WITH ROBERT KINGSFORD SMITH16 DAYS: 14 FEBRUARY – 1 MARCH 2017

ON THE GOLDEN CHARIOT AND THE OOTY TRAIN

• OOTY • MYSORE • CHENNAI • PONDICHERRY • • TRIVVY • TRICHY • COCHIN •

IN A NUTSHELL

• 5 nights aboard the luxury Golden Chariot• 10nightsinpremierfive-starhotels• Visits to three World Heritage Sites • Executiveclasstraintravelto Chennai on the legendary Ooty Train • All meals, tipping and transfers i ncluded • ExpertlocalEnglish-speakingguides• Palaces, temples, colonial outposts, vibrantcities,museums,galleries andbustlingmarkets

OVERVIEW

Taste the life of luxury train travel as you traverse the wonders of India’s southern states. The railways of India are the arteries of the nation and its trains are an intrinsic part of the culture. Starring the luxury Golden Chariot train, a veritable hotel on wheels, this extraordinary journey also features an express train trip in Shatabdi executive class, and the Ooty Train, a World Heritage-listed steam powered mountain rack railway to the old British hill station of Ooty.

These journeys spanning some 2,000 kilometres across four states connect some of India’s most famous sites including World Heritage listed Mahabalipuram Group of Temples and the Great Living Chola Temples. When not on board, you will dine and stay in luxury hotels and restaurants and you will be expertly guided around the vibrant cites and bustling markets.

The little steam train to Ooty was named a World Heritage Site in 2005 marking its recognition as of one of the world’s great train journeys. In this epic adventure we combine this Indian Railway icon with another, the Golden Chariot, for a rail cruise like no other. Your home away from home for five nights features fine dining, spacious lounge cars, an onboard spa, business centre and shop. Experience a new destination each day without having to pack the bags is the bonus of an onboard holiday.

YOUR TOUR LEADER

In the 1960s, Robert Kingsford-Smithexpanded a childhood passion for railways andbeganaquesttorecordonfilmtheworld’sdisappearingsteam locomotives.Hisoftenadventuroustravelshavetakenhimtooverfortycountries.The resulting photographs and articles haveappearedinAustralianandoverseaspublications.Robert has led groups of like-mindedenthusiastsontourstoplacesasdiverseasSouthAmerica,PakistanandSouthAfricaand more recently has been the celebrated tour leader on many Railway Adventuretours through Outback Queensland andalsoIndia.A passion for history and wildlife is well servedonhistravelsandhecombineshismanyinterestswithregularandextensivetraintravel.CairnsisofspecialsignificanceforRobertas his great- great-grandfather, R. A.Kingsford,wasitsfirstmayor.

Day 1 • Tuesday 14 February: Arrive Coimbatore AfteralateeveningarrivalattheCoimbatoreInternationalAirportandcompletingthecustomsformalities,wewilltransfertothehotel,VivantabyTajSurya,andcheckin.CoimbatoresituatedonthebanksoftheriverNoyyalisthetextilecapitalofSouthIndia.LocatedintheshadowoftheWesternGhats,Coimbatoreenjoysaverypleasantclimatetheyearround,aidedbythefreshbreezethatflowsinthroughthe25kmslongPalakkadgap.

Overnight: Vivanta by Taj Surya, Coimbatore

Day 2 • Wednesday 15 February: Coimbatore

Themorningisatleisuretosleepin,relaxbythepoolorpartakeofthefacilitiesatthespa.LaterweenjoyanorientationtourofCoimbatoreincludingavisittosomeofthefinesttempletrailsstartingfromtheoldesttempledatingbackto1500A.D.–EachanriVivnayagarTemplefollowedbymarveling800yearoldMarudhamalaiShriMuruganTemple.LaterwewillhaveanexcursiontoPalakkadwherewewillhavelovelylunchataheritagehomefollowedbyvisittotheBrahminarea.Wewillalsoseeandparticipateinbasketweaving.Alternatively-Intheafternoon,youareofferedanoptionalroundofgolfatCoimbatoregolfclubsetinthefoothillsofWesternGhats.Thiscoursehastheuniquedistinctionofbeingthefirst“Private”coursetobebuiltinthecountryafterWorldWarII

Overnight: Vivanta by Taj Surya, Coimbatore (B, L)

