Assam & The Mighty Brahmaputra

Our journey starts in Kolkata (Calcutta), built by the British some 300 years ago and where we explore their widespread architectural legacy. As well as seeing the Victoria Memorial and the Botanical Gardens we will walk through Dalhousie Square which is characterised by period architecture including the Governor’s Residence and St. John’s Church.

From Kolkata we fly northeast to Assam for our cruise on the mighty Brahmaputra. Rising in western Tibet, the Brahmaputra charts a course east across the Plateau, south through the Himalaya, emerging from the mountains in Arunachal Pradesh, India’s most north-easterly state. It flows through the heart of Assam, a mystic land of rolling blue hills and dense forests that are rich in flora and fauna.

We cruise the Brahmaputra for twelve memorable days, exploring the villages that line its banks, meeting the Assamese people who have had little or no contact with the outside world, and enjoying the wonderful peace and beauty of the river.

Rich in wildlife, we will visit the Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, where India’s only ape – the elusive Hoolock Gibbon – swings through the ancient forest canopy, and we will also safari through both Kaziranga and Manas National Parks, both World Heritage Site and sanctuaries to the Indian ‘big four’ – tiger, one-horned rhino, buffalo and elephant – as well as a rich diversity of birdlife.