The
cruises feature visits and attractions such as wildlife viewing (both by
jeep and on elephant back), village walks, visits to tea gardens, exploring
country towns in cycle rickshaws, barbecues on deserted river islands, dance
performances and visits to craft workshops.
For our season covering October 2005 to April 2006, we are offering a
scheduled service of 7-night, 10-night and 4-night cruises, named for the
Assam Despatch service, the daily mail-cum-passenger service that once plied
from Calcutta up the Brahmaputra to Dibrugarh. Cruises can be combined to
give 14 night durations. The cruises are as follows:
Assam Despatch 1 :
This 7-night cruise starts at Dhubri, near the Bangladesh border, and
finishes at Guwahati. Dhubri is around 5 ½ hrs drive from
Bagdogra/Siliguri, 4 hrs drive from the Bhutan frontier at Phuntsoling or
from Jaldapara wildlife sanctuary, and this cruise is ideal for combining
with Sikkim, Bhutan or Darjeeling. Highlights are Manas National Park, the
archaeological site of Sri Surya Prahar, the silk weaving village of
Sualkuchi and the pilgrimage centre of Hajo.
Assam Despatch 2 :
This 7-night cruise starts at Guwahati, terminates at Silghat near Tezpur
and Kaziranga, and is identical to the current Rhino Upstream Cruise.
Highlights are Orang and Kaziranga National Parks, and temples in Tezpur.
(previously featured as the Rhino Cruise)
Assam Despatch 3 :
This 7-night cruise starts at Silghat, accessed from either Tezpur or
Guwahati airports, and terminates at Neamati, accessed from either Jorhat or
Dibrugarh airports. It is identical to the current Upper Assam cruise.
Highlights are Kaziranga National Park, the Hindu monasteries on Majuli
Island, famed for their dance drama, and Sibsagar, the old capital of the
Ahom kings, with palaces and temples. (previously featured as the Upper
Assam Cruise)
Assam Despatch 4 :
This 10-night cruise starts at Neamati, reached via either Jorhat or
Dibrugarh, and terminates at Guwahati. Highlights are the old capital of the
Ahom kings at Sibsagar, Majuli Island with its Hindu monasteries, Kaziranga
National Park, temples at Tezpur and Madan Kamdev, and the silk weaving
village of Sualkuchi.
Assam Despatch 5 :
This 4-night cruise starts at Guwahati and terminates at Dhubri, around 4
hrs drive from the Bhutan frontier or 5 ½ hrs drive from
Bagdogra/Siliguri and is ideal for combining a short cruise with Darjeeling,
Sikkim or Bhutan. Highlights are Manas National Park and the archaeological
site of Sri Surya Prahar.
Transfer Information :
Guwahati : airport transfers provided
Silghat : transfers provided to/from either Guwahati or
Tezpur airports
Neamati : transfers provided to/from either Dibrugarh or
Jorhat airports
Dhubri : no transfer provided (road linkage possible to
Bagdogra, Bhutan border or Guwahati)
Incredible
India
