Royal Rajasthan & Lower Ganges River Cruise Itinerary
DAY 1 – DELHI
Be welcomed to North India with a traditional floral garland and red tikka before arriving at your hotel for the next two nights, the luxurious The Imperial New Delhi. A Grand Dame of the East since 1936, this iconic heritage hotel evokes the opulence of a 19th-century palatial estate with its blend of Victorian, Art Deco and Lutyens’ architecture.
DAY 2 – DELHI
Discover the contrasts of Old and New Delhi, beginning with a visit to Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque. Then take an exhilarating rickshaw ride past the Red Fort and through the bustling lanes of Chandni Chowk, including Khari Baoli, Asia’s largest wholesale spice market.
Later, visit Humayun’s Tomb, built in 1570 and considered the architectural inspiration for the Taj Mahal. Drive along New Delhi’s ceremonial boulevard past India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhavan before returning to your hotel. This evening, enjoy a special Welcome Dinner.
FULL BOARD – All meals included
Day 3 – delhi & agra
Visit to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, one of Delhi’s most prominent Sikh temples. Travel to Agra, once the capital of the Mughal Empire, arriving mid-afternoon at your Scenic Special Stay, The Oberoi Amarvilas. Located just 600 metres from the Taj Mahal, every room offers exceptional views and includes complimentary butler service.
FULL BOARD – All meals included
Day 4 – agra
Witness the breathtaking Taj Mahal at sunrise, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and enduring symbol of love built by Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
Return to the hotel for breakfast before visiting Agra Fort, built in the 16th century primarily by Emperor Akbar. Once the main residence of the Mughal emperors, it showcases remarkable Islamic architecture and includes the balcony where Shah Jahan was later imprisoned, gazing towards the Taj Mahal.
Lunch & Breakfast included
Day 5 – ranthambore national park
Choose from two Scenic Freechoice experiences exploring Agra by bicycle or tuk tuk, either through the surrounding countryside or the city’s vibrant streets. Afterwards, drive to Bharatpur for lunch and then board a train to Ranthambore National Park, one of North India’s most renowned tiger reserves.
FULL BOARD – All meals included
Day 6 – ranthambore national park
Accompanied by an expert wildlife naturalist, set out on private morning and afternoon game drives in search of the elusive Bengal tiger and other wildlife that inhabit this rugged landscape.
FULL BOARD – All meals included
Day 7 – ranthambore national park & jaipur
Travel to the Pink City of Jaipur, stopping en route at Abhaneri village to visit the remarkable Chand Baori stepwell. Continue to Castle Kanota for lunch, the filming location of the Viceroy Club in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. On arrival in Jaipur, discover the iconic Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), famed for its intricate honeycomb façade of 953 windows designed to capture cooling breezes.
Includes Lunch & Breakfast
Day 8 – jaipur
Visit the Jantar Mantar, an 18th-century astronomical observatory and UNESCO World Heritage Site. From here take a short walk to the City Palace, home to the rulers of Jaipur and its museum. Enjoy lunch in a restaurant attached to the City Palace before returning to your hotel.
Visit the magnificent Amber Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed hilltop fortress located just outside Jaipur. Explore its opulent palaces, richly decorated with intricate carvings, mirrored halls and exquisite artwork, before dining at the Restaurant 1136 at Amer fort.
FULL BOARD – All meals included
day 9 – jaipur & nagaur
Pass small villages and towns, including the “Snow Yard” at Kishangarh, as you travel to Nagaur and your magnificent hotel, Ranvas. Set within the 5th-century Ahhichatragarh Fort, this restored former Mughal residence once belonged to the queens of the Maharaja of Jodhpur.
Scenic Enrich
This evening, for your Scenic Enrich event, step back in time with an exclusive dinner in the Bakht Singh Courtyard Baradari inside Ahhichatragarh Fort. Dine dressed in traditional turbans and saris, just as the former residents once did.
FULL BOARD – All meals included
day 10 – nagaur & jodhpur
Enjoy a morning exploring the fort and village at your own pace. After lunch drive to Jodhpur via Mahavira Jain Temple, known as the Khajuraho of Rajasthan in Osian. Upon arrival in Jodhpur, marvel at the close-up view of the Mehrangarh Fort from your room at The Raas, a boutique hotel located inside the old walled city and your home for the next two nights.
