Splendors of India with Sri Lanka & the Maldives
« All Odyssey (ZE) cruise options
- Day 1 Mumbai
- Day 2 Mumbai / Embark Odyssey
- Days 3-4 Marmagao (Goa)
- Day 5 Mangalore
- Days 6-7 Kochi (Cochin)
- Day 8 Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), India
- Day 9 Colombo, Sri Lanka / Kandy
- Day 10 Galle
- Day 11 At Sea
- Days 12-14 Uligamu, Maldives / Utheemu Island / Baa Atoll / Olhahali Island
- Day 15 Male / Disembark
| Dates | Deck + Cabin Type | ||||||
| Category 1/ A-Deck | Category 2/ Main | Category 3/ Main | Category 4/ Lido | Category 5/ Bridge | Category 6/ Balcony Suite | Owners Suite | |
- Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double occupancy. Request the Twin Share Program where you are matched with a cabin mate of the same gender. Even if a cabin mate is not found for you, no single supplement will be charged.
-Cabins are available for single occupancy between 1.6-1.7 times the double occupancy rate. The supplement for a suite is 2 times the shared rate.
Deposit & Payment -Cabins are available for single occupancy between 1.6-1.7 times the double occupancy rate. The supplement for a suite is 2 times the shared rate.
Day 1 Mumbai
Arrive in Mumbai and transfer to the exquisite Taj Mahal Palace Hotel for a morning at leisure. This afternoon enjoy an orientation tour of this bustling city. In the former British fort area, see elegant colonial buildings such as the Gothic Victoria Terminus railway station, and the Prince of Wales Museum. We drive along famed Marine Drive, passing Chowpatty Beach, to Malabar Hill with its superb views, parks, and Hanging Gardens. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 2 Mumbai / Embark Odyssey
Board local boats at the doorstep of the India Gateway triumphal arch monument for a ride across the bay to visit Elephanta Island. This World Heritage Site has caves with elaborately carved depictions of the Hindu god Shiva in his various manifestations as destroyer, creator, and preserver. Views of Mumbai’s skyline from the bay are superb. This afternoon embark the Odyssey.
Days 3-4 Marmagao (Goa)
Marmagao’s Portuguese heritage commenced with the establishment of a trading colony in 1510, led by explorer and later viceroy, Vasco da Gama. The successful spice-trading colony endured for centuries, and today its colonial remnants lend a European charm—cobblestoned lanes, whitewashed Catholic churches, and balconied, tile-roofed homes. Explore the distinctive churches, museum, and convent of Old Goa. Visit a traditional Goan home for a cooking demonstration and enjoy a lunch of delectable local cuisine. Enjoy time at leisure to wander through the old Portuguese district of Fontainhas in the small capital of Panjim.
Day 5 Mangalore
This morning drive through the countryside surrounding Mangalore, a pleasant landscape of rolling hills dotted with tea, coffee, and cashew nut plantations. Visit Karkala’s monolithic Gomasteshwara Statue, dedicated to a Jain saint. Then visit a cashew processing plant followed by a lunch of local specialties at a rural pineapple farm.
Days 6-7 Kochi (Cochin)
Your leisurely two-day exploration of Kochi reveals this delightful community’s mélange of international influences. Drive past Portuguese houses to the Anglican St. Francis Church and the Dutch Palace (Mattancherry). Stroll through the bustling fish market to view the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets that grace the beaches and browse the colorful shops. To better explore this maze of islands and waterways, board local houseboats for a cruise through Kochi’s backwaters where you may spot locals engaged in toddy topping and fish farming. In the evening enjoy a performance of Kathakali classical dance on board your ship.
Day 8 Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), India
Located near India’s southern tip, Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala is a pedestrian-friendly town spread out over seven hills. Today visit the village of Pongumoode and its surrounding rubber plantations where you will witness the various stages of rubber processing. You will also enjoy a Kalari Payattu demonstration, Kerala’s ancient form of martial arts, and have time to stroll among the colorful fishing boats lining the shore.
Day 9 Colombo, Sri Lanka / Kandy
This morning disembark in the bustling city of Colombo for your excursion into the highlands of Sri Lanka, passing through lush, rolling countryside dotted with tea plantations. Visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage and the Botanical Gardens before arriving in Kandy to explore the stunning Temple of the Tooth which houses the tooth of Buddha. This World Heritage Site was originally part of the Royal Palace complex of the Kandyan Kingdom and is one of the holiest places of worship and pilgrimage for Buddhists around the world. Return to Colombo to reboard the Odyssey for dinner and overnight.
Day 10 Galle
Galle’s historic district is one of the best preserved examples of a European-built fortified city in south Asia, reflecting both colonial and South Asian architectural styles. This morning enjoy a tour of this charming city and visit the Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Art Museum; and Galle Fort, a World Heritage Site, built by the Dutch in the 16th century. Driving along the coast, keep an eye out for the iconic fishermen of Koggala, who perch precariously on stilts in the surf. Return to the ship for lunch as you sail for the Maldives.
Day 11 At Sea
Spend a relaxing day at sea as your lecturers introduce you to the heritage and natural wonders of the magical Maldives.
