THEFULLBRAHMAPUTRA

Arrive to Dibrugarh airport and transfer to your Pandaw ship at Sibsagar (3 hours). Meet your crew and enjoy a welcome dinner aboard.

Visit Sibsagar, capital of the Tai-speaking Ahoms who came from Yunan and China in the 13th Century AD. Explore the Shiva Dol, built in 1734 it is the highest Shiva temple in India. We continue our exploration at the Royal Pavilion built by King Pramatta and said to be one of the oldest surviving amphitheatres in Asia.

Travel 30 minutes from Nemati Ghat to Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, home to India’s only ape and gibbon species, the Hoolock Gibbon as well as the Bengal Slow Loris. This protected area has been reserved for preservation since 1881 and is rich in biodiversity.

Arrive at the ancient town of Majuli on what is the world’s largest river island and home to the ethnic ‘Mishing’ people. We explore the impressive Satras dating back to the 15th century and meet a family who have been making the famous masks of Majuli for over 150 years. After lunch ashore, we travel to Auniati monestary to witness a special drum performance from the monks.

After leaving Majuli, we sail downstream and visit a local village and learn about the Bihu culture. Our chef will entertain us in the afternoon with a cooking demonstration as we continue our sailing before we moor for the evening mid-river.

We sail downstream to Biswanath, a charming riverside village where we stop and explore. Of interest is the Bordol Temple, a brick built temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and built in the 1700s. Enjoy a walk through the village and along the riverfront before returning to your ship.

Our expedition continues with a visit to the UNESCO accredited Kaziranga National Park where we enjoy a full day Jeep safari searching for Indian One-Horned Rhinos, Buffalos, Elephants plus a host of birdlife, including hornbills and kingfishers. Tiger spotting at Kaziranga is extremely rare despite having the highest density of tigers in the world.

Today we stop at a local village consisting of migrant populations that have settled and been provided with official status by the government. Their charming village is the perfect place to learn about life along such a dramatically changeable river.

Stepping ashore in Mayang, a sizeable village along the shores of the Brahmaputra, we learn about the history of magic and sorcery that was prevalent in the region. We visit the fascinating Mayang museum which explains how various mantras were used for anything from curing ailments to identifying a thief. We are then welcomed into the home of a local Mayang resident for a discussion and perhaps demonstration of some tricks.

Enjoy a full day city tour of Guwahati visiting Nilachai Hill, commonwealth graves Kama-Khya temple and the Assam state museum. In the evening our crew will provide a farewell dinner onboard.

Disembark and transfer to your hotel or airport for your onward journey.