Assam

Tour members gather for the overnight flights to India.

On arrival in Kolkata late this afternoon, we transfer directly to our hotel. Kolkata, often described as "The City of Joy," is a fascinating microcosm of India. Begun by the British in the 18th century, the city straddles the Ganges Delta and offers glimpses of colonial power, artistic endeavour, and bustling humanity. 

Taj Bengal Hotel (2 nights)

Our first morning will provide an overview of this vast city, from the remnants of the British Raj to the reality of the 21st century. Some highlights include the busy Howrah Bridge, the historic Fort William, St. Andrew's Church (1818), the High Court, Legislative buildings, the Victoria Memorial (1921), the Maidan, and the Raj Bhavan. After lunch, visit Kumartuli – the Colony of Potters, where some 400 sculptors, working with clay from the nearby Hooghly River, create images of Hindu gods and goddesses. An army of sculptors, potters, and others work with heaps of straw, clay, gold foils, and other materials to create artistic pieces beyond belief. Gather this evening for our welcome buffet dinner.

This morning we fly to Jorhat, a small centre on the Brahmaputra River where we are met and transferred to our home for the next ten nights, the MV Mahabaahu. Following a light lunch, we will have time to settle in before our welcome briefing and talk. Relax as we enjoy our first sunset followed by our welcome dinner.

MV Mahabaahu (10 nights)

Group members can choose between two excursions.

Option A: Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary and Jeep Safari
This sanctuary is home to the only ape in India – the hoolock gibbon. Also found here is Northeast India's only nocturnal primate, the Bengal slow loris (plus 7 out of the 9 primates of India). Depart very early (the best time to view wildlife) with a picnic breakfast. Our naturalist and guide walks with us through the thick evergreen forest for a couple of hours. Continue to a nearby tea estate for an authentic Assamese brunch hosted by the planter’s family. Enjoy the tea gardens, a talk about tea and herbal plants, some tea-tasting, and interaction with the family (who have been here for more than a century). The tea gardens are home to many bird species, so keep your lens focused. Drive to the Eastern Range of Kaziranga National Park (Agoratoli) for our 3-hour afternoon jeep safari in search of wildlife and birds before returning to the ship at dusk.

Option B: Sivasagar and the T’Ahom People
Starting at 8:00 am, enjoy a morning drive to Sivasagar, passing through Assamese villages and traditional farmlands, and observing fishing ponds and betel nut trees. Densely populated, the busy roads are often crowded and rough (from the monsoons). The city, founded by Sukapha in 1228, was the region’s capital for 600 years. Highlights include Rang Ghar (the royal sports pavilion used for animal fights and entertainment), the Talatal Ghar (an 18th-century palace with extensive gardens, a moat, and stables for horses), and the Shiva Dol, the highest Shiva temple in India which also houses areas dedicated to Vishnu and Parvati.

We return to our boat for a late lunch followed by an afternoon to relax by the pool or enjoy some spa treatments or Ayurvedic therapies.

Wake early to enjoy the sounds of the birds as we walk on the bund at Neamati Ghat with our naturalist/guide. Experience the waking village as people go about their daily routines, tending gardens and fishing, while children head off to school. Enjoy breakfast as we sail to Majuli, the world’s largest inhabited river island, to immerse ourselves in the culture of the Neo-Vaishnav people. Highlights ashore include the dancing and music of the Gayan Bayan (performed by the priests), the Dashavatar (a dance representing the reincarnation of Vishnu performed by young Vaishnav girls), and Mukha Bhavana (classical dance), revealing the richness and variety of the culture. Mask making and pottery are celebrated art forms of Majuli. The island is also home to unique fauna, including open-billed storks nesting all over the island, as well as adjutant storks, whistling ducks, bar-headed geese, and weaver birds. Enjoy some free time to explore the local bazaar.

