Itinerary
- Day 1
Kolkata
You'll arrive in Kolkata and get transferred to the Taj Bengal hotel to settle in. The city's known as the 'City of Joy', and you'll have time to get comfortable in your luxury accommodation and adjust after your journey.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kolkata)
- Day 2
Kolkata
Start the day on a heritage tram ride through Kolkata's streets, then head to Kumartuli to watch potters at work creating elaborate clay statues by hand. This afternoon you'll head to the Glenburn Penthouse for tea with city views, and later enjoy dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kolkata)
Included Activities
- Heritage Tram Ride - privately chartered exploration of Kolkata's picturesque sights
- Visit Kumartuli - traditional potters' quarter with clay pot and statue craftsmanship
- Afternoon Tea at Glenburn Penthouse - tea and treats with city views
Landmarks Kumartuli - Day 3
Kolkata
Pick your morning activity - either visit the massive Mallick Ghat Flower Market or check out CIMA Gallery and Sasha NGO. After that you'll transfer to the pier and board the Ganges Voyager for a seven-night cruise. You'll see the Victoria Memorial and its museum, then catch a Baul musicians performance on board.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ganges Voyager)
Included Activities
- Victoria Memorial and museum visit - largest collection of British colonial artifacts
- Baul musicians performance on board
Optional Activities
- Mallick Ghat Flower Market - early morning walk across Howrah Bridge to one of Asia's largest flower markets
- CIMA Gallery and Sasha NGO Tour - art gallery visit and learning about local artisan preservation
Landmarks Victoria Memorial Mallick Ghat Flower Market Howrah Bridge CIMA Gallery - Day 4
Kolkata
Take a walking tour of Kolkata's colonial areas, seeing the Writer's Building, Post Office, High Court and Governor's House. You'll visit St John's Church with its military tombs, then sail upstream along the Hooghly River. Stop at the 19th-century Hooghly Imambara with its impressive Victorian clock before heading to Kalna.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ganges Voyager)
Included Activities
- Morning walking tour - colonial buildings including Writer's Building, General Post Office, High Court, Raj Bhawan
- St John's Church visit - built 1756 with tombs of British generals
- Hooghly Imambara visit - 19th-century prayer hall and pilgrimage centre with Victorian clock
Landmarks Writer's Building General Post Office Raj Bhawan St John's Church Hooghly Imambara - Day 5
Kalna
After breakfast you'll explore Kalna, the City of Temples. A rickshaw ride takes you around town to see Bengal's distinct terracotta temples, the Rajbari royal palace complex, and eye-catching Shiva temples. You'll walk through the local market and then return to the ship for sailing to Matiari.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ganges Voyager)
Included Activities
- Rickshaw ride through Kalna
- Terracotta temples visit including Rajbari royal palace complex and Shiva temples
- Local market stroll
Landmarks Rajbari Shiva Temples - Day 6
Matiari to Plassey
Walk through Matiari in the morning to see copper and brass crafts being made in small home factories that've operated for generations. Learn about the Battle of Plassey and visit Khushbagh garden and cemetery. You'll also stroll past local farmers' fields to the tomb of the last Nawab of Bengal.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ganges Voyager)
Included Activities
- Morning walk through Matiari - recycled copper and brass crafts demonstration
- Visit small home factories
- Khushbagh garden and cemetery visit
- Tomb of Siraj ud-Daula visit
Landmarks Battle of Plassey site Khushbagh Tomb of Siraj ud-Daula - Day 7
Baranagar to Murshidabad
Cruise to the village of Baranagar for a relaxing walk viewing beautiful terracotta Char Bangla Temples. Spend the afternoon on leisure cruising along the Lower Ganges, then visit the impressive Hazarduari Palace with over 1000 doors (some faked to deter thieves). Have high tea at Kathgola Palace and take a toto ride to the 18th-century Katra Mosque.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ganges Voyager)
Included Activities
- Baranagar village walk - terracotta Char Bangla Temples visit
- Hazarduari Palace tour - palace with over 1000 doors
- High Tea at Kathgola Palace
- Toto (electric rickshaw) ride to Katra Mosque - 18th-century mosque visit
Landmarks Char Bangla Temples Hazarduari Palace Kathgola Palace Katra Mosque - Day 8
Mayapur
