Northeast Cruise

Upon arrival at Mumbai by SA airlines, you are in transit to connect flight to Delhi.  New Delhi, the capital of India, upon arrival you are greeted and escorted to your hotel, where a room has been blocked for immediate occupancy.

Rest of the morning is at leisure.

Afternoon you undertake a full day sightseeing tour of New & Old Delhi.

Visit the Qutab Minar Complex, dominated by the 234-foot Victory Tower, followed by the spectacular Rajpath, passing the triumphant House of Parliament, Diplomatic Enclave, President’s House and the India gate & the famous Birla Mandir.

Drive by Red Fort, which was the opulent residence of Shah Jehan, builder of the Taj Mahal and the magnificent Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque), which dominates the skyline.  You also visit the Raj Ghat-- cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi, later walk through Chandi Chowk, the old marketplace of Shahjahanabad, now a picturesque bazaar.

Return to hotel for overnight stay. (B)

After breakfast you drive to Agra, which is a 220 kilometer / 5 hours approximate journey. En route stop at “Sikandra” to visit the tomb of Akbar the Great (widely regarded as the greatest Mughal Emperor in India) which shows an interesting fusion of Hindu and Muslim art and architecture.

Check into hotel and after freshening up, a half-day city tour of Agra is in store for you.

Explore the 16th century Agra Fort, seat of the Mughal dynasty in the 16th century. It lies on the bend of the River Yamuna, almost in the heart of the town. Akbar built it as his citadel over the year 1565-73 in the finest architectural style. It has imposing gates and walls red sandstone and a moat. 

Followed by a visit to the magnificent Taj Mahal, this incredible lacy white grandeur built by Emperor Shahjehan in memory of his loving wife Mumtaj Mahal, the “lady of the Taj”. It has been described, as the most extravagant monument ever built for love for the emperor was heartbroken when his wife Mumtaj died. The Taj Mahal has recently been immortalized by the inclusion as one of the “Seven Wonders of the World”.

Overnight at hotel. (B)

After breakfast drive to Jaipur, at a distance of 202 Kms and will take apprx. 6 hrs. En-route stop at the abandoned and nearly intact Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri, a masterpiece of Muslim architecture. 

It comprises the remains of the new capital that Akbar built in the 16th century. Predominantly red sandstone buildings sprawl over a huge area.  The architectural style is very much in tune with the emperor’s dreams and includes both Hindu and Muslim styles. The sculptured columns bear mute testimony to this gallant experiment to unite the two religions. It houses the beautiful Pearl Mosque and many noteworthy structures. 

Continue drive to Jaipur and upon arrival check into your hotel.

Jaipur is the capital city of Rajasthan. The city was painted in the tones of an autumnal sunset, literally blushed pink when Prince Albert, the consort of Queen Victoria, stepped on its soil in 1863.  Jaipur, also known as the pink City is a well-planned city named after one of the greatest of the Rajput rulers, Maharaja Jai Singh II. It takes its name from the pink paint on its buildings.

Overnight is at the hotel. (B)

Today you go on an excursion to Amber Fort. 

You will have a unique experience of riding a caparisoned elephant from the foothill to the ramparts of the ancient fort.  Once inside we explore the Palace of Mirrors, inlaid with millions of tiny glistening mirrors, the hall of Public Audience and the beautiful manicured gardens.

Drive back to your hotel for breakfast and a morning of leisure. Later in the afternoon tour of the old city of Jaipur.

Visit the Hawa Mahal or "Palace of Winds," Jaipur's central landmark, an extraordinary façade of multiple airy windows used by the court ladies to watch the outside activities without being seen. Explore the City Palace, characterized by balconies, tiny windows, cupolas, courtyards and arched entrances.  It now houses an excellent collection of Rajasthani costumes, miniatures and an armory of weapons.

Overnight at hotel. (B)

After breakfast, morning is at leisure. Later drive to Delhi, at a distance of 265 Kms and will take apprx 6 hrs.  Upon arrival check into your hotel. 

