Itinerary
- Day 1
Kolkata
You'll land at Kolkata airport and get picked up for the drive to your hotel. Once you check in, the rest of the day is yours to settle in and rest up before the trip really begins tomorrow morning.
- Day 2
Kolkata to Farakka to Samtaghat
Head out early to catch a train from Kolkata heading to Farakka, which takes you there by around midday. From the station, you'll transfer to the jetty and board your luxury cruise ship on the Ganges River. Lunch gets served onboard as you start sailing toward Samtaghat.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch onboard the cruise ship), Dinner (Dinner onboard the cruise ship)
Landmarks/POIs Ganges River - Day 3
Samtaghat to Bateshwarsthan
Spend the full day on the water sailing along the Ganges toward Bateshwarsthan. You'll get to watch the landscape change and see how active the river life really is. By evening you'll arrive at your destination.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast onboard the cruise ship), Lunch (Lunch onboard the cruise ship), Dinner (Dinner onboard the cruise ship)
Landmarks/POIs Ganges River - Day 4
Bateshwarsthan to Sultanganj
After breakfast, take a drive out to the archaeological remains of Vikramshila University, dating back to the 8th-9th century. It was a major center for Buddhist learning during the Pala Dynasty, and walking through the ruins gives you a real sense of its importance. Later you'll head back to the ship and continue sailing toward Sultanganj with lunch served onboard.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast onboard the cruise ship), Lunch (Lunch onboard the cruise ship), Dinner (Dinner onboard the cruise ship)
Included Activities
- Visit Vikramshila University archaeological site and ruins
Landmarks/POIs Vikramshila University - Day 5
Sultanganj to Munger
Following breakfast, an excursion takes you to Sultanganj to see two granite rock islands connected by a causeway. You'll visit the Ajgaibinath Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva on the larger island. After that, return to the ship and sail toward Munger, with lunch provided onboard.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast onboard the cruise ship), Lunch (Lunch onboard the cruise ship), Dinner (Dinner onboard the cruise ship)
Included Activities
- Visit Ajgaibinath Temple in Sultanganj
Landmarks/POIs Ajgaibinath Temple - Day 6
Munger
Start with breakfast, then visit the Chandika Sthan Temple, which is one of the fifty-one Shakti Peethas dedicated to Goddess Shakti. You'll come back to the ship for lunch. In the afternoon, check out Munger Fort and walk through the local market where you'll find fruits, vegetables, textiles, and garments.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast onboard the cruise ship), Lunch (Lunch onboard the cruise ship), Dinner (Dinner onboard the cruise ship)
Included Activities
- Visit Chandika Sthan Temple
- Visit Munger Fort
- Explore local market in Munger
Landmarks/POIs Chandika Sthan Temple Munger Fort - Day 7
Munger to Simaria
Continue sailing upstream on the Ganges, passing under the great bridge at Mokameh Ghat. Breakfast and lunch are both served onboard. You'll arrive in Simaria by late afternoon and take an evening stroll through the village to see how local people go about their daily lives.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast onboard the cruise ship), Lunch (Lunch onboard the cruise ship), Dinner (Dinner onboard the cruise ship)
Included Activities
- Evening walk in riverside village of Simaria
Landmarks/POIs Mokameh Ghat - Day 8
Simaria to Patna
It's a full day of sailing through countryside as you head toward Patna, Bihar's capital. Patna is actually one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, originally founded around 490 BCE as Pataliputra. Both breakfast and lunch get served onboard during the journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast onboard the cruise ship), Lunch (Lunch onboard the cruise ship), Dinner (Dinner onboard the cruise ship)
Landmarks/POIs Patna - Day 9
Patna to Nalanda to Rajgir to Bodhgaya
You'll get off the ship early morning with a packed breakfast and drive to Nalanda, a World Heritage Buddhist monastic university. From there, continue to Rajgir, where Buddha gave important sermons, and have lunch at a restaurant. The drive then takes you to Bodhgaya, one of Buddhism's four major pilgrimage sites.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Packed breakfast), Lunch (Lunch at a restaurant in Rajgir), Dinner (Dinner at hotel in Bodhgaya)
Included Activities
- Visit Nalanda World Heritage Site
Landmarks/POIs Nalanda Rajgir - Day 10
Bodhgaya
After breakfast at the hotel, visit the Mahabodhi Temple where Buddha reached Enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree, a World Heritage site. Head back to the hotel for lunch, then spend the afternoon exploring numerous Buddhist temples and monasteries. These were built by people from Bhutan, Mongolia, China, Japan, Korea, and many other countries.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Lunch at hotel), Dinner (Dinner at hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit World Heritage Mahabodhi Temple
- Explore Buddhist temples and monasteries from various countries
Landmarks/POIs Mahabodhi Temple - Day 11
Bodhgaya to Varanasi