Take a restful morning along the river before visiting Mayapur village. You'll meet Hare Krishna community followers and learn about their culture. See the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium still under construction, which is ISKCON's world headquarters.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ganges Voyager)
Included Activities
- Mayapur village visit
- Hare Krishna community meeting and learning
- Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir) construction viewing
Landmarks Temple of the Vedic Planetarium - Day 9
Chandannagar
Cruise to Chandannagar, a former French colony from 1673. Stroll along the lively promenade and take in the French architecture. Visit the 17th-century Sacred Heart Church and Dupleix Museum, former home of French Governor Joseph François Dupleix. This is your final night on the ship.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ganges Voyager)
Included Activities
- Chandannagar promenade stroll - French architecture
- Sacred Heart Church visit - 17th-century
- Dupleix Museum visit - former Governor Joseph François Dupleix residence
Landmarks Sacred Heart Church Dupleix Museum - Day 10
Kolkata to Colombo
After breakfast you'll disembark and head to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport for your flight to Sri Lanka. Upon landing, a local representative will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in Colombo.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Colombo)
- Day 11
Colombo
Check out Number 11, Geoffrey Bawa Residence, an architectural marvel with a private art and artifact collection. Have lunch at Gallery Cafe, which used to be Bawa's office. The afternoon is free, then you'll walk through Colombo's heritage district and take a tuk tuk to Pettah Market. End with a welcome dinner at Ceylon Curry Club featuring traditional Sri Lankan dishes.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Gallery Cafe - former office of Geoffrey Bawa), Dinner (Ceylon Curry Club - traditional Sri Lankan dishes with Western twist)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Colombo)
Included Activities
- Geoffrey Bawa Residence visit with expert talk on the architect's influence
- Lunch at Gallery Cafe
- Walking tour through Colombo's heritage region
- Tuk tuk ride to Pettah Market
- Welcome dinner at Ceylon Curry Club
Landmarks Geoffrey Bawa Residence (Number 11) Pettah Market - Day 12
Wilpattu National Park
Drive to the wildlife-rich Wilpattu National Park. After lunch you'll go on a game drive spotting spotted deer, barking deer, wild boars, buffaloes, Sri Lankan sloth bears, and Sri Lankan leopards. Check in to your luxury boutique hotel and have dinner in your pool villa overlooking the lush surroundings (75°F/24°C).
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Anuradhapura)
Included Activities
- Game drive at Wilpattu National Park - wildlife viewing
Landmarks Wilpattu National Park - Day 13
Anuradhapura
Explore the World Heritage-listed ancient city of Anuradhapura. Visit the dome-shaped Ruwanweliseya stupa believed completed around 140BC and Jethawanaramaya, one of the ancient world's tallest structures. See the Samadhi Buddha Statue and the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi fig tree. The afternoon is free, and you'll have a cooking demonstration with Sri Lankan curries for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Sri Lankan curries and condiments)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Anuradhapura)
Included Activities
- Ruwanweliseya stupa visit - dome-shaped ancient structure
- Jethawanaramaya visit - ancient tall structure
- Samadhi Buddha Statue viewing
- Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi visit - sacred fig tree
- Sri Lankan Cooking Demonstration - spices and authentic cooking with head chef
Landmarks Ruwanweliseya Jethawanaramaya Samadhi Buddha Statue Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi - Day 14
Polonnaruwa to Kandalama
Visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed ancient city of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka's second capital. See Parakrama Samudra, the massive man-made reservoir, and Gal Viharaya rock temple with four carved Buddha statues. Check out ancient palace ruins, carved moonstones, and royal baths. Lunch happens at EKHO Lake House, then you'll continue to Kandalama and check in. Have an evening cave dinner experience inside a historic natural cave at Heritance Kandalama.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (EKHO Lake House), Dinner (Cave Dinner at Heritance Kandalama - meal inside historic natural cave)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kandalama)
Included Activities
- Polonnaruwa ancient city visit - UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Parakrama Samudra reservoir viewing