Overnight is at hotel. (B)

Delhi - Dibrugarh (Flight S2311 ETD: 0955 ETA: 1335) / M.V. Mahabaahu.

After early breakfast, drive to the airport to board flight to Dibrugarh. Upon arrival you are met and drive to the pier to board your cruise liner MV Mahabaahu.

En-route visit Sibsagar including the ruins of the Ahom kingdoms and the Shiva temple, constructed in the year 1734 is believed to be the highest Hindu temple in India. Meet & assistance upon arrival and transfer to the M.V. Mahabaahu. This evening enjoy an evening cultural program.

Overnight on-board (B, L, D)

This morning, visit the Tea Research center and learn the history of Tea from an expert. The Tea Research  Association. Enjoy lunch with a local Assamese family. Visit the local market and later cruise towards Majuli, the largest inhabited island in the world. Enjoy a cultural performance on-board.

Overnight on-board (B, L, D)

Today, spend the day visiting Satras, which are the Assamese Vaishnavite monasteries for religious practices. Satra is an institution, which motivates the minds of the people through ritual performances to realize the existence of God. Visit the Auniati Satra, which has been the epicenter of the Vaishnavism and Satriya culture in Assam. Further more,  visit the Kamlabari Satra that is a center of art, cultural, literature and classical studies and the Samuguri Satra where one can witness the craft of mask making.

Overnight on-board (B, L, D)

Today spend the day visiting the Mishing tribes. These tribes are from the state of Arunachal and who migrated here many centuries ago. Enjoy a cultural performance and continue sailing for the rest of the day. Tonight enjoy a barbecue dinner on a deserted island.

Overnight on-board (B, L, D)

Today explore the Biswanath Ghat that is one of the oldest landmarks of Assam. Biswanath temple popularly known as "Gupta Kashi" is located at the confluence of Bridhaganga (Burigonga) river with Brahmaputra. The ghat has a cluster of temples of different gods that dates back to the Ahom dynasty of 17th century including a temple of Lord Shiva. Later we sail towards Silghat and enjoy a cultural performance on-board.

Overnight on-board (B, L, D)

This morning sail to reach Tezpur.

On arrival in Tezpur, visit Da Parbatia, the oldest ruins found in Assam dating back to 6th century AD.

Later on drive to the Guwahati airport for your flight to Mumbai.

Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is the capital of Maharashtra, and the commercial hub of India. It is the country’s most cosmopolitan city, an ancient port and trading center. This palm-fringed shore of the Arabian Sea was the British Empire’s entrance to its proudest “Crown Jewel.” A city of paradoxes, Mumbai is renowned as the country’s financial nerve center, and also an important center of theater, art, music, and classical dance. Although steeped in tradition is the premier city in India.

Upon arrival you are met and transferred to the hotel for overnight. (B)

After an early breakfast, take a cruise across the harbor to the island of Elephanta.

The island rises near its center into two conical hills. Rock temples were hewn out of the hill sometimes toward the end of the Buddhist period in India, probably in the eighth century. Explore the caves consist of several interesting sculptures including some depicting the marriage of Shiva and Parvati, Ravana the demon king, and lesser male and female divinities.

Cruise back to the main land, followed by an afternoon tour of Mumbai includes the City of Bombay, a blend of East and West.

Your tour of the city will include the British built arch "Gateway of India", Bombay's landmark, built in commemoration of the visit of King George the Vth and Queen Mary for the Delhi Durbar in 1911. See the Hanging Gardens, located on the crest of Malabar Hill, a welcome oasis of green and almost entirely concrete and cement. Visit the Prince of Wales Museum built between 1904 and 1914 that was used during World War I as a hospital. Also visit the affluent community of Malabar Hills, Dhobi Ghat, Marine Drive, the Gandhi Memorial Museum and Jain Temple.

We wrap up the tour by dinning at a local restaurant before you are transferred to the International airport for your SA flight, leaving Mumbai at 2h30 Am (Sunday). (B, D)