Day 1. Arrive Negombo
On arrival at Colombo airport, you’ll be transferred to your hotel in Negombo.
Day 2. Negombo
After breakfast, commence a city tour of the historic town of Negombo, a photographer’s paradise and nirvana for beach lovers. Walk along the fort wall to the iconic Dutch Fort, known as the Old Gate, before exploring the beautiful Oruva outrigger canoes scattered around the Main Fish Market. After an afternoon at your leisure, enjoy a delicious dinner.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 3. Negombo, Kandalama
Today you’ll travel to the small village of Kandalama, located within Central Province. Take a glimpse into Sri Lanka’s majestic past with a tour of the World Heritage-listed Sigiriya Rock Fortress. This evening, savour a special dinner by the light of flaming torches and candle lanterns in the Caves of Heritance.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 4. Kandalama
After breakfast, enjoy a traditional cooking class within an intimate organic garden. Following this, perhaps take a cultural city tour of Polonnaruwa, or embark on an authentic village trek. Tonight, dine at Royal Banquet for a seven-course meal.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 5. Kandalama, Dambulla, Kandy
This morning, tour the isolated rock mass of the Dambulla Rock Cave Temple. Continue onwards to Kandy for a city tour and visit to The Temple of The Buddha’s Tooth. This evening, choose from a wide range of dining options.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 6. Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy
Wake early this morning to travel to Nuwara Eliya. On the way, take a guided tour of a local tea factory. Enjoy lunch at Ramboda Falls before commencing a sightseeing tour of Nuwara Eliya. Following high tea in the afternoon, return to Kandy for the evening.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 7. Kandy, Colombo
Today you’ll travel to Colombo. Here in the capital of Sri Lanka, unwind and experience the epitome of comfort this afternoon at your iconic hotel, which overlooks the Indian Ocean.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 8. Colombo
After breakfast, explore the often forgotten fort area of the city on a guided city walk. Tonight, farewell Sri Lanka with a special dinner at the Ministry of Crabs.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 9. Colombo, Kochi
This morning, farewell Sri Lanka as you fly to Kochi. Known as the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’, Kochi has been luring wanderers and traders for over 600 years. On arrival, be transferred to your hotel.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
Day 10. Kochi
Explore the quaint Fort Kochi area on a guided tour. Enjoy strolling along the promenade and seeing the cantilevered Chinese Fishing Nets and history-filled streets of Jewtown, before visiting the ornate Paradesi Synagogue. Head to St. Francis Church then enjoy lunch at the Brunton Boatyard Hotel. Later, delight in a traditional Kathakali dance performance. This evening, choose from a range of delicious dining options.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 11. Kochi, Kumarakom
After breakfast, you’ll travel to Kumarakom. Following lunch, you may choose to learn the secrets of preparing a delicious and traditional Kerala meal during a cooking demonstration. Alternatively, you may partake in a lecture on the 5,000-year-old Indian health practice of Ayurveda, ‘a balance between body, mind, spirit, and social wellbeing’.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 12. Kumarakom
Awake in Kumarakom and after an invigorating yoga class, head out on a cruise on the backwaters of Kerala. Calmly float through the beautiful Vembanad Lake, on board a majestic house boat, past a cluster of islands rich with vigour and beauty. You’ll also join in a seafood dinner this evening.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 13. Kumarakom
Following breakfast, join a half-day program on the wellbeing of local villagers in Kumarakom. On this program, you’ll cruise to Manjira village, where locals demonstrate their unique skills and techniques used in everyday situations. Later, return to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 14. Kumarakom, Jaipur
This morning, fly to Jaipur. Known as the Pink City due to its terracotta-coloured walls, buildings and temples, enjoy an afternoon at leisure to explore.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 15. Jaipur
Today head to Amber Fort, a towering fortress overlooking the city. Built from pale yellow and pink sandstone, and white marble, the fort is more like a palace and is divided into four main sections. One of the finest examples of Rajput and Mughal architecture, the Amber Fort reflects the glory of the fierce Kachawaha Dynasty that ruled over the region from the 12th to the 18th century. This evening, enjoy in a grand gala dinner.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 16. Jaipur
Today, you may choose to take an invigorating walk to Jaigarh Fort for spectacular views over Jaipur. Alternatively, visit the City Palace, a vast palace complex, as well as Jantar Mantar, home to a collection of architectural astronomical instruments. After your activity, enjoy time at leisure this afternoon. Later this evening, choose from two dining options.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 17. Jaipur, Agra, Taj Mahal
After breakfast, drive to Agra. Known for its superb inlay work on marble and soapstone, by descendants of those who worked under the Mughal Empire, be entranced by the architectural splendours of the mausoleums, forts and palaces upon every turn. This evening, enjoy a sunset visit to the world-renowned Taj Mahal before being given the option of two dining choices at your hotel.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 18. Delhi
Experience the stunning Taj Mahal bathed in the golden glow of an early morning sunrise. Enjoy a tour of Agra’s Red Fort, a powerful fortress of red sandstone that overlooks the gardens of the Taj Mahal. After, be transferred to Delhi. Retire to your hotel and unwind in the afternoon. Later, choose from a range of dining options at your hotel.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 19. Delhi
A tour of Old Delhi begins today at Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque. Later, explore the labyrinth of tiny lanes of Shahjahanabad in a cycle-rickshaw. Afterwards, stop for a photo at The Red Fort, an elegant citadel that was the residence of the Mughal emperor of India for nearly 200 years. Drive past Rashtrapati Bhawan, the official residence of the President of India, and visit India Gate - a 42 metre-high archway in the centre of Delhi. After visiting the ‘Arc-de-Triumph’ of India, enjoy lunch with a local Indian family. Here, you’ll be given a brief introduction on Indian herbs and learn the traditional Indian cooking methods in a cooking class. After lunch, drive to Humayun’s Tomb, thought to be the predecessor for the Taj Mahal. Tonight, head to Bukhara Restaurant for dinner.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 20. Delhi, Kolkata, Embark Lower Ganges River Cruise
This morning fly to Kolkata. On arrival, transfer to the RV Ganges Voyager for your seven-night journey along the Lower Ganges River. Following lunch on board, visit the Victoria Memorial museum and St. Johns Church. Later, enjoy a Welcome Reception and cultural performance.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 21. Kolkata, Bandel
This morning, experience the rich culture and lingering colonial influence on a ride aboard a private tramcar. Visit Howrah Bridge, before exploring the nearby Mullik Ghat Flower Market. After lunch on board, your ship will begin its journey upstream along the Lower Ganges. Later today, visit the 19th-century Hooghly Imambara, a famous pilgrimage centre in West Bengal.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 22. Kalna
After breakfast, disembark in Kalna, known as the City of Temples. On a guided cycle-rickshaw tour, you’ll visit some of Bengal’s most distinct terracotta temples, including the Rajbari royal palace complex. You’ll also see the eye-catching Shiva temples. Later this afternoon, you’ll return to your ship and enjoy a delicious dinner on board.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 23. Matiari
This morning, enjoy an excursion to Matiari. Here, you’ll enjoy the opportunity to peruse beautiful cooking instruments crafted from recycled copper and brass. Afterwards, continue cruising upstream passing the site of The Battle of Plassey. Learn how the British East India Company recorded a victory here in 1757, helping establish the company rule in Bengal and much of India.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 24. Khushbagh, Murshidabad, Baranagar
Disembark in Khushbagh, and pass through local farmers’ fields to the tomb of the last Nawab of Bengal. Back on board, enjoy the afternoon at leisure. As you approach Murshidabad, you’ll notice the Hazarduari Palace, which dominates the waterfront. After a tour, you’ll visit the 18th-century Katra Mosque, and learn about the Mohammedan rulers. Later, cruise to the sleepy village of Baranagar. This evening, enjoy dinner on board.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 25. Mayapur
Enjoy a restful morning before a visit to the village of Mayapur. Here you’ll learn about the Hari Krishna community and culture, and view the construction of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 26. Chandannagar
This morning, cruise to Chandannagar. Stroll along the Chandannagar Strand, visit its 200 year-old church, and the house of former French Governor Joseph François Dupleix. This afternoon, continue cruising downstream to Kolkata. Tonight, enjoy a Farewell Dinner.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
- • Dinner
Day 27. Disembark Lower Ganges River Cruise, Kolkata
After breakfast, disembark in Kolkata and spend the afternoon at Kolkata’s Oberoi Grand Hotel, after lunch transfer to the airport for your flight to Delhi to connect with your onward flight.
- Daily Meals Included:
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch