Mumbai Marathon 2010

Calling all runners for an international race event - Indian style! We are excited to announce our newest tour: Mumbai Marathon/Half Marathon plus Kerala. The race is a thrilling experience with participants from around the world. The course winds through the bustling streets of Mumbai, India’s largest city that incorporates the ancient with the modern. Following the event, fly to Kerala and soak up the coastal scenery. Stay overnight on a houseboat in the backwaters of Alleppey and explore the beach villages in Mararikulam. Explore India’s Western coastline in this adventure tour for runners of all levels!

9 days/8 nights

Mumbai – Mararikulam – Alleppey – Cochin

Dates: January 13 – 21, 2011

During the month of July, receive $100 off the registration price. Also, for each tour reservation, a donation will be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training. Join us as we pound the pavement in Mumbai!

Many of you have taken advantage of our discounted international airfares, with some travelers saving over 28% off the published fare! Now, Sodha Travel’s airfare desk is going one step beyond to offer a price guarantee: If you find a lower fare from another agency, we will beat the price. Also, if you find a published fare on an online site, we will match the price. (Please note that for an online price match, the departing and returning airline must be the same carrier.) 

There are other benefits to booking your airline tickets with an agency as opposed to online. Most published fares are non-refundable and any ticket changes, if permitted, incur a large fee. With Sodha Travel, your tickets can be cancelled up to 72 hours before departure for a refund, minus a cancellation fee. Also, ticket changes are permitted for a nominal charge.  Furthermore, from the initial inquiry until departure, you receive personalized service from one representative who is familiar with each detail of your booking, including special meal requests, infant/child travelers, and extended layovers.  At Sodha Travel, our continued success is built on the philosophy of creating relationships with our clients and not just transactions.

Whether traveling alone or with a large group, we are here to assure each passenger is receiving a competitive fare and personalized service. To request an airfare quote, please contact us or complete an online airfare form.

During my visit to India last month, I took a few informal videos of Cochin and Alleppey, including an interior tour of an overnight houseboat. Many of our clients often ask about the houseboat experience, including the layout of the boat and descriptions of the backwater canals. In my previous post, Kettuvallams in Kerala, I wrote about 24 hours on a houseboat in Alleppey - Savoring the meals prepared and served on board by a private cook, observing the village life along the canals, and watching the sunset over the palm trees and rice paddies. Here is an interior tour of the kettuvallam:

As we were cruising along, we heard the beautiful evening prayers from a village temple. The speaker was fixed to a palm tree and the prayers resonated throughout the backwater canals:

Later this week, I will post videos from my time in Cochin, including a Kathakali dance performance and the Chinese fishing nets.

Our office staff will be in India from May 13 – 31. During this time, we will be available by email only, Monday – Saturday. We will resume regular business hours on Tuesday, June 1. We invite you to follow our blog for pictures and posts as we traverse the country.