Includes Lunch & Breakfast
day 11 – jodhpur
This morning, choose from your three Scenic Freechoice excursions. Enjoy a ‘Flavours of Jodhpur Food’ walk, try jutti making with Mohanlal and Chanda Gujar, renowned master craftspeople of leather jutti (mojari) crafting, or take a guided walking tour that dives deep into the heart of Jodhpur to uncover the city’s lesser-known treasures.
After lunch, visit the colossal Mehrangarh Fort, which overlooks the city from a rocky hill rising 400 feet above the surrounding plain. Afterwards, return to your hotel for an evening at leisure.
Includes Lunch & Breakfast
day 12 – jodhpur & narlai
See rural tribal hamlets as you drive to the small village of Narlai. Settle into Rawla Narlai, a former 17th-century royal hunting lodge now transformed into a heritage boutique hotel. Later this afternoon, enjoy your Scenic Freechoice excursion. Choose to set out on your first jeep safari to spot leopards and peacocks in the hills surrounding your hotel or take an afternoon jeep drive to a scenic vantage point for tea overlooking the lake and desert landscape.
FULL BOARD – All meals included
day 13 – narlai
Watch the sunrise over the lake on your jeep safari, with the hope of seeing a leopard on its morning prowl. Later, take a leisurely walk around town to observe local rural life.
This evening, for your Scenic Enrich activity, begin with a drink in the bar with a member of the local royal family. Then travel by bullock cart to tonight’s dinner venue and enjoy a delicious meal beside a candlelit 1,100-year-old stepwell—a uniquely romantic experience.
Includes Dinner & Breakfast
day 14 – narlai to & ranakpur & udaipur
Drive to the ‘City of Lakes’ via Ranakpur, set in a secluded valley, and discover the spectacular 15th-century Jain temples. Rising majestically from a hill, the complex features exquisitely carved marble domes and 1,444 intricately sculpted pillars.
Continue to Udaipur, one of Rajasthan’s most beautiful and romantic cities set at the southern end of the Aravalli Hills, for your two-night Scenic Special Stay at Taj Lake Palace on Lake Pichola, overlooking the City Palace.
Includes Lunch & Breakfast
day 15 – Udaipur
Begin the day with a serene cruise on Lake Pichola before disembarking to undertake your chosen Scenic Freechoice excursion. Choose to explore the 400-year-old City Palace (Raj Mahal), considered the largest of its kind in Rajasthan, and the nearby Jagdish Temple, or join a Pichwai painting experience with artist Rajaram Sharma. Alternatively, take part in a classical and folk dance workshop.
Indulge in your sumptuous private Mewar Terrace farewell dinner at Taj Lake Palace. Overlooking the magical City Palace and Lake Pichola, this is a truly memorable way to conclude your journey.
Includes Dinner & Breakfast
day 16 – udaipur & kolkata
Fly to the vibrant city of Kolkata to continue your West Bengal river journey. You will be warmly welcomed at the airport and transferred to the wharf to board Scenic Aura. Settle into your luxurious surroundings before joining your fellow guests for an elegant Welcome Dinner.
Includes Dinner & Breakfast
day 17 – serampore & chinsura
After a visit to Kolkata’s flower market, one of the largest in India, step ashore at Serampore to explore one of Bengal’s most intriguing Danish colonial settlements, once described as the best-kept European town in India. A Danish enclave from 1755 until 1845, when it was sold to the British East India Company, the town still retains many buildings recently restored through the combined efforts of the National Museum of Denmark and the Government of West Bengal.
Visit the historic St. Olav’s Church, built in 1806, along with the Governor’s House and the Denmark Tavern, where you can pause for a morning refreshment. Each site offers a fascinating window into Bengal’s European past.
This afternoon, Scenic Aura calls at Chinsura, where you will visit the iconic Hooghly Imambara, one of West Bengal’s most revered Shia pilgrimage centres. Constructed in 1861, it features a sundial and an imposing clock tower acquired in 1852 from the London-based manufacturer who created ‘Big Ben’.
FULL BOARD – All meals included
day 18 – mayapur
Today, Scenic Aura arrives at Mayapur, the global spiritual headquarters of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and one of the 20 most visited and sacred places in the world.
