Golden Triangle and Historic Hooghly

India's

Golden Triangle and Historic Hooghly

August - April

From £5,230pp

Cruise & Land

19 Nights

Scenic rural landscape view of a fishing village, Bengal waterways

Ruins of a small mosque at Gour, Bengal, India

From the monuments of the Golden Triangle to the timeless waterways of the Hooghly, discover India's imperial heart by land and river

This beautifully composed journey brings together two of India‘s most compelling travel experiences, pairing the grandeur of the Golden Triangle with the quiet intimacy of a river cruise along the historic Hooghly. Beginning in Delhi, the journey moves through Agra and Jaipur, three cities that together form the imperial heart of northern India, each offering extraordinary monuments, vivid street life and a depth of history that rewards close attention. From Jaipur, a short flight carries you east to Kolkata, one of the subcontinent’s most fascinating and layered cities, where a full day of guided exploration precedes embarkation aboard the ABN Rajmahal. Over seven nights, the ship traces the course of the Hooghly and lower Ganges through a landscape of ancient temples, crumbling colonial outposts and riverside villages that feel entirely removed from the modern world. The towns of Kalna, Matiari, Khushbagh, Baranagar and Gaur each reveal fragments of Bengal’s extraordinary past, from terracotta temples to Mughal ruins and Portuguese trading posts. Throughout, accommodation is chosen for its character and comfort, with the Oberoi properties in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur and the Taj Bengal in Kolkata setting a consistently high standard. This is India experienced with depth and discernment, from its most celebrated monuments to its most quietly extraordinary waterways.

Itinerary highlights

Explore Delhi over two days with an expert guide, uncovering the monuments, markets and layered history of one of the world's great capitals.

Stand before the Taj Mahal in the early morning light, staying at The Oberoi Amarvilas with the monument visible from your terrace.

Discover Jaipur's magnificent forts, palaces and bazaars over two days in Rajasthan's most celebrated and colourful city.

Spend a full day exploring Kolkata's grand colonial architecture, vibrant ghats and fascinating markets before embarking the ABN Rajmahal.

Cruise seven nights along the historic Hooghly and lower Ganges, drifting through a landscape of ancient temples, Mughal ruins and timeless riverside villages.

Visit the terracotta temples of Kalna, the ruined trading posts of Baranagar and the medieval Mughal city of Gaur, uncovering the forgotten history of Bengal's waterways.

From the monuments of the Golden Triangle to the timeless waterways of the Hooghly, discover India's imperial heart by land and river

Itinerary highlights

Explore Delhi over two days with an expert guide, uncovering the monuments, markets and layered history of one of the world's great capitals.

Stand before the Taj Mahal in the early morning light, staying at The Oberoi Amarvilas with the monument visible from your terrace.

Discover Jaipur's magnificent forts, palaces and bazaars over two days in Rajasthan's most celebrated and colourful city.

Spend a full day exploring Kolkata's grand colonial architecture, vibrant ghats and fascinating markets before embarking the ABN Rajmahal.

Cruise seven nights along the historic Hooghly and lower Ganges, drifting through a landscape of ancient temples, Mughal ruins and timeless riverside villages.

Visit the terracotta temples of Kalna, the ruined trading posts of Baranagar and the medieval Mughal city of Gaur, uncovering the forgotten history of Bengal's waterways.

Day 1

Your journey begins

Your journey begins as you board your overnight flight from London to Delhi. As the city falls away beneath you, the extraordinary richness of India, its monuments, its rivers and its history, begins to draw you in.

Day 2-3

Delhi, India

Touch down in Delhi and transfer to The Oberoi, where a Premier Room provides an immediate sense of calm and elegance. Over two days, your expert local guide leads you through one of the world's most layered and compelling capitals. From the soaring Qutub Minar and the serene gardens of Humayun's Tomb to the sensory intensity of Chandni Chowk and the ceremonial grandeur of India Gate, Delhi reveals centuries of history at every turn. Return each evening to the quiet comfort of the hotel, well rested for the journey ahead.

Day 4-5

Agra, India

Depart Delhi by road and arrive in Agra, where The Oberoi Amarvilas places you within sight of the Taj Mahal itself. A guided visit to the monument in the early morning light, when the marble shifts through shades of gold and white and the crowds are yet to gather, is an experience of rare and lasting beauty. Beyond the Taj, Agra Fort and the abandoned Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri add further depth to this richly historical destination. Return each evening to the Amarvilas, where the Taj is visible from the hotel's terraces as the light fades.

