Enter Backwater Life
SHORE EXCURSIONS
Shore Excursions.
The ship stops. The journey begins.
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A cruise port stop rarely gives you more than a day. In the right hands, a day is more than enough to change the way you see a destination entirely.
Truly India designs shore excursions for cruise lines and their guests arriving at ports across India and Sri Lanka: private, professionally guided programmes that make the most of every hour ashore. Whether the ship is docked in Cochin, Mumbai, Colombo, or Goa, we place guests in private vehicles with expert guides, moving through the destination's finest highlights with efficiency, depth, and the flexibility to respond to what the guest actually wants to experience.
We work directly with cruise lines and with the travel professionals who serve their passengers, providing tailored shore programmes that reflect our ground expertise and the standard our partners expect. Time ashore is limited. We ensure not a moment of it is wasted.
We operate in
The ports
Cochin
KERALA
Mumbai
MAHARASHTRA
Goa
Chennai
TAMIL NADU
Visakhapatnam
ANDHRA PRADESH
Mangalore
KARNATAKA
Colombo
SRI LANKA
Galle
SRI LANKA
Malé & the Maldives
Defined by Moments
Experiences of Distinction
Cook Coastal Karnataka
Coastal Market Visit and Private Mangalorean Cooking Experience
Mangalore . Karnataka
Taste Trading Kochi
Colombo’s Layered Colonial History with a Resident Historian
Cochin . Kerala
Unlock Colonial Colombo
Colombo’s Layered Colonial History with a Resident Historian
Colombo . Sri Lanka
Enter Lankan Studios
Contemporary Sri Lankan Art through Private Galleries and Studios
Colombo . Sri Lanka
Decode Working Mumbai
Dabbawalas, Suburban Trains and Mumbai’s Working Rhythms with an Urban Historian
Mumbai . Maharashtra
Meet Mumbai Dawn
Dawn Exploration of Mumbai’s Flower, Produce and Newspaper Markets
Mumbai . Maharashtra
Decode Island Temples
Elephanta Island with an Early Boat and Specialist in Rock-Cut Architecture
Mumbai Harbour . Maharashtra
Walk Goa’s Colours
Fontainhas with an Artist, Followed by a Private Studio Visit
Panaji . Goa
Awaken Historic Kochi
Fort Kochi before the Crowds with a Resident Historian and Private Breakfast
Cochin . Kerala
Decode Tropical Modernism
Geoffrey Bawa and Tropical Modernism Journey with an Architect
Colombo . Sri Lanka
Read Living Reefs
Guided Reef Exploration with a Marine Biologist
Malé Atoll . Maldives
Create Southern Crafts
Hands-On Craft Session at DakshinaChitra
Chennai Region . Tamil Nadu
Meet Silk Masters
Kanchipuram Weaving Atelier with a Master Weaver
Kanchipuram . Tamil Nadu
Enter Kathakali Backstage
Kathakali Make-Up Room and Backstage Introduction before the Performance
Cochin . Kerala
Paddle Wild Goa
Kayak through Goa’s Mangroves with a Birding Specialist
Goa Backwaters . Goa
Awaken Sacred Chennai
Mylapore at Dawn with Temple Traditions and a South Indian Breakfast
Chennai . Tamil Nadu
Understand Island Capital
Old Malé, Local Markets and Islamic Heritage with a Local Historian
Malé . Maldives
Discover True Cinnamon
Peel True Cinnamon with an Estate Family Followed by a Planter’s Lunch
Southern Sri Lanka . Sri Lanka
Taste Colombo Layers
Pettah Market with a Culinary Specialist and Private Lunch
Colombo . Sri Lanka
Enter Mumbai Studios
Private Gallery and Artist-Studio Journey through South Mumbai
Mumbai . Maharashtra
Enter Goan Heritage
Private Heritage-Home Visit Followed by Lunch with the Family
Goa . Goa
Understand Bharatanatyam Grace
Private Introduction to Bharatanatyam with a Dancer or Arts Scholar
Chennai . Tamil Nadu
Escape To Sandbank
Private Sandbank Picnic Timed around the Ship’s Call
Malé Atoll . Maldives
Cook Southern Lanka
Southern Sri Lankan Cooking with a Women-Led Kitchen
Galle Region . Sri Lanka
Carve Lankan Masks
Traditional Mask Carving and Painting with an Artisan Family
Ambalangoda . Sri Lanka
Taste Sacred Udupi
Udupi Culinary Journey Centred on Temple-Town Vegetarian Cuisine
Udupi . Karnataka
Enter Yakshagana Backstage