SOUTHERN INDIA

13 DAY SOLO TOUR: AUGUST 2020

§ Exclusively for Solo Travellers § Your Own Room Always § Visit Amazing Destinations

ITINERARY

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Trip highlights:• WalkinFrenchquartersofPondicherry.• WalkaroundtheMarketofMeenakshitemple.• EveningbedtimeceremonyattheMeenakshitemple.• Walking/veryeasytrekkingtourataMunnarTeaplantation.• AfternoonBoatsafariinthePeriyarNationalpark.• SpicePlantationvisitinPeriyar.• Heritagewalksalongwithlunchatalocalfamily’shomein

Allapuzha(Alleppey).• WalkinFortCochin.• KathakkalidanceinCochininaPublictheatre.• CruisethetranquilBackwatersofKerala,andspend

overnightonaKettuvallam(traditionalhouseboat).• SamplemanySouthernIndiandelicacies.• ImmerseyourselfinthecultureofIncredibleIndia!.Will you join us?

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SOUTHERN INDIA 13 DAY SOLOS TOUR: 16TH - 28TH AUGUST 2020

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13 DAY SOLOS TOUR: 16TH - 28TH AUGUST 2020 SOUTHERN INDIA

Day 1 - Sunday 16th August 2020 ARRIVE AT CHENNAI (D)Onarrival,youwillbemetbyyourtourhostandtransferredtoyourhotel.FormerlycalledMadras,ChennaiisthecapitalcityofTamilNadu.ThismetropolisisoftencalledtheculturalcapitalofIndiaforitsdeep-rootedtraditionsandlongstandingheritage.Thecityispopularforitsnumeroustouristdestinationsincludingbeaches,temples,fortsandpalacesalongwithmanycolourfulfestivalsthatattractvisitorseachyear.ThecitypresentsaculturethatistotallydifferentfromNorthIndiaandrepresentsalifestylethatisaperfectblendoftraditionalandmodernIndia.Spendyourafternoonatleisure,orpossiblyvisittheStGeorgeFortandMuseumortheKapaleeswaraTemple-anancientShivatemple,andthebiggesttempleinChennai.

§ Accommodation: Your own Superior Room at the ‘Crown Plaza Chennai Adyar Park’ (5 star)

Day 2 - Monday 17th August 2020 CHENNAI- MAHABALIPURAM- PONDICHERRY (B, D)AfterbreakfastwedrivetoMarinaBeach,oneofthemostmagnificentbeachesinIndiacoveredwithglitteringgoldensandandaclearstripofbluesea.Watchingthesunriseandsethereisbothcaptivatingandbreathtaking.NextwedrivetoMahabalipuram,a7thcenturycoastaltownlocatedabout60kmfromChennai.ListedasaUNESCOworldheritagesite,theareahasvarioushistoricalmonumentsdatingbacktotheperiodbetweenthe7thto9thcenturies.WewillenjoyasightseeingtourofMahaalipuram.Arjunapenanceremainsoneofthemostbeautifullycarvedstructureswithover100figuresofgodsandsemidivinecreatures,birdsandbeasts,manandsaint.TheFiveRathas,alsoknownasPanchRathas,isasetofrocktempleswherethefrothywavesformastrikingbackdrop,protectedbyrowsofrock-carvedbulls.ThemostuniquefeatureofthetempleisthatithousesshrinestobothLordShivaandLordVishnu.LaterwedriveontoPondicherry.LocatedontheCoromandelshoreline,itwasruledbytheFrenchformorethan3Centuries,andthereisstillastronginfluenceofFrenchculture;especiallyinthearchitecture.

§ Accommodation: Your own lakeview room at ‘Le Pondy’ (5 star)

