Raffles, Tea Plantations and Golden Triangle

Welcome to Singapore! On arrival, you'll be met and transferred to your hotel to spend the evening at your leisure. Opened in 1887, Raffles Singapore is the flagship property of Raffles Hotels & Resorts and is one of the few remaining great 19th century hotels in the world.

Raffles Hotel

​After breakfast, take an optional introductory tour to discover the lovely island state of Singapore. Tonight we will gather for our welcome dinner.

Raffles Hotel (B-D)

This morning we will transfer to Singapore Airport for our flight to Colombo.

On arrival into Colombo we will be met by our VIP meet and Greet service and transferred to our hotel for the evening, Shangri-la Colombo.

In the evening we venture out to discover this fascinating city on a guided tour of Colombo and its backstreets.

Shangri-La Colombo (B)

This morning after breakfast we will transfer to Galle, a Unesco World Heritage Site. This historic city is a delight to explore on foot, an endlessly exotic old trading port blessed with imposing Dutch-colonial buildings, ancient mosques and churches, grand mansions and museums. Wandering its rambling lanes you'll pass stylish cafes, quirky boutiques and impeccably restored hotels owned by local and foreign artists, writers, photographers and designers.

This afternoon we will have an included tour of the Dutch Fort.

Le Grand Galle (B-D)

Today is at your leisure.

You can wander out to explore the beautiful old city on foot or you may want to immerse yourself further with some activities such as a half day whale watching on a private catamaran, a visit to a modern day Tea Factory or a visit to a Cinnamon plantation

Le Grand Galle (B)

Today after breakfast we will transfer back to Colombo. On arrival in Colombo the rest of the afternoon is at your leisure.

Shangri-La Colombo (B)

Today we bid farewell to Sri Lanka as we board one of the newest additions to Ponant's fleet, Le Laperouse.

Le Laperouse (B-L-D)

Discover Galle, one of Sri Lanka’s oldest cities. Thanks to its commercial port, from which were exported spices and precious stones, Galle was once the country’s most major city. Colonised by the Portuguese and later by the Dutch, today it still bears traces of this colonial past. 

Le Laperouse (B-L-D)

During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. 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 PONANT 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.

Le Laperouse (B-L-D)

Rasdhoo is one of the smallest atolls in the Maldives. Once occupied by Buddhist communities, the atoll is made up of five islands, two of which are uninhabited. Sitting at the heart of a stunning lagoon protected by a coral reef, this atoll is truly a paradise for lovers of the underwater world. It is an ideal location for scuba diving and snorkelling, offering the possibility of observing species that are emblematic of the Maldives, such as hammerhead sharks, rays, and turtles.

Le Laperouse (B-L-D)

As your ship sails through the heart of the Maldives, discover one of the wildest lands in the archipelago: Baa Atoll. Listed as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the site shelters particularly remarkable fauna and flora, as well as one of the largest groups of coral reefs in the Indian Ocean. A real microcosm of the natural treasures of the Maldives, Baa Atoll will also offer you its superb sandy beaches stretching along a lagoon of turquoise waters.

Le Laperouse (B-L-D)

Enjoy the sophisticated ambiance of the many beautiful spaces on board Le Laperouse. Attention to detail is what PONANT do best, with each area being considerately and tastefully decorated. You're invited to enjoy your journey with other passengers or relax in total tranquility if you'd prefer to keep to yourself.

Le Laperouse (B-L-D)

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. 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.

Le Laperouse (B-L-D)

Spread over a series of islands interlaced by the Arabian Sea on India’s tropical Malabar Coast, Kochi (long known as Cochin) was once an important center on the ancient spice routes. Today, this uniquely cosmopolitan city reflects cultural and architectural influences of its past – Arabic, Dutch, Portuguese and British – and serves as a gateway to Kerala, home to the mountainous slopes of the Western Ghats, a region legendary for its teas, coffees, spices and wildlife.

Le Laperouse (B-L-D)

The coastal city in South India known as Mangalore, or Mangaluru, is home to a variety of low-key beaches, sacred temples, and historic sights.

Le Laperouse (B-L-D)

Today we stop at the port of Marmugoa (Goa).

With a mix of traditional India as well as Portugese and Dutch influences, the area is a fascinating part of India to explore.