- Gal Viharaya rock temple visit - four carved Buddha statues
- Ancient palace ruins, moonstones, and royal baths exploration
- Lunch at EKHO Lake House
- Cave Dinner at Heritance Kandalama - meal in historic natural cave
Landmarks Polonnaruwa Parakrama Samudra Gal Viharaya - Day 15
Sigiriya to Minneriya
Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a 200-meter high rock built by King Kassyapa I in the 5th century. See colored frescoes, climb through the Lion's Paw, and explore palace ruins with 360-degree jungle views. Lunch at Cinnamon Lodge, then an afternoon game drive at Minneriya National Park spotting Sri Lankan elephants, Purple-faced Langurs, and over 200 bird species. Return for evening leisure and dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (International buffet at Cinnamon Lodge), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kandalama)
Included Activities
- Sigiriya Rock Fortress visit - UNESCO World Heritage Site with rock ascent, frescoes, Lion's Paw, palace ruins
- Lunch at Cinnamon Lodge
- Game drive at Minneriya National Park - elephant and wildlife viewing
Landmarks Sigiriya Rock Fortress Minneriya National Park Minneriya Tank - Day 16
Kandalama - Dambulla - Matale - Kandy
You'll head out from your starting point and drive toward Dambulla to check out the cave temple complex, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Inside you'll find ancient Buddha statues and traditional Sri Lankan paintings throughout the caves. Along the way, you'll stop at a batik factory in Matale where you can see artisans at work and grab a traditional Sri Lankan snack for lunch. After that, you'll continue on to Kandy and visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, one of Buddhism's most important pilgrimage destinations. There's a good chance you'll see resident monks performing rituals during your time there. Once you finish up at the temple, you'll head to your hotel to get settled in and use the pre-check-in facilities they offer.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional Sri Lankan snack lunch)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kandy)
Included Activities
- Visit UNESCO World Heritage-listed Dambulla Cave Temple with guided exploration
- Visit Batik Factory in Matale
- Visit Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy
Landmarks Dambulla Cave Temple Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic - Day 17
Kandy
After breakfast, pick a Freedom of Choice morning activity - either explore three ancient temples (Gadaladeniya, Lankathilaka, Embekka) or try a hands-on gem identification and cutting session. Late afternoon brings a private tour of historic Asgiriya Cricket Stadium with refreshments. You'll have a private traditional dance performance followed by a five-course dinner at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Five-course dinner at hotel with private dance performance)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kandy)
Included Activities
- Private Cricket Stadium Tour - Asgiriya Cricket Stadium with refreshments and possible practice match viewing
- Private Dance Performance - traditional dance with music
- Five-course dinner at hotel
Optional Activities
- Temple Exploration - visit three ancient temples: Gadaladeniya, Lankathilaka, and Embekka temples
- Gem Experience - hands-on gem identification and cutting session with expert gemologist
Landmarks Asgiriya Cricket Stadium Gadaladeniya Temple Lankathilaka Temple Embekka Temple - Day 18
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya
After breakfast, take a guided walk through the Royal Botanical Gardens with an expert botanist touring over 4,000 plant species including orchids, bamboo, and Palm Avenue. Journey through the scenic central highlands viewing waterfalls and tea terraces. Have high tea lunch at the historic Grand Hotel, a former colonial governor's home, then the evening is free until dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (High tea style lunch at Grand Hotel)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Grand Hotel)
Included Activities
- Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya tour - guided walk with expert botanist through 4,000+ plant species
- High tea lunch at Grand Hotel - historic colonial property
Landmarks Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya Grand Hotel - Day 19
Nuwara Eliya - Ella - Yala
