ENGLAND TOUR TO INDIA
Prepare for a journey of discovery that will capture your imagination!
Discover India's fascinating culture, history, stunning landscapes and incredible wildlife on a choice of two great cricket tours. An ancient land that has consistently beckoned the spirited traveler, modern India is exhilarating and exhausting and will hit you like a runaway train. This is a nation that is constantly changing and embracing the modern world, yet maintaining the cultures, customs and beliefs of old. Its magic lies in the sheer profusion of peoples and landscapes. A culture aged for centuries and preserved by time itself, India is a kaleidoscope of intoxicating experiences that will dazzle your senses.
We have crafted two enchanting itineraries designed to bring you ‘up close and personal’ to this incredible country. With many years experience we know what is worth putting into an itinerary and what to leave out. When it comes to the cricket, we are delighted to be joined by our popular cricket host Clive Radley.
India is frenetic, brash, vibrant and brilliant, and on just one trip you will hardly scratch the surface of this mesmirising country.
2016-17 Tour Itinerary - Test / One Day / T20
1st TEST | RAJKOT (Gujarat) | 9 -13 November 16 |
2nd TEST | VISHAKAPATNAM | 17-21 November 16 |
3rd TEST | MOHALI (Chandigarh) | 26-30 November 16 |
4th TEST | MUMBAI (Bombay) | 8-12 December 16 |
5th TEST | CHENNAI (Madras) | 16-20 December 16 |
1st ODI | Pune | 15 January 17 |
2nd ODI | Cuttack | 19 January 17 |
3rd ODI | Kolkata | 22 January 17 |
1st T20 | Kanpur | 26 January 17 |
2nd T20 | Nagpur | 29 January 17 |
3rd T20 | Bangalore | 1 February 17 |
Whether you have travelled to India before or are visiting for the first time, this vast and incredible country, its people, landscape and wildlife will astound and enchant you.
You are in safe hands
Sporting Traveller Cricket Tours specialise in superb value, high quality travel, whether you chose to join a small group tour or prefer a fully tailor-made private holiday. Whatever your preference, travel with total confidence as all the air-inclusive holidays we offer are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority - licence number ATOL 5493.
The Social Side
Clive and Linda Radley will escort our tour party for the 3rd, 4th an 5th Tests and host all welcome drinks, cricket forum and tour dinners that are featured in your tour itinerary. In association with experienced agents and a dedicated local escort they will keep the show on the road and ensure everyone has a great time as they travel around India.
Enjoy the small group atmosphere
Enjoy the convenience and companionship of our escorted tours, safe in the knowledge that your hotels, match tickets, sightseeing, functions and excursions have been carefully planned and will be coordinated by an experienced local tour manager. Our cricket holidays are not only about what you'll see and experience... they're also about the people you meet and the great times you share. As well as exploring new and exciting places, one of the best discoveries you'll make is the group spirit and camaraderie of your fellow travellers. Being part of a small group you will quickly make friends with other travellers attracted to this style of holiday ... like-minded people from all walks of life.
Match Tickets
All match tickets are guaranteed as we purchase directly from the home cricket board or their appointed agents. Ticket prices will be added to your booking as soon as prices are confirmed by the host board. Test match tickets are sold to international supporters on a ‘season ticket’ basis, with no refund for unused tickets. One Day tickets are sold on a per match basis. We endeavour to purchase the best available tickets, where possible under cover and in reserved sections of stands.
Sightseeing
We enhance all our tours by including sightseeing that will capture the heart and soul of the regions you are visiting.
Solo Travellers
If you are a solo traveller, rest assured that you’ll be with other like-minded people. On any given departure, you’ll find a mix of couples and friends travelling together, as well as other single travellers. One of the great benefits of our trips is that they allow you to be independent but provide security and company whenever you choose.
Holiday Pricing
All website prices are quoted on a per person basis and based on 2 people sharing a twin/double room in our featured hotels. We show a single traveller supplement that applies if only one person is occupying the room.
