In a journey that truly embodies the mind, spirit and soul, Latitude 33 has released an exquisite itinerary through some of the world’s most exotic destinations including Singapore, Sri Lanka and India.
The luxury travel specialist’s exclusive 22-night Raffles, Tea Plantations and Golden Triangle tour, limited to just 20 guests, commences on 3 January 2021 with a spectacular itinerary that incorporates a stay at Singapore’s iconic Raffles Hotel, followed by 4 nights exploring Sri Lanka’s Galle and Colombo, an 8-night cruise onboard Ponant’s stunning Le Laperouse from Colombo to Mumbai, and finishes with a tour of India’s famed Golden Triangle staying exclusively at Oberoi Hotels.
Arriving in Singapore on 3 January 2021, your epic journey begins in sublime style, with a 2-night stay at the iconic 19th-century Raffles Hotel Singapore, recently reopened after an extensive renovation. Here you can experience the charms of one of Asia’s most ethnically diverse lively cities, with its sensational shopping, cultural and gastronomic hubs dotted throughout, including a welcome dinner and optional city tour, before flying on to Colombo on 5 January 2021.
Spend a night at the Sri Lankan capital’s newest 5-star luxury hotel, the Shangri-La Colombo, and enjoy a guided tour of the city, with its many museums, parks, beautiful Buddhist temples and fine restaurants. From here travel further south for 2 nights staying at the charming Le Grand Galle. Nestled on a clifftop, overlooking the Indian Ocean, the hotel is the ideal base from which to explore the historic Galle Fort district, a UNESCO World Heritage site which bears testimony to the town’s Portuguese and Dutch heritage. Wander through its rambling lanes for a guided tour of the historic Dutch Fort, past imposing colonial buildings, ancient mosques and churches, grand mansions and museums, leaving plenty of time to browse its many quirky boutiques and stylish cafes, plus time for other optional activities including whale watching on a private catamaran, or visits to a Tea Factory or Cinnamon plantation.
Returning to Colombo on 8 January 2021, spend one more night at the Shangri-La Colombo, before embarking on the next phase of your journey – an 8-night cruise onboard Le Laperouse to India’s Mumbai. The first of 6 new Explorer Class expedition ships from award-winning cruise company, PONANT, Le Laperouse debuted in 2018. Catering for just 184 passengers, the ship combines sleek and attractive Scandinavian design with French flair, its 92 elegant all-balcony staterooms and suites embodying the cruiseline’s signature blend of refinement, intimacy and comfort. Add in a wealth of mouth-watering dining options, Zodiac rafts, a heated infinity pool, and elegant and inviting lounges, and the ship is sure to impress!
En route, cruise highlights include stopovers in Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala State and India’s ‘green city’, home to ornate Victorian buildings and the breathtaking Padmanabhapuram Palace; the beautiful South-West port of Cochin on India’s Malabar Coast where the scent of cardamom mingles with cloves; and Mangalore with its plentiful beaches, sacred temples, and historic sights. Experience Goa, with its intriguing mix of traditional Indian, Portuguese and Dutch influences, and the coastal town of Diu, first constructed by the Portuguese in the mid 16th century after a truce with the Sultan of Gujarat, before arriving in Mumbai on 16 January 2021 and a chance to visit the Elephanta Caves, sacred to the cult of Shiva, the Gandhi Museum and the elaborate Victorian-era House Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station.
Farewell Le Laperouse on 17 January for the last leg of your journey – an 8-night tour of India’s Golden Triangle exploring India’s Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan provinces. Spend your first 2 nights staying at the incomparable Oberoi Mumbai. Here, you can uncover the colonial heritage of the world’s most populous city, visiting the historic Fort Mumbai, the district of Kala Ghoda renowned for its Victorian gothic architecture and Churchgate Station, home to the Six Sigma rated Mumbai Dabbawalas. Next up is a 2-night stay at Oberoi Rajvilas on the outskirts of the beautiful Pink City of Jaipur and a chance to take in a private tour of the residential areas of the Palace (not open to the general public), Hawa Mahal – the ethereal Palace of the Winds, and the historic Amber Fort. From here, travel to Agra, where you can soak up the splendour of the Taj Mahal from your room at Oberoi Amarvilas, the only hotel directly overlooking one of the world’s most iconic sites, taking time to visit the dramatic red sandstone palace of Fatehpur Sikri along the way. Your final stop is a 2-night stay at Oberoi New Delhi, where you will have time to visit Humayan’s Tomb and the city’s striking Sir Edwin Lutyens-designed Parliament House and Secretariat buildings, and take in a street tour of Old Delhi, before preparing for your flight home on 25 January 2021.
Latitude 33’s Raffles, Tea Plantations and Golden Triangle journey starts from $19,599* per person twin share, including return international economy class airfares from Australia, all accommodation, return airport transfers, all domestic flights within India, Michelin-inspired cuisine and select fine wines, champagnes and premium spirits and specialty coffees onboard Le Paperouse, all transfers and baggage handling and Latitude 33 Tour host.
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