Day 3 • Thursday 16 February: Coimbatore—Mettupalayam—Ooty

Postbreakfast,transferforanhourtoMettupalayamrailwaystationtoexperiencetheNilgiriMountainRailwaywhichbeganrunningin1899.Continue.Thesteamhauledrackrailwayclimbs2,000meterstothemountainsatOoty.AccordedwithaUNESCOWorldHeritagetag,theleisurelytrainjourneymeandersalong208curves,charmingvalleys,hills,tunnelsandviaducts.Thetrainrideissomethingspecialbutjustoneamongthethousandsofthingsyoucandohere,inthebeautifulBlueMountains.Uponarrival,transfertothehotelandcheck–in;therestofyourdayisatleisureNestledintheNilgiris,OotyspeckledwithcolonialbungalowswasoncetheloftydomainofwildbeastsandancienttribesliketheTodas,Badagas,andKurumbas.Todayitiscarpetedwithrollingteaplantations.

Overnight: Taj Savoy, Ooty (B, L, D)

Day 4 • Friday 17 February: Ooty

Afterascrumptiousbuffetbreakfastatthehotel,wewillenjoyacitytourofOoty,gettingachancetoseethebeautifulBotanicalGardens,OotyLakeandDodabettaPeak.Wewillthenallhavelunchtogetheratthehotel.Theafternoonisfreetoenjoythefacilitiesofthehotel,explorethetownorjoinScottforahighteaattheOotyClub.Wewillregroupfordinneratalocalrestaurant.

Overnight: Taj Savoy, Ooty (B, L, D)

Day 5 • Saturday 18 February: Ooty—Mysore

EnjoyaleisurelymorningwithabuffetbreakfastatthehotelandthenwewilljourneydownthemountainspastnumerouswaterfallsandthroughBadipurnationalParktothegardencityofMysore.Onarrival,wewillcheckintotheHotelRegaalisandfreshenupforlunchatthehotel.Followionglunch,itisashortdrivetothegatesofthewell-curatedRailwayMuseuminMysore.ItistheearliestrailwaymuseumtobeestablishedinIndiaandhasondisplaythe‘Maharani’ssaloon’carriagewiththeroyaltoiletthatdatesbackto1899.AlsoattheRailwayMuseumistheChamundiGallerywhichshowsthegrowthoftheIndianRailwaysthroughphotographsandpaintings.Therestoftheafternoonisatleisurebutwewillregroupfordinneratthehotellaterintheevening.

Overnight: Hotel Regaalis, Mysore (B, L, D)

Day 6 • Sunday 19 February: Mysore

TodaywewilltakeaguidedtourofthecityofMysorestartingwiththespectacularMysorePalace. The tour continues to theChamundiHill,namedaftertheroyalfamily’sdeity.HalfwayupthehillistheNandiBull,a4.8-metremonolith.RightontopistheChamundeswariTemplededicatedtoGoddessDurga.Afterthetourwewillheadbacktothehotelforlunch.You are welcome to explore the city on your own in the afternoon, lounge bythepoolorjoinScottforaspecialshoppingtriptothelocalmarkets.Intheevening,abuffetdinnerwillbepresentedatthehotel.

Overnight: Hotel Regaalis, Mysore (B, L, D)

Day 7 • Monday 20 February: Mysore—Chennai

Enjoy a morning at leisure to relax by the pool, at the spa or around the city andjustafter12noonwewillheadtotheMysoreRailwayStationtoboardtheShatabdiExpresstoChennai.Lunchanddinnerwillbeprovidedonboardaswellasahamperboxprovidedbythehotel.The480-kilometreiscoveredbythefastexpress,averaging125km/houronajourneywhiskingusthroughBangalore,JolarpettaiandKatpadiandmanyotherinterestingcities, townsand interesting landscapes.Onarrivalwearemetat thestation and transfer to our hotel, the Taj Connemara, located in the heart ofthecommercialandbusinessdistrict.TheoriginofChennaiisstillamysterywithverylittlehistoricalbackground.Originally,Madrasconsistedofseveralsmallvillagesandtempletowns.OnceapartoftheancientkingdomofThondaimandalamandruledasanindependentempireitwasslowlyunitedbytheadministrators.Chennaiwasthefirstcityestablishedby the East India Company (375 years ago) and was the colonial capital ofsouthernIndia.Today,itisthefourthlargestmetropolitancityinIndia.

Overnight: Taj Connemara, Chennai (B, L, D)

Day 8 • Tuesday 21 February: Chennai

InthemorningtakeawalkingtourofMylaporemarketsasyourguidepeelsbackthelayersoflivinghistoryrevealingarepositoryofcultureandheritage.WesampleallkindsofSouthIndiandelicaciesoverabrewofSouth IndianCoffee formorning tea.Oursightseeing tourofChennaicontinueswithavisitthefirstBritishoutpostinIndia—FortSt.George,includingthefort’sMuseumandWellesleyHouse.Wethenheadtothefamous Kapaleeswarar Temple, as well as the San Thome Cathedral and theastoundingParthasarathyTemplebuilt inthe8thcentury.ThetourendsattheGovernmentStateMuseumandtheNationalArtGalleryandyouarefreetocontinueorreturntothehotelforarelaxingevening.

Overnight: Taj Connemara, Chennai (B, L, D)

Day 9 • Wednesday 22 February: Pondicherry—Trichy

After breakfast drive for 200kms to Pondicherry; enroutewewill visitMahabalipuram. Once themajor port city for the 7th century Pallavadynasty-Mahabalipuramisnowahometoover500stonecarversandisknownforitsrock-cutcavesandmonolithicshrinescalledRathas.WewillseefineexamplesofstonecarvingsattheShoreTemplesandalsosee‘TheGanges’,a20fthighand90ftlongbassreliefsculpturedepictingthedescentofIndia’ssacredriver.BeforearrivalatPondicherrycitywewillstopbyatAurovilleforsightseeing,lunchandthenontocheckintothetrain.LaterweVisitAurobindoAshramand thenenjoyastroll through19thCentury built cobbled streets called the Latin quarter, built by formerFrenchColonialrulers.YoucanalsotakeastrollonPromenadeBeach.BackonboardtheluxuriousGoldenChariotjoinScottandfellowguestsintheloungecarforawell-earnedwelcomedrinkfollowedbydinneronboardourhotel-on-wheelsasitdepartsintotheeveningforTrichy.

Overnight: Golden Chariot (B, L, D)

Day 10 • Thursday 23 February: Trichy—Thanjavur

OurtrainwillarriveatTrichy,orTiruchirapalli,inthemorning,abeautifultownbuiltaroundthehistoricRockFort.ThemostfamouslandmarksaretheRockFortTemple,MathrubhuteshwarShrinededicatedtoLordShiva,andtheUcchiPillayarkoil.WewillalsojoinasightseeingtourofWorldHeritage-listedBrihadeshwaraTempleinTanjorebuiltduringthe10thand14thcenturies.

Overnight: Golden Chariot (B, L, D)

Day 11: Friday 24 February: Madurai

Wewillarrive inMaduraiat8amand, followingbreakfast, takea tourofthebusycitywhichisdescribedasanimated,packedwithpilgrims,vendors,businesspeople,bullockcartsandlegionsofunder-employedrickshawpullers.MaduraiisoneofSouthernIndia’soldestcities.Wewillvisit theMeenakshiTemple, thefabulousThirumalaiNayakPalaceandThiruparankundramTemple.Backonboardourtrain,dinnerwillbewellunderwayasweglideintothenighttowardIndia’ssouthernmostpoint.

Overnight: Golden Chariot (B, L, D)

Day 12 • Saturday 25 February: Kanyakumari

ThetourbeginsinthemorningwithsunriseatKanyakumariwhichisthesouthernmost district of TamilNadu state.We then return to the trainandlaterinthemorninggvisitwanderthroughtheintricatearchitectureof theallwoodenpalaceofPadmanabhapuam.After lunch,servedonboard,wewillvisitKovalamBeachforabeachstroll,swimandhightea.IntheeveningtherewillbeaGalaDinnerandCulturalShowattheLeelaKovalamresort.

Overnight: Golden Chariot (B, L, D)

Day 13 • Sunday 26 February: Kerala Backwaters

Afterbreakfastwewillsaygoodbyetoourtrainand the crew who have been looking after usalongtheway.ASfterashortbustripandavisittothespicemarketwewillarriveatthegatewaytothefamousKeralaBackwater-Alleppey.In the late morning we board the traditional kettuvalam (houseboat) for the backwaterexperience.Thebestway toglimpsevillage lifeandthesceneryalongthelushedlinedbackwatersof Kerala is to ply the region’s intricate web of rivers,lagoons,canals,andlakesinakettuvallam- traditional Keralan houseboat. These slendervesselsconstructed from jackfruitwoodbeamswith thatched roof have for centuries been theprimary means of transporting cargo—mainlyKerala’s staple crops of rice and coconuts.We cruise through the fabledbackwaters - theundisputed highlight of the region. You’ll passthebackwaters,aswellas tiny,colourful townsthattypicallyexportcoconut-huskproducts,andfishing villages, while being surrounded by tallcoconuttrees.LunchisonboardthehouseboatwhileweglidealongonourwaytoourlakesideresorthotelwherelaterintheeveningweenjoyatraditionalKeralabanquet.

Overnight: Kumarakom Lake Resort, Luxury Pavilion room (B, L, D)

Day 14 • Monday 27th February: Alappuzha—Kochi

AfterleisurelybreakfastweleaveforCochin.AlsoknownasKochi,Cochinisanattractivetownwitharichhistoryandculture.Ithasbeenatrading port since at least Roman times when it was on the main trade route between Europe and China, and is still orientated around the bay whoseneckislinedwiththeenormouscantileveredcheenavalas(Chinesefishingnets)ThetownhashadaJewishcommunitysinceatleastthe6thcentury,andhasbeenoccupiedbythePortuguese,DutchandBritishbeforeindependence.Uponarrival,checkintothehotelandenjoytherestofthedayatleisure.Youmaywishtotaketheoptionalscenicboatcruisearoundtheharbourdepartingfromthehotelatsunset.

Overnight: Vivanta by Taj, Kochi (B, L, D)

Day 15 • Tuesday 28th February: Kochi

AfterbreakfastwedrivetoFortCochinforaguidedheritagewalkingtourofFortCochinthatishometoseveralhistoricsites,includingJewishSynagogues,StFrancisChurchandthePortuguesebuiltMattancherryPalace.IntheeveningenjoyaKathakalidanceperformance,astylizedclassicalIndiandance-dramaoriginatedin17thcenturyandisnotedfortheattractivemake-upofcharacters,elaboratecostumes,detailedgesturesandwell-definedbodymovementspresentedintunewiththeanchorplaybackmusicandcomplementarypercussion.Dinneratanoutsidevenue

Overnight: Vivanta by Taj , Kochi (B, D)

Day 16 • Wednesday 1th March: Departures

Ourtourconcludesafterbreakfast.Farewelltoourtourleaderandfellowtravellersandhappytravelsforthosewhomaybestayingonforadventuresfurtherdowntheline.

Tour Prices

Perpersontwinshare $11,785Singlesupplement $2,275Deposit(perperson) $1,000Finalpaymentdueby 14/12/2017

*Singletravellersmayrequesttoshare.Pleaseadviseattimeofbooking.

INCLUSIONS

• 11nights’accommodationincentrallylocated5-star hotelswithdailybreakfast• 4 nights on the Golden Chariot including all meals• All lunches and dinners at either hotel or quality local and westernrestaurantsorontrains.• Transfersonarrivalanddeparturegratuitiesand tipping included• Comprehensivesightseeingwithexpertlocalguides• Comfortableair-conditionedcoachtransportwhen not on trains• Entrance fees at all monuments, museums and galleries• Hotel porterage

EXCLUSIONS

• Flights• Drinkswithmeals(exceptforwelcomeand farewell dinners)• Itemsofapersonalnatureeg.telephone,laundry,minibar• TravelInsurance

Your Train: The Golden Chariot

Accommodation on the train is in twin-bed or double-bedcompartmentswithprivateen-suitebathroom.Everycabin is equippedwith LCD TV, air conditioning, vanityandwritingdesk,wardrobeandluxurytoiletries.

Therearetwofine-diningrestaurantsonthetrain,aswellas a lounge car with bar, a gym and spa, and a business centreonboard.

And don’t forget the personal butler on hand for your everyneed!

This tour is operated by Guidepost Tours, a division of SCT Travel Group in conjunction with Scott McGregor’s Railway Adventures T/A Lic. No. 2TA5895

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