Return to the boat for lunch as we continue downstream. This afternoon's talk will delve into the Brahmaputra and Assam, along with previews of visits to the Mishing tribal village and a boat safari in the eastern range of Kaziranga. This evening, we visit a deserted island to indulge in barbecued snacks, sundowners, and a bonfire while relaxing under the stars.

Early risers can start the day with a morning yoga session or a brisk walk on the beach. Later, visit Mishing, including several private homes (Chang Ghars), to observe how people go about their daily lives. Chang Ghars are built entirely of bamboo (and thus easy to move). As is their custom, weavers work their cloth using colourful ethnic designs and homespun and dyed cotton threads. The Mishings proudly wear their colourful traditional attire (dhoti kurta for men and mekhla chaadar for ladies).

Over lunch, we sail towards the Eastern Range of Kaziranga. Using the ship’s comfortable tenders, we explore the shores of the national park, observing how the river carves a new shoreline each year. Watch as water buffalo suddenly pull themselves out of the water or an elephant family comes down to quench their thirst. We hope to see a variety of winged creatures that live on the river banks as well as water monitors basking on sunlit trunks. Upon return to the ship, join a cooking demonstration by the chef, who will introduce us to a variety of Assamese dishes.

Enjoy yoga on the Sun Deck as the ship sails to Bishwanath Ghat, a river village sprinkled with temples and a vibrant mix of weavers, fishermen, farmers, and boat makers. A Shiva Dol (temple) from the times of Ahom rises on the bank, surrounded by traditional fishing boats on the river. The local weavers display their colourful work, with stories woven into hand-woven fabrics.

After a relaxed lunch, we disembark in Silghat to visit the local jute mill. Witness the processing of the golden fibre into gunny bags. At a nearby tea estate, stroll through the plantation as women harvest the tea leaves and learn about the processing into the finished product. Enjoy the State Dance of Assam, ‘Bihu’, performed by young village boys and girls, before returning to the ship. Prepare for our exciting elephant safari and jeep drives tomorrow to the Central and Western Ranges of Kaziranga. Over the next couple of days, keep an eye out for distant views of the spectacular snow-covered Himalayan peaks.

Once again, we have two options – members can ride an elephant and visit the park by jeep safari or simply take jeep safaris into the park. Wildlife on both of these excursions will be similar. We hope to see Asiatic elephants, elusive wildcats, Asiatic water buffalo with their enormous horn span, hog and swamp deer, plus the one-horned rhinoceros for which this UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous.

Option A: Elephant Ride and Jeep Safari

Rising very early, we drive to a resort in the National Park where we embark on our elephant safari. Ride into the early misty morning, and as the sun's rays thin the mist, we witness wildlife up close and personal: swamp and hog deer, Asiatic water buffaloes, and rhinos grazing happily within metres of each other. After an hour on the back of an elephant, we return to the resort where breakfast awaits, including Indian specialties like dosas (thin savoury crepes), idlis (rice cakes), coconut chutney, poori aloo (potato curry with crisp fried bread), and parathas (flatbread).

After breakfast, we continue with a jeep safari to the Central Range, continuing our search for wildlife. After lunch at a resort in the park, enjoy another jeep safari exploring the Western Range.

Option B: Jeep Safari at Eastern and Central Range

For those preferring a more leisurely day, breakfast will be provided on board prior to the 7:00 am departure by jeep safari to the Eastern (Agoratoli) Range (3 hours). Following lunch at a resort in the park, we take another jeep drive, this time in the Central (Kohora) Range.

Following our jeep safaris, we head back to our riverboat, witnessing the paddy fields fed by the Brahmaputra as we weave our way through the lands of Karbi Anglong.

This evening, we have an early dinner to get ready for the next national park visit.

