India River Cruise: The Holy Ganges Adventure Tour

Cruise the storied waters of the Ganges River on a 12-day adventure. By riverboat and on land, soak up the immense power of this vital waterway as you sail to picturesque local villages and see stunning temples and palaces. Cap off the experience with a four-day land excursion to the city of Varanasi, considered by many to be the spiritual capital of India.

Highlights

Visit beautiful temples and local villages, meet with a monk at a Buddhist pilgrimage site, enjoy a lecture at the Ghats of the Ganges by a research scholar, visit the G Adventures
supported Open Hand for breakfast, enjoy the pace of life on the river

What's Included

Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Explore Mahabodhi Temple Complex and Meet with a Monk, Bodh Gaya Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Ganges River Talk, Varanasi Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Breakfast at Open Hand Project, Varanasi. Arrival transfer. Excursion to Rajmahal. Visit Bateshwar and Vikramshila Buddhist Monastery. Visit Jehangira Island. Rickshaw excursion to Monghyr. Explore Nalanda Buddhist Monastery and museum. Visit Pawapuri Lake and a Jain temple. Patna city tour. Orientation walk of Varanasi. Sunset and sunrise boat trips on the Ganges River. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.

Accommodation

Hotels (4 nts), riverboat (7 nts).

Meals Included

12 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners

Transport

Riverboat, minibus, train, auto
rickshaws, cycle
rickshaws, walking.

About our Transportation

Train Traveling in India by train is an experience. Distances in India are long and the trains aren't the worlds best, but traveling by rail adds a fascinating new dimension to a visitor's experience in the country. There is virtually no better way to make friends with the people and see the spectacular views of the diverse Indian countryside. The chaos on the Indian Railway stations is a replica of life in India. We use AC Chair car for day journeys on this trip. There are no restaurant or buffet cars on Indian Railways, but on long distance trains an attendant will appear in your coach and ask you if you would like to order food. Regular stops are made at stations where food is also available and on some trains many vendors board the train selling chai, cold drinks and crisps and biscuits. Don't expect pristine western standards anywhere in India, but you'll find AC Chair class fairly clean by Indian standards, with both western
style and squat toilets usually in a reasonably sanitary condition. Indian trains are quite safe to travel on, even for families or women travelling alone, and you are unlikely to have any problems. Having said that, theft of luggage, although rare is not unheard of, so for peace of mind you may like to take along a chain and padlock to secure your bags (readily available at all Indian stations). Generally, Indian Railways are very efficient, but trains do run late, and sometimes it's hours rather than minutes. Make sure you have something to occupy your time ' a good book, magazine or photos of your home country and family to show the Indian travelers also waiting for the train. Road Road travel in India is certainly not what people are used to in Western countries. Rules are not always followed, drivers appear to speed, do not stay in their lanes, overtake in seemingly dangerous situations, and rarely use their mirrors or driving lights at night. The horn however is used frequently and can range from the latest Bollywood tune to Britney Spears! Although the government is investing large sums of money to improve the road infrastructure, there is a lot more to be done. As a result some of the roads are poorly maintained, pot holed and uneven. This gets even more pronounced particularly during and after the monsoon. Travel time is very long in comparison to Western countries and short distances can take much longer than at home. You have the comfort of an air
conditioned Private vehicle, but be prepared to take an odd ride in a local transport for the experience.

Group Leader Description

All G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of our Chief Experience Officers (CEO). The aim of the CEO is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting
we think it's the best of both worlds.

Emergency Fund

Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional USD $200 (or equivalent) as an 'emergency' fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control (ex. a natural disaster) require a change to our planned route. This is a rare occurrence!

Solo Travellers

We believe single travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi
share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and single travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.

Spending Money

Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.

What to Take

What you need to bring depends on the trip you have chosen and the countries or regions you are planning to visit. We suggest that you pack as lightly as possible as your are expected to carry your own luggage. As a rule we try not to have to walk more than 15
20 mintues with your bags which is why we recommend keeping the weight of your bags between 10
15kg/22
30lb. Hard suitcases are not recommended for G Adventures trips! Most travellers carry a backpack or rolling bag of small to medium size (no XXL ones please!) as they need to fit under the beds when travelling on sleeper trains. You will also need a day pack/bag to carry water, cameras and other electronics like ipods and mobile phones. Standard luggage allowance for internal flights is 15kg (33lb) for checked luggage, and is 7kg (15lb) for carry
on luggage. Any charges for additional luggage or weight is the responsibility of the passenger.