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Day 01 Arrive Kolkata
Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel (Hindustan International/Peerless Inn)
Kolkata, is a city of glaring contrasts: a curious blend of the old and the new, partly feudal, partly born out of growing urbanization, partly un-definable. It is a medley of the east and the west. It is a graft of a European city imposed on the Asian scape that gives Kolkata its bewildering charm, confusion and excitement. Being just about 300 years old, Kolkata hardly has many great historical monuments. Perhaps, the oldest remembered is the site where the Kalighat Temple now stands. Today, Kolkata is the largest city in India with a population over 10 million and boasts of India's first ever metro rail system. It is a city that shocks on first impression but eventually the visitor falls in love with it.
Overnight is at the hotel (Hindustan International/Peerless Inn).

Day 02 Kolkata
Today you will proceed for a full day sightseeing of Kolkata. You will visit the Victoria Memorial. This is Kolkata's most imposing and monumental dream in marble, opened by the Prince of Wales in 1921 and often called the "Taj" of the British Raj, St. Paul's Cathedral and the Indian Museum, the largest in India, with one of the best collections of Indian art.
Overnight is at the hotel (Hindustan International/Peerless Inn).

Day 03 Kolkata / Guwahati / Cruise
In time transfer to Kolkata Airport to board your flight for Guwahati. Meeting and assistance on arrival. From there, you will drive across the great bridge over the Brahmaputra River and on to the silk weaving village of Sualkuchi, where RV “Sukapha” or “Charaidew” will be moored. Explore on foot, visiting weaving workshops to see the whole process of silk manufacture, from cocoon to spinning to dyeing and finally to hand weaving into exquisite saris and dress lengths.
Overnight on board.

Day 04 On Cruise
This morning we cruise down to Tarabari Ghat, where we land and drive for 2 hours to Manas National Park, on the border with Bhutan, checking in to the simple Bansbari Lodge. This Project Tiger reserve is now recovering well from earlier unrest, and the tiger count is now estimated at over 80. Wild elephant number about 500. We take a short boat ride on the Manas River, where we hope to see wild Buffalo, wild Elephant, several different species of deer and monkeys, as well as otters and some of the park's 380 different species of birds.
Overnight at the Bansbari Lodge.

Day 05 On Cruise
We take an early morning elephant ride through grassland, hopefully seeing several different species of deer and monkeys, as well as otters and some of the park’s 380 different species of birds, perhaps including the rare Bengal Florican or the Great Hornbill. After breakfast, we walk through a local village, visit the nearby tea garden and see Bodo tribal handweaving. We then drive through Barpeta, which is famous for its great Vaishnavite Monastery and rejoin our vessel at Tarabari Ghat. We cruise upstream all afternoon.
Overnight on board.

Day 06 On Cruise
This is a day spent on the river, with a chance to enjoy the rich bird life and look out for the Gangetic River Dolphin. The Garo Hills, once the abode of headhunters, rise on the south bank. If we make good progress, we may have time to pause and visit a riverside village. We should reach Sualkuchi again by dusk.
Overnight on board.

Day 07 On Cruise / Guwahati / Kolkata
We drive out this morning to Hajo, a place sacred to Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists. We visit a Muslim shrine with extensive hilltop views over the surrounding rural landscape, as well as the simple Hindu temple with its frieze of elephants and its sacred tank full of great carp, catfish and turtles. Later we return by road to Guwahati Airport to board flight for Kolkata.
Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel. (Hindustan International/Peerless Inn)

Day 08 Kolkata / Sunderbans
Today you will drive to Sonakhali Jetty from where you will cruise to the Sunderbans. The cruiser sets sail along the Beautiful Ganges, heading south. You will pass through various heritage sites for seven to eight hours until you reach Namkhana, a fisherman's cove and the Gateway to the Sunderbans. You can unwind, relax and soak in the beauty of the river; read books in the library; interact with artisans or take an ayurvedic massage.
The busy fishing harbour will give an insight into the lifestyle of the fisherman. You can buy fresh fish and other sea food to be cooked on the kitchen counters for the dinner. After the interaction with the fishermen, the cruiser enters the Sunderbans. Here it has to navigate through the narrower creek of Hatania - Doanina. You will have the first glimpse of the dense mangrove and the vast river system with several creeks flowing into the main river.
In the evening, you can watching a wildlife documentary or listen to a wildlife talk and enjoy a dinner with music from modern and traditional Bengal.
Overnight at the Sunderbans Jungle camp.

Day 09 Sunderbans
Today at 5.30 am you can see the spectacular early sunrise, while your cruiser sails towards the east. This day you will experience the lifestyle of the Sunderbans. You will learn about their traditions and culture, along with the rich bio-diversity of the region, as well as visiting the Estuarine Crocodile Project at Bhagabatpur. You will visit watchtowers, go for a canopy walk at some of the islands - Dobanke, Sajnekhali and Sudhanyakhali. You will be accompanied by a local naturalist, who will provide you with the best insight to the forest, the animals and the birds. They will tell you the fascinating stories that are attached to the islands. Later in the evening, before sunset, the vessel will anchor at a beautiful Sunderban village. You will see farming, paddy being husked, collected honey being packed, fishing, prawn culture and various other occupations of the region. After sunset, you will enjoy a traditional mythological folk drama, Bon Bibir Pala, which is a rich folklore performance of the Sunderbans.
Later in the evening, you can enjoy a traditional Bengali meal while recorded folk songs of Bengal mesmerize the dining hall.

Day 10 In Sunderbans
On this day, the cruiser turns back from the Sunderbans on its journey back to Kolkata. The vessel sails south and then towards the west, through wide rivers, Bidya, Matla, Thakuran and Saptamukhi, which are almost as wide as a sea.
Your next stop is at Lothian Island, where there is an interesting forest trail. Dinner is served on the cruiser with music.

Day 11 Sunderbans / Kolkata
The vessel again will cross over Namkhana as per the tide and will head back home. The vessel will reach Kolkata in the afternoon depending on the tide.
Arrive and check in at the hotel. (Hindustan International/Peerless Inn)

Day 12 Departure Kolkata
In time transfer to the Kolkata International Airport to board your flight for your onward destination.

Tour Cost is £1,845 per person (based on two people sharing)

Tours cost valid for 1st Oct 2011 – 31st March 2012

Airfare Supplement is £165 per person.
Airfare quoted above is for travel on sector KOLKATA – GUWAHATI – KOLKATA in economy class and subject to change without prior notice.

Your Tour Includes:

• 11 night’s accommodation at hotels mentioned below
• i.e. 4 nights in Kolkata at the Hindustan Internation or Peerless Inn
• 4 nights on board the cruise vessel
• 3 nights in the Sunderbans at the Jungle Camp
• Meal Plan: Daily buffet breakfast in Kolkata and full board on Cruise / Sunderbans
• Services of an air-conditioned transport for airport / intercity transfers & sightseeing tours as per the itinerary
• Services of an English speaking local guide as per the itinerary
• All applicable taxes on the mentioned services including mandatory government service tax

Your Tour Does Not Include:

• Any expenses of personal nature like tips, laundry, table drinks etc
• Any other meal other than specified above
• Any other item or service not otherwise specified above
• Any airfare to / from / within India (Refer to supplement quoted below)
• Any entrance fees to the monuments

Please note:
The cost quotation is valid for the specified period of travel only and is not valid for peak period between 15 Dec’10 – 15 Jan’11

Important
The Indian Government have the right to revise any park entrance fees at any time and on such occasions, the prices quoted may be subject to change, as we do not have such a margin that will absorb these cost differences. This will also apply if the Government announces any increase in taxes or airfares.




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