Value World Tour - India - Hooghly Holiday & Taj Mahal Cruise 2008 / 2009 RATES

Click here for Start Page
Click here for Cruise Itinerary
Click here for Cruise Inclusions
 Click here for Terms and Conditions

HOOGHLY HOLIDAY & TAJ MAHAL RIVER CRUISE

Click here to make a Reservation or request a Quote

2008 Prices are in per person
Vessel Land Starts
 Embarkation
Cruise Only
Land / Cruise
Package
18 July 08 19 July 08
25 July 08 * 26 July 08 *
08 August 08 * 08 August 08 *
15 August 08 16 August 08
22 August 08 * 23 August 08 *
29 August 08 30 August 08
05 September 08 * 06 September 08 *
12 September 08 13 September 08
RV Sukapha 19 September 08 * 20 September 08 *
2009 Prices are in per person
RV Sukapha 31 July 09 01 August 09
RV Sukapha 07 August 09 * 08 August 09 *
RV Sukapha 14 August 09 15 August 09
RV Sukapha 21 August 09 * 22 August 09 *
RV Sukapha 28 August 09 29 August 09
RV Sukapha 04 September 09 * 05 September 09 *
RV Sukapha 11 September 09 12 September 09
RV Sukapha 18 September 09 * 19 September 09 *
* Reversed Itinerary ( Downstream Sailing )
Port taxes: 2008: , 2009: / Indian Visa:
Twin cabin for single occupancy: 75% of the land/cruise rate
* Holiday sailing
Departure from the US is one or two days prior to start date, depending on flight and gateways

Rates, additional charges and conditions are subject to change, and to
currency fluctuation, without notice - Errors and Omissions Excepted 260608CM

Click here to make a Reservation or request a Quote

CRUISE INCLUSIONS & HIGHLIGHTS

After a successful season July to September 2007, the MV Sukapha will once again reposition to sail the Hooghly River in 2008. This one-of-a-kind cruise and land package celebrates India’s variety. Guests travel by river, rail, air, and overland to experience both the fascinating and obscure side of India and the “must see” world famous sites. After a relaxing 7 night cruise permeating the quiet countryside near Calcutta, the tour continues on to the famous “Golden Triangle” of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. Here the unequalled, beautiful TAJ MAHAL is visited as well as many other monuments and buildings of India’s glory days. This package is offered during the off-season at a lower price and offers a more authentic Indian experience as there are fewer tourists at the popular destinations. This tour has it all----thousands of years of Indian history in 15 days!

SPECIAL HIGHLIGHT

Calcutta
  • 1/2 day City tour

Cruise

  • Ancient Terra Cotta temples
  • Rickshaw rides
  • Matiari's brassworks
  • 18th c. British architecture
  • Hazarduari Palace
  • Rural India
  • Mosques

Delhi: full day city tour

Agra:

  • Taj Mahal,
  • Agra Fort
  • Fatehpur Sikri

Jaipur:

