Day 1  Delhi
Arrive to Delhi, airport transfer to Hotel. Afternoon  sightseeing of  Old Dehli . Overnight in grandure of a luxury Delhi hotel.(D)

Day 2  Delhi – Shivpuri
Morning drive to Rishikesh (230km/4hrs). Lunch and stroll along ‘Sadhus Walk’ from Ramjhula to Laxmanjhula hanging bridges. Then just a short drive onto Shivpuri  and arrive at the Glasshouse for two nights  in some delightful cottages set amidst tropical orchards  alongside a silvery sand beach on the banks of the Ganges. Have an energising dip in fresh holy waters and experience Ganga Aarti ceremony at sunset. (B,L,D) 

Day 3  Shivpuri – Devprayag – Shivpuri     
Full day excursion to Devprayag (2hrs) at the confluence of the Alakananda and Bhagiranthi rivers that become the mighty Ganges, where one can have an auspicious  holy bath or just dip one’s feet. Drive up to Jamnikhal (32km/1hr) for a short trek(3km) to hilltop temple ‘Chandrabadani’ (2756m) for fine views of Himalayan Peaks  Kedarnath & Badrinath. Overnight in Shivpuri cottages.(B,L,D)

Day 4  Shivpuri – Rishikesh   
Leisurely morning to enjoy yoga, ayurvedic spa treats and the frangipani scented garden. Optional whitewater river rafting on request. After a lovely garden lunch drive to Rishikesh (23km) enroute visit  ‘Vasishta Guht’ the sacred siddha’s cave of  the great  Sage Vasishta who sat in Samadhi there and the Ashram of Ananda Mai Maa in Kankal. Upon sunset experience Ganga Ma devotion at the Ganga Aarti ceremony on ghats of Parmath Niketan with Swami Chitanand Sarawati and the Kumarishis’. Overnight in a deluxe hotel near the ghats in Rishikesh. (B,L,D)  

Day 5  Rishikesh – Haridwar              
Morning free to wander with the many sadhu, explore the temples galore or have a yoga class. After lunch short drive to Haridwar (25km) to a charming heritage Haveli set on the Ganga with a private ghat for holy dips. Afternoon sightseeing to Mani Devi & Chanda Devi Temples and Har-Ki-Pauri Ghat, sacred to Hindu pilgrims.  Evening  Aarti ceremony, overlooking Ganga followed by dinner and bhajans at the Haveli.Overnight Heritage hotel in Haridwar (B,L,D)
 
Day 6  Haridwar  – Allahabad        
Early morning meditation & yoga offered. Morning free to explore Haridwar further or enjoy the wonderful ayurvedic spa. Leisurely lunch on the haveli terraces. Transfer to railway station early afternoon for overnight air-conditioned  sleeper train bound for Allahabad. Dinner on board. (B,L)

Day 7  Allahabad                                                       
Arrive in time for breakfast and then  morning free to relax & refresh at the  hotel. After lunch sightseeing of the local temples and ashrams. Overnight in a deluxe hotel overlooking the merging of the rivers Yumana & Sarawati with the Ganga. (B,L,D)  

Day 8 -10 * Sailing   
Allahabad–Sirsa–Gaharaw–Sita Mari–Mirzapur–Chunar Fort
Your 3 days gentle sailing begins at the Sangam confluence of the Ganga, Yumana and the mystical Saraswati rivers, which is the most auspicious place for a sacred bath. We camp on the river beach for two nights and along the teaming river banks we visit sites of Siti Mari, the site of a huge statue of monkey god Hanuman and temples at Mirzapur. A patch work of charming peaceful villages, paddy fields and ghats unfurl before our eyes. Our last camp is on a sandy beach set against the romantic backdrop of Chunar Fort.Sailing each day is about 6hrs. (B,L,D)      
    
Day 10  Sita Mari/Chunar Fort – Varanasi
Ganga cruising comes to a close, disembark at Chunar Fort and after visiting the fort from here we drive to the sacred shores of Benaras (Varanasi).  Arrive to the peaceful Assi ghat to a delightful family-run Heritage Haveli overlooking Ganga. Enjoy the art, the antiques and the most delicious cuisine and elegant dinning with other guests. (B,L,D)      

