20 DAY TOUR FEBRUARY 5-24, 2014 TOUR ESCORTS: Joanne Homan & Shelly Mercer FEATURING: DELHI JAIPUR TAJ MAHAL IN AGRA COCHIN PERIYAR KUMARAKOM HOUSEBOAT IN ALLEPPEY VARKALA
serene cremation site and Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India. Next, the Bahai Lotus Temple, built in the shape of a lotus flower, constructed of marble, cement, dolomite and sand. We finish the day with a drive through the Diplomatic Enclaves to see the various High Commissions, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Central Secretariat Buildings, Parliament House and the India Gate. Join us on an unforgettable journey to India. Enjoy the monumental city of Delhi, with its vibrant mix of old and new, teeming bazaars, monuments and stately British boulevards. No tour to India would be complete without a visit to the breathtaking Taj Mahal, considered to be one of the eight wonders of the world. We will also experience the daily lives of the locals as we float through the natural beauty of the Kerala backwaters on a private houseboat. A journey to India is ideal for adventurous travellers looking to discover something new and who are willing SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9 BD to accept and appreciate the cultural differences they will encounter. This is your Day 5 Drive to Agra chance to experience! After breakfast we travel to Agra, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5 Day 1 Departure Day Delhi 3 1 Jaipur 2 2 Agra Today we meet at the airport to begin our adventure to exotic India. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6 INDIA Mumbai Day 2 Connect to Delhi We arrive in Europe and connect to our flight to Delhi, a monumental city with a vibrant mix of old and new. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7 BD Arabian Sea Periyar Cochin Alleppey (Houseboat) 2 11 3 2 Varkala 2 = overnights Indian Ocean Kumarakom Day 3 Arrive Delhi - Afternoon Tour We enjoy a relaxed morning before we begin our tour of the vibrant city of Delhi. We will explore Qutb Minar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS), with a stunning 240 ft minaret, the tallest in the world. The next stop is a visit to Humayun's Tomb (WHS), commissioned by Humayun's first wife Bega Begum. We conclude today's touring with a visit to the Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple. This temple is considered to be one of the biggest and most intricate religious places of worship ever constructed. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8 BD Day 4 Full Day Sightseeing Delhi Our adventure begins in Old Delhi, the Mughal capital established by Shah Jahan in 1638. At the famous Red Fort (WHS) (photo stop) we trade our bus for bicycle rickshaws and weave through the warren of crooked congested alleys off Chandni Chowk, one of India's oldest and busiest bazaars. We'll also visit Raj Ghat, Mahatma Gandhi's home of the famous Taj Mahal (WHS). Enjoy a relaxing night at the hotel and rest for our early morning start. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10 B Day 6 Full Day Sightseeing Agra Our day begins at dawn with a Tonga (horse cart) ride to the legendary Taj Mahal (WHS), where we'll be mesmerized by its ethereal beauty as the sun rises. We'll return to the hotel for a hearty breakfast. Later we'll depart for the Agra Fort (WHS), with imposing walls of red sandstone. The fort is almost 2 miles long and contains palaces, audience halls and mosques. This evening we see craftsmen demonstrate Marble Inlay work and learn about the art of Henna by a professional Indian woman, with the option of getting a beautiful design done for ourselves. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 BLD Day 7 Drive Agra to Jaipur After breakfast we journey toward Jaipur, with a stop enroute at the abandoned capital of the Mughal Empire (1570-1586), Fatehpur Sikri (WHS). Akbar built this city to celebrate the birth of his son, and the construction is said to be one of his masterworks. We stop for lunch and a cooking demonstration at Laxmi Vilas Palace. This was originally the Raghunath Niwas Palace and was converted in 1994 to the now famous Laxmi Vilas Palace. Our final stop before reaching Jaipur is Abhaneri and Chand Baoli Step Well, which was built in the 9th century. After checking into our hotel we have a walking tour of the old city.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 BD Day 8 Full Day Sightseeing Jaipur This morning we'll drive a short distance to the Amber Fort and Palace perched on a hillside on the outskirts of town. Upon arrival we'll take an elephant ride to the top. This is a beautiful and well preserved structure, built on four levels and surrounded by ruins, which served as the backdrop for the Mira Nair movie Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love. In the afternoon we return to the city for a look at the grand Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), the City Palace and the impressive Jantar Mantar (WHS), an astronomical observatory built in the early 1700's. This evening we will have a demonstration in the Rajasthani style of dress, and can also try it out for ourselves. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13 BD Day 9 Drive Jaipur to Delhi After breakfast we return to Delhi. After checking into our hotel, the remainder of the afternoon is spent at the fascinating Kingdom of Dreams. This is the ultimate entertainment and leisure destination, which brings to life a blend of India's art, culture, heritage, craft, cuisine and performing arts. We'll enjoy dinner here and a spectacular Bollywood theatre production. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14 BD Day 10 Fly Delhi to Cochin This morning we transfer to the airport for a flight to Cochin, where our tour of South India starts. European influences are instantly apparent in the charming town picturesquely located on a number of islands squeezed between the Arabian Sea and the Kerala backwaters. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15 BD Day 11 Full Day Sightseeing Cochin Today we meander through the old districts of Mattancherry and Fort Cochin where various European influences are most apparent. We'll visit Jew Town, St. Francis Church, the oldest European church in India and the much decorated Santa Cruz Basilica. We will also visit the famous Chinese nets that line the shore of Fort Cochin. In the evening the epic Ramayana comes to life at a Kathakali performance a traditional Keralan dance. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16 BD Day 12 Drive Cochin to Periyar Today we drive into the Cardamom Hills, home to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, a reserve on the Kerala/Tamil Nadu border and surrounded by tea and spice plantations. This afternoon we visit a Plantation and explore a garden where spices and other aromatic plants are grown. We will learn about their use in the preparation of local cuisine and their medicinal properties. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17 B Day 13 Periyar Today begins early with a cruise on the lake at the heart of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. From the tranquillity of the lake, we enjoy the lush scenery and keep a look out for animals that may come down to the waters edge maybe a family of elephants, wild boar or the magnificent Sambar deer. This evening we enjoy the Kalaripayattu Show, one of the oldest forms of martial arts, originating in ancient South India. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18 BD Day 14 Drive Periyar to Kumarakom This morning we travel south to Kumarakom, visiting beautiful rubber and tea plantations enroute. Kumarakom is a cluster of tiny islands surrounded by a labyrinth of tropical waterways, and is the base for the houseboats to explore the Kerala backwaters. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19 BLD Day 15 Kumarakom to Alleppey - Houseboat After a short drive to Alleppey, we board our houseboats. From the decks, we'll experience the daily lives of the locals. We pass women washing their clothes in the river and farmers bathing their buffalo. View local fishermen and vegetable sellers going house-to-house by boat selling their wares. We drift along and watch as the sun sets over the ever changing scenery before retiring to our cabins to be lulled to sleep by the gently lapping water. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20 BD Day 16 Alleppey to Varkala We disembark the houseboat and drive to Varkala which is home for the next three nights. Varkala is an amazing seaside resort with rocky cliffs and stretches of clear sand that extends down to the Arabian Sea. The blend of cliffs, sand and sea makes Varkala beach an outstanding sight. The sunsets at Varakala Beach are absolutely stunning. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21 BD Day 17 Beach Day A free day to enjoy the hotel facilities that include a swimming pool, jacuzzi, Ayurvedic centre and of course a wonderful beach. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22 BD Day 18 Beach Day Another free day in paradise. If feeling adventurous, we might want to consider a walk or bicycle ride to the famous 2000 year old Janardanaswamy Temple, or maybe stroll along the path that runs the length of the cliff overlooking the beach and sea, bordered by coconut palms, quaint shops and local restaurants. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23 BD Day 19 Travel Day Today we leave Varkala and make our way to Trivandrum for our flight to Mumbai. We have day rooms reserved for our use at a nearby hotel until we return to the airport for our early morning flight. