Itinerary
- Day 1
Kolkata
You'll arrive in Kolkata and get transferred to the Taj Bengal hotel to get settled. This is your introduction to the City of Joy, and you'll have time to rest up before things get going tomorrow.
- Day 2
Kolkata
Start the day with a heritage tram ride through Kolkata's main sights. Head to Kumartuli to watch traditional potters working their craft, then spend the afternoon at the Glenburn Penthouse where you can have tea while looking out over the city. Dinner comes later in the evening.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Privately chartered heritage tram ride exploring Kolkata
- Visit to Kumartuli, traditional potters' quarter
- Afternoon tea at Glenburn Penthouse with city views and local resident talk
Landmarks/POIs Kumartuli Glenburn Penthouse - Day 3
Kolkata to Ganges Voyager
Choose between checking out the Mallick Ghat Flower Market across Howrah Bridge or visiting CIMA Gallery to learn about the Sasha NGO. After that, you'll board the Ganges Voyager for your seven-night river cruise. Following lunch on board, take a tour of Victoria Memorial and its museum, then catch a performance by Baul musicians.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch on board Ganges Voyager)
Included Activities
- Lunch on board Ganges Voyager
- Visit to Victoria Memorial and museum
- Performance by Baul musicians
Optional Activities
- Early morning stroll across Howrah Bridge to Mallick Ghat Flower Market, one of Asia's largest
- Visit to CIMA Gallery and Sasha NGO tour to learn about local artisan traditions
Landmarks/POIs Howrah Bridge Mallick Ghat Flower Market CIMA Gallery Victoria Memorial - Day 4
Kolkata to Kalna
A morning walking tour takes you through Kolkata's colonial buildings including the Writer's Building, General Post Office, High Court, and Raj Bhawan. You'll also see St John's Church from 1756 with its historic tombs. After lunch on the ship, you'll sail upstream along the Hooghly River to the Hooghly Imambara with its Victorian clock, eventually reaching Kalna.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch on board)
Included Activities
- Morning walking tour of colonial buildings: Writer's Building, General Post Office, High Court, Raj Bhawan
- Tour of St John's Church (built 1756)
- Lunch on board
- Visit to Hooghly Imambara
- Cruise upstream on Hooghly River
Landmarks/POIs Writer's Building General Post Office High Court Raj Bhawan St John's Church Hooghly Imambara - Day 5
Kalna
Explore Kalna, known for its temples, by taking a rickshaw through town to see the terracotta temples, Rajbari palace, and Shiva temples. Walk through the local market on your way back to the ship before sailing to Matiari.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Rickshaw ride through Kalna
- Visit to terracotta temples including Rajbari royal palace complex
- Visit to Shiva temples
- Stroll through local market
- Cruise to Matiari
Landmarks/POIs Rajbari Royal Palace Complex Shiva Temples, Kalna - Day 6
Matiari to Plassey
Morning walk in Matiari shows you recycled copper and brass crafted into household items at small family factories. The cruise continues near Plassey, where you'll visit the Khushbagh garden and cemetery to see the tomb of Siraj ud-Daula, the last Nawab of Bengal.
Included Activities
- Morning walk through Matiari
- Visit to home factories for recycled copper and brass crafts
- Cruise near Plassey and learn about 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 Tomb of Siraj ud-Daula - Day 7
Baranagar to Murshidabad
Morning walk through Baranagar lets you see the terracotta Char Bangla Temples. Spend the afternoon relaxing on deck as you approach Murshidabad. Tour the Hazarduari Palace with over 1000 doors, have Indian high tea at Kathgola Palace, then take an electric rickshaw to the 18th-century Katra Mosque.
- Meals
- Lunch (Indian high tea)
Included Activities
- Walk through Baranagar village
- Visit to Char Bangla Temples
- Tour of Hazarduari Palace
- Indian high tea at Kathgola Palace
- Electric rickshaw (toto) ride to Katra Mosque
Landmarks/POIs Char Bangla Temples Hazarduari Palace Kathgola Palace Katra Mosque - Day 8
Mayapur
This morning is relaxed as life unfolds along the river. You'll visit the village of Mayapur to learn about the Hare Krishna community and see construction progress on the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, ISKCON's world headquarters.
Included Activities
- Visit to Mayapur village
- Meeting with Hare Krishna community followers
- View of Temple of the Vedic Planetarium construction
Landmarks/POIs Temple of the Vedic Planetarium - Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir - Day 9
Chandannagar
Cruise to Chandannagar, a former French colony from 1673. Walk along the promenade to see French architecture, then tour the 17th-century Sacred Heart Church and the Dupleix Museum in the former governor's home. Your final night on the Ganges Voyager follows.
Included Activities
- Stroll along Chandannagar promenade
- Visit to Sacred Heart Church
- Visit to Dupleix Museum
Landmarks/POIs Sacred Heart Church Dupleix Museum - Day 10
Varanasi
After early breakfast, you'll leave the ship and head to the airport for your flight to Varanasi. Check into your hotel, have lunch, then go to the riverbank for sunset aarti where priests and devotees perform ancient rituals with fire offerings to the Ganges accompanied by chanting and music.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Flight to Varanasi
- Lunch
- Aarti ritual at sunset
Landmarks/POIs Ganges River, Varanasi - Day 11
Varanasi
Start early with a sunrise boat ride on the Ganges with tabla and sitar music, then come back for breakfast. Choose between visiting Sarnath where Buddha gave his first sermon, exploring the Silk Weaver Village to see how Banarasi sarees are made, or walking through old neighborhoods including Kashi Vishwanath Temple. End with a farewell dinner featuring Satvik Thali cuisine.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Satvik Thali, contemporary Indian cuisine)
Included Activities
- Early morning sunrise cruise along the Ganges with tabla and sitar music
- Breakfast
- Farewell dinner with Satvik Thali
Optional Activities
- Visit Sarnath, one of Buddhism's most important holy sites and location of Buddha's first sermon; visit Deer Park and private session with a monk
- Visit Silk Weaver Village to discover artistry of Varanasi's Banarasi sarees using traditional techniques
- Guided walking tour through old neighbourhoods including Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Tulsi Akhara fight club
Landmarks/POIs Sarnath Deer Park, Sarnath Silk Weaver Village Kashi Vishwanath Temple Tulsi Akhara - Day 12
Varanasi
Your trip ends with a transfer to Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport for your onward journey.
