Cruise Assam to Bengal

Saturday 05 April

A late morning departure on Singapore Airlines, change planes at Singapore for a late arrival in India, where you will be transferred to your central city hotel.

Sunday 06 April

Today is a city tour of Kolkata starting with old British Calcutta. Continue to Victoria Memorial, now serving as a royal museum of British Rule in India. Lunch is at a local restaurant, then onto Kumartuli, where a whole army of sculptors potters, frame decorators and dressers work with clay from the River Ganges, heaps of straw, cheap gold foils, bamboo, beads, plus, to create pieces of art.

Monday 07 April

This morning you will transfer to the airport for the flight to Guwahati. On arrival there is a visit to the Kamakhya temple and local bazaar area. After an onboard lunch you will visit Peacock Island, the smallest inhabited river island of the world. We anchor in the Brahmaputra for the first night. 

The Brahmaputra River – 2900km long - one of the major rivers in Asia – flows through Tibet, the Himalayas, India (the Assam Valley), Bangladesh into the Bay of Bengal - possibly one of the holiest rivers of the World! - the only river in the world considered holy by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Bonpas, amounting to four religions!

Tuesday 08 April

After Yoga and a relaxed breakfast visit Sualkuchi—the silk hub of Assam to understand its production of Muga, (cherished golden silk of Assam), Paat (white wonder) and Eri (a warm non-violent silk).  Following a cultural performance, a walk through the village and maybe indulge in some shopping. Return for lunch as the cruise continues downstream.  This evening a talk on “Wildlife in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Kaziranga and Manas National Park. 

Wednesday 09 April

An early morning drive to Manas National Park near the BHUTAN border. Here you have an elephant and Jeep Safari. Lunch will be in a resort at Manas. 

Thursday 10 April

A morning talk on “Sikh traditions and Hiramati culture” before attending a prayer ceremony (Ardas) which includes lunch at Dam-dama Sahib Gurudwara (a Sikh temple). Here you will experience the concept of langar (community eating). After that a visit to Asharekandi village, famous for its traditional crafts, Terracotta and Pottery. You may even try your hand at clay pottery.

Friday 11 April

We sail from Dhubri, to reach Shishumara for Indian Border Security Force clearance into the no-man stretch of water. 

The Bangladesh Border Guard Custom clearance is at Shahber Agla. Then at Chilmari, we complete immigration formalities, (Pilot Change) and enter Bangladesh. An Assamese theme dinner tonight. 

Saturday 12 April

A full day cruising. After yoga, breakfast there will be a talk on “Bangladesh as a country, its monuments culture and commercial enterprises”. 

Sunday 13 April

 ‘An orientation on Sirajganj’ talk then travel by tender to the Sirajganj area. The Pachalia village is known for cotton weaving of colourful gamchas, lungis and saris, try some bargaining. At Hati Kamrul Navratna Temple a local artists cultural performance. Enjoy a local lunch at a roadside restaurant.

Monday 14 April

A day to experience the life along the river, The  mighty Jamuna and Ganges (Ganga) now merge and becomes Padma with its various boats, sand barrages, tugs, dredgers, fisherman, colourful ferries.  You have time to enjoy the Swimming Pool, Spa/massages/steam/sauna/Jacuzzi, a laid back afternoon. This evening opportunity for a riverside-walk along the banks of Padma.

Tuesday 15 April

Todays tour starts with Sonargaon, a 13th century City, a walk through the ruins of Panam City to visit the Folklore museum,  Goaldi Mosque then to Nawapara to watch weaving beautiful saris /fabric. Lunch is home-cooked authentic Bangla food. 

Wednesday 16 April

On the drive to Dhamra we stop at the National Martyr’s Monument (the Liberation War in 1971). Then move to the Metal Craft village to meet the Craftsman using a lost wax method. After a local restaurant lunch visit Kakran Pottery Village where potters cling to their ancestral profession. 

