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West Coast Hopping
TOUR OVERVIEW
What makes a perfect beach holiday? Head for water sports and have unlimited fun exploring around. Or, maybe staring at the rise and fall of those rhythmic waves. Or, if you are an ultimate foodie, there’s a plethora of sea foods that you could just savour on and on. And if you are having a hard time deciding, you could do all the above. Combine all this fun with the humility that only the Western Ghats can bestow. Understand the rich biological diversity of the region and learn more about the conservation efforts.
Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? It is much more than it sounds when you travel with us! Karnataka has a long coastline of 320km along the Arabian Sea left unexplored by many. We want to turn that around adding a small pinch of adventure to it. Join us on this tour of hopping beaches on the western coast of India and we promise it is going to be fun!
Just go!
GALLERY
Day 1 - 23 Dec 2017
Leave early for Sakleshpur (4hrs) in a tempo traveller. Check-in to your nature stay. Lunch will be served. Your stay will be at a stream-side property with a lot many activities to spend your evening with. Enjoy the dinner with bonfire. Overnight at Sakleshpur.
Day 2 - 24 Dec 2017
Check-out after breakfast. Leave early for Udupi (4.5 hrs). Check-in to your beautiful homestay at Manipal. Have lunch and take rest. Take a ferry ride to the St. Mary’s island (20min). Dinner & Overnight stay at Manipal.
Day 3 - 25 Dec 2017
After breakfast, head your way to Kodi Bengre(20min drive). Try out surfing on the waves and have a relaxing day at the beach with water sports. Return to resort after lunch. Visit the Corporation bank coin museum in evening. Go on this informational tour of coin history of India. Dinner & Overnight stay at Manipal.
Day 4 - 26 Dec 2017
Checkout after breakfast. Leave early for Murudeswar(2hrs). Adventure lovers can go for a scuba dive at Netrani islands. Others may admire the beauty of the great Shiva temple. Relax on the beach. Enjoy the water sports. Seafood lovers can have a bite at some local beachside restaurants. By evening, drive to Kumta(2 hours drive). Check-in to your stay near Kumta. Dinner and overnight at the stay.
Day 5 - 27 Dec 2017
After breakfast, enjoy your day at one of the most beautiful beaches of India, the Gokarna beach. Water activities, beach trek, seaside restaurants and local shopping can be done for the day. Visit the Mahabaleswar temple in the evening. Take a glimpse of the Mirjan fort. Dinner & overnight stay at Kumta homestay.
Day 6 - 28 Dec 2017
Check out after breakfast. Leave for Karwar(1.2 hrs). Check-in to your stay near Kurumgad island, right on the beach. Take a boat ride to the island. Spot dolphins on the way. Get down on the beautiful turtle shaped island for photoshoot. Return back to the resort in the evening and relax. Play team games and get along with the other members. You could also go for a visit to the Warship museum. Witness the pride of India, the remains of a few warships left over by beach side. Overnight stay at resort near kurumgad.
Day 7 - 29 Dec 2017
Check out after breakfast. Leave for Tirthahalli (5hrs). Stop for lunch. On the way, visit the largest falls of India, the jog falls. Overnight stay at Tirthahalli.
Day 8 - 30 Dec 2017
Check out after early breakfast. Visit Kalinga Centre for Rainforest Ecology and understand the rainforest ecosystem, the conservation efforts in the region and more. Start your journey back to Bangalore. (12 hrs drive including pitstops). Reach by evening. Tour ends.
Inclusions
- Transport from Bangalore to Bangalore in a TT or similar
- All stays on all the 7 days in beautiful homestays/resorts on twin/triple sharing basis. Every property is a different experience in this trip!
- All meals on all 8 days – From Day 1 breakfast to Day 8 dinner
- Entrance fees on all sightseeing places
- All tolls and parking fees
Exclusions
- Laundries and tips
- Any personal Expenses
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Any water activities like Scuba and surfing are on optional basis and not included in the package fees
- Transport to & fro from the pick-up point in Bangalore
- Camera fees
- Anything not mentioned in the inclusions
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Any meals not mentioned in the itinerary
- 5% GST
Terms & Conditions
REFUNDS/CANCELLATION:
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If cancelled 90 days or more in advance, cancellation fee is 12% of the trip amount.
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25% of the trip cost if cancelled 89 – 60 days in advance.
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50% of the trip cost if cancelled 59 to 16 days in advance.
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Last 15 days – no show – entire amount will be forfeited.
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If you use our services to book flights, cancellation charges of the flights will apply.
Option of Deffered trip:
You have an option of parking the paid amount with us for a future trip, if you wish to cancel joining this trip 60 days or more in advance.
Following conditions apply:
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You need to choose the trip you would like to go with instead (the deferred trip) within 2 months of deciding to cancel.
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The travel start date of the deferred trip should be within 6 months from the day you decide to cancel.
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There can be only one such change and once you decide the deferred trip, the cancellation policy of that trip applies.
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You cannot choose a short trip (less than 5 days) as a deferred trip.
Disclaimer
- F5 Escapes is in no way responsible for any untoward incident happening due to the ignorance/negligence of the guests, natural/man-made calamities, accidents or any other events that are out of human control during the trip.
- All our trips are well-researched, including identifying access to medical facilities. In case of a medical emergency, F5 will assist the traveller in getting medical attention.
- The trip is NON-SMOKING and NON-ALCOHOLIC.
- F5 reserves the right to cancel the trip under certain conditions – in such a case, the amount will be refunded in full.
Arrival & Departure timings
Weather
Though it is winter season, considering its coastal region, the temperature might vary from 14 degree to 28 degree. Expect misty, cold mornings, bright afternoons and cool/cold evenings.
*Please note that nowadays, climate/ weather is dependent on many factors and unpredictable hence above information might be subject to change during your actual travel days
Food
We have tried and planned your meals at great restaurants/ homestays etc. Most of the places we are staying serve dinner which will be a homestyle local meal in homestays and buffet style in resorts. Any additional orders will be at one’s own expense.
There’s plethora of sea food that you could just savour on and on. We cannot promise seafood for every meal, as one of the homestays we are staying serves pure vegetarian food. However, we will constantly strive to strike a balance in terms of the meal options.
Stay
- Sakleshpur (1 night) – A stream-side nature resort – Triple sharing
- Manipal (2 nights) – A very cosy house with multiple bedrooms and kitchenette! – Twin sharing
- Kumta/Gokarna (2 nights) – Organic farm homestay amidst coffee plantations – Triple sharing
- Karwar (1 night) – Sea facing resort – Twin sharing
- Tirthahalli (1 night) – Homestay – Twin sharing
Note > Prepare > Accept > Embrace
A little bit of walking will be required on the beaches. We will also arrange for short beach side treks. You can opt out of treks if you want to just chill.
This is a road trip, but not self-driven. We have a reliable, professional driver driving us around.
The region is coastal + Western Ghats, so seeing one or two creepy crawlies and insects are common. Please be accepting and appreciative of the ecological biodiversity. The last day includes understanding the biodiversity and also preservation of the King Cobra’s natural habitat. You may skip this and stay in the vehicle if you have herpetophobia.
You will have to sit and travel in a vehicle (Tempo Traveller) for hours (the last day is a long drive). Please ensure you are in good health before you consider signing up.
Our group could be a mix of vegetarians and non-vegetarians. We will ensure that you get the food for your preference. But please remember that it is a coastal trip hence predominantly sea-food eating. So while you will get your vegetarian food, kindly understand that the restaurant might also be serving non-veg. If you are a non-vegetarian, please do not be offended if your fellow traveler opts for a different table because she may not be okay with the smell.
Kindly respect the sanctity of each home, be aware and considerate to your fellow travellers & environment and we promise you a GREAT time together!
Interesting Read About West Coast Hopping
‘F5 Escapes’ is a Bangalore-based, experiential travel company, with a focus on redefining the way women travel in India. The premise of F5 is an ambitious dream – to put India on the global travel map as a preferred destination for women from across the globe.
F5 Escapes offers fixed departure all-women group tours, customized itineraries for families, groups and solo travellers. We also do in-city engagements which include #JustGo travel meetups, workshops to educate women on travel safety, sustainable menstruation, motorbiking etc.