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24 Day 20 Fly Home Our very early morning flight brings us back to Canada, where family and friends are waiting to hear about our exciting adventure. TOUR ACTIVITY LEVEL Active Able to walk 4 km on uneven surfaces such as cobblestone streets and be able to climb stairs or steep inclines unassisted. SPECIAL INCLUSIONS Bicycle Rickshaw ride in Delhi Elephant ride to the Amber Fort Tonga (horse cart) ride to Taj Mahal Rajasthani Style Dress Demonstration Bollywood Theatre Production Kathakali Dance Performance Kalaripayattu Martial Arts Performance Overnight on Houseboat in Kerala Backwaters TOUR ESCORTS Joanne Homan & Shelly Mercer Phone: (403) 238-4090 Toll Free: 1-800-361-8687 Email: joanne@rostad.com Email: shelly@rostad.com PRICES Calgary/Edmonton $6295 Vancouver/Victoria $6295 Regina/Saskatoon $6295 Winnipeg $6245 Halifax $6225 Toronto/Ottawa $6095 Prices from other cities available upon request. Prices are per person based on double occupancy. The supplement for a single rooms is $1630 per person. This tour is not subject to GST/HST. PRICE INCLUDES Return economy class airfare Current airline taxes, fuel surcharges and airport fees ($715) Domestic flights within India First class hotels (and houseboat) First class motorcoach Meals as shown (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner) Professional tour guides Sightseeing tours including entrance fees Luggage handling at hotels Tipping for all included services Visa for India All foreign taxes Rostad Tours travel gift Tour documentation and travel information Not Included: Meals not shown, Beverages, Items of a personal nature, Increases to surcharges, taxes or fees, Insurance.
Tour Conditions & Information RESERVATIONS A deposit of $300.00 per person is required to make a reservation on this tour. This deposit is completely refundable up to 90 days prior to departure. A confirmation of your reservation will be forwarded to you after the deposit is received. FINAL PAYMENT The final payment is due no later than 90 days before departure. If you are joining the tour within 90 days of departure, full payment is required. CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS For payments made by credit card, we reserve the right to have credit card charges processed by the suppliers of travel services such as the airline, cruise line, etc. All credit card payments will be processed in Canadian dollars. SHARED & SINGLE ACCOMMODATION Passengers must indicate at the time of booking whether they want to share a room or if they prefer a single room. Your roommate, if known, should also be indicated. If you do not have a roommate we will attempt to find a suitable travelling companion to share a room with you. If you join the tour more than 150 days prior to departure and we are unable to find a roommate, you will only be charged one-half of the single supplement. If you join the tour less than 150 days prior to departure and we are not able to find a roommate, you will be charged the full single supplement. Triple rooms, while not recommended, can be arranged. RESERVATION CHANGES If you want to change your reservation, such as change your departure city or plan an extended stay, you must submit your request in writing at least 90 days prior to departure. If planning an extension, an additional non-refundable payment may be required in order to reserve flights and other arrangements. Any subsequent changes, cancellations of extension arrangements or changes requested within 90 days of departure are subject to a service fee of $100.00 per person in addition to any fees charged by the various travel suppliers. TOUR PRICE The prices shown are based on currency levels, airfares, and taxes valid as at June 15, 2013 and are subject to change. Once you have paid in full we guarantee that there will be no price increases due to currency exchange fluctuations or airfare increases. FUEL SURCHARGES It has become common practice for airlines, cruise lines and motorcoach companies to apply surcharges due to the volatile price of fuel. These surcharges are included in the price of the tour based on surcharges in effect as at June 15, 2013 and are subject to change. CANCELLATIONS Your deposit is fully refundable for any reason up to 90 days prior to departure. Cancellations after this date are subject to the following cancellation charges: 90 to 61 days prior to departure $ 2000 60 to 31 days $ 3000 30 to 0 days $ 4000 If you cancel, you will receive back all money paid towards the tour less the applicable cancellation fee. The charges apply to the base price of the tour only and do not include cancellation charges for any extra arrangements such as single supplement, accommodation upgrades, additional tours, etc. INSURANCE We recommend that all passengers buy insurance to protect themselves against any possible cancellation charges or out-of-country medical expenses. An all-inclusive policy which has cancellation, hospital/medical and baggage coverage will be offered to Alberta residents prior to making their final payment. For passengers residing outside of Alberta, we will explain how you can obtain our special group rates for travel insurance direct from