Embark on your fascinating adventure throughout India
Few countries offer such variety as India. Exhilirating and vibrant cities complement the majestic grandeur of the Himalayan foothills, golden beaches of Goa and incredible wildlife including the elusive tiger. A journey around India's famous 'Golden Triangle' provides a great introduction to the country. Discover the delights of Delhi, the beguiling beauty of the magnificent Taj Mahal in Agra and the striking architecture of the 'pink city' of Jaipur. With sun-kissed beaches, serene scenery and a delightful laid back vibe, Goa promises tropical tranquillity that will provide the perfect respite from the excitement of the cricket.
RAJASTHAN & THE NORTH
AGRA
Agra will forever be associated with that great monument to love, the Taj Mahal and the beautiful building that hangs like a cloud over the city. This relatively young city is also home to the stupendous 16th-century Mughal-built Agra Fort, which encompasses within its walls the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. Today, the bustling streets of Agra are home to a thriving carpet industry, leather workers and marble and sandstone sculptors.
DELHI
The Indian capital is steeped in a glorious but turbulent history. With an estimated 16 million residents it is extraordinary that Delhi is only India's second largest city. The metropolis incessantly buzzes with life, and a remarkable contrast exists between the historic Old City, where you'll find the mighty Mughal-built Red Fort and the vast Jama Masjid mosque and the wide tree-lined avenues and government and buildings of New Delhi, home to the majestic India Gate memorial and the thriving hub of Connaught Circus.. Intoxicating and perhaps somewhat overwhelming, this city is where you will witness India’s past as well as taking a look into its future.
JAIPUR
The ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan and remarkable among Indian cities for its wide, regular boulevards, grid-plan streets, labyrinthine bazaars and opulent palaces. Famed for its Palaces, highlights of a visit include the beautiful Hawa Mahal, or ‘Palace of Winds’ and the Nahargarh and Amber Forts.
VARANASI
Set on the riverbanks of the sacred Ganges, Varanasi is one of the oldest cities in the world and the holiest of all cities for devout Hindus. It is believed that bathing in the river will purge all sins and, to many Hindus, Varanasi is the ultimate pilgrimage as it is regarded as the place that provides salvation and enlightenment. An early morning boat ride or walk along the riverside ghats offers a glimpse of the city’s spiritual significance, with pilgrims performing their ablutions and other rituals, funeral pyres blazing on the steps, incense wafting through the air and music chiming all around.
RANTHAMBORE
Ranthambore National Park is one of India’s most revered national parks and a prime location to spot the magnificent Bengal tiger. Once the private hunting grounds of the maharajas of Jaipur, the park covers an area of 400 sq km. Although Ranthambore is famous for its tigers, it is also home to a large variety of animals, including sambar deer, panthers, marsh crocodiles, sloth bears and leopards, as well as being a bird watcher’s delight with more than 250 species of birds nesting there.
WESTERN INDIA - Gujarat, Maharashtra & Goa
AHMEDABAD
Set on the banks of the Sabarmati River, the city combines old world wonders with a new world metropolis. Founded in the 15th Century as the capital of Gujarat, before evolving into the centre of India's textile industry, it was in Ahmedabad that Ghandi built his first Ashram, marking the beginnings of the non-violent civil disobedience movement in India.
GOA
India's smallest, situated on west coast is the perfect place to relax. Goa offers a unique blend of Indian and Portuguese cultures with miles of long sandy beaches, colonial whitewashed churches and emerald green paddy fields. Offering a laid-back charm and relatively untouched by mass tourism, South Goa’s beaches are lined with sleepy fishing villages, grand colonial houses and verdant farmland.
MUMBAI (Bombay)
Once a collection of sleepy islands and trading posts, the vibrant city of Mumbai is considered by many to be the cultural capital of the country, where visitors can explore Bollywood, designer shops or experience the city’s charismatic street life. Superlatives quickly exhaust themselves with regards to Mumbai, a city with an astonishing 19 million inhabitants that is India’s most important port and also the centre of the country’s commercial and entertainment industries.
SOUTH INDIA - Kerala & Tamil Nadu
CHENNAI (Madras)
A port city built on trade between the Indian Subcontinent and Europe, Chennai was founded in 1639, when Francis Day and Andrew Cogan of the British East India Company built a small fort on the banks of the Cooum River and called it Fort St George. Today, a stroll along the great sweep of Marina Beach reveals a city dotted with churches and temples amid the trappings of a modern city.
