[optimist]

Mind blowing! Listing this high up in the "list of places to go in a lifetime".

Thanks for the wonderful photography and narration.

Please do add the budget and costs so that we can carry enough cash in case the ATM is of no use.

[traveloholic]

Amazing travelouge Karthik. Each minute detail has been covered. Could not stop myself from reading the whole TL from start till finish at a go. You've now ignited a fire in me, Need to add it to my TO DO BEFORE I DIE list. Each picture of yours has captured the pristine beauty of Lakshadweep to the T.

[KarthikK]

Thanks a lot guys, for all the compliments! Glad to know you liked it

The snorkelling was free of cost and wasn't charged extra, although the board indicates 200 Rs. in Kavaratti, I don't think they took anything from us. The SPORTS guys are extremely professional and don't ask a penny from you from the time you board the ship in Kochi till you return to Kochi.

The scuba diving came upto 3000 per head.
The course was called PADI Discover Scuba Diving (DSD)

Lacadives: The Pioneers of Diving in India Since 1995

All the equipment is supplied by Lacadives, including the wetsuits, masks and the underwater breathing equipment. You don't need to carry anything at all.

Originally Posted by ramkya1

Reminded of my recent Vietnam diving trip and beach visits there.

Can you please share costs for Scuba diving and Snorkeling trips? If you have split ups it would be useful to compare and know for future use.

I went through your entire travelogue too earlier and that was a mind-blowing one. After your travelogue, I have decided to put Vietnam and cambodia on the to-do list in the near future.

Originally Posted by deky

This reminds me of my cruise ship days. Can you tell me what are the fascilities available on the ship for recreation?? Like any bars, casinos, dances, movies etc etc?

Any thing to do for the kids on board?

Nope. The ship is maintained by the government and hence the facilities are limited, not as much as you would find on something like Star Cruises. There is a swimming pool and an indoor games room. Apart from that, not many recreational activities on board the ship.

Originally Posted by gtonsing

Excellent report KarthikK. It sure opened my eyes. Well detailed too. Now the nitty gritties you have not mentioned:
How much did the scuba dives and the snorkelling cost per hour?
Wasnt there option of motorized boating other than kayaking?
Cant you bring your own alcohol and comsume?

The costs I have mentioned in the beginning of this post. Do let me know if you need any more information. Motorized boating? Oh no the kayaks are just thrown there on the beach, anyone can use that to have some fun if you are bored of swimming and snorkelling all day long. They have a motorboat ride earlier in the day, to take you to some reefs, but that's about it.

Originally Posted by nanduchitnis

I visited the same Islands as you did and stayed at Bangaram resort for free! That is where I did most of my underwater photography.

I am surprised that there are no new resorts in Lakshadweep!! The new rocking resorts are in Andamans.

Now that you have learned to scuba just order a good underwater cam and
go beserk in Andamans !

Your TL made my day Sir !!

Rgds

Thanks a lot! You said it sir! I definitely need to get an underwater camera on my next trip to the islands. I could have photographed a lot of things inside that wonderland.

Originally Posted by scopriobharath

What is the cost that you paid for Scuba diving (All Inclusive of gear, guide etc).

A breakup would help a lot.

All the costs are mentioned in the beginning of the post. Let me know if you need more information.

Originally Posted by dingolphie

got to go - absolutely. Amazing place and lovely travelogue. Has anyone tried this?
agatti island resorts

Agatti is also a good place to go to. It also has airline connectivity from Cochin. If you are not keen on experiencing the ship journey, you can just fly to Agatti and enjoy there.

Originally Posted by contactme27

Awesome pics. I guess you are the first one to post lakshadweep TV.

Thanks a lot!

Originally Posted by amit_3306

Amazing snaps of the crystal clear ,inviting blue waters. Its on my list to places to visit.
Can you throw some light on the cost of this entire trip (excluding Alleppy) ?

Thanks! The cost of the entire trip came down to around 30k per head including Alleppey. Without Alleppey I guess it would come to 26-27k or so per head.

That included
- Flights from Bangalore to Cochin and back - 6k round trip
- Budget accomodation at ATS Willingdon on first day - 1k per head
- Lakshadweep 4 day Samudram package - 16k per head all inclusive (all meals on all 4 days + to and fro ship tickets + all watersports excluding scuba + accomodation in diamond class cabins on the ship + island permits)
- Scuba diving - 3k per head
- Extra day at Cochin before returning - 1k per head

Originally Posted by optimist

Mind blowing! Listing this high up in the "list of places to go in a lifetime".

Thanks for the wonderful photography and narration.

Please do add the budget and costs so that we can carry enough cash in case the ATM is of no use.

Total cost 30k per head for the entire trip including a detour to Alleppey. With proper planning or using train instead of flights to Cochin, it could be better positioned from the wallet's perspective

Originally Posted by traveloholic

Amazing travelouge Karthik. Each minute detail has been covered. Could not stop myself from reading the whole TL from start till finish at a go. You've now ignited a fire in me, Need to add it to my TO DO BEFORE I DIE list. Each picture of yours has captured the pristine beauty of Lakshadweep to the T.

Thanks a ton for the compliments! Glad you enjoyed reading it traveloholic!

[pranxter]

Superb writeup Karthik. Reminded me of our trip to Kadmat islands way back in 2006! Heartening to see those pictures of places again. We had travelled in MV Minicoy, the crew, the people on board, the natives there were very hospitable. Infact I had bumped into a teacher who had attended a training program Mysore and the moment I told I am from Bangalore, he started speaking in very good Kannada Lakshadweep is truly an awesome place. This was the blog I had written on our experiences.