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Day 3 - Tuesday 18th August 2020 PONDICHERRY (B, D) AfterbreakfastwevisitAuroville,whichisdescribedas‘theCityofTomorrow’.Itisrecognisedasthefirstendorsedongoingexperimentinhumanunityandtransformationofconsciousness,wherepeoplefromdifferentnationalities,faithsandbeliefscouldliveinpeaceandharmony.ThisafternoonweenjoyaguidedwalkaroundtheFrenchquartersofPondicherry.OncethelargestFrenchcolonyinIndia,PondicherryhasalongandinterestinghistoryoftradeandwarandtheTownisdividedbyacanalintoFrenchTownandTamilTown.Wewillexploreeithersideofthecanal,startingwithFrenchTown.Here,theFrenchlegacyofPondicherryisstillpreservedinitsFrenchQuarters,withtree-linedstreets,blue-enameledsignpostsbearingFrenchnames,colonialvillasandheritagebuildingsthathavebeenartfullyconvertedintoboutiquehotels.AseasidepromenaderunsalongtheBayofBengalandpassesseveralstatues,includinga4m-highGandhiMemorial.WewillwalkaroundthetownpassingbycolonialbuildingswithlushgreengardensandBougainvilleaflowerswhichaddtothebeautyofthestreets.WewillendourwalkwiththevisittoSriAurobindoAshram.FoundedbySriAurobindowaybackinNovember1926,theAshraminitiallycomprisedofonly24disciples.TheSriAurobindoAshraminPondicherryhascomealongwayfromitsinitialdaysofinception.Dinnertonightwillbeatthehotel.

§ Accommodation: Your own lakeview room at ‘Le Pondy’ (5 star)

Day 4 - Wednesday 19th August 2020 PONDICHERRY- MADURAI (B, D) Afterbreakfast,wedrivetoMadurai.Itisascenic8hourjourneyandwewillhavemanystopsalongtheway.MaduraiisalsocalledtheAthensoftheEast.Itisaplaceofgreathistoricalandculturalimportance.ItistheoldestcityinTamilNaduandliesonthebanksoftheRiverVaigai.Maduraiisfamousforitstemples,monumentsandancientculturalwonders.UponarrivalintoMaduraiwetransfertoourhotel,whereweenjoythisevening’smeal.

§ Accommodation: Your own Standard Room at the ‘Fortune Pandiyan Hotel’ (4.5 star)

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13 DAY SOLOS TOUR: 16TH - 28TH AUGUST 2020

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13 DAY SOLOS TOUR: 16TH - 28TH AUGUST 2020

Day 5 - Thursday 20th August 2020 MADURAI (B,D)Today,wewalkthroughtheAlleysofMaduraiveryearlyinthemorningtodiscoverthelocallifeoftheoldestcityofSouthIndia.Duringourwalk,wewillseehowpeoplestarttheirdaywithavarietyofactivities.HousewivesdrawingKoalaminfrontoftheirhomestobringprosperity,milkingofcows,streetvendorssellingtheirvegetables,herbsandfoodisatreattowatch.Wholesalemarkets,wherefruitsandvegetablesfromdifferentpartsofSouthIndiaareboughtandsoldwillbeexperiencedduringthewalk.WewillalsopassthroughsomesandalwoodshopsandclimbuptooneofthetallestbuildingsinthevicinitytogetapanoramicviewofMadurai.Duringthewalkyouwillalsogettotastesomelocalfood(tea/snacksetc)andfinallythewalkwillendwithatraditionalSouthIndianbreakfast.AfterbreakfastenjoysometouringofMadurai,includingMeenakshiTempleandTirumalaiNayakMahal.Thiseveningwetakepartintheceremony‘BedtimeoftheGods’attheMeenakshiTemple.ThisisacolourfulprocessioninwhichtheimageofShivaiscarriedandaccompaniedbymusicians,templesingersandpriestsfromhisshrine.Thisceremonyisworthwitnessing!

§ Accommodation: Your own Standard Room at the ‘Fortune Pandiyan Hotel’ (4.5 star)

Day 6 - Friday 21st August 2020 MADURAI- MUNNAR (B, D)AfterbreakfastwewilltakethebreathtakinglybeautifulscenicdrivetoMunnar.Thisisthequeenofhillstationsandislocatedattheconfluenceofthreemountainstreams.TheregioninandaroundMunnarvariesinheightfrom1,450-2,695metersabovesealevel.MunnarhasthehighestpeakinSouthIndia.In1870,thePoonjarChiefleasedout588sq.kms.toJDMunro,aScottishteaplanter.MunnarsoonbecamethefavoredSummerresortoftheBritishrulersinthecolonialdays.TodayMunnarhasanunendingexpanseofteaplantations-pristinevalleysandmountains-exoticspeciesoffloraandfaunainitswildsanctuariesandforests,alongwiththearomaofspicesinthecoolair.OnarrivalinMunnar,transfertoyourhotelandrelaxfortheeveningatyourmountainresort.