Day 6-7

Jaipur, India

Travel west to Jaipur, the Pink City and one of Rajasthan's most magnificent destinations, where you settle into The Oberoi Rajvilas, an elegant retreat set within a walled estate on the city's edge. Over two days your guide introduces you to the city's extraordinary heritage, from the amber ramparts of Amer Fort and the elaborate facade of the Hawa Mahal to the astronomical instruments of Jantar Mantar and the vibrant lanes of the old bazaar. Jaipur rewards unhurried exploration and the quality of its architecture, its craftsmanship and its colour is consistently astonishing.

Day 8

Jaipur, India

A final day in Jaipur to explore further at your own pace, perhaps visiting the City Palace, browsing the textile and jewellery markets or simply absorbing the atmosphere of one of India's most beautiful cities. Dinner this evening is included at The Oberoi Rajvilas, a fitting conclusion to your time in the Golden Triangle before the journey turns east.

Day 11

Embark the ABN Rajmahal

Transfer to the port and embark the ABN Rajmahal, your intimate home for the next seven nights as the ship sets out along the historic Hooghly. The vessel is beautifully appointed, with an onboard lecture programme and expert guides who bring the landscapes and history of Bengal to life with quiet authority. As the city gives way to the river and the first villages begin to drift past the rail, the pace of the journey slows entirely and the waterways of Bengal take hold.

Day 12-17

The Historic Hooghly

Over six days of unhurried cruising, the ABN Rajmahal carries you through a landscape that few travellers ever encounter. At Kalna, the extraordinary cluster of terracotta temples dedicated to Lord Shiva is among the most remarkable sights in all of Bengal. Matiari is celebrated for its brass and bell metal craftsmen, and a walk through the village reveals centuries of traditional skill still practised with precision. Khushbagh holds the graves of the last Nawabs of Murshidabad within a garden of mango trees and quiet melancholy, while Baranagar's crumbling Portuguese and Dutch ruins speak to the complex layering of Bengal's trading history. Gaur, the great ruined capital of medieval Bengal, provides one of the voyage's most evocative moments, its mosques and gateways rising from the forest with a grandeur that time has only deepened. Throughout, meals are served onboard to a high standard, the ship's expert lecturers provide context and insight each evening, and the rhythm of the river becomes the quiet pulse of daily life.

Day 18

Farakka and Return to Kolkata, India

Disembark at Farakka and transfer back to Kolkata, where a final night at the Taj Bengal allows you to decompress after the extraordinary intimacy of the river. The city feels different on return, its energy vivid and welcome after the quietness of the waterways.

Day 19

Kolkata, India

After a leisurely final breakfast, transfer to the airport for your overnight flight back to London, carrying with you the images of marble monuments, ancient temples and the gentle, unhurried beauty of the Hooghly at dusk.

Day 20

Arrive home

Your flight touches down in London and the journey draws to a close, though the grandeur of the Golden Triangle and the timeless quiet of the Bengal waterways will remain with you long after you return home.

What's Included

International return flights from the UK (upgrade options available)
Domestic flights
Seamless ground transfers
Meals as indicated
Curated tours and experiences, including entrance fees
Expert English-speaking local guides
Expert-led shore excursions and onboard lecture programme
Taxes, fees, and port expenses

What's Included

International return flights from the UK (upgrade options available)
Domestic flights
Seamless ground transfers
Meals as indicated
Curated tours and experiences, including entrance fees
Expert English-speaking local guides
Expert-led shore excursions and onboard lecture programme
Taxes, fees, and port expenses

Curate your exclusive expedition

Let’s get started. Share your details below and your personal Expedition Expert will be in touch to design your dream adventure.

First Name*

Surname*

Email*

Phone*

When would you like to travel?

How many travellers?

Estimated budget range for this trip?

How should we contact you?

Phone Email Phone & Email WhatsApp

Any other comments or requests?

Yes, I would like to receive communications by e-mail

Your information will be treated in accordance with our Privacy Policy

Speak to one of our team

+44 (0)808 164 4210

[email protected]

Every journey I plan starts with a conversation. Tell me what excites you, what you've always dreamed of experiencing, and I'll craft something extraordinary. The best expeditions begin with a single question: What would make this unforgettable for you?

Ashley | Expedition Planner

Golden Triangle and Historic Hooghly

India's