A former trading post along the Silk Route, the old quarter of Colombo offers you the fabulous sight of its picturesque streets. The city was known to Arab, Persian and Chinese traders as early as the 8th century and this former village, nestled between two dunes, was a trading post on the mythical Spice Route. Today the economic capital of Sri Lanka, the city offers picture-postcard scenery with its beaches stretching languorously along the south-western coast of the country. Here the sand dazzles you and the sea invites you to dream...

Capital of the State of Kerala, Trivandrum boasts a rich and colorful past. Constructed on seven hills, the “green city of India”, as Gandhi called it, is home to sumptuous Victorian buildings, vestiges of British colonization. You will also be able to admire superb examples of traditional architecture, such as Padmanabhapuram Palace. A former residence of Kerala princes, this elegant wooden palace from the 16th century is composed of three levels evoking the shape of a Far Eastern pagoda. Entering and roaming its maze of galleries, halls, and corridors is like plunging into the lavish life of the Travancore kings.

The following optional excursions will be available for an additional charge: Kuthiramalika Palace & Napier Museum.

An important port in the South-West of India, Cochin (Kochi) is one of the most beautiful on the Malabar Coast where the scent of cardamom mingles with cloves. It was here that Vasco de Gama disembarked over 500 years ago. But how many Phoenicians, Greeks, Arabs and Romans dropped anchor before him in the turquoise waters of the Arabian Sea? So many nations, at a time when pepper from Malabar was almost as precious as gold, left these shores laden with precious spices. Today, the city, a surprising metropolis with multiple identities, has a rich cultural and natural heritage combining former colonial residences, ancestral fishing methods and charming landscapes in the backwaters.

The following optional excursions will be available for an additional charge: Dutch & Jewish Heritage, Harbour Cruise & Kathakali Performance, Life In Viakom, Alleypey Backwaters Cruise By Houseboat.

After the capital Bangalore, New Mangalore is the second-largest city in the state of Karnataka. The “gateway of Karnataka” was governed by several great powers before finally being annexed by the British in 1799. The city is characterized by its hilly valleys crossed by streams, its coconut trees and its buildings with red clay roofs. You’ll be able to discover the region’s fine artisanal traditions by visiting the Pilikula crafts village: pottery, weaving, woodwork, foundry, sculpture on wood and stone, oil processing, rice flaking, net weaving and jasmine cultivation.

The following optional excursions will be available for an additional charge: Artisans Village.

Mormugao is a sub-district of South Goa located in the state of Goa, in India. This is where the state’s main maritime port is to be found. Renowned around the world for its climate, the beauty of its beaches, its rice paddies and its waterfalls, Goa will surprise you with the cultural and religious heritage of its old town. It has a great many 16th- and 17th-century churches, making up a UNESCO World Heritage Site, including the Basilica of Bom Jesus but also Hindu temples and mosques. The Goa Chitra Museum, Goa’s main ethnographic museum, is also worth a visit.

The following optional excursions will be available for an additional charge: Churches Of Old Goa, Ethnographic Museum & Portuguese Mansion, Farniente On Goan Beach.

During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness center. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

Diu, a small Indian fishing village located at the far east of the island of that name, off the coast of the Kathiawar peninsula, in Gujarat, is known in particular for its Portuguese heritage, such as its fortress and its white churches. An important trading center in the 14th and 16th centuries, and a Portuguese trading post until 1961, the town has conserved a unique atmosphere. Its beauty and authenticity will make you want to go for a walk or spend a moment relaxing on the beach. The famous Diu Fortress, surrounded by the sea, is well worth a visit.

The following optional excursions will be available for an additional charge: Diu City Tour.

Mumbai, a fascinating city located on the Arabian Sea, will give you a real immersion in Hindu culture. You will be able to discover the Elephanta Caves that are home to a collection of rock art typical of the cult of Shiva. Don’t miss out on visiting the Gandhi Museum and House, dedicated to the memory of the man who played a vital role in the emancipation and independence of India, or the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station (formerly known as Victoria Terminus), the finest example of Victorian architecture in India. In the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya Museum, you will find very fine collections of sculptures, miniatures, and portraits of the man who would become King George V.

The following optional excursions will be available for an additional charge: Culture Of Mumbai, Caves Of Elephantas, Mumbai Masalas.

Disembark after breakfast.