Thursday 17 April

The city tour of Dhaka includes Dhakeshwari Temple and  the National Language Monument. Followed by a cycle rickshaw ride on the streets of Dhaka. Next visit the Lal Bagh Fort and the tomb of Bibi Pari and Shahista Palace, before a rickshaw ride to Shakhari Bazaar. This evening a home hosted dinner with a local family. 

Friday 18 April

Leaving Dhaka Port our cruise returns into the waters of Padma. Here the volume and quantity of water at the confluence is immense. The fishermen of this area are known for Hilsa fishing, a delicacy of Bangladesh. We stop at a Hilsa fishing village and engage with the locals.  On arrival at Barisal we have a vist to the thriving village market for fresh vegetables and local fruits as well as spices. Also a tour of a Bangladeshi ferry. 

Saturday 19 April

A very early morning drive to the floating vegetable market. This is a unique experience  where all transport is done on the river. We return to the boat and cruise to reach the UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE OF SUNDARBANS in the Kotka Forest Area. 

Sunday 20 April

It is a very exciting and different experience in these water laden animal sanctuaries. Another early morning departure for an exciting  90 min boat safari along the Sundarbans shores to the canals and creeks near The Kotka Wildlife Sanctuary. Here you observe (spotted deer, monkeys, wild boar, water monitor and birds) as they wake up among the aerial roots of the mangrove mudflats. Return for breakfast and continue our cruise through the estuary waters to reach Jamtola Beach. Here a walk through the mangrove vegetation where the tiger plays hide and seek leaveing behind ‘fresh pugmarks’. Also an opportunity to indulge and take a dip in the waters of Bay of Bengal. Onto to Chandpai Dolphin Sanctuary and after dinner, a night safari in the water inlets of the mangrove shores. 

Monday 21 April

Again an early morning boat safari to visit the Harbaria Forest Station. Return for breakfast then a three-hour morning forest walk at the Harbaria Forest Station to study the mangrove fauna and flora. Later continue by tender to the Karamjal Eco Tourism Center and the Karamjal Crocodile Farm. Followed by a ship lunch as we sail to Daingmari Dolphin Sanctuary waters. By tender you will observe not just dolphins but also watch the techniques of otter fishing. On to Mongla Port and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bagerhat. This evening a cultural performance. 

Tuesday 22 April

This is a full day for sailing from Mongla Port to Hemnagar. It is a relaxing day but with a lot of official activity on board both for custom and immigration clearance. 

Wednesday 23 April

An early morning trip to explore the waters of the Indian Sunderbans and its wild life. After breakfast, enjoy a Purulia cultural performance in one of the villages plus visit the Mangrove Interpretation Centre at Sajnekhali with a walk to see wild life. After lunch another boat safari in Sajnekhali to look in the narrow water inlets for more wild life.

Thursday 24 April

 After Immigration formalities we sail past Belur Math and the old Danish Colony of Serampore. We take a walk through the cantonment past the Semaphore Tower, Government House, the Temple of Fame and the Flagstaff House. 

Friday 25 April

 This day starts with a visit to Bandel (the former Portuguese colony). Our cruise then  continues to Kalna where we take rickshaws to see some of West Bengal’s most attractive terracotta temples. 

Saturday 26 April

 Today’s visits include; the famous (Tant Bengal cotton Weavers colony) at Phulia/ Shantipur, then the brass-working village of Matiari to witness the whole primitive process of beating out brass water pots and other vessels, before continuing upstream towards Mayapur with a visit to the headquarters of ISKCON (Hare Krishna).

Sunday 27 April

A full day tour of Murshidabad. One of the oldest cities in West Bengal, Murshidabad stands as a testimony to the rich heritage of Nawabs of Bengal. Later, visit Katra Mosque and Katgola Gardens. Also visit the famous Adinath Temple, built in 1873. A late lunch and sail back towards Kolkata with the tide. 

Monday 28 April

We will reach Kolkata today. Disembark after lunch and transfer to the airport for your Singapore Airlines return flight.

Tuesday 29 April

Arrive Singapore early morning, change planes and arrive Auckland late evening