Pandaw Cruise - The Full Brahmaputra

Sail further into the Assam valley than ever before on this true adventure

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Tailor-Made Tour

  • Duration13 Days
  • Prices From £ 5695

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  Places Visited : Kolkata, Guwahati, Silghat, Kaziranga National Park, Biswanath Ghat, Majuli, Sibsagar, Dibrugarh, Kolkata

Sailing further into the Assam valley than ever before, Pandaw's 10-night Full Brahmaputra expedition is a true adventure. Reaching the second largest city of Assam, Dibrugarh, some 450 km up the mighty Brahmaputra from Guwahati, exploring several national parks in search of Assam's abundant wildlife as well as discovering the diverse and unique cultures of the people who live along this vast river system. This is a trip unlike any other and only available thanks to Pandaw's ultra low draft vessels.

The Pandaw Cruise Company has seventeen beautifully crafted ships in operation, across India and Southeast Asia, all built themselves. Each ship, hand-finished in brass and teak by traditional craftsmen, is itself an object of great beauty. Whilst luxury and comfort are ever-present, it is the colonial-era character and friendly atmosphere that predominate the ships. All of Pandaw's ships have ultra-shallow drafts and can travel to remote areas, which are unreachable by other passenger-carrying vessels, let alone overland.

Remember, this trip can be personalised to suit your travel needs - we can tailor everything from hotel, travel type, duration and more.

Suggested itinerary

Day 1
Kolkata

On arrival in Kolkata you will be met and transferred to the Oberoi Grand, Kolkata for an overnight stay. The remainder of the day at leisure.

Kolkata, or ‘Calcutta’ as it was known prior to 2001, is the capital of West Bengal state, and India’s third largest city, with a population of approximately 14.1 million. The trading post originally founded by the East India Company in the 17th century served as the country’s capital until 1911, and continues to be a major regional hub, albeit one with well-chronicled problems.

The economic stagnation that has blighted this sprawling, charismatic metropolis since Independence is often attributed to the fact is was governed for 34 years by the world’s longest surviving democratically elected Communist government. Kolkata’s left-leaning political scene is very much a part of its rich intellectual heritage. The so-called Bengali Resistance of the 19th and 20th centuries played a seminal role in India’s Independence movement, and the city has spawned liberal traditions in film, art and literature, as well as a string of Nobel Laureates.

The backdrop to this vibrant cultural life is an architectural heritage spanning two-and-a-half centuries of colonial rule. Built to commemorate the British Raj at its zenith, the Victoria Memorial is Kolkata’s most grandiloquent monument – a stately blend of British, Mughal, Deccani, Moorish and Venetian styles whose marble domes soar majestically above the banks of the Hooghly River, surrounded by ornamental lakes and parched maidans.

Accommodation Options

Day 2
Kolkata, Guwahati

Fly to Guwahati and transfer to your vessel via a visit to the ‘Kama-khya Temple’, devoted to the goddess of desire. Set sail passing Peacock Island, famous for the endangered Golden Langur. Enjoy an evening welcome dinner and talk.

Day 3
Sailing

Spend the day enjoying the stunning natural scenery and wildlife of the Brahmaputra River. Observe river dolphins and birds of prey as we pass uninhabited islands and the fragile communities that live here. After tea enjoy a talk on ‘The River Brahmaputra and the tribal life that exists alongside’.

Day 4
Silghat

Pass Tezpur and a gigantic 3 km long arched bridge arriving at Silghat, where we take an excursion through stunning countryside to a tea estate and factory producing the famous Assam tea.

Day 5
Kaziranga National Park

Our expedition continues with a visit to the UNESCO accredited Kaziranga National Park where we enjoy a safari searching for the elusive Greater One-Horned Indian Rhinoceros and Indian tiger. We continue to Bagori, where by open jeep we further explore the wildlife of this magnificent park. We also travel to Biswanath Ghat and discover the charming village by small boat where women weave colourful traditional handicrafts by the riverside.

Day 6
Kaziranga National Park

After more dramatic scenic cruising, we take a boat safari on the Eastern range of Kaziranga where River Dhansiri and River Brahmaputra meet. Here, observe wildlife at its most natural including pied kingfishers, eagles, vultures, water buffalos, monitor lizards and otters. Dinner is enjoyed al fresco on a deserted island.

Day 7
Village Life

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.

Day 8
Majuli, Sibsagar

Arrive at the ancient town of Majuli, where we explore the impressive Satras dating back to the 15th century. We continue to Sibsagar, capital of the Tai-speaking Ahoms who came from Yunan and China in the 13th Century AD. Explore the Shiva Dol, built in 1734, the highest Shiva temple in India. Our day is completed with an insight into the making of Assam tea from a tea estate family.

Day 9
Sailing

In this remote section of the river where no other river cruise vessels ply, great vistas un-fold and bird life is prolific. Village stop for a walk about and then pass Dibrugarh heading for the Dibru Saikowa island to moor for the night.

Day 10
Dibru Saikhowa National Park

This less well-known park has an area of 765 square miles and is at the meeting place of three rivers and is mainly evergreen forest and is very lovely. It is a haven for endangered species with thirty-six recorded mammals including leopards, jungle cats and tiger. All very elusive and unlikely to be seen. More evident are an incredible profusion of bird life. Sail back to Dibrugarh and afternoon visit to the Jokai Botanical Cum Germplasm Centre which showcases quite extraordinary flora, in particular orchids and medicinal and aromatic plants.

Day 11
Jeypore

Travel by car to the Namphake Tai village where there is an ethnic Tai (as in Thai) community maintaining their distinct Thai costume and culture around a Buddhist monastery. Also of interest is an Ashokan pillar situated nearby. After lunch, continue to the Jeypore rainforest area where several types of wildcat, leopards and the Royal Bengal Tigers survive in good strength in this hill country of great beauty.

Day 12
Dibrugarh, Kolkata

On arrival at Dibrugarh this morning, disembark and transfer to the airport for your flight to Kolkata. The remainder of the day will be at leisure exploring the city or visiting some of the art galleries and museums.

Day 13
Kolkata, UK

Transfer to the airport for your return flight.

Places and Experiences in this tour

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