THIS BARBARA FUDGE TOUR IS "BY INVITATION ONLY"

GROUP TOUR TO SOUTH INDIA
14 - 26 JANUARY 2007

This tour includes:  Cochin (Koshi); Keraleeyam Ayurvedic Resort in Alleppey (Alappuzha); overnight on a houseboat; five nights at Uday Samudra Resort (a spa);
and Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram), India!
 

The state of Kerala in southern India is sometimes termed "God's country."  With the Arabian Sea to the west and the Western Ghats towering up to 8,775 feet to the east, Kerala is criss-crossed by over forty rivers.  Kerala's long shoreline, equitable climate, lush hill stations, and exotic wildlife have long made it a popular tourist destination.  Kerala offers sprawling plantations, rice paddies, tranquil backwaters, and even waterfalls.  In this state visitors can spy historic and cultural monuments and also savor exotic cuisine.  Welcome to Kerala, the jewel of India! 
 

SOUTH INDIA 12 NIGHT/13 DAY ITINERARY:
 

SUNDAY 14 JANUARY 2007:  CAIRO-DOHA

Check in at Cairo Airport's terminal number two at 1:55 p.m.  Depart Cairo at 3:55 p.m. on Qatar Airways flight number QR515.  Arrive in Doha at 7:55 p.m.  Remain in transit at Doha Airport.


MONDAY 15 JANUARY:  DOHA-COCHIN (KOSHI)

Depart Doha at 1:30 a.m. on Qatar Airways flight number QR264.  Arrive in Cochin (Koshi) at 8:05 a.m.  Upon arrival, transfer to the Fort Heritage Hotel in Cochin for check-in.  Remainder of day at leisure.  Overnight in a standard room at the Fort Heritage Hotel in Cochin.


TUESDAY 16 JANUARY:  COCHIN

After breakfast, proceed for a half-day sightseeing tour of Cochin, an important port with a long history.  Visit the synagogue, the Dutch palace, and the Church of St. Francis with its tomb of Vasco da Gama.  Also view the unique Chinese fishing nets.  In the evening, attend a Kathakali dance drama performance.  Overnight at the Fort Heritage Hotel in Cochin.


WEDNESDAY 17 JANUARY:  COCHIN-ALLEPPEY (ALAPPUZHA)

After breakfast, depart by road from Cochin to Alleppey (Alappuzha), some 60 km (90 km) away.  Situated on the Arabian Sea and sometimes called the "Venice of the East," Alleppey has numerous canals which meander through it.  The area around Alleppey is known for its production of cashew nuts, coir (coconut fiber) and rice.  Lunch, dinner and overnight in a non-air-conditioned cottage at Keraleeyam Ayurveda Resort in Alleppey.


THURSDAY 18 JANUARY:  ALLEPPEY

After breakfast, entire day at leisure.  Lunch, dinner and overnight at Keraleeyam Ayurveda Resort in Alleppey.


FRIDAY 19 JANUARY:  ALLEPPEY-HOUSEBOAT

After breakfast, morning at leisure.  At midday, board your houseboat for the ride to Kumarakom.  Lunch, dinner and overnight in an air-conditioned cabin on a Marvel Cruises "silver category" houseboat.


SATURDAY 20 JANUARY:  HOUSEBOAT-KUMARAKOM-KOVALAM

After breakfast, disembark at Kumarakom Jetty.  Situated on the shore of Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom is considered the gateway to the backwaters of Kuttanad.  From Kumarakom, proceed to the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary.  Later drive to Kovalam.  Upon arrival, check in at Uday Samudra Resort and receive an Ayurvedic massage.  Ayurveda, which stresses the prevention of disease as well as the treatment of ailments, evolved as a system of medicine in India in about 600 B. C.  Practiced since that time, Ayurveda is today a naturalistic field of medicine whose practitioners attempt to diagnose the body's humors in order to achieve a correct balance.  Overnight in an "exotica room" at Uday Samudra Resort.


SUNDAY 21 JANUARY:  KOVALAM

After breakfast, entire day at leisure.  Receive an Ayurvedic massage.  Overnight at Uday Samudra Resort.


MONDAY 22 JANUARY:  KOVALAM

After breakfast, entire day at leisure.  Receive an Ayurvedic massage.  Overnight at Uday Samudra Resort.


TUESDAY 23 JANUARY:  KOVALAM

After breakfast, receive an Ayurvedic massage.  Remainder of morning at leisure.  In the afternoon, take a tour of Padmanabhapuram Palace, situated south of Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram).  A superb example of traditional Keral architecture, this is said to be the largest wooden palace in India.  The Padmanabhapuram Palace's teak, granite and stone all combine to give a look which is simple yet elegant.  After your tour, return for overnight at Uday Samudra Resort.


WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY:  KOVALAM

After breakfast, entire day at leisure.  Receive an Ayurvedic massage.  Overnight at Uday Samudra Resort.


THURSDAY 25 JANUARY:  KOVALAM-TRIVANDRUM (THIRUVANANTHAPURAM)

After breakfast, take a city tour of Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram).  Your tour will include a visit to the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, dedicated to Vishnu.  Rebuilt in 1733, this temple is a fine example of South Indian architecture.  Also visit the Napier Museum with its collection of bronzes, the Sri Chitra Art Gallery with paintings from China, Japan, and Indonesia, and the zoo.  Afternoon at leisure for shopping.  Farewell dinner at a restaurant specializing in South Indian cuisine.  (This restaurant does not have a bar.)  Overnight in a standard air-conditioned room at the Royal Heritage Hotel in Trivandrum.


