Day 1. AM transferred from airport or railway station to ABN Sukapha moored in central Kolkata. During lunch sail up Serampore to visit the old Danish colony of Serampore. Later cruise on to moor at Chinsura. At high tides it may be necessary to sail the first mile or two under low clearance bridges by a launch before boarding the cruise ship at Bally Bridge.

Day 2. Land at Chinsura and take rickshaws to visit the Dutch cemetery and the imposing Imambara at Hooghly where you reboard your ship and cruise upstream leaving urban sprawl behind. Sail into the night to a mooring near Kalna.

Day 3. Land at the country town of Kalna and take cycle rickshaws to see a group of some of Bengal’s most attractive terracotta temples, as well as the unique Shiva temple with concentric rings made up of 108 shrinelets. In the afternoon commence the return voyage downstream.

Day 4. Continue on, leaving fields behind and arrive again at the outskirts of Calcutta. Sailing past fine waterfront buildings you land at Chandernagore, a French possession until 1950, where you visit the 18th century church and Dupleix’s House containing a small museum. Continue down to visit Barrackpore, land and take a walk through the cantonment past theSemaphore Tower, Government House, the Temple of Fame, and Flagstaff House, its garden housing many of the British statues removed from central Calcutta. Then sail on under theHowrah Bridge to central Calcutta.

Day 5. Disembark after breakfast and take a morning sightseeing tour of Calcutta including the Victoria Memorial, South Park Street Cemetery, St John’s Church and other colonial relics. Midday transfer to airport or railway station.

ADDITIONAL NIGHTS ON BOARD A half-price accommodation package is also available to cover accommodation on board for the night before the cruise and the night after the cruise, including all meals but no additional sightseeing.

Itinerary subject to river conditions. 15/3/11