India by land and sea

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A luxury, small ship ocean cruise to Sri Lanka and along India’s tropical southern coast will be coupled with an overland tour through Rajasthan, stays at India’s grandest hotels and a visit to the Taj Mahal at sunrise as part of a new 26-day cruise tour in March, 2016, offered by Cruise Express. The all-inclusive itinerary with APT features an interactive Indian cooking class and stays at a string of five-star Taj Hotels, including Udaipur’s iconic Taj Lake Palace, which starred in the 1983 James Bond movie, Octopussy. The adventure begins with a flight from Australia on 29 February, 2016, to Chennai, where guests board the boutique 114-passenger MS Island Sky for a 14-night journey to Mumbai via eight ports in Sri Lanka and India. All cabins on the ship are suites with ocean views, with guests cared for by 75 staff, complimentary shore excursions and free beverages with lunch and dinner. As a smaller ship, MS Island Sky will call in at lesser-visited ports with the itinerary featuring Trincomalee, Hambantota, Galle and Colombo in Sri Lanka and the Indian ports of Trivandrum, Cochin, Mangalore, Goa and Mumbai. Excursions ashore include visits to temples, palm-lined beaches and spice and tea plantations, with guests able to delve into the colourful history and culture of both countries. From Mumbai, a 10-day overland tour takes in the highlights of India’s most spectacular state, Rajasthan, with its historic forts and palaces in Udaipur and Jaipur. The itinerary includes a Jeep ride through villages near Samode and a sunrise visit to the World Heritage-listed Taj Mahal in Agra. Each night guests will stay luxurious palace hotel, including the marbled Taj Lake Palace, Taj Rambagh Palace, and the exclusive Samode Palace, a 475-year-old sanctuary blending traditional opulence with modern luxury. Including flights from Australia and flights within India, most meals, beverages with lunch and dinner during the cruise, shore excursions and daily sightseeing, the 26-day package is available from $23,199 per person, twin-share.

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