India "The Ganges"
including river cruise
Our 14-day Ganges adventure plus cruise exploring the wonders of one of the worlds great rivers.
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India "The Ganges" 2026
India! there really is no where on the planet quite like it, you cannot help but be astonished. Fabulous wealth, and grinding poverty, sit side by side, your emotions will be all over the place. The country is also vast, you could spend a lifetime visiting and never see it all. On this trip we get to explore Kolkata, Varanasi and the great river Ganges along with Delhi and Agra all rich in amazing history. India is so full-on that for me its essential to have a comfortable place to retreat to in the evening, freshen up, and enjoy an evening meal, and we have chosen hotels for you to do just that in. This is not a 5* luxury hotel trip, (5* trips are available in India at a hefty price tag) its a comfortable 4* hand picked hotel adventure. Pandaw run (in my opinion) the best and most classic river cruises in Asia, which fit in perfectly with the OTS vibe. The cruise is of course not a gay cruise, its mixed , the staff are welcoming and there is always a great vibe onboard. So take the plunge and dive into the sensory overload which is India. DAY 1 ARRIVAL INTO KOLKATA (2 nights) You can arrive anytime today and transfer to our lovely hotel. Those arriving early can chill out after a long flight or head off exploring. This evening, we will all meet for a welcome dinner at the hotel making it easy for those who may have jetlag to get an early night if needed. DAY 2 KOLKATA Today we get to explore Kolkata with a full day tour around this fascinating city, visiting the main monuments at the best times of the day for the light to capture their magnificence. DAY 3 FARAKKA (Ship 7 nights) In the morning after an early breakfast, we will be transferred to the railway station for our 1st class (5hr) journey to meet our river cruise boat. We will join the ship in the afternoon, following our train journey from Kolkata. Be welcomed aboard your Pandaw by our crew and enjoy evening entertainment onboard before cocktails and dinner. DAY 4 SAILING We sail up the mighty Ganges River toward the confluence with the Koshi river. Stop along the way for a short village walk and enjoy our onboard entertainment. DAY 5 BHAGLAPUR – SULTANGANJ We sail early morning toward Bhaglapur, a hub of silk production. We witness the silk weaving and explore this small town before returning to the ship for lunch. In the afternoon we visit Sultanganj with its pair of great granite rocks, one crowned with a mosque and the other a small temple dating from the 16th century. DAY 6 MUNGER Munger is now a large and industrialised city but has an interesting history. In 1762, Mir Qasim, the Nawab of Bengal, shifted his capital from Murshidabad to Munger, and established a firearms manufacturing centre here. Explore the Mughal fort, East India Company cemetery and step inside the Bihar School of Yoga founded in 1964 by Satyananda Saraswati. One of the leading yoga schools in the country. The institution has developed yogic techniques through a synthesis of traditional yogic, vedantic and tantric practices and contemporary health science. DAY 7 MOKAMA Stop at Mokama, once home to Jim Corbett the naturalist and protector of the Indian tigers. Surrounded by farmlands, Mokama has the second hightest production of lentils in the country. Learn about the freedom fighters from Mokama such as Lalldin Saheb, whom during the freedom struggle was sentenced to jail during the British rule. DAY 8 BARH Explore Barh, a town famous for Hindu ritual cremation at Urmanath and the Alakhnath Temple. DAY 9 PATNA Enjoy a city tour of Patna, capital of Bihar state including a visit to The Golghar, a large stupa styled granary built in 1786. Farewell dinner with your crew. DAY 8 PATNA TO VARANASI (2 nights) Disembark your Pandaw vessel ready and transfer to Patna station for your 1st class train (4-5hr) to Varanasi. Upon arrival in Varanasi, transfer to our hotel or the airport. DAY 10 VARANASI You don’t so much, see as experience Varanasi, there really is no other place on earth like it, the most holy of Hindu cities. Nothing can quite prepare you, so it’s best not to even try, just look with wonder as the cycle of life unfolds around you. We have a guide with us all day today to make sure we don’t get lost and to explain the things we will witness. Today is a day you will never forget. DAY 12 DELHI After breakfast we will make our way to the airport for our mid-morning flight to Delhi where will be met at the airport, by our guide and driver who will take us on an afternoon tour of Delhi’s majestic monuments before checking in at our hotel for the evening. DAY 13 Highlights of DELHI or AGRA and the TAJ MAHAL Today there is a choice, as for many the "Ganges" tour is their second visit to India. Some will have already seen the Taj and may prefer to enjoy chill time or Delhi sites whilst the rest can head to Agra, home of the great Agra fort and the majestic Taj Mahal. Those staying in Delhi can enjoy a full day tour of the amazing city sights and those heading to Agra will get to explore the Agra Fort and view the Taj Mahal from an iconic spot across the river, before checking into our hotel for the evening. We have a very early start the next day to see sunrise at the Taj DAY 14 Early start for those in Agra as we head to the Taj for sunrise and the wonderful light that the morning brings to this most romantic of mausoleums. We will return to the hotel for breakfast and check-out before departing back to Delhi. Holi is due to happen on the 4th of March (Festivals can move dates but at this stage if we are lucky) Most flights leave very late evening from Delhi and we will be transferring everyone flying out tonight to the airport, for those who are on early morning flights you will need to book a night at an airport hotel. Solo travellers This trip is a twin share, or pay a single supplement for a room of your own. I will try and match you up with another solo guest of the same sex where posable, but if this cannot be done then a single room rate will be charged. |
19th February to 4th March 2026
Starts in Kolkata (CCU) and finishes in Delhi (DEL) A 14 day adventure. Min 8 and Max 14 guests, small group trip. (Deposits will open to secure a place in December 2024) Inclusions:
Not Included:
Estimated cost for 2026 USD $5995pp Twin share USD + $900 Solo use of hotel room and ship cabin Upper deck on cruise USD + $700pp Agra and the Taj optional extra (Price closer to time) Payment can be made in your local currency USD, AUD, GBP, NZD with details sent via email. Credit cards Visa and Mastercard accepted at an additional charge. Options and methods of payment. Due to the nature of Adventure travel and the prices of the resources on which it depends, the published price of any trip is subject to change at any time, before or after booking confirmation, up to 60 days before the departure. 
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