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Indian RollerMale Hoolock Gibbon, Hoollongapar Gibbon SanctuaryVictoria Memorial, KolkataOne Horned RhinoThe ItineraryDay 1 London or Manchester to Kolkata, India. Fly by scheduled indirect flight.Day 2 Kolkata. Arrive in the morning and transfer to our hotel for a two night stay. Following lunch at the hotel, we will take in what is the best view of Kolkata whilst sailing along the River Hooghly by local boat. Dinner will be at our hotel this evening. Day 3 Kolkata. After breakfast we will take an exclusive ride on India%u2019s only operating tram network and the oldest electric tram in Asia that has been running since 1902. We will then visit the South Park Cemetery, the last resting place of many of Kolkata%u2019s early British settlers. After lunch in a local restaurant, enjoy an afternoon tour of India%u2019s second largest city including the Victoria Memorial. Return to the hotel before enjoying dinner at a local restaurant.Day 4 Kolkata to Guwahati. After breakfast in the hotel we transfer to the airport for our morning flight to Guwahati. On arrival, transfer to the MV Mahabaahu for embarkation. We sail over lunch and this afternoon our onboard lecturer will talk about the wildlife of India focusing on our upcoming visits to Manas and Kaziranga national parks. The remainder of the day is spent cruising along the river before we arrive in Dungar Ghat this evening where we moor overnight.Day 5 Manas National Park & Tiger Reserve. After an early breakfast we drive to the Manas National Park which has seven national and international designations, including World Heritage Site, National Park, Tiger Reserve (Core), Biosphere Reserve, Elephant Reserve, Tiger Sanctuary and Bird Sanctuary. Its northern boundary is next to the border of Bhutan and the imposing Bhutan Hills can be seen whilst the Manas-Beki River system flanks the region. After a jeep safari during which we hope to spot some of the great variety of wildlife including elephant, rhino, leopard and perhaps, if we are very fortunate, the rare golden langur or even the endangered tiger, we return to the ship for a late lunch and spend the afternoon sailing upstream. Days 6 to 8 Cruising the Brahmaputra. Spend the next three days cruising upstream along the mighty Brahmaputra. You may wish to start your day with some invigorating yoga on the sun deck or simply relax in one of the many public areas and enjoy the passing scenery. There will be a series of talks by one of the vessel%u2019s experts about life in the villages, the river%u2019s role in the area and the wildlife we will see along the way. We will also make stops in local villages including Sualkuchi, a bustling small town that is the centre of Assamese silk production and offers a chance to visit weaving workshops. Witness the entire process of silk manufacture, from cocoon and spinning, then dyeing to hand-weaving into exquisite mekhela chadars (a two-piece sari, the traditional attire of an Assamese woman). Also sail by Peacock Island, famous for being one of the smallest river islands in the world and home to the endangered golden langur monkey, whilst Gangetic dolphins may be sighted in the river. Meanwhile, on board we will enjoy a cooking demonstration of local street food and a saree-tying demonstration.Day 9 Nameri National Park & Silghat. We awake early to drive to Nameri National Park which provides habitat to an array of wildlife including Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, clouded leopard, sambar, dhole, gaur and capped langur. Meanwhile the bird enthusiasts can keep a lookout for the rare white winged wood duck, great pied hornbill, wreathed hornbill, rufous necked hornbill, black stork, ibis bill, blue bearded bee-eaters, and plovers. After our safari we return to the ship for lunch as we cruise to Silghat. From our berth we will walk to a nearby jute mill, where ecologically friendly gunny bags are produced using a system of spinning and drawing, manufactured by the most wonderful machines. We will also take in a performance of Bihu, a traditional dance of Assam performed by the villagers. Our View %u201cFor our exploration of the Brahmaputra River we have chartered the MV Mahabaahu, whose operators have a long-established presence in Assam and a wealth of local expertise. We have designed the itinerary around an eleven night cruise in order to offer the intrepid traveller a comprehensive visit to this remarkable region with visits to a number of National Parks. The MV Mahabaahu offers considerable comfort across all five of her decks and her size, facilities and refinement set her apart from many of the cruise ships in this region. When not ashore sightseeing or spotting some of India%u2019s finest wildlife you can take a dip in the pool, enjoy a massage treatment or simply relax on the top deck whilst watching life unfold on the riverbank.%u201dWeaver, Bishwanath GhatGolden Langur