EASTERN INDIA
DARJEELING
Darjeeling has been a popular hill station since the British established it as an Rest and Recuperation centre for troops in the mid-1800s. Straddling a ridge at 2134 metres and surrounded by tea plantations, the town is home to people from the surrounding eastern Himalaya, as well as Nepalis and Tibetan refugees. Darjeeling is a fascinating place where people can visit one of the many Buddhist monasteries or local tea plantations, take a ride on its famous Toy Train, or visit Tiger Hill to enjoy spectacular views of Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest peak.
KOLKATA (Calcutta)
The city of Calcutta was the nation’s capital during the rule of the British Raj and influences from this era can be seen in the city’s grand architecture. Many colonial buildings remain and the British legacy can still be felt in the city’s social and sporting life. Amongst the most famous of the monuments in Kolkata are the Victoria Memorial, planned by Viceroy Curzon and referred to both as Curzon’s folly and the British Taj Mahal, and the Howrah bridge, one of the largest cantilever bridges in the world
CHENNAI
HYATT REGENCY
Smart, swish, and bang up to date, this towering, triangular beauty of a hotel is the most central of Chennai's top-end newbies. Contemporary art surrounds the sun-flooded atrium, local chefs head up three good restaurants and a popular bar. Indian and European dishes are served at Spice Haat, while coastal flavours of Southern Italy are offerd at Focaccia. Other dining options include Asian and Chinese food at Stix, as well as chocolate and pastries at Biscotti. Drinks can be enjoyed at 365 A.S. Bar and the 24-hour Lobby Lounge. Oher facilities include a spa and outdoor pool. The inviting and spacious rooms have walk-through bathrooms and fabulous sea/city panoramas through massive picture windows and offer free WiFI, 24-hour room service and LCD TV's.
INTERCONTINENTAL CHENNAI MAHABALIPURAM RESORT
Beyond the urban sprawl of Chennai lies Mahabalipuram, an ancient seaport now a UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for its magnificent temples and carvings. InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort is located on "Mahab's" beautiful beach coastline. With its restrained architecture and sprawling waterscaped gardens, this resort does not hold back on luxuries, with an ayurvedic spa, chilled pool, authentic dining options and a champagne bar in the resort's crown. All 106 guestrooms boast fireplaces and deep soaking tubs, plus sitting areas and TV's with satellite channels. Other amenities include 24-hour room service, WiFi, and wired Internet.
MUMBAI
TRIDENT NARIMAN POINT
Towering above the skyline and overlooking the Arabian Sea, the Trident Mumbai is located in the heart of Mumbai's central business district with the city's main shopping area only a short distance away. The hotel has 541 well-appointed guest rooms that are tastefully decorated. Superior rooms have a view of the Nariman Point business area and are equipped with air-conditioning, a work table, wireless Internet access, mini bar and tea/coffee making facilities. Premier rooms have views of either city or Arabian Sea views and suites face the ocean and have a separate living area. There are five restaurants at the hotel, serving cuisines ranging from Continental and Far eastern to regional delicacies. The two bars serve a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and recreational facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness centres, the Shanti Spa and a large indoor shopping arcade with 250 shops offering a variety of items from jewellery to garments, antiques and carpets.
GOA
ALILA DIWA RESORT
Set amid lush paddy fields 500 meters from the sea, Alila Diwa Goa has blended the best of contemporary Goan architecture with rich cultural traditions. One of Goa’s most extraordinary luxury resorts, the Alila Diwa Goa offers an enticing blend of traditional hospitality and contemporary amenities in a breathtaking tropical setting. Spread across acres of lush rice fields, which stretch to the sparkling Arabian Sea, Alila Diwa Goa is a peaceful and relax setting to enjoy a Goa holiday, a feeling enhanced by the spacious and comfortable guestrooms and suites available. Facilities at Alila Diwa Goa include the option of four tempting restaurants and bars, the indulgent Alila Spa and a beautiful infinity-edge swimming pool.
Travel Facts
Capital city
Delhi
Time difference / local time
GMT +5½ hours
Language
Hindi and English (English is widely spoken).
