Pandaw Upper Ganges Cruise

Dear Customer,

Thank you for your interest regarding a River Cruise holiday on the Lower Ganges with Pandaw Cruises.

Please find details of a sample itinerary for you contained within this link.

You can navigate between the elements to view the day-by-day itinerary, the accommodation and the flights and other transport information.

In 2019 Pandaw inaugurated an 'all Ganges' voyage of one thousand miles from Kolkata to Varanasi. Due to the challenges of navigation and the obstruction of numerous pontoon bridges it has been decided to sail as far as Patna and then overland to Varanasi.

The sailing does though cover the best of the Ganges from the colonial splendours of Kolkotta, through the enchanting rural arcadia of West Bengal along the Hoogly and the great expanse of the Ganga itself with its pristine bird and wildlife and cultural treasures dotted along the banks.

Though in the days of the British Raj paddle steamers plied this route on a regular basis, with the advent of the railways in India river navigation was abandoned and the rivers were allowed to silt up. Now thanks to a multi-million dollar investment from the Indian Government channels have been dredged and buoyed and hi tech GPS based aids installed enabling seasonal navigation.

Varanasi, said to be the oldest inhabited city on the planet is the most sacred city of Hinduism and a place of overwhelming beauty at the same time poignantly moving with its cremation ghats.

Varanasi is surely the goal of any 'passage to India' and at the other end of the holy river stands Kolkata, in all its Raj-like magnificence. Between lies several of the most important Buddhist sites including Sarnath, Nalanda and Bodh Gaya and cities great and small and between urban centres and great pilgrim sites are expanses of empty river teeming with bird life, not to mention the Gangeatic dolphin.

No vessel could be more appropriate for a voyage on 'All the Ganges' than the ultra shallow draft Pandaw K class ships that can reach as far as Patna from where passengers will travel overland to Gaya for a night and then on to Varanasi for two nights making this sailing eleven nights on board and three nights in best available hotels.

We have also included 2 nights pre-cruise in Kolkata (Calcutta) at the start of your voyage.

Please bear in mind that all of our holidays are tailor made and can be adjusted to suit your interests, time, hotel & airline choice and be tailored to fit your budget.

We have worked very closely with Pandaw Cruises for many years and always have their best preferential fares and offers.

We are able to hold a cabin for you whilst you consider your options, and we also have all the benefits on offer for Pandaw Club Members, so just let us know if you are a repeat customer with Pandaw.

Call us NOW on 03 669 2332 and speak to an India expert about your trip.

Alternatively email us on sales@rdtravel.co.nz for a tailor made quote today.

Kind regards,

The Team @ Red Dragonfly Travel