Reliable Life Insurance. As your deposit is fully refundable until 90 days prior to departure, you do not need to purchase insurance until that date. BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE Tour members are allowed one suitcase per person with the total dimensions not to exceed 60 (i.e. 30 length + 20 height + 10 width) and a maximum weight of 23 kg. Your suitcase will be portered at all hotels but tour members are responsible for their flight bags/carry-on luggage at all times. Rostad Tours accepts no responsibility for the loss of, or damage to, any baggage or any tour member s personal belongings. PASSPORTS A passport is required for all tour participants. Some countries require that your passport to be valid for at least three months and some at least six months past your intended return date. If you do not already have a passport, or if your current passport will expire within this period, apply for your new passport at least 90 days before departure. ITINERARY VARIATIONS Rostad Tours reserves the right to change the itinerary of the tour due to airline schedule changes or any other circumstances beyond our control. Every effort will be made to keep the tour as close as possible to the original itinerary. HEALTH REQUIREMENTS During walking tours you will likely experience uneven ground, cobblestone streets and various amounts of steps or stairs. For your enjoyment, and in fairness to your fellow passengers, you should be in good physical condition, with the ability to stand for reasonable periods of time and walk several kilometres easily. Should you feel a particular excursion may be too strenuous, you are welcome to forego the sightseeing tour and rest or explore on your own. At the time of printing, no inoculations are required for this tour. TOUR DOCUMENTS The tour documents (hotel list, flight itinerary, name tag, etc.) will be sent approximately 30 days prior to departure. Please notify our office in writing if you require any information in advance of this date. 10-3109 Palliser Drive SW, Calgary, AB, Canada T2V 4W5 Toll Free: 1-800-361-8687 Phone: (403) 238-4090 Fax: (403) 238-4063 Email: tours@rostad.com www.rostad.com TOUR MEMBERSHIP Rostad Tours reserves the right to reject any person as a tour member and to expel from the tour any person whose actions are deemed to be detrimental to the enjoyment of the tour by the other passengers. Children 6 years of age and under at the time the tour departs are considered too young to travel on tour. RESPONSIBILITY Rostad Tours Ltd. of Calgary, Alberta act as agents for the various owners or contractors providing hotels, means of transportation or other services. Issuance and acceptance of the tour documents shall be deemed to be consent to the condition that Rostad Tours Ltd. shall not become liable or responsible in any way for any personal or property loss, damage or injury, howsoever caused or arising. In the event that we are forced to cancel a tour due to insufficient registrations, Rostad Tours Ltd. s sole responsibility shall be the refund of all monies paid to Rostad Tours by the tour participant.
PASSENGER REGISTRATION FORM Please complete this form and mail it to the Tour Host or directly To Rostad Tours If paying by credit card, you may also register by phone or fax this form to Rostad Tours PASSENGER INFORMATION Departs: February 5, 2014 India1402 (1): Date of Birth: 19 / / Title Last Name First Name Year/Month/Day (2): Date of Birth: 19 / / Mailing Address : City/Town: Prov/State: Postal Code/Zip: Phone: Home ( ) - Work: ( ) - Email: Type of Accommodation Requested: Twin/Double or Single Departure City: Roommate (if known): If unknown, would you like us to find you a roommate? PRIVACY: Rostad Tours is committed to respecting and protecting your privacy. The main purpose of collecting your personal information is to arrange travel products and services for you. Accordingly, personal information required for this purpose may be shared with airlines, hotels, cruise lines, travel insurance companies, tour operators and other travel-related vendors. It may also be used to provide you with information regarding future travel opportunities. We will not sell or trade your personal information with third parties. Our complete Privacy Policy is available at our website at www.rostad.com/privacy.htm or, if you wish, we can send you a copy via e-mail or by postal mail. PAYMENT INFORMATION Deposit Required (per person): $300x = Total: Deposit is fully refundable until November 07, 2013 Payment Method: Visa Mastercard Cheque (made payable to Rostad Tours) Credit Card # Expires: / Month/Year Cardholder Name: Please note that we reserve the right to have credit card payments processed by third parties such as Cardholder Signature: airlines, cruise lines, etc. Mail with payment to either address below: Joanne Homan 264 Cedarbrae Crescent SW Calgary, AB T2W 1Y4 OR Rostad Tours 10, 3109 Palliser Drive SW Calgary, AB Canada T2V 4W5