Save $1040 per couple – book by Dec 31, 2018. Departures from five Australian cities
A new, luxury holiday package will see Australians explore India’s finest cultural and natural attractions, from rajas to rhinos, as they travel by rail and river through the colourful country that is home to the Himalayas, jungles, bustling bazaars and the Taj Mahal.
Released exclusively by Cruise Traveller in partnership with Indian river cruise company, Adventure Resorts and Cruises (ARC), the 19-night Rhinos to Rajas package combines a seven-night cruise on the sacred Brahmaputra River with seven nights onboard the Palace on Wheels – India’s oldest, luxury train which was once used regularly by Indian royalty – along with sightseeing at Kolkata and Delhi, two of India’s most iconic cities.
The holiday will begin on February 22, 2020. Bookings made before December 31, 2018, will include a saving of $1040 per couple and flights are included from five Australian cities.
Guests will fly from Australia to Kolkata, long regarded as one of India’s cultural hotspots. After a night in Kolkata, guests will fly to Jorhat to board the MV Mahabaahu, ARC’s boutique, 46-guest river ship. Highlights of the seven-night cruise include a safari where guests can spot the great single-horned Indian rhino, elephants, tigers and buffalo, views of the 7000m-high Himalayas and cultural experiences such as a performance by local singers and dancers and the opportunity to observe village weavers at work.
The cruise also features aromatic Indian cuisine, complimentary excursions and daily yoga. Apart from the Zambezi River, the Brahmaputra River is the only river in the world from which boat, jeep and elephant safaris are offered.
On disembarking the ship, guests will fly to Delhi, where they will spend two days sightseeing both ‘Old Delhi’, the historic quarter with its majestic mosques, monuments, bazaars, canals and forts, and ‘New Delhi’, the imperial quarter created by the British Raj, with its spacious, tree-lined avenues and imposing colonial government buildings.
In Delhi, guests will board the ‘Palace on Wheels’, India’s oldest luxury train which has been meticulously refurbished to maintain its opulent charm while also offering modern amenities such as air conditioning in all sleeping apartments. Along the journey, which begins and concludes at Delhi, guests will enjoy a jungle safari in a tiger reserve, visits to ancient forts, palaces and temples, camel and rickshaw rides, and on the final day of travelling, a visit to the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the modern world.
Including international return flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth plus domestic flights in India, sightseeing in Delhi, accommodation in Kolkata and Delhi, the all-inclusive river cruise, and the Palace on Wheels train journey, the 19-night Rajas to Rhinos package is available from A$14,995 per person, twin-share, which includes a saving of $520 per person, if booked by December 31, 2018. Conditions apply and subject to availability.
To book the Rajas to Rhinos fly/cruise/tour package, visit www.cruisetraveller.com.au/mah
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