Admire the nearly completed Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, due for completion in November 2027. Engage with the welcoming Hare Krishna community and stroll through the vibrant pilgrims’ bazaar, a sensory celebration of colour, fragrance and devotion.
FULL BOARD – All meals included
day 19 – Murshidabab & Baranagar & Azimganj
This morning, arrive in Murshidabad, once the powerful seat of the Nawabs of Bengal. It remained the capital of Bengal until it was moved to Calcutta (Kolkata) in 1773.
Marvel at Hazarduari Palace, known as the Palace of a Thousand Doors. Built in 1837 and designed by Duncan Macleod, now one of the largest site museums under the Archaeological Survey of India.
Visit the exquisite Kathgola Palace, where a signature Scenic Enrich High Tea awaits within its storied walls. Surrounded by lush gardens and water features, this elegant palace showcases the influence of Greek, Roman, and Indian architectural styles.
Move to Azimganj and Baranagart. In Azimganj visit the serene Jain temples, offering a captivating introduction to the influence of the wealthy merchant families of the region and the intricate temples of the Jainism. In Baranagar visit the 260-year-old ornate terracotta Char Bangla Temples, a unique complex of four terracotta temples dedicated to Lord Shiva.
FULL BOARD – All meals included
day 20 – Khushbagh > Plassey
Step ashore to explore the tranquil village of Khushbagh, known as the “Gardens of Happiness” where history and rural life intertwine. A serene early morning journey past farmland leads to a beautifully preserved mosque complex built by Nawab Ali-Wardi-Khan.
Nearby lies the historic site of the Battle of Plassey (1757), fought on the banks of the Hooghly River. This victory by the British East India Company under Robert Clive marked a turning point, leading to British control of Bengal.
FULL BOARD – All meals included
day 21 – Matiari
Today’s destination is the village of Matiari, renowned for its long-standing tradition of copper and brass craftsmanship. Watch master artisans transform recycled metals into beautifully handcrafted pots, platters and decorative pieces using techniques passed down through generations.
FULL BOARD – All meals included
day 22 – Kalna > Phulia
Arrive in the ‘City of Temples’, Kalna, which flourished in the late 18th century under the Maharajas of Bardhaman. Explore the Rajbari complex, home to the Lalji Temple built around 1739, the Krishna Chandra Temple with its 25 decorated spires, the Vijay Vaidyanath Temple dedicated to Shiva, and the intricately detailed Pratapeswar Temple.
Spend the afternoon at Phulia (Fulia) weaving village where artisans craft hand-woven cotton and silk saris.The Fulia Tangail incorporates vibrant colours and large, intricate designs woven in double jacquard. Apart from cotton, these saris are also woven in mulberry and tussar silk.
FULL BOARD – All meals included
day 23 – Chandernagore
Chandernagore transports you to a beautifully preserved corner of French colonial India. It was first established as a French colony in 1673 on the bank of the Hooghly River, when the French obtained permission from Ibrahim Khan, the Nawab of Bengal, to establish a trading post.
Stroll the elegant riverside promenade, lined with French colonial buildings. Visit the Dupleix Palace, the former French Governor’s residence and now a museum, and the Sacred Heart Church. Visit the former Hotel de Paris built in 1878, now the sub–Divisional Court and a reminder of the town’s colonial past.
FULL BOARD – All meals included
day 24 – Kolkata
Your final full day returns you to the captivating streets of Kolkata. Visit Mother Teresa’s Mother House of The Missionaries of Charity before embarking on a private heritage tram tour, a nostalgic way to glide through the city. Continue to Tipu Sultan Masjid and the Victoria Memorial and Gardens before returning to the ship for lunch.
Choose from a visit to Kumartoli, the traditional potter’s quarter and the Parshwanath Jain Temple, or undertake a tour of ‘Colonial Kolkata’ including Dalhousie Square, the Writers’ Building, College Street (Boi Para and Indian Coffee House). Alternatively visit the Indian Museum and South Park Cemetery.
This evening, enjoy your farewell on board with your fellow guests and crew.
FULL BOARD – All meals included
day 25 – Kolkata
Disembark Scenic Aura in Kolkata and transfer to the airport or hotel for your onward journey.
