330 million Hindu Gods in India. amazing fact ... We can also offer Extra Accommodation, Adventure Travel Insurance& Flights Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243

SRILANKA 101 INDIA & HIMALAYAS Sri Lanka Discovery Imaginative Facts Tour code: HTSL • Activities: Hiking around World's End, cycling, canoeing • Accommodation: 13 nights tourist class hotels, 1 night camping • Transport: Private bus • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader days 1- 14 DAY 1: COLOMBO / NEGOMBO- Arrive and transfer to our hotel in the beach resort of Negombo. DAY 2: PANDUWASNUWARA - ANURADHAPURA- Visit the ancient city of Panduwasnuwara and the fascinating ancient rock fortress of Yapahuwa. Continue to Anuradhapura where we spend the night. ( B) DAY 3: ANURADHAPURA- Cycle tour of the sacred city of Anuradhapura, the cradle of Sinhala civilisation. The route is flat and easy with many shaded areas to rest and exquisite temples to visit. In the afternoon we visit Mihintale with its superb views across the plains. ( B) DAY 4: POLONNARUWA - KAUDULLA-Continue to Polonnaruwa. We spend the afternoon searching for wild elephants in Kaudulla or Minneriya National Parks. ( B) DAY 5: POLONNARUWA - SIGIRIYA-Explore the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, with its immense Buddhas carved from the rock. Later continue to Sigiriya, an extraordinary citadel built on top of an immense rock. We climb to the top to visit the fortress and view the superb frescoes painted on the walls. The views are stunning. Continue to Dambulla where we spend the night. ( B) DAY 6: DAMBULLA - KANDY- Morning visit to the magnificent Buddhist caves of Dambulla. We then drive to the old capital of Kandy in the Central Highlands, stopping en route at a spice garden. In the late afternoon we watch a performance of traditional Kandyan dancing which may include dancers in a trance walking on hot coals, and visit the Temple of the Tooth to experience a pooja ( worship) ceremony. ( B) Journey to the heart of the ' Pearl of the Indian Ocean' DAY 7: KANDY- Morning city tour of Kandy. Free afternoon with the chance to visit the botanical gardens. ( B) DAY 8: NUWARA ELIYA- Travel through the Ramboda Pass surrounded by green hills covered with tea. We reach Nuwara Eliya, an old British hill- station where the afternoon is free for you to explore; perhaps hike to Lover's Leap on the edge of town or take afternoon tea in the colonial Hill Club. ( B) DAY 9: WORLD'S END - BELIHULOYA-We hike along the hilly slopes through montane forests and tea plantations to World's End. Here the ground drops beneath your feet and there are stunning views out across the plains below you. We end our day in Belihuloya. ( B) DAY 10: BELIHULOYA- Continue hiking through lovely scenery of tea plantations, paddy fields and villages to the Bambarakanda Falls - the highest in Sri Lanka. There is the chance to take a dip in the pool at the bottom before continuing to a small village where we enjoy lunch with a local family. ( BL) DAY 11: ELEPHANT TRANSIT HOME - TANAMALWILA- We enjoy the beauty of the Diyaluma Waterfalls and visit the Elephant Transit Home, a successful exercise to introduce orphaned baby elephants back into their natural habitats. We spend the night camping. ( B) DAY 12: GALLE - BENTOTA- We visit the Kataragama Shrine and World Heritage Site of the Galle Dutch Fortress before transferring to Bentota, a beach resort on Sri Lanka's beautiful south- west coast. We spend two nights in a small hotel situated in a peaceful position on a quiet lagoon which stretches into the sea. ( B) DAY 13: BENTOTA- An exciting morning spent cycling through local villages and various vegetation including coconut, rubber and cinnamon. This afternoon there is the opportunity to enjoy river canoeing. ( B) DAY 14: BENTOTA - NEGOMBO- Free morning to relax on the beach. In the afternoon we transfer back to Negombo. ( B) DAY 15: NEGOMBO / COLOMBO- Tour ends after breakfast. ( B) Note: A supplement will apply during the Kandy Esala Perahera Festival. This occurs every year in July or August but the exact dates are not fixed until nearer the time. The departures which might be affected are marked with a • in the date list. Please check with us at the time of booking whether a supplement will apply for your chosen departure. Note: Negombo is close to the International Airport. • Enjoy ancient sites, tropical jungle and palm- fringed beaches • Hike through tea plantations to World's End • Explore the imposing rock fortresses of Sigiriya and Yapahuwa • Enjoy traditional dancingand visit the Temple of the Tooth at Kandy • Search for wild elephantsthen relax on the beach at Bentota • Seasonal Supplement £ 45 * Christmas Supplement £ 90 Single Supplement £ 180 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 20.56 * Price includes tour price of £ 449and local payment of US$ 160All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 530pp Land Only * traveller Tour duration 15 days Starts SatEnds Sat ColomboColombo 2009 10- Jan- 0924- Jan- 09 07- Feb- 0921- Feb- 09 07- Mar- 0921- Mar- 09 04- Apr- 0918- Apr- 09 09- May- 0923- May- 09 13- Jun- 0927- Jun- 09 11- Jul- 0925- Jul- 09 • 08- Aug- 0922- Aug- 09 • 12- Sep- 0926- Sep- 09 17- Oct- 0931- Oct- 09 21- Nov- 0905- Dec- 09 19- Dec- 0902- Jan- 10 * • Seasonal supplement applies Starts SatEnds Sat ColomboColombo 2010 09- Jan- 1023- Jan- 10 06- Feb- 1020- Feb- 10 06- Mar- 1020- Mar- 10 03- Apr- 1017- Apr- 10 08- May- 1022- May- 10 12- Jun- 1026- Jun- 10 17- Jul- 1031- Jul- 10 • 07- Aug- 1021- Aug- 10 • 11- Sep- 1025- Sep- 10 09- Oct- 1023- Oct- 10 13- Nov- 1027- Nov- 10 18- Dec- 1001- Jan- 11 * * Christmas Supplement Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243