100% customisable travel idea
South India this winter After Mumbai, the Andaman Archipelago
India - Mumbai - Andaman Islands - Port Blair - Havelock Island
100% customisable travel idea
India - Mumbai - Andaman Islands - Port Blair - Havelock Island
100% customisable for you
Night on board the aircraft, arrival the next day.
Arrival in Mumbai at night. A bustling metropolis on the shores of the Arabian Sea, the city today known as Mumbai conjures up images of India’s industrial success, the glitz of Bollywood cinema, cricket, and a rich past shaped by strong British influence. A private chauffeur-driven vehicle will be at your disposal for the three days.
Private transfer and accommodation for three nights in the Colaba district, near the legendary Gateway to India. The old colonial house where you'll be staying is located in the heart of the historic centre, close to the entertainment options offered by this lively neighbourhood, yet set back from the noise. The beautifully renovated building blends contemporary style with Mumbai's history and the city's bohemian side. Antique furniture sits alongside custom-made pieces; the shelving takes its inspiration from traditional bookshops, and the upholstery fabrics are vintage saris sourced from local markets. The bonus? Your room will be ready for you as soon as you arrive.
In the itinerary during the day - a visit to the Dharavi slum with one of the locals. Spread over more than 200 hectares of former marshland home to somewhere between 600,000 and one million people, Dharavi is one of the world’s three largest slums. It's an area that was made famous by the award-winning film “Slumdog Millionaire” (2008), and one of the locals will be accompanying you on your visit. An opportunity to discover a “city within the city” with its own economy, it's own shops and it's own challenges.
In your itinerary - tour with a dabbawala. The dabbawalas, whose name in Hindi literally means “one who carries a box”, are essentially a low-tech food delivery network Every day in Mumbai, 2,000 dabbawalas deliver around 200,000 meals. Get an insider look at the intricate “ballet” performed on a daily basis by this small army of men dressed in white as you accompany one of them on his rounds, after watching the goods being loaded onto the train that takes you to Churchgate, where the sorting and distribution of meals takes place. A real, unvarnished dive into the India of today.
In your itinerary - private tour of the colonial neighbourhoods. The tour begins with a stop at the Gateway to India (as it's nearby), then continues to take in the High Court, the Clock Tower, the university and the Flora Fountain. Next will be a stop at Crawford Market and Victoria Terminus station (now called Chhatrapati Shivaji), which, with its turrets and stained glass, looks more like a palace than a railway station. Then it's on to discover Churchgate Station and its famous dabbawalas. Always dressed in white, they deliver meals all over the city. The morning ends with Marine Drive, which stretches along the bay, and Dhobi Ghat, the famous laundry district, where you can watch thousands of arms beating laundry against stone.
Optional - shopping with a personal shopper who'll help guide you through the purchases of your choice.
Private transfer to the airport and flight to Port Blair, the largest city in the Andaman archipelago. No time to linger: from here you'll head straight to the pier, jump on the boat and then it's out to see and off to Havelock Island. Once you've been dropped off at the quay, you'll still have a little way to go before reaching your own little island paradise.
Settle in for four nights at a retreat where rustic cabins are hidden away under the canopy of a vast tropical forest. These are wooden buildings that blend harmoniously into this natural setting. There are a few inconspicuous softly lit paths that take you from the rooms to the restaurant, accompanied by the sounds of the local wildlife. Just a few steps away is a white sand beach lapped by turquoise waters - an irresistible invitation to go for a swim. There's also an excellent restaurant that serves the very freshest of seafood and organic dishes for you to enjoy. Everyone on Havelock books a table there at least once, so you'll feel rather privileged to be staying here.
Tucked away in the east of the Andaman archipelago, Havelock Island stands out as one of the few of the almost 300 islands in the archipelago that welcomes visitors. So be sure to really enjoy this little gem bathed by the waters of the Indian Ocean - you'll have four days to make the most of all the opportunities this Andaman Eden has to offer. A Robinson Crusoe-style adventure amid turquoise waters, heavenly beaches, mangrove forests and lush jungle.
There's so much to see and to experience - daydreaming on those white sands with your toes in the water; while you relax to the hypnotic rhythm of the waves whispering on the sand; greeting the sun god; swimming in the Indian Ocean alongside dugongs, turtles, dolphins and manatees, and exploring the lush greens of the virgin forest and the mangroves.
A gradual return to civilisation with a stopover in Port Blair. The capital of the Andaman Islands, the town became well known during India’s struggle for independence. Private transfer to your hotel when you disembark. You'll be spending your last night in the islands here, in modern, comfortable accommodation overlooking the water. And there's still more to enjoy: views of the sea and the pool from the terrace, an invigorating massage at the spa, a meal cooked in the tandoor, and more.
In your itinerary - the anthropological museum, the Jarawas, the Sentinelese, the Great Andamanese, the Onges - these are the indigenous peoples of the islands, and even today some tribes still live peacefully on a few of the islands that make up the archipelago. Their culture has been developed in harmony with their surroundings - at least as far as we know. The most isolated of these tribes have been known to attack anyone who approaches their island, which is perhaps understandable. For this reason, the artefacts, tools and statues on display at the museum are the only way to get a real sense of their culture.
Private transfer to the island airport and domestic flight to Bengaluru, your destination on the mainland. When you arrive, you'll be taken to your hotel - which is close to the airport - by private transfer. Your urban accommodation has three restaurants, a gym, a swimming pool and a spa. You'll have access to a day-use room so that you can freshen up and rest before your international return flight, which will be at night.
Late evening, transfer to the airport to catch your return flight. Night on board the aircraft, arrival the following day.
This suggested itinerary can be customisable down to the smallest detail, including duration, stops and content. An à la carte menu of experiences is also available to create a journey that reflects who you are.
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