Ganga Vilas, 11 Night Colours of Bengal River Cruise ex Kolkata return

Day 1: Kolkata Embarkation - Namkhana (L/D)
Arrive Kolkata in the morning and transfer to the jetty for embarking the ship. Welcome onboard followed by safety briefing. Depending upon tide timings we sail towards Namkhana, the gateway of the Sundarbans National Park.

Dinner & Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas

Day 2: Namkhana – Kaikhali (B/L/D)
A further sail early in the morning brings us to the fishing port of Namkhana. Post breakfast visit the Fishing Cove and walk in the local market. Return to ship and sail full day to Kaikhali on the Matla River in the Sundarbans.

Dinner & Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas

Day 3: Kaikhali – Nethidopani – Bali (B/L/D)
After breakfast enjoy a walk in the village of Kaikhali that gives an insight into the daily lives of the people living in this geographically difficult and economically under-developed zone.

Sail further into the Sundarbans. Post lunch ride in local boats to visit the Nethidopani Watchtower and experience the spectacular nature of the surroundings. Apart from the elusive tiger, the region houses various wildlife species and a plethora of birds. We sail onward to Bali, an island village on the Bidyadhari River.

Dinner & Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas

Day 4: Bali: Dobanki & Sudhanyakhali Watchtowers (B/L/D)
After breakfast enjoy a creek cruise by local boats to visit the Dobanki Watchtower. It offers a canopy walk at an elevation of 20 feet from the ground and about half a kilometer in length. Post lunch spend the afternoon cruising further in the creeks by local boat to visit the Sudhanyakhali Watchtower that offers a panoramic view of the Sundarbans.

Dinner & Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas

Day 5: Bali – Namkhana (B/L/D)
This morning after breakfast enjoy a walk in the village of Bali and interact with the villagers engaged in creating handicrafts and visit a local home. Return to the ship and sail to Namkhana, enjoying lunch onboard.

Dinner & Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas

Day 6: Namkhana – Serampore (B/L/D)
Today we sail back to Kolkata, crossing the creek as per tide chart and onward to Serampore passing below Kolkata’s famous landmark the cantilevered Howrah Bridge, and seeing various colonial buildings along the Hooghly River.

Dinner & Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas

Day 7: Serampore – Shantipur – Guptipara (B/L/D)
After breakfast, enjoy a walk in the old quarters of Serampore an erstwhile Danish colony. Visit the St. Olav’s Church and the Goswami Rajbari, a palatial mansion.

We sail onward to the textile village of Shantipur. Post lunch enjoy a walking tour of Shantipur which is famous for handloom sarees and hand-woven fabrics. Reboard the ship and set sail further upstream to Guptipara, a rural town, renowned for its paddy fields and the Himsagar mango.

Dinner & Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas

Day 8: Guptipara – Mayapur (B/L/D)
Explore the town visiting the Vaishnav temple complex that houses four different terracotta temples. Visit a Potters home to see and interact with the artisans creating various daily use items in their home workshops. Also visit a Brick Factory to see the process of making clay bricks. Return to the ship and sail to Mayapur, the headquarters of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).

Dinner & Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas

Day 9: Mayapur – Bandel (B/L/D)
After breakfast, visit the ISKCON temple to experience the fascinating culture of these followers and their ornate, colourful decorated statues of Krishna. Meet Krishna followers and walk through the pilgrim’s bazaar. Return to ship and sail towards Bandel, that was founded by Portuguese settlers.

Dinner & Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas

Day 10: Bandel – Kolkata (B/L/D)
Today after breakfast we visit the Hooghly Imambara, one of the famous Shiya pilgrimage centres built in 1841. The two-story building and surrounding rooms provide housing for pilgrims as well as classrooms. Return to the ship and sail back to Kolkata, arriving by the evening.

Dinner & Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas

Day 11: Kolkata (B/L/D)
After breakfast, visit the Flower Market and Kumartuli, a traditional potters’ quarter. Return to the ship for lunch with the afternoon free for packing and personal activities.

Dinner & Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas

Day 12: Disembark Kolkata (B)
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your onward journey.

Important Note: • The itinerary maybe readjusted due to local conditions and days of the week, in order to avoid closure of monuments/museums. Last minute sailing adjustments may also occur. The schedule may shift due to the weather or to take advantage of unexpected opportunities. The exact time for each activity will be announced or posted by the onboard tour staff. • The letters in parentheses indicate the included meal of the day B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner • Fresh Water Management: While in the Sundarbans as we travel in Saltwater, fresh water on board the ship needs to be conserved in the storage tanks. So, fresh water (for usage in washrooms) will be available for a limited time before breakfast, lunch & dinner and after excursions. The ship manager will mention the timings of the availability of water during the port talks and in the daily programs that will be kept in each cabin. Timings of each day may change depending upon the program of the day. • Wildlife viewing: Sightseeing in the Sundarbans is best done during low tide when the animals come out. The excursions will accordingly be rearranged based on the tide schedule (high tide / low tide timings) to maximize the experience.

Antara Ganga Vilas is a celebration of India’s post-independence design and a tribute to its innovations. Each room is inspired by Josef Albers’ paintings which are experiments in the perception of color as well as tantra and its quest to perceive the many parts of the universe in its wholeness. Pioneered by Mr. Raj Singh, Antara Luxury River Cruises is a rapidly growing boutique cruise brand that is bringing travelers to India’s majestic waterways and have them sail in luxury to find adventure and pleasure. Charting the legendary waters of the Ganga and Brahmaputra, Raj Singh built for the first time in India, a fleet of luxurious river ships that offer plush accommodations while also bringing regenerative experiences to both travelers and local communities.

Operating successfully since 2009, the Antara Fleet has sailed the Indo-Bangladesh protocol route, touched the ghats of holy Varanasi, meandered through the sleepy towns of Bengal and explored the gorgeous Sunderbans among its many destinations.

Ganga Vilas, resplendent in its design, sails the ancient river, glowing through day and night. Guests sail and watching people on the banks gaze back at the slow movement of its crisp and radiant colours. The changing light reflects on the water and plays into the suites. The jewel tones of Varanasi’s Himalayan Buddhist Gyasar textiles, the soft curves of mid-century Indian teak furniture, original contemporary art, handmade tiles, wooden hallways and staircases – the ship is altogether chic, meditative and sumptuous. Each day brings with it a hand-crafted food and beverage menu, showcasing the specialties of the land. Each day also allows the guests to explore off shore experiences with an in-house expert guide taking them through the stories of India on and off board.

This unique ship and its immersive itinerary is designed to engage the intellect and the senses as one experiences the many imaginations of India in the comfort of a luxurious cruise.

Antara River Cruises has introduced luxury river cruising across India with an exceptional attention to detail. An invitation to take you to untouched destinations bringing unmatched hospitality and immerse yourself in unforgettable experiences.

Encompassing luxury in every nook and corner, the river cruises by Antara are designed to make sure you have the most enthralling journey on our rivers. From comfortable suite accommodation to high-end amenities, the cruises are equipped with everything you might need while sailing. Come on board and have a memorable journey.