Le Laperouse (B-L-D)

During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. 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 PONANT 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.

Le Laperouse (B-L-D)

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 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. 

Le Laperouse (B-L-D)

Today after breakfast we disembark Le Laperouse where we will be met and transferred to our hotel for our stay at Oberoi Mumbai.

Tonight we will come together with an included dinner.

Oberoi Mumbai (B-D)

This morning after breakfast we will depart the hotel on a half day tour of Mumbai, first visiting the historic Fort Mumbai area as well as the Kala Ghoda area renowned for its Victorian gothic architecture.

We will next proceed to Churchgate station to see the Six Sigma rated Mumbai Dabbawalas. This lunch box delivery service has numerous fans, including Prince Charles and Richard Branson! ​

Oberoi Mumbai (B)

This morning we will be transferred to Mumbai Airport for our onward flight to Jaipur.

Upon arrival in Jaipur we will be met and escorted to our hotel.

The history of the Kingdom of Jaipur can be traced to the 12th century, originally known as Amber, which was also the name of the capital city. Amber came into prominence when the Mughal Emperor Akbar married one of the princesses of Amber in a shrewd matrimonial alliance between the Mughals and the Rajputs. In the 18th century, Raja Sawai Jai Singh, perhaps one of the most brilliant rulers of this period moved the capital from Amber to Jaipur.

The rest of the day will be at your leisure.

Oberoi Rajvilas (B)

Today we will venture out on a Jaipur day tour. Our first stop will be the sprawling City Palace, which is a blend of Mughal and Rajput architecture and where the ex-Royal family still lives in a part of the palace. Included is a private tour of the residential areas of the City Palace not open to the public.

From the City Palace, you will enter the extraordinary Jantar Mantar (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) – the astronomical observatory built by Raja Sawai Jai Singh II. The massive futuristic structures that you will see are actually instruments that are accurate even today.

After lunch, we will visit the fort-palace at Amber (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Amber is one of the finest examples of a fort-palace, built similar in style to the surrounding richly decorated Mughal courts.

From here we will return to the hotel and the rest of the evening will be at leisure.

Oberoi Rajvilas (B)

This morning after breakfast we will drive to Agra, home to the world famous Taj Mahal!

Before arriving at Agra we will visit one of the Mughal Empire’s most inspired creations, Fatehpur Sikri (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Fatehpur Sikri was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar to honor the Saint Salim Chisti who foretold the birth of Akbar’s son and heir. Built entirely in vibrant red sandstone, architecturally it draws its inspiration from Hindu, Persian and Islamic styles.

Later, we continue our drive to Agra and upon arrival will check into our hotel.

This afternoon we will depart the hotel for a sunset tour of the Taj Mahal (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). This stunning mausoleum is a symbol of devotion and dedication and is an expression of the magnificence of Mughal architecture. 

Oberoi Amarvilas (B-L)

This morning we will proceed to the Agra Fort (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). When the Mughal Emperor Akbar established his supremacy in northern India, he began his first architectural venture, rebuilding the Agra Fort as a beautiful fort-palace.

We will then return to our hotel and the rest of the day will be at your leisure.

Oberoi Amarvilas (B)

Early this morning we will have the option of a second visit to the Taj Mahal for a sunrise tour.

After our time at the Taj Mahal we will return to the hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast we will travel to Delhi and upon arrival check in to our hotel.

Delhi, the capital city of India, has been an epitome of India’s history with its succession of glory and disaster and with its great capacity to absorb many cultures and yet remain itself. It is a gem with many facets, some bright and some darkened by age, presenting the course of ‘India’s life and thought during the ages’.

The Oberoi Delhi (B)

This morning we will visit one of the architectural triumphs of the Mughal Empire – Humayun’s Tomb. Humayun’s Tomb is one of the earliest examples of Mughal architecture in India.  Architecturally the mausoleum drew its inspiration from the styles prevalent in Samarkand, Uzbekistan and the design of the Taj Mahal is based on this tomb.

After lunch we will visit the walled city of Old Delhi, the former capital of several empires.

This evening we will have a farewell dinner to mark the end of this wonderful journey.

Oberoi Delhi (B-D)

Today transfer to Delhi Airport for your onward flight.

(B)