Golden Triangle and Brahmaputra

Fly overnight to the vibrant city of Kolkata. On arrival you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel.

Fly to Guwahati and visit Kamakhya Temple, devoted to the goddess of desire, en route to your beautiful Pandaw vessel. Cast off and sail passed Peacock Island, home to a colony of endangered Langur. Enjoy an evening welcome dinner and a talk. (B,D)

Enjoy the magnificent natural scenery of the Brahmaputra River, and keep an eye out for some of the wealth of wildlife that calls it home - from river dolphins to birds of prey. Passing uninhabited islands and small riverside communities, you’ll be able to glimpse a rural India rarely seen by visitors. Later, enjoy a talk on the river and the tribes that live next to it. (B,L,D)

Pass Tezpur and a three kilometre long arched bride and arrive at the riverside town of Silghat. From here head out into the beautiful countryside to visit a tea estate and factory that produces the famous Assam tea. (B,L,D)

Visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kaziranga National Park. Head out on an elephant safari to search for the elusive Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros (the park is home to two-thirds of the world’s population) and Bengal Tiger as well as herds of elephants, water buffalo and swamp deer. The park is also recognised as an important area for birds. Continue to Bagori and continue through this magnificent park by jeep spotting wildlife as we go. Travel on to Biswanath Ghat and explore this charming village by small boat. The local women may be weaving traditional handicrafts on the riverbanks. (B,L,D)

Passing through more dramatic river scenery, set out on a boat safari passing along the edge of Kaziranga National Park where the Dhansiri and Brahmaputra rivers meet. Keep an eye out for pied kingfishers, eagles, vultures, water buffalos, monitor lizards and otters. Dine al fresco on a deserted island. (B,L,D)

A lovely day will be spent visiting a local village of the ethnic Mishing people, which occupies part of the world’s largest river island. Here you can see the local women weaving colourful costumes on their hand-looms and watch a demonstration on Dhoti and Chaddor, the traditional dress of the men and women of the Mishing communities. (B,L,D)

Explore the impressive 15th-century satras (a religious/cultural institution unique to Assam) of the ancient town of Majuli. Continue on to Sibsagar, the capital of the Tai-speaking Ahom people who arrived from China in the 13th century. Visit the Shiva Dol; built in 1734, this is the highest Shiva temple in India. Spend some time with a tea estate family gaining insight into the Assam tea process. (B,L,D)

Disembark after breakfast and transfer to Jorhat airport and fly to Delhi via Kolkata. Transfer to your hotel. (B,L,D)

Take a morning tour of India’s rambunctious capital Delhi. There will be visits to all of the most popular sights including the Gandhi memorial, India’s largest mosque Jama Masjid and UNESCO World Heritage-listed Qutab Minar. We’ll also pass the magnificent Mughal Red Fort and the colonial landmarks India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhawan. (B,L,D)

Drive to Agra and check in to your hotel. Head out into the city and visit the epic Agra Fort, set on the banks of the Jamuna River, and, at sunset, set eyes on the breathtaking Taj Mahal, one of the most spectacular pieces of architecture on the planet. (B,L,D)

Travel to the ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri, where there are a spectacular array of long deserted Mughal palaces and temples to explore. Continue to Kalakho and check into your hotel. After lunch, head out on a camel safari and meet the people of the village. There is a cultural dance show this evening. (B,L,D)

Travel to Jaipur stopping off at the Abhaneri stepwell, engineered by the local people to collect rainwater. Arrive in Jaipur and check into your hotel. Later visit Sanganer, to see its textile and paper industry and fascinating Jain temples. The next day, explore ‘The Pink City’, with visits to the magnificent hilltop Amber Fort, the beautiful 18th century Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds), Jantar Mantar observatory and the City Palace which houses the royal residence and museums. (B,L,D)

Travel from Jaipur to Delhi by road, transferring to your hotel. The rest of your day is at leisure. (B)

After check out, transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B)