Day 11  Varanasi (Benares)
Early morning at sunrise Ganga Puja at Dasashvamedha Ghat and take a boat ride along the ghats  and see the holy sadhus meditating and  bathing in the Ganges. After Breakfast, explore the lanes where you can see the sacred golden topped Vishwanath Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Afternoon explore this holy city. Sightseeing to ancient sites may include the Durga Temple, Tulsi Manas Temple, Great mosque of Aurangzeb, Benares Hindu University, Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum reknowned for some of India’s finest paintings and the faded but still charming Ramnagar Fort, home to Varanasi’s  Maharajas for 400 years. Evening Ganga Puja Ceremony at Dasashvamedha Ghat followed by dinning and overnight at the Haveli. (B,L,D)

Day 12 Varanasi 
Sunrise or sunset Ganga puja as you like. After breakfast excursion to Sarnath dedicated to Lord Buddha where he gave his first sermon in the Deer park after attaining enlightement.See the beautiful museum and temple and the Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. Afternoon free to relax at the Haveli or silk shop! Last night at the Homely Haveli. (B,L,D)  

Day 13 Varanasi – Kolkata
Leisurely morning and lunch on the terraces of the Haveli. Afternoon transfer to the railway station for overnight air-conditioned sleeper train to Kolkata/Calcutta where the Ganges passionately merges with Maha Sagar, the Indian Ocean. Dinner on board. (B,L)        
                     
Day 14 Kolkata                                                   
Arrive early morning in Kolkata at the Grand Howrah Station and transfer the the most elegant historic hotel of Bengal for two days and nights of sheer pleasure and divine service. After breakfast free to relax and unwind after a long journey for the rest of the day. Enjoy the pool and the Banyan Tree Spa. Visit the Indian Museum nearby. Lunch on your own. (B,D)
 
Day 15 Kolkata                                                    
Full day guided sightseeing of the city. Morning to the Victoria Memorial, Mother House, Kali Ghat, Birla Mandir and Tagore House. Lunch on your own. Afternoon visit to Belur Math of Ramakrishna’s Mission and the impressive Unity Temple built by his foremost disciple Swami Vivekananda and further north to the Dakshineshwar Kali Temple up the river Hoogley that the Ganges has now merged with. Dinner at the Oberoi’s Thai restaurant  Baan Sabai.(B,D)

Day 16 Kolkata – Delhi                       
Early morning airport transfer for return flight to Delhi. On arrival transfer to a  Luxury hotel. Free day for shopping and lunch on you own. (B,D)
Alternatively fly home to your country from Kolkata.

Day 17 Delhi             
After  breakfast, transfer to the airport. End of your Eternal Ganges Journey. (B)

Optional:   The Sunderbans        2 Nights/3 Days

Day 16 -18
Venture further to the ‘Mouth of the Ganges’ where the Ganges passionately meets the India Ocean at the sacred spot of Sagardwip, on the west end of the delta running through The Sunderbans,  the largest mangrove forest in the world, a UNESCO World heritage site and Tiger Reserve.
The Sunderbans is home to the world largest tiger population, around 140 Royal Bengal Tigers who remarkably have adapted to live on saltwater and fish and also with a healthy appetite for man!
Stay for two nights on the beautiful Bali Island near the reserve in tasteful thatched huts  and with the resorts private boat and local village guides you have the opportunity to enter deep within the Sunderbans reserve cruising through the enchanting mangroves.
Silently keep watch for a blessed and rare sighting of the shy tiger amidst the network of waterways, creeks and alluvial islands that abound in marine life including dolphins, sharks, estaurine crocodiles and olive ridley turtles as well as an abundance of birds especially waterfowl.
Enjoy the authentic local Bengali seafood cuisine and the warm hospitality of the locals.This is a eco-sustainable camp whose revenues contributes to many local social welfare projects. (B,L,D)

Day 18  Sunderbans – Kolkata
After lunch return journey back to Kolkata for overnight in luxury hotel near the airport. (B,L,D)

Day19 Kolkata – Delhi
Early morning return flight to Delhi and transfer to your own hotel or alternatively fly to your home country from Kolkata. (B)