Days 12-14 Uligamu, Maldives / Utheemu Island / Baa Atoll / Olhahali Island
Arrive at Uligamu, the northernmost island of the Maldives, in the early morning. Superb snorkeling and diving are hallmarks of the area and the underwater topography of the region is fascinating — a dramatic landscape of thilas, pinnacles and submerged coral structures enveloped in brilliant corals and sea fans, and kandus, deep channels that run between atoll and coral-terraced reef. Over the next three days, discover the special, lesser-visited places in the atolls north of Male.
Step ashore on Utheemu, the most famous of the northern Maldives, a cultural treasure trove and the birthplace of a 16th-century sultan who fought to drive out the occupying Portuguese. The Baa Atoll, made up of about 50 islands, offers rich biodiversity including large mangroves and unique ring-shaped reef forms known as faru. Recently designated as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, large numbers of manta rays, hawksbill turtles, and frigatebirds can be found here. Serene Olhahali Island is covered in lush vegetation and boasts broad white sand beaches and one of the finest wide lagoons in the region.
Day 15 Male / Disembark
Disembark this morning for a sightseeing tour of Male. Check in to day rooms at your hotel and enjoy lunch. The remainder of the day and evening are at your leisure. After dinner at your hotel, transfer to the airport for your independent overnight flight.
Itinerary Notes
INCLUDED: Accommodations in the hotels and on board the Odyssey as outlined in the itinerary; all onboard meals; all group meals on land; air from Chennai/Madurai; group transfers; services of the expedition staff, including lectures, briefings, slide/film shows; all group activities and excursions; landing and port fees; $50,000 of emergency sickness/accident medical expenses and $75,000 in evacuation insurance;* all gratuities. Pre-extension includes all of the above, and air for Jaipur/Chennai.NOT INCLUDED: All air transportation (except as listed above); excess baggage charges; airport arrival and departure taxes; transfers for independent arrivals and departures; passport and/or visa fees; accident/baggage/cancellation insurance; items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar charges, alcoholic beverages, e-mail/Internet/fax/telephone charges.
Deposit & Payment
Initial deposit is 30% cruise cost, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card. We accept Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, and Discover. Alternatively, you can send a check to our Missoula, Montana, office or register online at: https://www.adventure-life.com/forms/fourways.php
Final payment is due 130 days prior to departure.
Final payment by bank transfer, check or Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or Amex.
Booking last minute? No problem! Please contact one of our trip planners, and we can get you on your way if booking less than 130 days prior to departure.
Click here to see a copy of our Terms and Conditions.
Cancellation Policy
| Days Prior to departure | Fee |
|---|---|
| 120 days or more | $950 per person |
| 119-60 days | 55% cruise cost |
| 59-0 days | 100% cruise cost |
Odyssey (ZE)
- Ship Highlights
- Passengers : 110
One of the finest adventure ships afloat, the Odyssey is a 110-passenger luxury expedition vessel, ideally suited for cruising in off-the-beaten-path locales. On all Odyssey expeditions, guests have access to a fleet of Zodiacs, which allows remote landings anywhere nature or curiosity dictates.
All cabins on a Clipper Odyssey cruise have an ocean view, safe, minibar, individually controlled heat/air conditioner, in-room music system, and sitting area with sofa. Beds can be configured for twin or queen-size sleeping arrangements, and all cabins have an en suite bathroom complete with shower and small bathtub. In the comfort of their cabin, passengers can track the progress of their expedition on the Global Positioning System broadcast—a highlight of a Odyssey voyage for adventure-minded guests.
Additional facilities include a gourmet kitchen featuring American and international cuisine, dining room, lounge, small library and gym, outdoor pool, and gift shop. An elevator services all passenger cabin decks.
A fleet of Zodiac landing craft can be launched in minutes to take passengers ashore in places where no infrastructure exists. The vessel is equipped with state-of-the-art satellite navigation and communication equipment including telephone, fax, and email.
An outdoor swimming pool, dedicated jogging track, and two sun decks offer ample opportunities for outdoor recreation. Inside, the spacious public areas of the ship include two lounges, a small library, and a single seating dining room.
An experienced cruise staff, physician, and onboard lecturers accompany all voyages to enhance the passengers’ enjoyment of the places visited.
All meals are prepared to order on board. The ship's chefs, graduates of the finest American culinary schools, combine the highest quality American ingredients with the influences and spices of the places the Odyssey visits. The resulting "fusion cuisine" provides a taste of the destinations visited.
| Cabins | |
|---|---|
 | Category 1/ A-Deck A Deck, Outside Double Cabin with sitting area, portholes. Approx. 185 sqft |
 | Category 2/ Main Forward Main Deck, Outside Double Cabin with sitting area and a window. Approx. 175 sqft |
| Category 3/ Main Main Deck, Outside Double Cabin with sitting area and a window. Approx. 175 sqft |
 | Category 4/ Lido Lido Deck, Outside Double Cabin with sitting area and a window. Approx. 175 sqft |
 | Category 5/ Bridge Bridge Deck, Outside Double Cabin with sitting area and a window. Approx. 230 sqft |
 | Category 6/ Balcony Suite Bridge Deck, Outside Suite with private veranda. Approx. 230 sqft |
 | Owners Suite Bridge Deck, Outside Suite with separate bedroom and private veranda. Approx. 310 sqft |