Last year I recommended the same to one my friends and it turned out be a harrowing experience for them, cause they were the first batch of tourists after a rainy season. It turned out that not many things were ready including dining, water sports, ship journey etc. They had a bitter experience contrary to what I had encountered

After this I am thinking whether to make any recommendations to my friends/ family :(

[ramkya1]

Karthik,

Thanks for the details.

In Vietnam we had enrolled for a SSI certification course which was 225 USD per person and had committed to it. Since I had to abort the 4 day course to 1 day due to acute Sinusitis, I had to cut it short to one day of "Discover Scuba" for which they charged 75 USD and refunded the money, very decent of Mark who ran the Diving school. That was including a big boat ride, full lunch and equipment with instructor, it more or less checks out with the cost you paid.

The snorkeling trip there costs between 25 to 40 USD which includes boat ride, snorkel and lunch, 8 AM to 3 PM.

--Ramky

Originally Posted by KarthikK

Thanks a lot guys, for all the compliments! Glad to know you liked it

The snorkelling was free of cost and wasn't charged extra, although the board indicates 200 Rs. in Kavaratti, I don't think they took anything from us. The SPORTS guys are extremely professional and don't ask a penny from you from the time you board the ship in Kochi till you return to Kochi.

The scuba diving came upto 3000 per head.
The course was called PADI Discover Scuba Diving (DSD)

Lacadives: The Pioneers of Diving in India Since 1995

All the equipment is supplied by Lacadives, including the wetsuits, masks and the underwater breathing equipment. You don't need to carry anything at all.


I went through your entire travelogue too earlier and that was a mind-blowing one. After your travelogue, I have decided to put Vietnam and cambodia on the to-do list in the near future.

..............................

Thanks a ton for the compliments! Glad you enjoyed reading it traveloholic!

Loved the photos of water and beach.

[BeantownThinker]

Absolutely brilliant write-up! Your narrative and the photographs transports one to the island. Reading through your TL i felt as though I was there on the journey with you. Some of your photographs are absolute wallpaper material.

One question. Somewhere you mentioned that you had to produce your passport for the permits. Is a passport mandatory or would any other document do?

[Tapish]

Amazing travelogue. Really loved it. Thanks 4 sharing. I was thinking of going there sometime next year. That thought is now two steps closer to action.

Thanks for sharing.

PS. Amazing photographs, Have the one with the "supposedly high ISO" as my wallpaper.

Cheers
Tapish

[vinya_jag]

Thank god you have come back. Wonder how many more pages this would have panned if you stayed there a few more days. No wonder it took you almost an year to upload all these.

Nice pics. They are all perfectly CPLised. Thanks for sharing.
And the best one was the 'No parking sing'

[shubhakant]

Brilliant writeup Karthik. You've described it in wonderful detail! Thanks a ton for sharing.

[lancersfx]

Fantabulous ride report and so are pics to top up the fun.. I already have decided the 2012 vacation spots and this is definitely one of them.

[gauravdgr8]

Karthik, one mighty travelogue. Truly Amazing! Many thanks for putting up such great shots with the description.

Your travelogue will help many decide on this magnificient trip. I actually started digging into all the data available on the SPORTS website for a trip in March.

One question: Is it safe to travel with kids on this trip? Did you see families which were there on the ship.

Also karthik, could you PM me your number if I have to ask anything.

Thanks!

[anu21v]

Some awesome pictures Karthik!!!! I lived there on those hallowed Shores of Minicoy island in My school hostel for 2 years, Can never forget that amazing Experience of Lakkadivi islands!!! Hoping those two ships MV Tipu Sultan and MV BharatSeema are still in tourist's duty

Great Pics !!! I am hallucinating back to good old days!!!

[KarthikK]

Originally Posted by BeantownThinker

A

One question. Somewhere you mentioned that you had to produce your passport for the permits. Is a passport mandatory or would any other document do?

No restrictions, basically, any ID proof will do the job. Just make sure you carry the original copy with you. Sorry I should have been clearer in the description

Originally Posted by gauravdgr8

Karthik, one mighty travelogue. Truly Amazing! Many thanks for putting up such great shots with the description.

Your travelogue will help many decide on this magnificient trip. I actually started digging into all the data available on the SPORTS website for a trip in March.

One question: Is it safe to travel with kids on this trip? Did you see families which were there on the ship.

Also karthik, could you PM me your number if I have to ask anything.

Thanks a lot Gaurav!

It is 100% safe to travel with kids and family. Except Bangaram island, alcohol consumption is banned on every other island, so you would not find revellers here spoiling the atmosphere. In fact even on my trip, we were the only bachelor group on the ship. Everyone else had come with their families / spouses.

Originally Posted by anu21v

Some awesome pictures Karthik!!!! I lived there on those hallowed Shores of Minicoy island in My school hostel for 2 years, Can never forget that amazing Experience of Lakkadivi islands!!! Hoping those two ships MV Tipu Sultan and MV BharatSeema are still in tourist's duty

Great Pics !!! I am hallucinating back to good old days!!!

Great to know you are from Lakshadweep itself! I think Tipu Sultan and Bharat Seema are now off duty since they were getting too long in the tooth. Now they have been replaced with MV Arabian Sea, MV Minicoy and MV Lakshadweep sea, newer ships with modern facilities.

MV Kavaratti, the ship which we went in, was quite good. The bunker beds were quite plush and spotlessly clean, room was equipped with electric socket points and the attached baths had temperature controlled showers!

[samigo]

What an amazing place and what a fantastic photoshots and narration.

Regards,
Sameer.

[bonobashi]

A superb travelogue, and lavishly illustrated, to boot; thank you very much. Incredible detail; it felt as if we were standing looking over your shoulder the whole time!

No two ways about it, the Laccadives comes to the top of the list as the next holiday spot. Now it's only a question of planning the trip.