India & Assam

Saturday 31 October

An evening departure on Singapore Airlines to Singapore from Auckland Airport. Overnight in Singapore.

Sunday 01 November

Depart Singapore in the afternoon, arriving Delhi late evening. Transfer to your hotel.

Delhi is a dynamic city of two parts, where the past coexists with the present. In 1911, the British decided to make it the capital of India and commissioned Sir Edwin Lutyens to draw up the plans. The result is slightly surprising, with spacious tree-lined avenues punctuated with architecture that is amongst the most striking in the world.

Monday 02 November

This morning experience the combined charm of Old and New Delhi beginning with a drive past the Red Fort, Raj Ghat followed by a Rickshaw Ride through the bazaars of Chandni Chowk. Visit the Sikh temple Bangla Sahib. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing on to New Delhi to see the historical India Gate, the Presidents estate, Parliament House and visit Humayun’s Tomb. Welcome Dinner tonight.

The place of ‘Sikh’ worship is open to people of all faiths, castes or creeds. The ‘Langars’ or the community kitchens proves to be the ideal example of prodigious hospitality of the Sikhs where anyone and everyone can have scrumptious meal. 

Tuesday 03 November

This morning fly to Jodphur and then drive to Jamba and the Dera Dunes Retreat – the world’s first resort on top of a nearly 100 ft high sand dune.

Wednesday 04 November

Today we enjoy a desert jeep safari to explore the village communities. The Bishnoi people that inhabit the area believe in the sanctity of animal and plant life so wildlife finds a natural sanctuary around their villages. We also visit the Raikas and carpet weavers before taking an exciting sunset camel safari.

Thursday 05 November

Drive to Jodhpur, the ‘Blue City’, with a stop at Kheechan to see a spectacular display of Demoiselle cranes being fed by villagers. In the afternoon, visit the majestic Meherangarh Fort.

Friday 06 November

After breakfast we drive to Udaipur, stopping along the way at Ranakpur, home to some of India’s most exquisite Jain temple architecture. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing on to Udaipur. 

Saturday 07 November

Today we visit Jagdish Temple, the largest and most revered temple in Udaipur built in 1651 AD by Maharaja Jagat Singh. Continue on to explore the serene Garden of Maidens (Saheliyon Ki Bari), the City Palace before taking a boat ride on Lake Pichola as evening falls.

Sunday 08 November

Drive to Jaipur with some time to relax before dinner with a local family at their private home and be part of an authentic Diwali celebration.

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is one of India’s most vibrant and cherished festivals. It marks the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. In Rajasthan, this celebration becomes even more special with its rich traditions, royal charm, and heartfelt hospitatlity. 

Monday 09 November

Today we visit the Amber Fort, built by the Kachhawah Rajputs as their capital from 1037 to 1728 before a stop at the Palace of Winds, the Hawa Mahal. After lunch we visit the City Palace which now houses the royal residence and museums with a fine collection of textiles and costumes, armoury, manuscripts and paintings.

Jaipur is the largest city of Rajasthan, which is an epitome of magnificence and vibrancy. This royal place is rich in heritage, culture and architecture with splendid fortresses, majestic palaces, tranquil temples and beautiful havelis. Other than these captivating attractions, Jaipur displays exquisite handicrafts and spectacular jewellery.

Tuesday 10 November

After breakfast we travel to Agra. Enroute visit the spectacular Underground Step-wells ‘Chand Baori’ that lie hidden deep in the village of ‘Abhaneri’. After lunch in the hotel, proceed to see Mehtab Bagh, a garden built on the banks of Yamuna River.

Wednesday 11 November

An exquisite early morning visit to the Taj Mahal - one of the wonders of the modern world, completed in 1652 as a mausoleum for the beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal. Return to the hotel for breakfast before  a vist to Agra Fort, which stands like a crescent on the banks of the Yamuna River. After a special home-hosted lunch with a local family enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Thursday 12 November

Travel by train to Varanasi. Upon arrival visit Sarnath, which is one of four holy Buddhist sites before checking in to the hotel. 

Varanasi or Benaras is one of the oldest living cities in the world. According to the English author Mark Twain “Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as them all put together”.