Start the morning at Amba Tea Estate in the Uva Highlands for a guided tour of how tea gets made on this organic farm. You'll see traditional methods like hand-plucking, rolling, and fermenting that have been used here for generations. After the tour, grab lunch at the estate restaurant, where you can sit back and take in views of Ella Gap and Ravana-Ella Waterfalls from the 1,000-foot drop. In the afternoon, head down to Yala and settle into your hotel. The evening is yours to relax and use whatever facilities the place has available.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at Amba Tea Estate)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Yala)
Included Activities
- Signature Experience - Artisanal Tea Experience at Amba Tea Estate with expert guided tour through entire tea-making process from farm to teacup
- Return tuk-tuk transfer to Amba Tea Estate
Landmarks Amba Tea Estate Ella Gap Ravana-Ella Waterfalls - Day 20
Yala National Park
Your day starts before dawn when you head out on a game drive in a shared luxury jeep with a specialized ranger who knows the terrain well. You'll be looking for Sri Lanka's Big Five along with other wildlife throughout the morning. After getting back to the resort, grab breakfast and rest a bit before heading out again for a late afternoon drive when many animals are more active. By evening you'll return to unwind at the resort and have dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Yala)
Included Activities
- Early morning game drive in luxury shared jeep with specialized ranger
- Late afternoon game drive in Yala National Park
- Wildlife viewing - Sri Lankan leopard, sloth bear, elephant, deer, wild boar, crocodiles, and over 200 bird species
Landmarks Yala National Park - Day 21
Udawalawe Elephant Transit Centre to Tangalle
After breakfast, visit the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Centre, established to care for orphaned elephant calves. Watch feeding time with nutrient-rich milk formula as elephants graze under veterinary care. Have an international buffet lunch at Grand Udawalawe, then continue to Tangalle and check in with pre-check-in facilities. Pick from two Freedom of Choice dining options for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (International buffet at Grand Udawalawe)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Anantara Peace Haven)
Included Activities
- Udawalawe Elephant Transit Centre visit - orphaned elephant calf feeding and observation
- Lunch at Grand Udawalawe
Optional Activities
- Journeys restaurant - international cuisine with diverse flavours from around the world
- Il Mare restaurant - authentic Italian dishes in beautiful setting
Landmarks Udawalawe Elephant Transit Centre - Day 22
Tangalle to Galle
Spend the morning at leisure on the beach. Check out and proceed to the fortified city of Galle. Take a guided walking tour through Galle Dutch Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Portuguese and Dutch colonial architecture blended with South Asian traditions. Visit the Old Dutch Reformed Church, boutique hotels, lighthouse, and shops. Moon Bastion offers Indian Ocean views, and you'll have free time to explore before checking in.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Galle)
Included Activities
- Beach leisure time
- Guided walking tour of Galle Dutch Fort - UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Old Dutch Reformed Church, lighthouse, and historical sites viewing
Landmarks Galle Dutch Fort Old Dutch Reformed Church Moon Bastion - Day 23
Galle
After breakfast, choose a Freedom of Choice option - either visit the Cinnamon Estate at Villa Mayurana for a cinnamon-infused welcome, estate tour, production demonstration, and cinnamon lunch, or tour Lunuganga Estate, Geoffrey Bawa's former country home with tropical gardens, courtyards, lily ponds, and Dedduwa Lake views. Spend the afternoon at leisure, then have a farewell dinner at The Cinnamon Room featuring Sri Lankan spice trade history with an à la carte menu and signature seafood.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner at The Cinnamon Room - à la carte menu, daily specials, signature seafood delicacies in coastal setting)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Galle)
Included Activities
- Farewell dinner at The Cinnamon Room at Jetwing Lighthouse
Optional Activities
- Cinnamon Estate Visit - Villa Mayurana tour with cinnamon-infused towel, estate tour, cinnamon stick making demonstration, cinnamon-inspired lunch and tea
- Tour Lunuganga Estate - Geoffrey Bawa's former country home with guided garden tour, tropical gardens, courtyards, lily ponds, pavilions, traditional Sri Lankan lunch
Landmarks Villa Mayurana - Cinnamon Estate Lunuganga Estate Dedduwa Lake - Day 24
Departure
After breakfast, transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport for your onward flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
