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

INDIA & HIMALAYASINDIA 102 " Great commitment to delivering the best service to the group." Pieter Struwig india & himalayas From Buddha to Bollywood Imaginative Facts Tour code: HABB • Activities: Camel safari, boat trip on the Ganges, optional jeep safari • Accommodation: 17 nights simple hotels, 2 nights heritage hotel, 1 night sleeper train, 1 night tented camp • Transport: Train, private coach, public bus, camel • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of local guides • Imaginative Traveller Suggests: Chill out on the beach on our ' Goa Beach Extension' DAY 1: KATHMANDU - Arrival day. DAY 2: KATHMANDU- Walking tour of city. DAY 3: BHAIRAWA- Travel to the border between Nepal and India. DAYS 4- 6: VARANASI - Continue to the holy city of Varanasi. Join the pilgrims praying on the banks of the Ganges, explore the exotic temples dotted along its banks or bargain in the bazaars. Take an early morning Ganges boat trip to see the sun rise over the holy river. On the evening of Day 6 board the overnight sleeper train to Delhi. DAY 7: DELHI- Free day. DAY 8: DELHI - AGRA- Early morning express train to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal. DAY 9 & 10: JAIPUR- Drive to Jaipur via the abandoned former Moghul capital of Fatehpur Sikri. Tour the stunning ' Pink City' of Jaipur with its temples and palaces - including the famous façade of the ' Palace of Winds'. Also visit the magnificent Amber Fort. DAY 11: PUSHKAR- Drive to Pushkar, a desert oasis on a holy lake. Afternoon at leisure to explore the lakeside with its many holy men, pilgrims and temples. DAY 12: KHEJARLA- Travel to Fort Khejarla, the residence of the former ruling family. DAY 13: CHANDELAO- Drive to the small heritage hotel of Chandelao Garh. Here you can interact with the community and learn about Rajasthan. Afternoon optional jeep safari to the villages near Chandelao where we see local craftsmen at work. DAY 14: CAMEL SAFARI- Drive into the Thar Desert to start our camel safari. We spend the night in a beautiful tented camp. DAYS 15 & 16: JAISALMER- Cross the desert to the ' Golden City' of Jaisalmer, looming magically out of the horizon. Within the fortress walls the cobbled streets are strewn with stunning palaces and Jain temples. Explore this amazing city with its mediaeval atmosphere. DAY 17: JODHPUR- Continue to the ' Blue City' of Jodhpur. Afternoon visit to the impressive Meherangarh Fort. DAYS 18 & 19: UDAIPUR- Drive via the magnificent Jain temples of Ranakpur to Udaipur. This stunning ' White City' is the most romantic city in Rajasthan. Visit the City Palace, carved out of yellow sandstone on the banks of Lake Pichola. DAY 20: AHMEDABAD- Travel to Ahmedabad, a city displaying a unique mix of Hindu and Muslim architecture. A major attraction is the ashram where Mahatma Gandhi lived for many years. DAY 21: MUMBAI ( BOMBAY)- Express train to Mumbai, site of the famous ' Gateway to India'. Rest of the day at leisure. DAY 22: MUMBAI ( BOMBAY)- Tour ends. Note: An amended itinerary will operate for Pushkar Fair departures. See dossier. Traverse the Himalayas to Mumbai on this classic overland adventure • Visit theiconic Rajasthani citiesof Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Jaisalmer • Explore the main sights of Delhi, Kathmandu, Mumbai and Agra • Take a boat ride along the Gangesthrough the ancient city of Varanasi • Take a camel safari into the Thar Desert to a magical tented camp • Experience rural Indian lifeat the Pushkar oasis and remote Chandelao India Agra Jaipur Pushkar Udaipur Ahmedabad Mumbai Delhi Jodhpur Jaisalmer Varanasi Kathmandu Bhairawa From Buddha to Bollywood The Road to Kathmandu Khejarla Chandelao India JaipurAgra Madhogarh Jhansi Orchha Khajuraho Delhi Varanasi Kathmandu Pokhara BhairawaChitwan The Best of India & Nepal • Seasonal Supplement £ 45 * Pushkar Fair Supplement £ 45 Single Supplement £ 405 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 16.86 * Price includes tour price of £ 740and local payment of US$ 220All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 855pp Land Only * adventurer Tour duration 22 days © Imaginative Traveller © Imaginative Traveller Starts SunEnds Sun KathmanduMumbai 2009 11- Jan- 0901- Feb- 09 25- Jan- 0915- Feb- 09 08- Feb- 0901- Mar- 09 22- Feb- 0915- Mar- 09 08- Mar- 0929- Mar- 09 22- Mar- 0912- Apr- 09 05- Apr- 0926- Apr- 09 12- Jul- 0902- Aug- 09 26- Jul- 0916- Aug- 09 09- Aug- 0930- Aug- 09 23- Aug- 0913- Sep- 09 06- Sep- 0927- Sep- 09 20- Sep- 0911- Oct- 09 04- Oct- 0925- Oct- 09 18- Oct- 0908- Nov- 09 * 01- Nov- 0922- Nov- 09 15- Nov- 0906- Dec- 09 29- Nov- 0920- Dec- 09 13- Dec- 0903- Jan- 10 • 27- Dec- 0917- Jan- 10 • * Pushkar Fair departure Starts SunEnds Sun KathmanduMumbai 2010 10- Jan- 1031- Jan- 10 24- Jan- 1014- Feb- 10 07- Feb- 1028- Feb- 10 21- Feb- 1014- Mar- 10 07- Mar- 1028- Mar- 10 21- Mar- 1011- Apr- 10 04- Apr- 1025- Apr- 10 11- Jul- 1001- Aug- 10 25- Jul- 1015- Aug- 10 08- Aug- 1029- Aug- 10 22- Aug- 1012- Sep- 10 05- Sep- 1026- Sep- 10 19- Sep- 1010- Oct- 10 03- Oct- 1024- Oct- 10 17- Oct- 1007- Nov- 10 31- Oct- 1021- Nov- 10 * 14- Nov- 1005- Dec- 10 28- Nov- 1019- Dec- 10 12- Dec- 1002- Jan- 11 • 26- Dec- 1016- Jan- 11 • • X- Mas & New Year Supplement We can also offer Extra Accommodation, Adventure Travel Insurance& Flights Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243