§ Accommodation: Your own Green Tea room at ‘Fragrant Nature Resort’ (5 star)

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Day 7 - Saturday 22nd August 2020 MUNNAR (B, D) Todayweenjoyawalkingtourthroughtheexpansiveteagardens.Delightinthestunningbeautyoftheteaestates,astapleoftheregion.NextwevisittheTeaMuseum.ItisthefirstofitskindinIndia.Theaimofthismuseumistoshowcasethegrowthofteaplantationsandanyonevisitingwillgetaclearpictureofhowlaboriousteaprocessingreallyis!

§ Accommodation: Your own Green Tea room at ‘Fragrant Nature Resort’ (5 star)

Day 8 - Sunday 23rd August 2020 MUNNAR- PERIYAR (B, D)AfterbreakfastwedrivetoPeriyarNationalPark.ItissituatedinthehillsoftheWesternGhats,withthecentrepiecebeingthe5,500-hectarePeriyarLake.Alongthefringesofthelakearemarshyareaswithtallgrasslands.Thisisoneoftherichesthabitatsoflargemammals,asitprovidesbothexcellentcoverandnourishmentintheformofsucculentgrasses.Periyarisaveritableparadiseofelephants.HerdsofplayfulwildelephantscanbeseennearthePeriyarLake,theirfavoritehauntforfrolickinginthewater.IntheafternoonwetakeaboatridethroughthePeriyarTigerReserve.Onthisscenicjourneywe’lllearnabouttherichbiodiversityofthearea.Itisefficientlymanagedandstillboastsmanyendangeredfloraandfauna.Keepyoureyespeeledforelephants,wildboarandsambardeerbythewater’sedge.Theupperdeckisalwaysbestforwildlifeviewingwhentakingaboatcruise!

§ Accommodation: Your own Patio Room at ‘The Elephant Court’ hotel (4 star)

Day 9 - Monday 24th August 2020 PERIYAR - KERALA BACKWATERS (B, D)Afterbreakfastwe’llvisitsomelocalspiceplantations.Understandhowthespicesareusedineverydaycookingthroughouttheworldandhowtheyaregrown,harvested,andprocessedbeforetheyfindtheirwaytoyourlocalsupermarket.Enjoyafascinatingvisittoseveralneighbouringspiceplantationsaswellassmaller-scalespicegardenswhereownersareproudoftheirabilitytoadapttoorganicfarmingmethods.Thevisitalsoprovidesyouwithafirsthandideaofthewonderfulworldofspicesandtheirhistory,cultivation&medicinalvalues.LatertodaywedrivetotheBackwatersJettytoboardourhouseboat.Keralaisblessedwithauniquefeaturecalledthebackwaters.Theseareformedbytheaccumulationofseawateratthebeach.Asthewavesmovedtoandfro,theymadetheirwaytearingthegroundandformingbackwaters.Thebackwatersareessentiallyinlandlakesconnectedbyanetworkofcanals.ThebestwaytoenjoytheKeralabackwatersistotakeacruiseonaKettuvallam.

§ Accommodation: Your own cabin while on board the houseboat

13 DAY SOLOS TOUR: 16TH - 28TH AUGUST 2020

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Day 10 - Tuesday 25th August 2020 KERALA BACKWATERS/ALLEPPY - MARARIKULAM (B, L)ThismorningweenjoybreakfastonboardtheHouseboat,whilecruisingthegorgeousbackwaters.Mid-morningwewilldisembark,drivetoAlleppeytownandtakeaguidedheritagewalk.Wewillpassbysomechurches,templesandamosqueandwillfinallyendthewalkwithadeliciousfeastatalocalfamily’shome.AfterlunchwewilldrivetoMararikulamandcheckintoourbeachresort.Theremainderofthedayisyourstoexplorethebeachandsurroundsatleisure.

§ Accommodation: Your own Garden Villa at the ‘Marari Beach Resort’ (5 star)

Day 11 - Wednesday 26th August 2020 MARARIKULAM (B, D)Afterbreakfast,thedaywillbeentirelyyourstoenjoythestunningsea-sidevillageatleisure.Seton30acresofgardens,withcoconutgroves,lilyponds,fruittrees,abutterflygardenandalargeorganicfarm,youarewelcometowanderaroundandexploreasyouwish.Thereisalsoaswimmingpool,dailyyogasessionsonthebeach,acookingschoolandAryvedicSpa.Tonightthegroupwillcometogetherfordinner.

§ Accommodation: Your own Garden Villa at the ‘Marari Beach Resort’ (5 star)

Day 12 - Thursday 27th August 2020 MARARIKULAM- COCHIN (B, D)Afterbreakfast,wedrivetoCochinandtakeawalkaroundtheFortCochinarea.ThiswalkingtourgivesyouaglimpseintoCochin’srichhistoryandheritage,showcasingthemixedDutch,Portuguese,BritishandJewishinfluencesthatmakethecityunique.Duringthetour,wewillvisittheoldquarterofFortKochi,exploringthequaintstreetsofthiscityonfoot.We’llalsovisitFortKochi’sseasidepromenade,andgetaglimpseofdailylifeinKochi.There’salsothechancetoseethehugefishingnets(Cheenavala)thataredistinctlyuniquetoCochinandChina!AwholestretchofthecoastalongFortKochiandVypeenaredottedwiththesenets.WealsovisittheDutchPalaceandJewishSynagoguebeforethisevening’sKathakalidance.WitnessthestrengthandvigoroftheKathakalidancedrama,astheall-maledancersenactepisodesfromgreatIndianepics.Theirextremelystylizedgestures,elaboratemake-up,masksandthesplendidcostumesrecreateanincomparablesenseofpageantry.AfterwardsweallgatherforourfarewelldinnerinSouthernIndia.

§ Accommodation: Your own Superior Room at the ‘Holiday Inn, Cochin’ (5 star)

Day 13 - Friday 28th August 2020 COCHIN DEPARTURE (B)Afterbreakfast,youwillbetransferredtotheCochinInternationalAirportintimeforyourflighthome,oronwardsforfurtheradventures!

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13 DAY SOLOS TOUR: 16TH - 28TH AUGUST 2020

NEED MORE INFORMATION? CONTACT THE TEAM: (Phone: 1300 55 45 01 (AUS) or 0800 895 145 (NZ) Email: team@twosacrowd.com.au

ABOUTTWO’SACROWD:Weareanawardwinningtourcompanyexclusivelydedicatedtotheneedsofsolotravellers.AtTwo’saCrowd,singleandsolotravellershaveaccesstofantasticitinerariesatgreatpriceswithouteverfeelinglikeathirdwheeltosomeoneelse’sprivategetaway.Ourtravellersenjoythebestofbothworlds:privatetime,personalisedattention,lowsinglesupplements,aswellasthe

camaraderieoflike-mindedtravellers.ForyourpeaceofmindweareATASaccredited(NoA13850).Ourcommitmentistomakesolotravelmoreenjoyableandaffordable.

Terms & Conditions: • Prices are per person and based on sole use rooms throughout • Pricing correct at May 2019 and is subject to change until paid in full. • Refer to our website www.twosacrowd.com.au for full terms and conditions. ©2019 Travel Passion Pty Ltd | ABN 32 140 754 856 trading as Two’s a Crowd.

Two’s a Crowd and the disk logo are registered trademarks of Travel Passion Pty Ltd.Issued: 13/05/2019

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Tour Inclusions:§ Allguidingandexperiencesasperdetaileditinerary

§ Two’saCrowdTourHostaccompaniesgroupthroughout.

§ Accommodationatlistedhotels(orsimilar)inyourownroomwithdailybreakfasts.

§ Alltransportasmentionedbycomfortable,air-conditionedvehicle.

§ AllairporttransferswithEnglishspeakingguide.

§ Mealsasperitinerary(B=breakfasts,L=lunchesandD=dinners).

§ Allentrancefeesasdetailedinitinerary.

§ Englishspeakingguidethroughout.

§ Tipsandgratuities.

§ Maximumgroupsizeof14(plusguideandTwo’saCrowdTourHost)

§ StandardCHITravelInsurancePolicy.Additionalpremiummaybepayableifover69years,haveanexistingmedialconditionorwishtoextendyourtravellingdates(underwrittenbyAllianz).

Tour Exclusions:§ Internationalflightsandtaxes.

§ Personalexpenses.

§ Visas(Indianvisarequired.Two’saCrowdcanadviseontheprocess)

§ Servicesandmealsifnotmentionedinitinerary.

§ Alldrinks,includingwater,softdrinkandalcoholonallincludedoroptionalexcursions.

§ Laundry,telephonecallsandexpenditureofapersonalnature.

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TOUR PRICE: A$4,955 PLUS INTERNATIONAL AIRFARES AND TAXESTOUR DATES: 16TH - 28TH AUGUST 2020

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13 DAY SOLOS TOUR: 16TH - 28TH AUGUST 2020