A Day in the Life of Mangalore

Tour Code: MAL-003

Tour Length: Half-Day (Approximately 3 hours)

Tour Effort: Moderate

This port city is named after the goddess Mangaladevi and is one of the fastest developing cities in India. As you travel about, you will find Mangalore to be an eclectic mix of both old and new and a true melting pot of cultures. Although primarily known as one of the major port cities in India and home to agricultural processing, in recent years it has become more cosmopolitan with several information technology companies relocating their offices here.

Your tour starts with a drive into the busy downtown area of Hampankatta and Balmatta where you will find many shops and marketplaces selling silks, handlooms, sandalwood, rosewood figurines, jewelry and spices. Disembarking your coach, free time will be allowed for you to stroll amongst the shops and purchase some souvenirs of your visit.

Re-joining your coach, you will leave the marketplace and travel down the narrow lanes and residential areas of Mangalore while on your way to the private home of a typical Mangalorean family. This segment of your tour will give you a true insight into the local culture and daily life of the Mangaloreans and this city of many contrasts. Arriving at the home, you will enjoy the warm hospitality of the local family as they greet you and answer any questions you may have about typical life in Mangalore. A light refreshment will be served before it's time to re-board your coach and return to the pier.

Please note: The sights on this tour are not wheelchair accessible and therefore, it is not available to wheelchair guests. There is a moderate amount of activity, including walking and those with mobility concerns are cautioned to evaluate their personal level of ability and stamina. Lightweight clothing, a hat and comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

Executive Collection Full Day Car

Tour Code: MAL-C08

Tour Length: Full-Day (Approximately 8 hours)

Tour Effort: Easy

PRICE is per vehicle

This exclusive arrangement is designed to allow you the chance to customize your time ashore and discover the most interesting sights in the comfort and privacy of your own vehicle. With your private car and the personalized attention of your driver and English-speaking guide, you will have the flexibility and independence to design your itinerary ashore according to your own interests and sightsee at your own pace. See the most famous sights or go beyond to create your own intimate connections and unique cultural encounters.

The Executive Collection is recommended for the single/solo traveler, couples, family, friends, and special interest groups traveling together. It can also be an excellent choice for physically challenged guests.

Capacity: 2 guests

PLEASE NOTE: Private cars/vans/minibuses are ordered per vehicle (not per person), and only one person in the party need order the vehicle. The price shown is the total cost for the vehicle, driver and English-speaking guide. Kindly note, however, that in certain ports only a driver/guide will be assigned (one person), due to limited availability. Entrance fees are not included in this price, in order to provide you with the most flexibility. In many ports, the number of vehicles available is extremely limited; therefore guests are encouraged to make their reservation as early as possible.

Half-day private tours must depart between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 am, or between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Upon embarkation, please consult the Destination Manager onboard to personally discuss your itinerary requirements and set your departure time.

Executive Collection Full Day Van

Tour Code: MAL-V08

Tour Length: Full-Day (Approximately 8 hours)

Tour Effort: Easy

PRICE is per vehicle

This exclusive arrangement is designed to allow you the chance to customize your time ashore and discover the most interesting sights in the comfort and privacy of your own vehicle. With your private car and the personalized attention of your driver and English-speaking guide, you will have the flexibility and independence to design your itinerary ashore according to your own interests and sightsee at your own pace. See the most famous sights or go beyond to create your own intimate connections and unique cultural encounters.

The Executive Collection is recommended for the single/solo traveler, couples, family, friends, and special interest groups traveling together. It can also be an excellent choice for physically challenged guests.

Capacity: 6 guests

PLEASE NOTE: Private cars/vans/minibuses are ordered per vehicle (not per person), and only one person in the party need order the vehicle. The price shown is the total cost for the vehicle, driver and English-speaking guide. Kindly note, however, that in certain ports only a driver/guide will be assigned (one person), due to limited availability. Entrance fees are not included in this price, in order to provide you with the most flexibility. In many ports, the number of vehicles available is extremely limited; therefore guests are encouraged to make their reservation as early as possible.

Half-day private tours must depart between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 am, or between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Upon embarkation, please consult the Destination Manager onboard to personally discuss your itinerary requirements and set your departure time.

Executive Collection Half Day Car

Tour Code: MAL-C04

Tour Length: Half-Day (Approximately 4 hours)

Tour Effort: Easy

PRICE is per vehicle

This exclusive arrangement is designed to allow you the chance to customize your time ashore and discover the most interesting sights in the comfort and privacy of your own vehicle. With your private car and the personalized attention of your driver and English-speaking guide, you will have the flexibility and independence to design your itinerary ashore according to your own interests and sightsee at your own pace. See the most famous sights or go beyond to create your own intimate connections and unique cultural encounters.

The Executive Collection is recommended for the single/solo traveler, couples, family, friends, and special interest groups traveling together. It can also be an excellent choice for physically challenged guests.

Capacity: 2 guests

PLEASE NOTE: Private cars/vans/minibuses are ordered per vehicle (not per person), and only one person in the party need order the vehicle. The price shown is the total cost for the vehicle, driver and English-speaking guide. Kindly note, however, that in certain ports only a driver/guide will be assigned (one person), due to limited availability. Entrance fees are not included in this price, in order to provide you with the most flexibility. In many ports, the number of vehicles available is extremely limited; therefore guests are encouraged to make their reservation as early as possible.

Half-day private tours must depart between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 am, or between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Upon embarkation, please consult the Destination Manager onboard to personally discuss your itinerary requirements and set your departure time.

