Ganges Cruises in India
A small, specialist world of boutique ships and short seasons.
Get Free Ganges Cruise QuotesGanges cruises in India are a small, specialist world: a handful of boutique ships, a short season, and itineraries that change from year to year. Here is how they fit together.
India’s River Cruising Map
| River | Region | What it offers |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Ganges and Hooghly | West Bengal, from Kolkata | Week-long cruises to temple towns and colonial river towns |
| Middle Ganges | Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, to Varanasi | Occasional long voyages; Varanasi boat rides |
| Brahmaputra | Assam | Wildlife, tea gardens and river-island monasteries |
| Ganges to Brahmaputra | India and Bangladesh | Rare long-distance voyages |
What the Ships Are Like
Ganges cruise ships are small — typically a few dozen guests — with outward-facing cabins, a sun deck, Indian and Western menus and guided touring ashore. They are closer in spirit to a boutique hotel than to a European river ship. Shore visits are often by small boat or on foot, and days start early to avoid the heat.
Before You Book
- Confirm which stretch of the river the ship actually sails.
- Check whether Varanasi, Delhi or Agra are included or are add-ons.
- Ask about internal flights and luggage limits on them.
- Read the U.S. State Department travel advisory for India and the CDC Travelers’ Health page for India.
For the lower river in depth, see Ganges River Cruises; for Assam, Brahmaputra River Cruise.
India River Cruise Questions
Which companies run Ganges cruises in India?
Lines and tour companies currently selling multi-night Ganges cruises include APT and Uniworld, which sell programs on the Ganges Voyager ships, and Antara, which operates the Ganga Vilas. Itineraries and ships change, so ask for the current options.
Are there other river cruises in India?
Yes. The Brahmaputra in Assam offers wildlife-focused cruises near Kaziranga National Park, and some long voyages link the Ganges and the Brahmaputra through Bangladesh.
Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh: Three Rivers in One
Although it is one river, the Ganges feels different in each state it crosses. In West Bengal, the Hooghly branch runs past old trading towns once settled by the Dutch, French, Portuguese and British, and past the terracotta temples of rural Bengal. In Bihar, the river is broad and rural, with Patna, one of India’s oldest cities, on its bank and the Buddhist heartland nearby. In Uttar Pradesh it reaches Varanasi, the spiritual climax of any Ganges journey. A long voyage sees all three; a shorter cruise focuses on one.
Compare Ganges Cruises in India
Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will compare ships, routes and land packages across India’s rivers and send free quotes.
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