DAY 1 KOLKATA - ARRIVALS
Embark on the RV Kindat Pandaw. After lunch visit the splendid of the Victoria Memorial in the maidan and then St John’s Anglican church, with its splendid 18th century memorials, Zoffany’s Last Supper and Job Charnock’s mausoleum (1690).
DAY 2 KOLKATA
Visit the National Museum, the largest and oldest museum in India with a cross section of art and archaeology from different eras of Indian history (over 1 million items are in the collection!). After lunch on the ship, visit the house and tomb of the canonized Mother Teresa and learn more about the work of her still active foundation. Then a short walk the the "Sishu Bhawan", a children’s home run by the sisters of Mother Teresa’s order.
DAY 3 HOOGLIE RIVER AND THE SUNDERBANS: KOLKATA - NAMKHANA - BHAGABATPUR
In the morning sail down the Hooglie to the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forests on earth, habitat of the famous royal bengal tiger and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fishing port of Namkhana is considered the gateway to the Sundarbans. Depending on the tide, crossing the Hatania Doania River and anchoring near Bhagabatpur.
DAY 4 BHAGABATPUR - BANGAR ISLAND
Early in the morning visit the "Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project", a breeding and protection area of the estuary crocodiles. Continue to Bangar Island.
DAY 5 BANGAR ISLAND - HEMNAGAR - ANTIHARA – BORDER CROSSING
Continue through the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans towards the Bangladeshi border. After completing customs formalities in Hemnagar on the India side, proceed downstream to Antihara on the Bangladeshi side of the Sundarbans for further immigration and customs formalities.
DAY 6 ANTIHARA - MONGLA
Drive to Mongla and visit the Sixty Dome Mosque in Bagerhat (UNESCO World Heritage Site). It is the largest Sultanate-era mosque in Bangladesh and one of the most impressive Muslim monuments in the entire Indian subcontinent. After, visit the museum in Bagerhat.
DAY 7 KOTKA - HARBARIA
Canoe ride in the mangrove forests. Here you can experience the flora and fauna up close and enjoy the peace and beauty of the sea beach of Kotka Jamtola. Deer and other native animals can be found in the Kotka forest area.
DAY 8 HARBARIA - MORRELGANJ
Early morning rowing boat ride through the narrow rivers and canals of Harbaria. Return to the ship and during breakfast continue towards Morrelganj.
DAY 9 MORRELGANJ - BARISAL
Sail to Barisal and visit the Anglican Oxford Mission Church. It is said to be the second largest church in Asia and one of the oldest.
DAY 10 BARISAL - MEGHNA GHAT (DHAKA)
In the morning visit the floating market in Barisal. Continue to Dhaka via Chandpur. Afternoon fishing by local boat for hilsha.
DAY 11 DHAKA
Panoramic tour of the capital of Bangladesh with its sights and monuments such as Dhaka University and Curzon Hall, the National Assembly and the Old High Court. You will also visit the Dhakeswari Temple, which is considered the center of the Hindu faith and the National Museum.
DAY 12 PAGLA TO SONARGAON
Visit the lost city of Sonargaon exploring Goaldi mosque then on to the Painam merchant village, with its museum and bamboo school. Lunch at a local restaurant then drive to Jamdhani village to see weaving, visiting houses, interacting with the artisans and visiting the Murapara Zaminder’s house.
DAY 13 RIVER DAY TO ARICHA
Full day sailing upstream on this bustling waterway to Aricha Port which is a major river port.
DAY 14 ARICHA - TANGAIL – SIRAJGANJ ON THE BRAHMAPUTRA
Sail to Sirajganj. En route visit the 17th century Atia Mosque in Tangail. The mosque features architectural elements from the pre-Mughal and Mughal eras.
DAY 15 SIRAJGANJ
Explore Sirajganj, a city known for hand weaving and the Bangabandhu Bridge (Jamuna Bridge) the longest bridge in Bangladesh. Visit the unique Hatikumrul Navatna Temple with its nine towers in Navaratnapara village. After will visit the weaving villages and learn about the production of traditional Bangladeshi clothing such as gamchas (cotton scarves), lungis for men and saris.
DAY 16 RIVER DAY SIRAJGANJ - CHILMARI
River trip along beautiful shore landscapes to Chilmari to do the customs and border formalities in Bangladesh. Chilmari is a major river port near the border with India and is also known for its mid-river sandbars (chars) where many Bengalis farm peanuts on this fertile ground.
DAY 17 CHILMARI TO DHUBRI AND BORDER CROSSING BACK INTO INDIA
Sail upstream to the Indian border. Stop at Dhubri for Indian customs and immigration formalities. Dhubri has long been a centre of the jute trade with connections to Dundee. In the afternoon explore the city and visit the Gurdwara Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Temple and the marble statue of Queen Victoria on a walk through the Victoria Park of the same name. Then visit the village of Asharikandi, where traditional terracotta and ceramics are made.
DAY 18 DHUBRI - GOALPARA
Boat trip to Goalpara at the foot of the Garo hills. Visit Sri Surya Pahar, an important archaeological site with valuable cultural remains from Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism. The archaeological finds confirm the long-standing assumption that a thriving civilization existed around Sri Surya Pahar several centuries ago.
DAY 19 GOALPARA - SALKUCHI
Sail on to Sualkuchi known for its silk weavings, particularly muga silk, pat silk and eri silk, which have a lustrous and delicate texture and are used to make traditional Assamese dresses and sarees.
DAY 20 SALKUCHI - PANDU PORT
Continue upstream to Pandu Port in Guwahati. Late afternoon visit Pandunath Temple.
DAY 21 PANDU PORT - GUWAHATI
Morning excursion to Nilachal Hill and visit to Kamakhya Temple, a Hindu temple in Guwahati dedicated to the mother goddess Shakti. Afternoon boat trip to Peacock Island in the Brahmaputra River, a tranquil place whose Umananda Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati.
DAY 22 DEPARTURES
Transfer to Guwhati airport for flights to Kolkotta or Delhi.