Friday 13 November

Rise early this morning for a boat ride on the Ganga past the Ghats where pilgrims gather to bathe in the sacred waters in the misty light of dawn. After lunch enjoy a performance by a famous sitar player before taking a boat ride along the holy River Ganges and witness the captivating, twilight ‘Aarti’ ceremony conducted by priests worshipping the river goddess with incense, camphor, flowers and earthen lamps.

Saturday 14 November

Transfer to the hotel for a mid-morning flight to Kolkata. On arrival we travel the busy streets to our hotel for our overnight stop. Evening at leisure.

Sunday 15 November

After breakfast transfer to the airport for our flight to Jorhat. On arrival, board the MV Mahabaahu in time for a Welcome Lunch ahead of our seven-night cruise. This evening raise a traditional toast to the mighty Brahmaputra River that carves the valley of Assam and enjoy a sit down Welcome Dinner.

Monday 16 November

Begin with a day-excursion to 13th Century Sibsagar, a city built around a huge water tank and Shiva temple. We visit the Talatal and the Rang Ghar before driving on to a tea estate for a home-hosted traditional Assamese lunch with the tea-estate family who have been involved in the tea business for more than a century. Return to MV Mahabaahu by sunset.

Tuesday 17 November

Enjoy a talk of ‘Majuli, the seat of Vaishnav culture’ before sailing towards the closest Mishing Village, where people live on the bank of the river in ‘Chang Ghars’, houses with raised platforms. Take the opportunity to buy colourful cotton weaves from the Village’s expert women weavers before continuing on to Dhansiri Mukh for a dinner under the stars.

Wednesday 18 November

After breakfast we enjoy a boat safari. Sightings of otters, elephants, buffalo, darters, herons, kingfishers, serpent eagles and many more are possible. This evening a chef’s cooking demonstration before a relaxing evening onboard.

Thursday 19 November

Take the excursion boats to visit the shores of Bishwanath Ghat. Walk through the village and take in the simplicity of life and interact with the local women as they weave silk and cotton. Enjoy a relaxed lunch as we sail on to Silghat. Visit the Kaliabore tea estate and tea factory to see the process of producing Assam Tea.Visit a Jute Mill before a cultural evening and dinner on the ship tonight. 

Friday 20 November

An early morning drive to the Kaziranga National Park - home to the Greater One-Horned Indian Rhinoceros, wild elephants, tiger, deer, Asiatic wild buffalo and a rich variety of birds.  Enjoy a special elephant-backed safari where we search for the elusive rhinoceros, tigers, deer and a variety of birds.

Saturday 21 November

A relaxed morning as we travel on towards an island occupied predominantly by a ‘bangla’ speaking Muslim farming community. After lunch enjoy a talk on ‘Kamakhya and the Occult and Peacock Island’. Continue to Pandu Port before a Farewell Dinner ‘Alvida Bhoj’ tonight. 

Sunday 22 November

A relaxing morning before disembarkation and a transfer to the airport for your flight to Kolkata.  Check into your hotel with the rest of the day at leisure.

Kolkata the city of joy as it is called is also commonly considered as the ‘Paris of the East’ as there is a happy amalgamation of different cultures, styles and moods, coupled along with numerous forms of industries, commerce and politics.

Monday 23 November

Today, visit Mother Teresa’s House where her legacy of caring for abandoned children continues. In the afternoon, a pottery tour to Kumartuli, and in the evening, enjoy a river cruise on the Hooghly River, offering a unique and intriguing perspective of the city. Farewell Dinner tonight.

Kolkata mainly gained importance in the times of British rule as it had been the capital of India till the year 1912.  At present, it is the capital of West Bengal and is one of the most important places of cultural workshop and industrial centre.

Tuesday 24 November

After an early breakfast, a visit to the flower market – Eastern India’s largest flower market with hundreds of stalls where 2,000 flower growers from the surrounding areas sell their flowers and garlands. We complete our experience with a visit to the Victoria Memorial. This marble white monument is one of the most fascinating landmarks in Kolkata. An afternoon free to relax before transferring to the hotel for a late flight to Auckland

Wednesday 25 November

Change planes in Singapore and continue on to Auckland.

Today the optional 5 day tour to Bhutan departs from Kolkata