Flight: EK570 Dubai - Kolkata 02.00 - 07.40

Meet & greet: Upon arrival in Kolkata, you will be welcomed to India by your local guide and transferred to the Oberoi Grand in a chauffeur driven car for a 2-night stay.

Time to recover: Once arrived in, you have the remainder of the day at leisure to recuperate from your long flight. Please note you will usually be able to access your room on arrival, but an early check-in is subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed. 

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Oberoi Grand (Deluxe Room)

Guided tour of Kolkata: This morning, you will be picked up from the hotel by your guide and you will set out to explore Kolkata, one of India's most famous cities. Start with a visit to the Victoria Memorial, which is the greatest landmark of the city and one of the most solid reminders of the Raj to be found in India. This huge piece of architecture is a strange combination of classical European architecture with Mughal influence, and a resemblance can be seen between the Taj Mahal at Agra and St. Paul's Cathedral at London. The portraits, statues, paintings and other artefacts here tell the story of British Empire in India at its peak. Afterwards head to the west bank of the Hooghly River where you will find the extensive Botanical Gardens. This 273 acre park was set up in 1787 by Col Kyd of the East India Company. It has a variety of interesting botanical specimens, but the park's prime attraction is a 200 year old Banyan tree, said to have the second largest canopy in the world. After time to look around the gardens, you will end the tour with a visit to the Missionary of Charity, a foundation set up by the city's most famous daughter - Mother Teresa.

Afternoon at leisure: You will then be dropped back at the hotel, with the remainder of the day at leisure to relax or explore the city independently.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Oberoi Grand (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Private transfer: Early this morning, you will be collected from the Oberoi Grand and transferred to Kolkata Airport for your flight to Guwahati.

Flight: 6E623 Kolkata - Guwahati 07.00 - 08.05

Day One: You will be met on arrival at Guwahati airport by an ABN representative, and join a shared transfer to the MV Mahabaahu. En route you pay a visit to the 'Kama-khya' Temple, devoted to the goddess of desire. Once on board, there will be a safety briefing and introduction to the crew, before you set sail. Shortly after departure you will pass Peacock Island, famous for the endangered Golden Langur. Later, you will enjoy a welcome dinner, accompanied by an expert guest speaker.

Accommodation: Stay tonight onboard the ABN Charaidew II (Upper Deck Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day Two: Today you will spend the day enjoying the stunning natural scenery and wildlife of the Brahmaputra River. From either side, you may observe river dolphins and birds of prey as we pass uninhabited islands, and the fragile communities that live here. You will be sailing towards Silghat all day today, and in the afternoon a talk will be given on 'The River Brahmaputra and the tribal life that exists alongside'.

Accommodation: Stay tonight onboard the ABN Charaidew II (Upper Deck Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day Three: This morning, you will pass Tezpur, and its gigantic 3km arched bridge, later arriving at Silghat, where you will head ashore. Silghat is a small town located on the southern banks of the Brahmaputra, in the Nagaon district of Assam. Major points of attraction here include the Hatimura Temple and huge Samantagiri hillock. Here, you will take an excursion through stunning countryside to a tea estate and factory which produces the famous Assam tea.

Accommodation: Stay tonight onboard the ABN Charaidew II (Upper Deck Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day Four: Your expedition continues with a visit to the UNESCO accredited Kaziranga National Park, a national park in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of the state of Assam, which hosts two-thirds of the world's Great One-horned Rhinoceroses. Here, you will enjoy an an open-top jeep safari searching for the elusive Rhinos, as well as Indian Tigers. Continue to Bagori, where you will further explore the wildlife of this magnificent park, again on an open-top jeep.

Accommodation: Stay tonight onboard the ABN Charaidew II (Upper Deck Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day Five: Today, you will continue cruising through dramatic scenery, making for Dhansiri. Dhansiri is the main river of Golaghat District of Assam and the Dimapur District of Nagaland. It originates from Laisang peak of Nagaland, and flows through a distance of 352 km from south to north before joining the Brahmaputra on its south bank. Here you will take a boat safari on the Eastern range of Kaziranga where River Dhansiri and River Brahmaputra meet. Observe wildlife at its most natural, with sightings including pied kingfishers, eagles, vultures, water buffalos, monitor lizards and otters. Later, dinner is enjoyed al fresco on a deserted island.

Accommodation: Stay tonight onboard the ABN Charaidew II (Upper Deck Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day Six: Visit a local village on what is the world's largest river island and home to the ethnic 'Mishing' people. Here, women weave on hand-looms to create characterful costumes and we enjoy a demonstration of a Dhoti & Chaddor - traditional dresses for the men and women of the Mishing communities. It is a pleasant place to explore.

Accommodation: Stay tonight onboard the ABN Charaidew II (Upper Deck Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day Seven: Today, you will arrive at the ancient town of Majuli. Majuli, or Majoli, is a large river island in the Brahmaputra - in fact the largest river island in the world. Heading ashore, you will explore impressive Satras dating back to the 15th century. Continue to Sibsagar, capital of the Tai-speaking Ahoms - an ethnic minority who came over from China's Yunnan Province in the 13th century. You will also explore the Shiva Dol, built in 1734, the highest Shiva temple in India. Your day will be rounded off with an insight into the making of Assam tea from a tea estate family.

Accommodation: Stay tonight onboard the ABN Charaidew II (Upper Deck Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day Eight: After breakfast, you will bid farewell to the crew, disembark, and join a shared transfer to Jorhat Airport.

Flight: 9W7049 Jorhat - Kolkata 14.15 - 17.05

Private transfer: Upon arrival in Kolkata, you will be met by your local guide and taken to the Oberoi Grand for an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Oberoi Grand (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast