Itinerary
- Day 1
Kolkata
You'll arrive in Kolkata and head to the Taj Bengal hotel for check-in. This is your base for exploring the city before boarding the cruise. Get settled and rest up, since you have a full itinerary ahead.
- Day 2
Kolkata
Start with a private heritage tram ride through the city to get a feel for Kolkata's old neighborhoods. After that, walk through Kumartuli where local potters work on traditional clay crafts. Later in the afternoon, you'll have tea with city views at Glenburn Penthouse, then head out for dinner in the evening.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Privately chartered heritage tram ride through Kolkata
- Visit to Kumartuli traditional potters' quarter
- Afternoon tea at Glenburn Penthouse with city views
Landmarks/POIs Kumartuli - Day 3
Kolkata
Pick either Mallick Ghat Flower Market or the CIMA Gallery and Sasha NGO Tour for your morning. Then transfer to the pier to board the Ganges Voyager for your seven-night cruise. See Victoria Memorial and its museum, and catch a performance by Baul musicians on the ship later.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch on board Ganges Voyager)
Included Activities
- Visit to Victoria Memorial and museum with British colonial artifacts
- Baul musicians performance on board
Optional Activities
- Early morning stroll across Howrah Bridge to Mallick Ghat Flower Market (one of Asia's largest flower markets)
- CIMA (Centre for International Modern Art) gallery visit and Sasha NGO tour to learn about local artisan crafting traditions
Landmarks/POIs Victoria Memorial Howrah Bridge Mallick Ghat Flower Market - Day 4
Kolkata to Kalna
Take a walking tour of colonial architecture including the Writer's Building, General Post Office, High Court, and Raj Bhawan. You'll also tour St John's Church from 1756. After, the ship heads upstream on the Hooghly River to see the 19th-century Hooghly Imambara before sailing to Kalna.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch on board)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of colonial buildings: Writer's Building, General Post Office, High Court, and Raj Bhawan
- Tour of St John's Church (built 1756)
- Visit to Hooghly Imambara
Landmarks/POIs Writer's Building General Post Office Kolkata High Court Raj Bhawan St John's Church Hooghly Imambara - Day 5
Kalna
After breakfast, explore Kalna by rickshaw to see the city's famous terracotta temples, including the Rajbari palace and Shiva temples. Wander through the local market, then return to the ship for the cruise to Matiari.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Rickshaw ride through Kalna
- Visit to terracotta temples including Rajbari royal palace complex
- Visit to Shiva temples
- Stroll through local market
Landmarks/POIs Rajbari - Day 6
Matiari
Walk through Matiari in the morning to see copper and brass items being handcrafted in small home factories. Watch the craftspeople work, then cruise to Plassey, where the 1757 Battle of Plassey took place. Visit Khushbagh garden and cemetery with the tomb of Bengal's last Nawab.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Morning walk through Matiari
- Visit to small home factories producing copper and brass crafts
- Cruise to Plassey with historical context on the 1757 Battle of Plassey
- Visit to Khushbagh garden and cemetery
- Visit to tomb of Siraj ud-Daula (last Nawab of Bengal)
Landmarks/POIs Plassey Khushbagh - Day 7
Baranagar to Murshidabad
Head to the quiet village of Baranagar for a walk to see the beautiful terracotta Char Bangla Temples. Spend the afternoon relaxing on deck as you cruise the Lower Ganges toward Murshidabad. Visit Hazarduari Palace with its 1000 doors, have high tea at Kathgola Palace, then take a toto ride to the 18th-century Katra Mosque.
Included Activities
- Relaxing walk through Baranagar village
- Visit to Char Bangla Temples
- Tour of Hazarduari Palace
- High tea at Kathgola Palace in the palace grounds
- Toto (electric rickshaw) ride to Katra Mosque
Landmarks/POIs Char Bangla Temples Hazarduari Palace Kathgola Palace Katra Mosque - Day 8
Mayapur
Take a relaxing morning on the ship watching life along the river. Later, visit Mayapur to learn about the Hare Krishna community from local followers. See the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir), which is under construction and serves as ISKCON's world headquarters.
Included Activities
- Visit to Mayapur village
- Meeting with Hare Krishna community members
- Viewing of Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir) construction
Landmarks/POIs Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir) - Day 9
Chandannagar
Cruise to Chandannagar, a former French colony established in 1673. Walk along the promenade to see French architecture, then check out the 17th-century Sacred Heart Church and the Dupleix Museum in the former governor's home. Cruise along the Ganges for your final evening on board.
Included Activities
- Stroll through Chandannagar promenade
- Visit to Sacred Heart Church (17th century)
- Visit to Dupleix Museum in the former home of Governor Joseph François Dupleix
Landmarks/POIs Sacred Heart Church Dupleix Museum - Day 10
Kolkata
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to a Kolkata hotel to freshen up and leave your luggage. Later, you'll head to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport for your departure flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
