



: R22780
Immensely powerful & deeply vital to those who call its banks home, the Ganges River is a must-see travel destination in & of itself. Take this rare opportunity to cruise its storied waters on a 12-day adventure on riverboat & land. Sail to picturesque local villages to explore stunning temples & palaces. Wrap up with a four-day land excursion to the city of Varanasi, often considered the spiritual capital of India
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Starting from | R22 780 |
Package Validity | Set departure dates: 24 NOV 2016 & 22 DEC 2016. *** Book & pay by 31 JUL 2016 & SAVE 30%, discount already included in the price *** |
Duration | 11 nights |
Destination | India |
Starts in | Kolkata |
Ends in | Varanasi |
{tab Description}
- Arrival transfer
- 4 night twin share hotel accommodation
- 7 nights accommodation on-board riverboat
- 12 breakfasts, 6 lunches & 7 dinners
- All transport to/from included activities & between destinations
- Assistance of a Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout
- Excursion to Rajmahal
- Visit Bateshwar and Vikramshila Buddhist Monastery, Jehangira Island, Pawapuri Lake and a Jain temple
- Patna city tour
- Explore the Mahabodhi temple complex and meet with a local monk
- Orientation walk of Varanasi
- Lecture on the Ganges
- Sunset and sunrise boat trips on the Ganges River
- Rickshaw excursion to Monghyr
- Explore Nalanda Buddhist Monastery and museum
** Allow USD135-175 for meals not included. Drinks & tips on board not included.
{tab Day 1}
Kolkata
Arrive at any time & transfer to your hotel. Arrival transfer included.
{tab Day 2}Kolkata/Farakka
Catch a train from Kolkata to Farakka & embark on the riverboat this afternoon.
{tab Day 3}
Farakka/Manihāri Ghāt
Sail upstream to Rajmahal, a village with a fantastic local atmosphere. Explore the remains of palaces, forts, & mosques submerged in vegetation before sailing on as far as Manihari Ghat.
{tab Day 4}Manihāri Ghāt/Kahalgaon
Cruise upriver to idyllic Bateshwar & visit 6th century rock carvings. Afterwards, drive a short distance to the impressive ruins of a Buddhist monastery at Vikramshila.
{tab Day 5}Kahalgaon/Sultānganj
Keep an eye out for South Asian river dolphins this morning as you sail to Bhagalpur, a centre of silk production. Visit a mansion & silk-weaving village. Continue on to Jehangira Island & enjoy an excursion to view ancient Hindu rock carvings.
{tab Day 6}Sultānganj/Sita Kund
Sail to Munger & take a rickshaw ride through the town to view the remnants of a Mughal fort & an East India Company cemetery. Visit the local bazaar, Pirpahar Hill, & Sitakund hot springs. Walk through the village & fields before getting back on-board.
{tab Day 7}Sita Kund/Bārh
This morning pass under the great bridge at Mokama, where the naturalist Jim Corbett spent his working life overseeing the ferry crossing. Stop to visit a bankside village & stretch your legs. Cruise on to Barh & moor for the evening.
{tab Day 8}Bārh/Patna
Enjoy a full day excursion to Nalanda. Visit an excavated Buddhist monastery & stupa, & the picturesque Jain temple at Pawapuri. Continue to Patna & reboard the boat for the night.
{tab Day 9}
Patna/Bodh Gaya
Disembark & discover Patna on a morning tour visiting the Golghar granary, the great Sikh temple, & the State Museum. Afterwards, transfer to the small town of Bodh Gaya to explore the Mahabodhi Temple Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Meet with a monk to discuss the history of the area & visit the spot where the Buddha found enlightenment.
{tab Day 10}Bodh Gaya/Varanasi
Drive to Varanasi, the quintessential Indian holy city. This afternoon, enjoy a lecture at the Ghats of the Ganges by a Research Scholar from Benaras Hindu University, & talk about the river's significance spiritually, socially, economically & politically. After, embark on a boat trip on the sacred Ganges at sunset. Enjoy a candle & flower ceremony accompanied by sitar & tabla playing, & observe an evening aarti (prayer) ceremony.
{tab Day 11}
Varanasi
Rise early for a sunrise boat ride along the Ganges to observe the dawn rituals of bathing & burial. After, have breakfast at Open Hand, a vocational training cafe & one of G Adventures' grassroots partners. Learn about this social enterprise whose mission is to provide dignified & meaningful job opportunities to underprivileged people in India. This afternoon take an excursion to Sarnath, a pilgrimage site where it is said the Buddha preached his first sermon.
{tab Day 12}
Varanasi
Depart at any time.
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