  • Elephant ride
  • Amber Fort
  • City Palace

INCLUDED FEATURES

  • 29 meals included 14 breakfasts , 8 lunches , 7 dinners
  • 1 night in a 5* hotel in Calcutta (Oberoi Grand or similar)
  • All luxury and service taxes
  • 7 night cruise in outside cabins
  • All shore excursions
  • Rail ticket Farakka-Calcutta
  • Domestic flight Calcutta-Dehli
  • 3 nights in a 5* hotel in Delhi (Le Meridien or similar)
  • 1 night in a 5* hotel in Agra (Mughal Sheraton or similar)
  • Monument entrance fees
  • Long distance transportation Delhi-Agra-Jaipur-Delhi
  • All transfer
  • English speaking guides throughout
SAMPLE ITINERARY
Day 1& 2:Today, fly to India
Fly overseas to India. (International flight not included)
Day 3: Calcutta
Transfer to your 5* hotel in Calcutta (or Kolkata). Due to various arrival times, no activities are planned for today.
Day 4: Calcutta
EMBARKATION
Today, you are picked up from your hotel after breakfast for a morning of sightseeing in Calcutta. Tour the white marble Victoria Memorial with its fine Indian art collection, St John's Church, the 19th c. British South Park Street Cemetery and drive down Chowringhee past Ochterlony's Column, Writers' Buildings, and other Calcutta landmarks. Embark midday on the RV "Sukapha" and sail up to the old Danish colony of Serampore. Later in Barrackpore, visit Flagstaff House, with its many British garden statues from Calcutta. (B, L, D)
Day 5: Cruise
Sail up to Chandernagore, a French possession until 1950, and visit the 18th century church and Dupleix's House containing a small museum. Drive on to visit the Dutch cemetery at Chinsura and the Portuguese church at Bandel where you reboard your ship and cruise upstream on the Hooghly (or Hugli) River, leaving the urban sprawl and cruising through the night to a mooring near Kalna. (B, L, D)
Day 6: Cruise
Land at the country town of Kalna and take cycle rickshaws to see some of Bengal's most attractive terracotta temples, as well as the unique Shiva temple with concentric rings made up of 108 shrinelets. Continue on to Mayapur, its skyline dominated by the vast new ISKCON temple which you visit. Perhaps visit also the older and humbler temples as well as the giant banyan tree at Nabadwip before sailing on. (B, L, D)
Day 7: Cruise
This morning visit the brassworking village of Matiari where you see the whole primitive process of beating out brass water pots and other vessels. Later cruise on to a rural mooring close to the battlefield of Plassey to see the commemorative obelisk. It was here in 1757 that Clive's defeat of Siraj-ud-Daulah changed the course of Indian history. Cruise on until after dark, to moor at Murshidabad. (B, L, D)
Day 8:Cruise
Travel by cycle rickshaw to the Khushbagh, a peaceful Moghul-style garden enclosing the tombs of Siraj-ud-Daulah and his family. Continue sailing upstream to Nawab's great Hazarduari Palace, built by an English architect in 1837. Inside are an extensive collection of pictures, china, weapons and more. Visit also the great Katra Mosque, Nashipara Palace and Katgola Palace. The palaces, built in classical Georgian style, represent the other side of the coin of the "White Moghul" period when English and Indian cultures came close to fusion. Overnight on a riverbank mooring close to Hazarduari Palace. (B, L, D)
Day 9: Cruise
Visit the delightful sleepy village of Baranagar with three gorgeous miniature terracotta temples. This is rural India at its most idyllic. Continue up the Hooghly which twists and turns between banks lined with jute fields and mango orchards. Moor at Jangipur. (B, L, D)
Day 10: Cruise
A full day excursion takes you across the Ganges barrage to Gaur. This quiet, deserted place was once one of India's great cities, first under the Hindus in 12th century, then as the Muslim capital of Eastern India from the 14th to the 16th century. Many interesting remains of mosques, palaces and gateways are visited. (B, L, D)
Day 11: Calcutta - Delhi
DISEMBARKATION
You have an early morning transfer to Jangipur station for a 5 hour train journey to Calcutta. Arriving midday at Howrah Station, you are transferred to the airport for your flight to Delhi and then overnight in a 5* hotel. (B)
Day 12: Delhi
A full day of sightseeing in Delhi includes: 17th c. Mughal-built Red Fort with its exquisite palaces and gardens, India’s largest mosque the “Friday Mosque,” and Gandhi’s Memorial. Visit new Delhi in the afternoon with the President’s house, Parliament House, and the 42 meter high, arched war memorial “The India Gate.” Overnight again in Delhi (B).
Day 13: Delhi - Agra
Travel to Agra. The city, rich in medieval monuments, developed as early as 2nd century BC being located on major trade routes and waterways. After hotel check-in, tour the famous Taj Mahal. Built as a loving tribute to the Mughal Empress Mumtaz Mahal, the spectacular Taj is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular buildings of the world and rightly one of the new 7 Wonders of the World! Also visit Agra Fort, along the Yamuna River before returning to your hotel. (B)
Day 14: Agra - Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri
After breakfast travel to Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri . Fatehpur Sikri, a former capital city, was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and abandoned 15 years later due to a severe scarcity of water. While Akbar himself was illiterate, he took a keen interest in literature, architecture and the arts. The buildings are a pleasing blend of Islamic and Hindu styles. After lunch at the Laxmi Vilas Palace Hotel in Bharatpur, continue to Jaipur for overnight (B, L)
Day 15: Jaipur
“ The pink city,” Jaipur, was given this pink wash in 1853 to welcome Prince Albert. En route to the Amber Fort, see the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), with pink, delicately honeycombed sandstone windows known as ‘jharokhas’. Enjoy a short elephant ride at the Fort, a complex of palaces, halls, pavilions, gardens, and temples. Next visit the City Palace, an historic landmark with some of the city’s most magnificent architecture and art. The Palace’s museum contains a collection of Rajasthani dresses and an armory of Mughal and Rajput weapons. After sightseeing, return to your hotel for a second night in Jaipur. (B)
Day 16: Jaipur - Delhi
Enjoy the Indian countryside as you make your way back to Delhi. Upon your afternoon arrival, you are taken to your 5* hotel with the remainder of the day free to explore the delights of Delhi. (B)
Day 17: Delhi
Depending on your flight schedule, you may have much of the day for last minute shopping and sightseeing. Transfer to the airport for your international flights home. (B) (International flights not included)

 

 

"; include ($_SERVER[DOCUMENT_ROOT] . '/includes/contact_inc.html'); ?>