Executive Collection Half Day Van

Tour Code: MAL-V04

Tour Length: Half-Day (Approximately 4 hours)

Tour Effort: Easy

PRICE is per vehicle

This exclusive arrangement is designed to allow you the chance to customize your time ashore and discover the most interesting sights in the comfort and privacy of your own vehicle. With your private car and the personalized attention of your driver and English-speaking guide, you will have the flexibility and independence to design your itinerary ashore according to your own interests and sightsee at your own pace. See the most famous sights or go beyond to create your own intimate connections and unique cultural encounters.

The Executive Collection is recommended for the single/solo traveler, couples, family, friends, and special interest groups traveling together. It can also be an excellent choice for physically challenged guests.

Capacity: 6 guests

PLEASE NOTE: Private cars/vans/minibuses are ordered per vehicle (not per person), and only one person in the party need order the vehicle. The price shown is the total cost for the vehicle, driver and English-speaking guide. Kindly note, however, that in certain ports only a driver/guide will be assigned (one person), due to limited availability. Entrance fees are not included in this price, in order to provide you with the most flexibility. In many ports, the number of vehicles available is extremely limited; therefore guests are encouraged to make their reservation as early as possible.

Half-day private tours must depart between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 am, or between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Upon embarkation, please consult the Destination Manager onboard to personally discuss your itinerary requirements and set your departure time.

Highlights of Mangalore

Tour Code: MAL-001

Tour Length: Half-Day (Approximately 4 hours)

Tour Effort: Moderate

Your tour begins with a short drive through this interesting and scenic city to the Achal Cashew processing plant. While appearing deceptively rural, Mangalore is actually a busy and thriving maritime city and the world's principal cashew-nut port. A city of vibrant contrasts, you will feel the peaceful tranquility of its lush green environment while viewing the abundant coconut plantations native to the area, while also navigating past narrow winding streets that are home to quaint gabled houses, temples and churches. All the while, the tantalizing aroma of spicy coconut curries permeates the air, adding to the city's ambience.

Upon arrival at the cashew processing plant, you'll receive a guided tour and learn all about this popular nut and how the cashew kernels are processed and cashew nut shell oil is produced. Mangalore is recognized as the birthplace of organized cashew nut processing. Your next stop is at Gokarnath Temple. This delightful temple dedicated to Lord Gokarnath has recently been renovated and is considered an excellent example of the modern architecture created by the Billawa Community of Mangalore. The temple is visited daily by those wishing to seek the blessing of the Lord Gokarnath.

Proceeding to the amazing St. Aloysius Chapel, you'll see why this amazing chapel is considered a must-see for anyone visiting Mangalore. Often compared to the Sistine Chapel in Rome, the unique beauty of the chapel lies in the remarkable series of intricate paintings that cover virtually every square inch of the interior ceiling and walls. Created over a period of two years by Brother Antonio Moscheni, an Italian artist, the Chapel with its magnificent art work is truly one of the city's hidden gems.

Your final tour stop before returning to the pier will be at the private home of a typical Mangalorean family. Here, you can enjoy learning about local life and customs while being treated to some light refreshment.

Please note: The sights on this tour are not wheelchair accessible and therefore it is not available to wheelchair guests. There is a moderate amount of walking and standing. Those with mobility concerns are cautioned to evaluate their personal level of ability and stamina. Lightweight clothing, a hat and comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Suitable attire is required and footwear must be removed in order to enter the temple. Additionally, leather items are not permitted inside the temple. The order of sights visited may vary.

Karkala & Moodbidri Temple

Tour Code: MAL-002

Tour Length: Half-Day (Approximately 4 1/2 hours)

Tour Effort: Strenuous

Boarding your coach at the pier, you'll leave the city behind and enjoy a picturesque drive to Karkala. This historically important town is a pilgrimage center for Jains, followers of one of the oldest religions in the world and is famous for its monolithic stone statue of Lord Gomateshwara. Regarded as one of the largest monolithic statues in the world, this imposing monument dates back to 1432 AD and is over 42 feet tall, weighing in at an estimated 80 tons. Aside from the statue itself being of a colossal size, it is rendered even more striking by its being situated atop a huge granite rock. It is also recognized as having the oldest known Marathi (Devanagari) inscriptions on it. Plenty of time will be allowed here to explore the site and take photos before it's time to make your way to your next stop, Soans Farm.

Recognized as a center for innovative agriculture, the farm allows visitors an opportunity to view multi-storied mixed cropping and the wide variety of tropical fruits and spices that are grown here. After enjoying a light refreshment, you'll re-board your coach and travel to your final stop, Moodbidri and its thousand pillar temple - Tribhuvana Tilaka Chudamani Basadi. This immense granite temple built in 1430 A.D. is the largest and the most ornate of the Jain temples of this region. The Temple is famous for its open pillared front hall that consists of a thousand elaborately carved pillars and in the center of the sanctum, is the very sacred eight foot tall bronze image of Lord Chandranatha Swami. At the conclusion of your Temple visit, your motor coach will transfer you back to the pier in Mangalore.

Please note: The sights on this tour are not wheelchair accessible and therefore it is not available to wheelchair guests and not considered suitable for those with mobility concerns. Participants should be in good physical condition as there is a considerable amount of walking and 212 steps to negotiate at the Lord Gomateshwara statue. Lightweight clothing, a hat and comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Suitable attire is required and footwear must be removed in order to enter the temple. Additionally, leather items are not permitted inside the temple. The order of sights visited may vary.