Currency
India Rupee
Passports
The Indian Government has advised on the 7th Dec 2015 that foreign nationals who arrive at an Indian port holding non-machine readable passports will be denied entry. Your passport must be machine readable, with 2 blank pages for your visa. British citizens travelling to India require a full passport which must be valid for 6 months after departure from India.
Visas
British Citizens travelling to:
India - You must obtain a visa before travelling to India. From 15 August 2015, holders of passports endorsed 'British citizen' will be able to apply for an e-Tourist Visa (e-TV) for entry into India at certain designated airports.
Visit https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html for eligibility criteria and to make your application. The e-TV is valid for 30 days from the date of arrival in India. If you are not eligible for an e-TV or require a longer stay or a multi-entry visa you must contact the Indian High Commission in London. It is also a requirement that your passport is valid for 180 days at the time of entry.It is mandatory that you carry a printed copy of the approved eTV as proof and verification at the check-in counter whilst boarding.
Non British Citizens:
All other passport holders, including British nationals and British Subjects must contact the relevant consulate of the country of destination and any other countries where you transit through or stopover in, to check if a visa is required.
Safety
Beware of pickpockets in major cities and destinations. Leave valuables in the hotel safe and only carry the essentials.
Travelling
Don’t be surprised to find camels or even elephants on the motorway, cows in downtown Delhi or naked Sadhus (holy men) on the way to Mount Abu in Rajasthan. India has an extensive rail network and is a great way to travel.
Events and festivals
Nov – The Pushkar Mela, Pukshar, Rajasthan. A five-day festival of livestock trading and racing plus random competitions that include ‘most beautiful camel’ and ‘longest moustache’.
Shopping
India boasts a wealth of shopping opportunities from bustling markets and bazaars to upmarket malls and boutiques. Haggle with local traders for handicrafts and souvenirs; sample fresh food, teas and spices; discover clothing and shoes bargains; and pick out colourful saris and beautiful silks.
Flying time to destination
Delhi 8 hours; Mumbai (Bombay): 9 hours
Clothing
• Loose, light, comfortable clothes made of natural fibres such as cotton are ideal for India’s hot summers.
• Travellers should dress conservatively whilst visiting religious places and always remove their shoes before entering temples and mosques.
• Visitors are often required to cover their heads and women should cover their shoulders and wear skirts and trousers that fall below the knees.
Tipping
A service charge of 7 – 10% will usually be added to your bill. 20 – 50 rupees is recommended for hotel porters.
Transportation
North India
Travel in comfortable cars on newly built motorways and fly in the most modern aircraft. But don’t be surprised to find camels or even elephants on the motorway, cows in downtown Delhi or naked Sadhus (holy men) on the way to Mount Abu in Rajasthan. India has an extensive rail network and is a great way to travel.
South & Central India
In Mumbai there are private cars, taxis, trains and the red BEST buses. In Goa popular modes of transport are bicycles, motorcycle taxis (official ones are black with yellow mudguards), auto rickshaws, taxis, buses, trains and ferries. Explore Kerala’s backwaters on a cruise through the waterways.
General health advice
Drink only bottled water and check the seal is secure when you receive it.
Do not eat raw vegetables, unpeeled fruit, and raw or uncooked seafood.
Avoid drinks with ice in unless you know that the ice was made from filtered water.
Avoid food and drink from street vendors and restaurants that might have suspect refrigeration and sanitary practices.
Please check with your GP Surgery for the latest advice regarding inoculations.
Foreign & Commonwealth Office travel advice
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) produces a wide range of material about overseas countries that may be visited by British citizens, to ensure that travellers are properly informed about any overseas destination, particularly in relation to political unrest, crime and health issues. Where the FCO considers that British citizens would face unjustifiable risks to health, it actually advises either against travelling to the country in question or against non-essential travel to that country. Full details of all FCO advice can be obtained on the FCO website.
Please call our sales team on 01737 244398 to check the availability of the holiday you wish to book. To confirm your booking we require a 30% deposit payment at the time of booking with the balance payment due 10 weeks prior to departure. A booking form will be forwarded with your confirmation invoice or alternatively can be downloaded below. Some flights may require higher deposit payments if tickets have to be issued at the time of booking to secure the fare.
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