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2023 Season

Colorful India & the Ganges River with Kathmandu


cruise: WDKE
16 Day River Cruise Delhi to Kathmandu
Enter a world of color, culture, and cherished spiritual tradition of India and Nepal. Your guided tour of India, Nepal, and Ganges River cruise begins in the bustling city of Delhi. You’ll tour the city with your expert local guide, and take a rickshaw ride through the Chandni Chowk bazaar—brimming with everything from silver and spices to saris of every color. You’ll visit Qutub Minar—the world’s largest brick minaret, and see Delhi’s largest Sikh gurudwara (house of worship), before traveling to Agra—site of the legendary Taj Mahal.

Join a sunrise excursion to the Taj Mahal—the iconic memorial build by Moghul emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife. More than 20 years in the making, the Taj Mahal stands as the pinnacle of love’s devotion, and is also yours to experience at sunset if you wish.

You’ll enjoy the city of Jaipur, with its famous Palace of the Winds, and spectacular Amber Fort, before flying to Kolkata to board your Ganges river cruise. The holy river of Hinduism, the Ganges, slowly courses through one of the world’s most fertile and populated areas. Along its banks, human life is connected to its waters and you’ll get a glimpse of life away from India’s big cities. See muslin weaving in Kalna and candy making in Matiari. Stop in Murshidabad for an excursion to Azimganj and Jiaganj—to tour a historic manions and see a gold and silver making demonstration. Explore the fascinating Hare Krishna headquarters in Mayapur, and visit Saint Mother Teresa’s former home upon your return to Kolkata.

In Kathmandu, sightseeing is spread over two leisurely days. Visits include Hanuman Dhoka, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Temple of Kumari, residence of the Living Goddess, a child thought to be the reincarnation of a Hindu goddess. You’ll also journey to Patan and Bouddhanath, Nepal’s largest stupa.

All of this and more await you on this once-in-a-lifetime guided tour of India and Nepal with a Ganges River cruise.

cruise

at-a-glance


Day 1 Delhi, India: Welcome to India

Day 2 Delhi: See Red Fort, Jama Masjid, India Gate, and the Presidential Palace; rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk bazaar

Day 3 Delhi–Agra: Sightseeing including visits to Qutab Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib; drive to Agra

Day 4 Agra: Sunrise visit to Taj Mahal; Agra Fort; sunset visit to Taj Mahal

Day 5 Agra–Jaipur: Drive to Jaipur; time at leisure

Day 6 Jaipur: Morning Excursion to Amber Fort; afternoon sightseeing including visits to the City Palace and Jantar Mantar

Day 7 Jaipur–Kolkata (Embarkation): Fly to Kolkata; onboard welcome reception

Day 8 Kalna: Sightseeing by rickshaw; visit a temple complex to receive blessings from a priest and visit a muslin-weaver’s home

Day 9 Matiari: Walking tour of village to interact with brass craftsmen and see traditional sweets being made

Day 10 Murshidabad. Excursion to Azimganj & Jiaganj: Travel by electric rickshaw to see saree weaving in Jiaganj; Guided Walk through Azimganj to see the local crafts market, visit Bari Kothi; silver and gold making demonstration

Day 11 Mayapur–Guptipara: Morning visit to the ISKCON temple in Mayapur; rickshaw ride through Guptipara to see pottery-making and a farmer’s home

Day 12 Kolkata: Guided walk through the flower market; visit Mother Teresa’s Home, a home for orphaned children, and the Victoria Memorial Museum; farewell dance performance

Day 13 Kolkata–Kathmandu, Nepal: Fly to Nepal

Day 14 Kathmandu: Sightseeing with visits to Hanuman Dhoka and the Temple of Kumari

Day 15 Kathmandu: Visit Bouddahanath; excursion to Patan

Day 16 Kathmandu: End of vacation

Avalon has designed included activities with a choice of experiences. We invite you to select the tours, activities, and events that interest you most, so you can experience your cruise your way. Plus, we offer independent exploration options and the use of our exclusive AvalonGO APP on most of our cruises. 

Below are 3 types of included shore excursions for you to experience.

The "Starting at" or "From" listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on double occupancy and any applicable non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes limited-time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.