On arrival in Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, you will be met in the arrival hall by your local guide and/or National Escort from Wendy Wu Tours. Together with all other group members who may be arriving at a similar time, you will transfer approximately 45 minutes to your hotel. Early check-in is not included. Additional nights’ before and after your tour can be arranged. Please contact our Reservations team to book. An informal Welcome Dinner will be held on Day 2. If you miss this due to your arrival time, all information will be provided to you at breakfast the following morning.

The capital of West Bengal and widely considered India’s cultural capital, in Kolkata is a place of fascinating contrasts, something that you will explore on today’s tour of the city. See landmark sights like Birla Planetarium, Belur Math, Dakineshwar Kali Temple and the spectacular white marble edifice of the Victoria Memorial before, this evening, taking a walking tour to Park Street, the famous thoroughfare in Kolkata’s downtown area.

The capital of the British Raj between 1858 and 1911, Kolkata is home to a series of colonial sights which you will visit on this morning walking tour, including the stately Dalhousie Square. This afternoon, you’ll pay a visit to Mother House, a quiet convent that was home to Mother Teresa and her missionary sisters since 1953. Visit her tomb and a small museum dedicated to her life and work. Please note the walking tour will last approximately 2 hours.

Transfer to the airport (approximately 45 minutes) and fly to Bagdogra (flight time 1 hour 5 minutes). On arrival, drive to Gangtok, a scenic 4 hour mountainous drive, winding through the incredible landscapes of Sikkim, with towering Himalayan peaks as your backdrop. Please note while driving to Gangtok area some people may experience sickness due to the increase in altitude.

Sikkim’s bustling state capital, Gangtok sits on the side of a hill overlooking the valleys and peaks of the Himalayan foothills. Today you will explore it, visiting the 18th-century Rumtek, the region’s most spiritually significant monastery, Enchey Monastery with its colourful prayer hall, the Tashi Viewpoint, where you’ll get spectacular views of Mount Kanchenjunga and more. You’ll also fly your way up the cable ropeway for panoramic views of the city and its surroundings.

Soak up the incredible scenery as you travel through the Himalayan foothills, passing through vast expanses of tea plantations as you approach the hill station of Darjeeling (approximately 4 hour drive). En-route, you’ll stop at the Ravangla Buddha Park to admire a 40-metre-tall copper Buddha set against a mountainous backdrop. Please note to reach The Buddha Park of Ravangla you will be required to climbed approx. 100 steps. Please note: Electricity shortages are common in Darjeeling.

Rise at 4am before dawn and travel up Tiger Hill to watch the sun rising over Kanchenjunga which, at 8,586 metres, is the world’s third highest mountain (weather dependent). The rest of the morning is at leisure before an afternoon ride on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway’s ‘toy train’ from Darjeeling to Ghoom. Visit Ghoom Monastery before returning to Darjeeling to tour the Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park, the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and Tibetan Refugee Center. This evening, enjoy a stroll through the market.

Transfer back to Bagdogra airport (approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes) and fly to Guwahati (1 hour 20 minutes flight time). The rest of the day is at leisure.

Transfer to Silghat (approximately 4 hour drive), a port on the Brahmaputra River, where you’ll board your river cruise vessel. With a spa, saloon, and spacious sun deck along with cool and roomy cabins with floor-to-ceiling sliding windows for optimum views, there is no better to explore the rich riverbanks of the mighty Brahmaputra. Cast off and begin your upstream cruise, enjoying lunch and dinner onboard.

This morning, disembark from the ship and take a jeep safari into the central range of the Kaziranga National Park. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kaziranga is best known for its population of Indian one-horned rhinoceros and is a designated tiger reserve. Alongside these two magnificent creatures, Kaziranga is also home to elephants, sloth bears, pangolin, water buffalo, swamp deer and a number of species of primate, among much more, and is an important habitat for birds. Enjoy a riverside lunch before hopping back into jeeps to explore the park's western reaches, where there is even more wonderful wildlife to spot.

Spend the morning on a tea experience on a picturesque Assam tea estate. Here you’ll learn all about the production process, from plucking the leaves to brewing a cup. Back on the boat, cruise upstream, passing through more of Kaziranga National Park’s spectacular wilderness, spotting wildlife on the banks of the river as you go. Drop anchor near Biswanath village.

Head into the village, where there is a rich, cultural heritage to explore. Biswanath’s ghat is home to a cluster of temples dedicated to different gods, including an Ahom-era Shiva temple – discover these and have a wander through the town, soaking up the beautiful riverside and rural surroundings. Continue cruising through Kaziranga National Park, keeping a look out for wild elephants. Then, spend the afternoon up on the ship’s sun deck where you may be lucky enough to spot a member of a small population of the endangered Ganges River dolphins.

Today you’ll be able to sit back, relax and watch the river landscapes drift by as you cruise upstream. There will be one stop at a rural riverside village where a walking tour is a great way to stretch your legs.

Explore one of the world’s largest river islands, Majuli, which is a fascinating microcosm of local culture. Visit two of the island’s tranquil satras (monasteries) that have been essential in preserving Assamese art and culture and enjoy a traditional dance performance. Cruise farther upstream to Salmara Ghat, visiting a nearby village that is known for its traditional handicrafts, to see the artisans at work.

Transfer by car to Sibsagar. Once the capital of the Ahom kings, explore the remnants of a fascinating culture with visits to old temples and examples of innovative engineering. Return to the ship and cruise back to Neamati Ghat for your final night onboard the ship.

Bid farewell to your river cruise ship, the ABN Charaidew II or ABN Sukapha and transfer 45 minutes to Jorhat airport for your 1 hour 45 minute flight back to Kolkata. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Any time before your flight is at leisure. You will be transferred from your hotel to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, according to the departure time of your international flight. Late check-out is not included. Please contact our Reservations team to pre-book.