FRIDAY 26 JANUARY:  TRIVANDRUM-DOHA-CAIRO

Early morning transfer from the Royal Heritage Hotel to Trivandrum Airport for check-in at approx. 6:30 a.m.  Depart Trivandrum at 9:30 a.m. on Qatar Airways flight number QR265.  Arrive in Doha at 11:30 a.m.  Immediate transfer.  Depart Doha at 12:10 p.m. on Qatar Airways flight number QR514.  Arrive at Cairo Airport's terminal number two at 2:55 p.m.
 

YOUR SOUTH INDIA TOUR PACKAGE WILL INCLUDE:

* Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary:
    2 nights in Cochin with breakfast
    2 nights in Alleppey with breakfast, lunch and dinner   
    1 night on a houseboat with breakfast, lunch and dinner
    5 nights in Kovalam with breakfast
    1 night in Trivandrum with dinner 
* One Ayurveda treatment on each of the 5 days at Kovalam
* Assistance on arrival and departure at airports and hotels
* Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle
* Local English-speaking guides for sightseeing tours per the itinerary
* Entrance fees for the monuments mentioned in the itinerary
* Kathakali dance drama performance in Cochin
* Farewell dinner in Trivandrum
* All tips

YOUR SOUTH INDIA TOUR PACKAGE WILL NOT INCLUDE:

* Meals other than those specified above
* Camera fees at monuments
* Medical and travel insurance
* Personal expenses such as laundry, beverages of any kind, telephone calls, etc.
* Any other services not specifically mentioned above


CURRENT ROUND TRIP AIRFARE ON QATAR AIRWAYS FROM CAIRO TO COCHIN AND RETURN FROM TRIVANDRUM TO CAIRO:  EGP 4,075 per person (pp).  This airfare is subject to change prior to actual ticket purchase.

AIR TICKET PAYMENT:  A NONREFUNDABLE cash deposit of EGP 1,225 (approx. $214) is required in order to hold your air reservation.*  The remainder of the airfare is due no later than Thursday 7 December 2006.   For those who prefer to pay by credit card, we will return the cash deposit at time of final air payment and then charge the entire amount to the credit card.    

The fees below are applicable to the international air ticket:

EGP 222 fee for any voluntary change in air ticket
EGP 337 refund fee (Also see below regarding the nonrefundable EGP 1,225.)

* Egypt Panorama Tours has reserved seats for this group on the Qatar Airways flights shown in the itinerary above.  The airfare for our group is the same as that for individuals.  In order to retain our group booking, Egypt Panorama Tours must make a nonrefundable deposit to Qatar Airways no later than Monday 13 November.  If it is still possible to find air seats when group members' initial deposits are paid, then those group members will be reserved as individuals, thus avoiding the nonrefundable EGP 1,225 mentioned above.  On the other hand, if seats are not available when group members' initial deposits are paid, then the nonrefundable EGP 1,225 deposit restriction must apply, per Qatar Airways regulations.  The bottom line is that the earlier one books, the more chance there is of avoiding the nonrefundable EGP 1,225.  However, those group members booked as individuals will be required to pay for their air tickets in full prior to the air ticketing deadline set by the airline.    
 

SOUTH INDIA LAND PACKAGE PRICING (IN U. S. DOLLARS),
IF PAYING BY CREDIT CARD:

If 6 or 7 passengers in the group:
$1,228 pp land package + approx. $711 (EGP 4,075) air = $1,939 total
(If paying the land package in cash, subtract $48.  No extra charge for paying the air ticket by card.)

If 8 or 9 passengers in the group:
$1,153 pp land package + approx. $711 (EGP 4,075) air = $1,864 total
(If paying the land package in cash, subtract $45.  No extra charge for paying the air ticket by card.)

If 10 or 11 passengers in the group:
$1,144 pp land package + approx. $711 (EGP 4,075) air = $1,855 total
(If paying the land package in cash, subtract $45.  No extra charge for paying the air ticket by card.)

If 12, 13, 14 or 15 passengers in the group:
$1,087 pp land package + approx. $711 (EGP 4,075) air = $1,798 total
(If paying the land package in cash, subtract $43.  No extra charge for paying the air ticket by card.)

If 16 passengers in the group:
$1,011 pp land package + approx. $711 (EGP 4,075) air = $1,722 total
(If paying the land package in cash, subtract $40.  No extra charge for paying the air ticket by card.)


The land package single supplement (the extra amount to be paid by anyone occupying a single room) is $469 total.
(If paying the single supplement in cash, subtract $19.)

LAND PACKAGE PAYMENT:  A deposit of $500 is required in order to hold your place.  The remainder is due no later than Wednesday 22 November 2006.  Note the land package schedule of cancellation fees detailed below.

CANCELLATION FEES:

The schedule of cancellation fees below is applicable to the land package:

35% penalty if cancellation is advised 50 days or more prior to arrival.
60% penalty if cancellation is advised 35 days or more prior to arrival.
85% penalty if cancellation is advised 26 days or more prior to arrival.
100% penalty if cancellation is advised 25 days or less prior to arrival.


If paying by VISA or Mastercard, we will send an email with a link to enable easy and secure online payment.  On the other hand, payment by American Express requires either a signature or else documents to be faxed to us for those clients who are not in Cairo.  Note the amounts above which are to be deducted if payment is made in U. S. dollars cash.  IMPORTANT:  Refunds against credit card payments will be made less 4.2%.
 

Updated 10 October 2007