Flight: EK506 Dubai - Mumbai 09.30 - 14.00

Meet & greet: Welcome to India! You will be met on arrival in Mumbai by a local representative and introduced to your private driver. Together they will take you to your city hotel to check in.

Time to recover: Once arrived and checked in, you have the remainder of the day at leisure to relax after your long flight.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Oberoi Mumbai (Deluxe Room)

Morning tour of Mumbai: After breakfast, you will meet up with a private guide and head out to explore India's most enthralling city. The tour will begin at Victoria Terminus - also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, or CST - an architectural marvel of Mumbai. A UNESCO Heritage Site, the station is a hallmark of Victorian Gothic style on par with Paddington or St. Pancras. You will continue on foot down DN Road, also called the Heritage Mile. DN Road is one of the oldest parts of the city, reminiscent of its colonial past, and your walk here will culminate at the ornate Flora Fountain. Continue to explore the charming historic district of Kala Ghoda, with its many Gothic buildings and numerous art galleries. From here head on to the Gateway of India, an icon of Mumbai which has greeted visitors to Indian shores since 1911. From the Gateway you will reunite with your driver and head by road to the Oval Maidan where in a great phalanx lie the Old Secretariat, University Library and Convocation Hall, High Court Building, the old PWD Building and Telegraph Department.

Afternoon at leisure: After ample time to take in all of these impressive buildings, you will return to the hotel to spend the rest of the day relaxing.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Oberoi Mumbai (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Private transfer: After a leisurely morning, you will be picked up from the hotel and transferred to the Taj Mahal Palace hotel where you will be met by representatives of the Deccan Odyssey. They will then transfer you on to the train, and your adventure begins!

Day 1 - Mumbai: You will be escorted to world-famous Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus Railway Station in Mumbai, where you will complete the registration formalities, and then board the train. Settle in to your comfortable cabin, and then the train will depart on its first journey towards Bijapur in Karnataka. Dinner is served on board.

Accommodation: Stay tonight onboard the Deccan Odyssey (Deluxe Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 2 - Bijapur: After a leisurely breakfast, the train will roll into Bijapur. Bijapur is the historical capital of the Sultans of Deccan, established by Kalyani Chalukyas in the 10th century. Under the Adil Shah Dynasty Bijapur was among the greatest cities on the Subcontinent, surpassing the Mughal cities of Agra and Delhi. Your sightseeing will begin with a visit to Gol Gumbaz, the tomb and mausoleum of Adil Shah. This enormous round tomb is crowned with a magnificent dome, and inside holds a circular gallery with astounding acoustics. Bijapur also encompasses a procession of Islamic monuments, including Jama Masjid (one of the first mosques of India), Malik-e-Maidan (the largest medieval canon in the world), Mehtar Mahal (a 17th century ornamental entrance mosque), and Ibrahim Rouza (a set of staggeringly tall minarets). Return to the comfort of your train for lunch. During lunch and the following lazy afternoon you can enjoy the lush landscapes of Karnataka slip by as you make your way towards Aihole and Pattadakal.

Accommodation: Stay tonight onboard the Deccan Odyssey (Deluxe Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3 - Aihole & Pattadakal: Rise early this morning and after breakfast head out to explore the temples and ancient settlements of Aihole and Pattadakal. Aihole is one of the world's largest temple complexes, and often called the cradle of Indian architecture. You will explore just a few of over 70 rock-cut temples, each of which was built unique in a completely experimental style. Continue on to Pattadakal, situated on the banks of the Malaprabha River. The architectural style here combines South Indian (Dravidian) and North Indian (Nagara) forms. Return to the train for lunch. In the afternoon, you can choose to relax on board, or head back out for an optional tour to the lovely weaving village of Guledgud, famous for its textile produce. Should you be keen on more history an alternative trip can also be made to visit the rock cut caves and sculptured temples of Badami. Overnight the train continues to Hampi.

Accommodation: Stay tonight onboard the Deccan Odyssey (Deluxe Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4 - Hampi: The Deccan Odyssey arrives into Hospet today. Leave the train to visit Hampi, the City of Victory, an iconic UNESCO Heritage Site. Transferring by road, you will see the landscape change quickly from urban to the lunar-like, boulder-strewn setting of Hampi. A full tour of the site will be conducted, taking in the enormous statues and temples and also discovering the network of fascinating caves and alcoves. Return to the train for lunch, then in the afternoon disembark once more to continue your exploration at Hampi's royal centre. This area was the citadel of the Vijayanagara Kings and encompasses courtly and military structures. After a full day of visiting the wonders of Hampi, return to the train for dinner, and to relax as you move on towards Hyderabad.

Accommodation: Stay tonight onboard the Deccan Odyssey (Deluxe Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5 - Hyderabad: This morning, the Deccan Odyssey rolls into royal city of the Nizams, Hyderabad. After an early breakfast, you will disembark for a visit to Golconda, the epitome of Nizami culture and grandeur. Originally a mud fort, Golconda was developed into a site of epic proportions under the stewardship of the Qutub Shahi Dynasty. Return to the Deccan Odyssey to spend the morning at leisure, or alternatively, you can head into the city to take in Hyderabad's buzzing bazaars, specialising in pearls, jewellery, and fine fragrance.  A sumptuous lunch is served of that most famous Hyderbadi dish - biryani. After lunch, you will be taken to visit the astounding Falaknuma Palace. This epic palace is now run as a luxury hotel, and after a look around you will enjoy a luxurious high tea. After tea, you will then explore Hyderabad's old city, taking in the tall Charminar tower and surrounding bazaars.

Accommodation: Stay tonight onboard the Deccan Odyssey (Deluxe Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6 - Ellora: Arrive today in Aurangabad, named after the last Great Mughal Aurangzeb, an industrial town in Maharashtra and jumping off point to visit the exceptional Ellora Caves. The Ellora Caves, a UNESCO Heritage Site, are carved out of a sheer rock face, located around 30 km outside of Aurangabad. Ellora is thought to be the finest specimen of cave-temple architecture in India, encompassing 34 rock-cut shrines which represent Buddhist, Jain and Hindu art dating from the 4th to 5th century AD. The 12 caves to the south are Buddhist, the 17 in the centre Hindu, and the 5 caves to the north are Jain. Return to the train for lunch, and then spend the afternoon watching the ever-changing landscape of Maharashtra sweep past. In the evening, unwind with cocktails as the train pushes on towards Ajanta.

Accommodation: Stay tonight onboard the Deccan Odyssey (Deluxe Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7 - Ajanta: The Deccan Odyssey arrives at Jalgaon station this morning, from where you will disembark and drive to the Ajanta Caves, another World Heritage site and architectural marvel. The 30 rock-hewn Buddhist caves at Ajanta have been masterfully carved and are adorned with sculptures and paintings of Buddhist religious art. Lunch will be on board the Deccan Odyssey. After lunch you will disembark once more to visit a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. The late afternoon will see you return to the train and watch rural India slip by as you continue on the final leg of the journey towards Mumbai.

Accommodation: Stay tonight onboard the Deccan Odyssey (Deluxe Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8 - Mumbai: This morning, you will arrive back into Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai. After breakfast, you will say your farewells to crew and travel companions, and then disembark the train.

Private transfer from the railway station to your hotel: On arrival at the railway station in Mumbai, you will disembark the Deccan Odyssey. You will be met on arrival by a private guide and driver, and then transferred to Mumbai airport in time to check-in for your flight.

Flight: 6E957 Mumbai - Thiruvananthapuram 14.15 - 16.30 

Private transfer: You will be met on arrival in Kovalam by a private driver/guide, who will escort to your beach hotel in Kovalam, a journey of around 40 minutes. On arrival, you will check in and have the remainder of the day at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Leela Kovalam (Beach View Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Days at leisure: These days are yours at leisure to relax at the hotel and reflect on your adventures. The hotel has numerous activities which can be arranged locally, and a range of facilities to aid your relaxation.

Accommodation: Stay these nights at the Leela Kovalam (Beach View Room)

Meals: Breakfast