Antara Cruises unveiled plans for what it is calling "the longest river cruise in modern times," a nearly two-month sailing from India to Bangladesh that will depart in September and cover more than 3,000 miles.
The 53-day Grand Cruise is set to sail between Prayagraj on the Ganges River and Shivsagar on the Brahmaputra River, spanning the course of 27 rivers. The voyage will take place aboard the Ganga Vilas, an 18-suite vessel built to accommodate 36 guests.
• Related: Making history on an India-Bangladesh sailing
Guests can expect to experience regional cuisine, heritage and wildlife as they make their way through World Heritage monuments, colonial cities, the ruins of lost empires and artisanal villages. The long-haul trip will also include visits to Sundarbans National Park, home to the largest mangrove forest in the world, which is shared by India and Bangladesh. There will also be opportunities to observe tigers, rhinos and other wildlife in their native habitat. The ship includes a panoramic lounge, dining room, sun deck and observation pavilion as well as a spa and gym.
Prices for the cruise start at $26,000 per person, double. That is inclusive of all meals; excursions and sightseeing; and transfers. Guests can also sail on shorter segments of the cruise, subject to availability. Those include:
• Prayagraj or Varanasi to Kolkata, via Patna, an approximate three-week segment.
• Kolkata to Guwahati, via Dhaka, Bangladesh, approximately three weeks.
• Guwahati to Shivsagar, via Kaziranga, approximately two weeks.
To learn more, visit www.antaracruises.com.
CORRECTED: This report was corrected on Dec. 22. Due to an editing error, the original report referred to Shivsagar as an Indian city. It is located in Bangladesh.