NOTE: The following information is from the 2021 tour season and is subject to change once the 2022 tour season information becomes available.

Day 1 KOLKATA (EMBARKATION)
Welcome to West Bengal. Your Ship Awaits.

Get acquainted with the ship prior to your welcome reception this evening.

AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO KALNA  (D)

Day 2 KALNA
Rituals, Rickshaws, and a Weaver’s Wares

DISCOVERY Ride on cycle rickshaws during your Guided Exploration of Kalna. Along the way visit the historic terracotta temple complex and receive blessings from the temple priest. Also visit a muslin-weaver’s home. 

Enjoy a free afternoon on board your ship.

AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO MATIARI (B,L,D)

Day 3 MATIARI
Sweet Shops and Shining Brass

DISCOVERY Join a Guided Walk through the village of Matiari where fascinating scenes of everyday life unfold in front of you. Stop to see how traditional sweets are made and explore the local produce market. The village is best known for brass-making and you’ll see how scrap metal is recycled to make figurines and functional items such as tea sets and vases. For the final step, watch a talented craftsman delicately hand-hammer intricate patterns into the brass.

Enjoy a free afternoon onboard your ship.

AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO MURSHIDABAD (B,L,D)

Day 4 MURSHIDABAD. EXCURSION TO AZIMGANJ & JIAGANJ
A Land of Silver, Gold, and Silk Sarees

DISCOVERY Guided Sightseeing brings you to two towns on opposite sides of the river. In Jiaganj, travel by electric rickshaw to see the art of Baluchari saree weaving. In Azimganj, walk through the local crafts market and visit Bari Kothi, a former residence that has been restored to its former grandeur after being abandoned for over half a century. Tour several rooms for a glimpse into the past, then settle in for a silver- and gold-making demonstration in the garden. 

Relax this afternoon onboard your ship.

AFTERNOON/EVENING SAILING TO MAYAPUR (B,L,D)

Day 5 MAYAPUR–GUPTIPARA
A Holy Pilgrimage on the Ganges

CLASSIC Your Morning Excursion brings you to the fascinating ISKCON campus at Mayapur, the worldwide headquarters of the Hare Krishna movement. A Krishna leader will guide you throughout your visit to introduce you to their philosophy and life on campus, Along the way, you’ll tour the main temple and have time for questions.

DISCOVERY This afternoon, climb aboard a Rickshaw (Toto) Ride for your visit to the small riverside village of Guptipara. Along the way see pottery and idol making. You’ll also visit a farmer’s home to interact with the family. 

AFTERNOON/EVENING SAILING TO KOLKATA  (B,L,D)

Day 6 KOLKATA
Flowers, Faith, and Victorian Art

CLASSIC This morning, take a Guided Walk through the colorful flower market. Afterward, focus on the life and work of Mother Teresa who dedicated her life to helping the city’s poor. Stop at her former home prior to visiting Nirmala Shishu Bhavan, a home for orphaned children run by Missionaries of Charity which she founded in 1950. 

CLASSIC After lunch, join a Guided Visit to the Victoria Memorial Museum. Built to commemorate Queen Victoria, the museum houses a beautiful collection of paintings, textiles, weapons, and other artifacts from the Victorian era.

Tonight, a farewell Dance Performance is presented on the ship. (B,L,D)

Day 7 KOLKATA (DISEMBARKATION)
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Enter a world of color, culture, and cherished spiritual tradition on this India river cruise vacation. The holy river of Hinduism, the Ganges, slowly courses through one of the world’s most fertile and populated areas. Along its banks, human life is connected to its waters and you’ll get a glimpse of life away from India’s big cities. See muslin weaving in Kalna and sweet making in Matiari. Stop in Murshidabad for an excursion to Azimganj and Jiaganj—to tour a historic mansion and see a gold and silver making demonstration. Explore the fascinating Hare Krishna headquarters in Mayapur, and visit Mother Teresa’s former home upon your return to Kolkata.

All of this and more await you on this once-in-a-lifetime Ganges River cruise.

Ship Amenities:

• Air-conditioned indoor lounge
• Outdoor lounge with shade system & lounge chairs
• Spacious, open-seating Panorama Dining Room
• Bar serving premium spirits, wine & complimentary coffee, tea, soft drinks, and local beer/spirits throughout the day
• Complimentary Wi-Fi access in the lounges (where signal is available)
• Spa treatment room
• Fitness Room
• Library and games
• Non-smoking staterooms & ship interior

Ship Dining:

• Spacious, open-seating Panorama Dining Room
• Chef-prepared onboard meals with regional cuisine and familiar favorites
• Seasonal recipes featuring the freshest local ingredients
• Vegetarian options available with all meals
• Daily early-riser coffee & tea
• Full breakfast buffet with live cooking station
• Lunch buffet with live cooking station showcasing local specialties served by our Head Chef
• Four-course à la carte dinners with choice of salads, soups, entrées, dessert or cheese
• Complimentary wine, local beer/spirits, soft drinks, coffee & tea at lunch & dinner

• Day 1 Kolkata, India (Embarkation): Welcome reception
• Day 2 Kalna: Sightseeing by rickshaw; visit a temple complex to receive blessings from a priest and visit a muslin-weaver’s home
• Day 3 Matiari: Walking tour of village to interact with brass craftsmen and see traditional sweets being made
• Day 4 Murshidabad. Excursion to Azimganj & Jiaganj: Travel by electric rickshaw to see saree weaving in Jiaganj; Guided Walk through Azimganj to see the local crafts market, visit Bari Kothi; silver and gold making demonstration
• Day 5 Mayapur–Guptipara: Morning visit to the ISKCON temple in Mayapur; rickshaw ride through Guptipara to see pottery-making and a farmer’s home
• Day 6 Kolkata: Guided walk through the flower market; visit Mother Teresa’s Home, a home for orphaned children, and the Victoria Memorial Museum; farewell dance performance
• Day 7 Kolkata: End of vacation

Cruising: Cabin onboard Ganges Voyager

• Cabin upgrades are available. 
  Port charges: $93.
• Gratuities to Local Guides & drivers are included. (excludes extensions which are to be paid locally).
• All prices are per person based on double room occupancy. Cruise price based on Category B in a Deluxe Suite on Main Deck. Cabin upgrades are available. 
• Please ask your Vacations To Go travel counselor for more information.

For Avalon Waterways terms and conditions, please click here.

* The prices shown are U.S. dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. Prices quoted for land/cruise arrangements are subject to increase without notice. Once we have received your deposit, land/cruise prices are guaranteed. Air prices quoted via phone or email are subject to increase and are guaranteed only from the time that full payment is received. Also, air prices or air promotions mentioned on this site or on the phone do not include baggage fees imposed by airlines.