Ganges River Cruise: Varanasi to Kolkata
A through-voyage or a cruise-and-fly package — know which one you are booking.
Get Free Ganges Cruise Quotes“Varanasi to Kolkata” can mean two very different trips. Knowing which one you are booking is the most important thing on this page.
Option 1: The Cruise-and-Fly Package
This is how most travelers do it. You cruise the Lower Ganges and Hooghly from Kolkata for about a week on a boutique ship — temple towns, colonial river towns and village life — then fly to Varanasi for land nights with guided boat rides and the aarti. APT, for example, sells a 12-day Kolkata, Varanasi and Lower Ganges program with seven nights aboard the Ganges Voyager and two nights in Varanasi, with departures from October 2026. Uniworld sells programs aboard the Ganges Voyager II that begin in New Delhi with the Golden Triangle before the cruise.
Option 2: The Through-Voyage on the River
A true Ganges river cruise from Varanasi to Kolkata sails the river the whole way, through Uttar Pradesh, Bihar (with stops such as Patna) and into Bengal. Antara’s Ganga Vilas, which in January 2023 set out from Varanasi on a 51-day voyage to Dibrugarh in Assam, has been upgraded and has opened Varanasi–Kolkata sailings from late 2026, with India–Bangladesh voyages for 2027. These voyages are few and far between, so book early if this is the trip you want.
The Two Options Compared
| Cruise-and-fly | Through-voyage | |
|---|---|---|
| River covered | Lower Ganges and Hooghly near Kolkata | The whole river between Varanasi and Kolkata |
| Varanasi | By air, with land nights | Start or end of the voyage |
| Length | About 12 days including land | Longer; depends on the sailing |
| Availability | Regular departures through the season | Occasional departures |
| Best for | Most travelers; easy to combine with Delhi and Agra | Travelers who want the river itself, end to end |
For the lower river’s ports in detail, see our sister site Ganges River Cruises. Whatever you choose, read the U.S. State Department travel advisory for India and make sure your insurance covers the whole trip — Cruise & Travel Insurance explains what to look for.
Varanasi to Kolkata Questions
Is there a Ganges river cruise from Varanasi to Kolkata?
Yes, but rarely. Antara’s Ganga Vilas has opened Varanasi–Kolkata sailings from late 2026. The far more common package is a week-long cruise from Kolkata on the lower river, combined with a flight to Varanasi for two nights or so.
Why don’t more ships sail all the way?
The river between Bihar and Varanasi is shallower and more seasonal than the lower Ganges, so most cruise ships keep to the lower river near Kolkata, where they can sail on a regular schedule.
Which direction is best?
It makes little difference to the experience. Choose the direction that gives you the best flights and fits the rest of your India trip.
Choose Your Varanasi–Kolkata Trip
Through-voyage or cruise-and-fly? Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will compare the dates and inclusions and send free quotes.
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