Following an early breakfast at the hotel, drive to Varanasi, the holiest city for Hindus and significant in Buddhism's history. Check into your hotel and have lunch. During the evening, walk through the ghats to experience the busy lanes, then head to the river to watch the evening Ganga Aarti ritual.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel in Bodhgaya), Lunch (Lunch at hotel in Varanasi), Dinner (Dinner at hotel in Varanasi)
Included Activities
- Visit the ghats in Varanasi
- Watch evening Ganga Aarti ritual
Landmarks/POIs Varanasi Ghats - Day 12
Varanasi
Before sunrise, take a boat tour on the Ganges to watch the incredible scenes along the waterfront. You'll return to the hotel for breakfast. Later, visit Sarnath, the archaeological site where Buddha preached his first sermon after gaining enlightenment, and see the Dhamek Stupa.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Dinner (Dinner at hotel)
Included Activities
- Sunrise boat tour on Ganges River
- Visit Sarnath archaeological site and Dhamek Stupa
Landmarks/POIs Sarnath Dhamek Stupa - Day 13
Varanasi to Kushinagar
After checking out in the morning, drive to Kushinagar where Buddha delivered his final sermon and attained Nirvana, one of Buddhism's four most important pilgrimage sites. Check in at your hotel, then in the afternoon visit the Nirvana Temple housing a 5th-century reclining Buddha statue and the Ramabhar Stupa, where Buddha was cremated.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast), Dinner (Dinner at hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Nirvana Temple
- Visit Ramabhar Stupa
Landmarks/POIs Nirvana Temple Ramabhar Stupa - Day 14
Kushinagar to Lumbini
Check out and drive to Lumbini in Nepal, the birthplace of Lord Buddha in 623 BCE and one of Buddhism's holiest locations. Once you check in at the hotel, explore the sacred archaeological conservation area with the Maya Devi Temple, Ashoka Pillar, and the remains of ancient Buddhist monasteries and stupas.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast), Dinner (Dinner at hotel)
Landmarks/POIs Maya Devi Temple Ashoka Pillar - Day 15
Lumbini to Kapilvastu to Sravasti
Drive toward Sravasti, stopping en route at Kapilvastu where Buddha spent his first twenty-nine years of life. This was once the capital of the Shakya kingdom and helps explain Buddhism's origins. You'll see stupas built by Ashoka and Gupta kings before continuing to Sravasti and checking in at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast), Dinner (Dinner at hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Kapilvastu
Landmarks/POIs Kapilvastu - Day 16
Sravasti to Lucknow
After breakfast, visit Sravasti, the most important Buddhist pilgrimage site in the country, where Buddha delivered many key sermons. Also explore Saheth in Sravasti to see famous Buddhist stupas, monasteries, and temples including Gandhakuti (Buddha's personal chamber) and Kosambakuti. Later, drive to Lucknow for your overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Dinner (Dinner at hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Sravasti
- Visit Saheth in Sravasti
Landmarks/POIs Sravasti Saheth Gandhakuti - Day 17
Lucknow to Agra
This day is yours to do what you'd like. When the time comes, you'll get transferred to Lucknow railway station to board your train to Agra. Once you arrive in Agra, transfer takes you to your hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel in Lucknow), Dinner (Dinner at hotel in Agra)
- Day 18
Agra
In the morning, visit the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Shah Jahan built this white marble memorial as a tomb for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, and it took 22 years to complete. Return to the hotel for breakfast and rest. In the afternoon, visit Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site built by Akbar where Shah Jahan was later imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb. The evening is free for your own exploration.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Dinner (Dinner at hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Taj Mahal
- Visit Agra Fort
Landmarks/POIs Taj Mahal Agra Fort - Day 19
Agra to Delhi
After a relaxed breakfast, drive to Delhi, a scenic 2 hour 30 minute journey through varied landscapes. Upon arrival, check in at your hotel and take the evening to relax and settle in.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel in Agra), Dinner (Dinner at hotel in Delhi)
- Day 20
Delhi
Start your morning sightseeing in Old Delhi's walled city with its bustling streets showing Mughal influence, visiting the Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India built in the 17th century. Drive through New Delhi to see Raj Ghat, India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan (the Presidential Palace), Parliament House, and other colonial buildings designed by British architect Edwin Lutyens. Then visit the Qutub Minar and Humayun's Tomb, a beautiful example of Persian-inspired Mughal architecture. After that, transfer to New Delhi airport for your onward journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Jama Masjid
- Visit Raj Ghat
- Visit India Gate
- Visit Rashtrapati Bhawan (Presidential Palace)
- Visit Parliament House
- Visit Qutub Minar
- Visit Humayun's Tomb
Landmarks/POIs Jama Masjid Raj Ghat India Gate Rashtrapati Bhawan Parliament House Qutub Minar Humayun's Tomb