Two options again on this day – we can do a bush walk plus river float in Nameri or a jeep safari in the Borgos Range in Kaziranga. Both of these excursions offer opportunities to see the Bengal tiger, Asiatic elephants, Indian leopard, clouded leopard, marbled cat, leopard cat, hog deer, sambar, dhole, gaur, barking deer, wild boar, sloth bear, Himalayan black bear, capped langur, and the giant squirrel. The rare white-winged wood duck, great pied hornbill, wreathed hornbill, rufous-necked hornbill, black stork, ibisbill, blue-bearded bee-eaters, babblers, and plovers are just some of the birds we may encounter.

Option A: Nameri National Park – Walk and River Float

Another early morning as we drive to Nameri National Park, home to a vast variety of game, including the fabled Bengal tiger. After using the facilities and crossing the river on a local ferry, we start our walk (about 2 hours) into the park with our naturalist/guide and an armed guard. Then we embark on rubber boats for a leisurely 2-hour float through the picturesque stretches of the Jia-Bhaireli River. Enjoy the scenery and game viewing as we make our way downstream.

Option B: Kaziranga National Park (Western Borgos Range) - Jeep Safari

Members will be taken on a jeep safari to the Western (Borgos) Range in Kaziranga National Park. Leaving at a more restful hour, we drive into the park followed by a 3-hour drive through the park.

Both groups return to the ship in time for lunch followed by a relaxing afternoon of cruising. Sit by the pool or make use of the ship’s many facilities – the spa, a steam room, and a jacuzzi. The spa offers a variety of Ayurvedic treatments (extra cost).

In the evening, we are in for a special treat, the Assamese Theme Evening. We dress in traditional mekhla chaadar and dhoti kurta for the evening. Sample freshly caught fried fish snacks while being entertained with Ahomia (traditional Assamese) music and dances. Then sit down for a dinner of special Assamese dishes.

After several days of excursions, we can look forward to a very relaxing day, cruising down the Brahmaputra River. This will be the perfect time to relax by the pool or to take advantage of the spa services available on our riverboat. The Sun Deck will be available for early morning and afternoon yoga sessions. We can indulge in the spa facilities, Ayurvedic therapies, regular massages, beauty treatments, manicures, and/or pedicures (extra cost) or relax in the steam room, sauna, and jacuzzi.

Sit and enjoy the passing panorama as we sail past villages and farms. Enjoy the hills that line the outskirts of Guwahati and watch for distant views of the mighty Himalayas. Watch as the Brahmaputra narrows while we sail past Peacock Island, the world’s smallest inhabited river island. Dinner may be early this evening as we prepare for an early start tomorrow.

Following another early start, we head north to Manas National Park, where we enjoy breakfast before heading into the park proper. By 8:00 am, we begin our jeep safari into the Bansbari Range. Located at the border with Bhutan, this range features impressive hills rising towards the mountains. We will spend a full morning exploring this special reserve, noted for its Bengal tigers, golden langurs, and much more. We stop for lunch at a resort in the park before driving back to our floating home, where we will have an afternoon to relax on board.

By late morning we are in Sualkuchi, a small village on the riverbank. We are treated to a special welcome together with a show of Bodo dances by the tribal folk. Travelling by e-rickshaw we will explore the village en route to the silk and weaving area where we will be introduced to the art of silk making and weaving. Sit down to an authentic Assamese lunch and then enjoy some retail therapy before returning to mv Mahabaahu. 
From here it is a short cruise to Pandu Port in Guwahati where we enjoy our final sunset cruise. Later we gather in the dining room for our Alvida Bhoj, our farewell dinner.

Later this morning, we bid fond farewells to our wonderful staff and floating home before catching a short flight to Kolkata. 

Taj Bengal Hotel (2 nights)  

Visit Asia’s largest flower market, a dazzling array of colours and people. Stop by Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity to learn about their ongoing work. At the Indian Museum (established in 1814 as the Imperial Museum), explore exhibits dedicated to the British Raj. 

Enjoy your final day at leisure. Relax by the pool or explore the city centre. We fly home this evening. 

Arriving in Toronto this morning, we make connections to our homes across Canada.