Assam Bengal Navigation

Luxury River Cruises of India

Assam Bengal Navigation (ABN) are the pioneers of luxury river cruising in India. Their vessels sail two of the country’s greatest river systems: the mighty Brahmaputra in Assam, and the holy Ganges together with its tributary, the Hooghly, in Bengal and Bihar. The Brahmaputra voyages have been rated among the world’s top 10 most adventurous cruises by CNN, while the Ganges cruises feature among The Guardian’s best cruise holidays in the world.

The cruises pair genuine, small-group exploration — village walks, cycle-rickshaw rides, jeep safaris, temple visits and river life — with comfortable, all-suite ships, attentive crews and a blend of Assamese/Indian and Western cuisine. Brahmaputra cruises are chiefly wildlife-led; Ganges and Hooghly cruises are chiefly cultural and historical.

Brahmaputra River Cruises

Wildlife-focused cruises through Assam—Kaziranga and Pobitora for the Great Indian one-horned rhinoceros and Bengal tiger; Nameri for birdlife, plus tea gardens, silk villages, river islands, and Ahom-era temples.

Season: October to April

Ships: ABN Charaidew II and ABN Sukapha

Rhinos & More | AD2

7 Nights | Guwahati → Kaziranga

Guwahati to Kaziranga. Silk-weaving at Sualkuchi, the hilltop Kamakhya temple, a float trip through Nameri National Park, and jeep safaris across three ranges of Kaziranga in search of the one-horned rhino and Bengal tiger, plus a tea garden and the weekly Uloni market.

River Island Cruise | AD3

7 Nights | Kaziranga → Jorhat

Kaziranga to Jorhat. Kaziranga safaris and a riverside lunch at Diphlu River Lodge, an Assam tea plantation, Gangetic-dolphin spotting, the neo-Vaishnavite monasteries (satras) of Majuli Island, and the old Ahom capital of Sibsagar.

Silk & Rhinos | AD2A

4 Nights | Guwahati → Kaziranga

The short taste of Assam aboard the intimate ABN Sukapha: Sualkuchi’s silk villages, the Kamakhya temple, a riverside village, and a safari in Kaziranga’s Western range.

Brahmaputra Maximum | AD4

10 Nights | Jorhat → Guwahati

The complete Brahmaputra, Jorhat to Guwahati: Sibsagar, Majuli Island, Kaziranga (with lunch at Diphlu River Lodge), Tezpur’s Cole Park and Da Parbatia ruins, Nameri National Park and the silk town of Sualkuchi.

Brahmaputra-Taster | AD7

3 Nights | Guwahati → Guwahati

A short out-and-back from Guwahati: Sualkuchi silk, the Kamakhya temple, and rhino spotting on a jeep safari at Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.

Ganges & Hooghly River Cruises

Culture- and history-led cruises past riverbank villages, terracotta temples, mosques, palaces, and colonial-era towns—a little-known but richly rewarding part of India, much of it reachable only by boat.

Season: ABN Rajmahal sails from August to the end of April. Lower Ganges (Hooghly) cruises run for much of the year; main-stream Ganges cruises run in the winter months.

Varanasi: The stretch up to Varanasi can only be cruised in high water, in the months of August and September.

Ship: ABN Rajmahal

The Historic Hooghly - Upstream | BD1

7 Nights | Kolkata → Farakka

Kolkata to/from Farakka on the Lower Ganges, with a return leg by train. Terracotta temples of Kalna, the vast ISKCON temple at Mayapur, brass-working Matiari, the Nawabs’ capital at Murshidabad (Hazarduari Palace, Khushbagh, Katra Mosque), sleepy Baranagar and the medieval ruins of Gaur, plus French Chandernagore and colonial Barrackpore.

The Historic Hooghly - Downstream | BD5

7 Nights | Farakka → Kolkata

Kolkata to/from Farakka on the Lower Ganges, with a return leg by train. Terracotta temples of Kalna, the vast ISKCON temple at Mayapur, brass-working Matiari, the Nawabs’ capital at Murshidabad (Hazarduari Palace, Khushbagh, Katra Mosque), sleepy Baranagar and the medieval ruins of Gaur, plus French Chandernagore and colonial Barrackpore.

The Holy Ganges - Upstream | BD2

8 nights | Farakka → Patna

The short taste of Assam aboard the intimate ABN Sukapha: Sualkuchi’s silk villages, the Kamakhya temple, a riverside village, and a safari in Kaziranga’s Western range.

The Holy Ganges - Downstream | BD4

6 nights | Patna → Farakka

The short taste of Assam aboard the intimate ABN Sukapha: Sualkuchi’s silk villages, the Kamakhya temple, a riverside village, and a safari in Kaziranga’s Western range.

City of Light - Upstream | BD9

7 Nights | Patna → Varanasi

Patna to/from Varanasi — operating only in high water (August–September). The small Mughal tomb at Maner, Ghazipur, two days in Varanasi, the Buddhist site of Sarnath, the clifftop Chunar Fort, Ramnagar Palace, dawn rowing-boat rides along the ghats and the evening Ganga Aarti ceremony.

City of Light - Downstream | BD10

7 Nights | Varanasi → Patna

Patna to/from Varanasi — operating only in high water (August–September). The small Mughal tomb at Maner, Ghazipur, two days in Varanasi, the Buddhist site of Sarnath, the clifftop Chunar Fort, Ramnagar Palace, dawn rowing-boat rides along the ghats and the evening Ganga Aarti ceremony.

Ganges Maximum: Buddha to the Raj | BD11

11 Nights | Kolkata → Farakka → Vikramshila → Farakka

Kolkata up to the Farakka–Vikramshila reach and back. Combines the Historic Hooghly highlights (Kalna, Mayapur, Matiari, Murshidabad, Baranagar, Gaur) with the upper stretch to Rajmahal, the Buddhist monastery of Vikramshila, the Rajmahal Hills, the Moti Jharna waterfall and a Santal tribal village.

Bengal Memories | BD8

3 Nights | Kolkata → Mayapur → Kolkata

A short Kolkata round-trip: the Hooghly Imambara, Kalna’s terracotta temples, the ISKCON temple at Mayapur, a saree-weaving village and French Chandernagore.

The Fleet: Specs & Features

The newest ship in the fleet. Her extra-shallow draught and low profile let her cruise faster than conventional designs.

Length 44.5 m, breadth 11.0 m, powered by 2 engines
18 cabins in total — 36 guests maximum
Upper deck: 2 deluxe cabins (350 sq ft, private balcony) + 12 twin/double cabins (240 sq ft, French balcony)
Main deck: 4 queen-bed cabins (170 sq ft) — charged at no supplement
Saloon & bar, dining room, large open sundeck, in-house gym and a spa
In-cabin: individual climate control, en-suite shower/WC with Kama Ayurveda toiletries, minibar, electronic safe, tea/coffee facilities, hairdryer, intercom phone, robes & slippers
Wi-Fi in the saloon, sundeck and dining hall during the day (subject to network); 24/7 power backup

An intimate ship designed to navigate the Brahmaputra, recently refurbished.

12 cabins, all on the upper deck — 24 guests maximum
Bamboo-panelled, air-conditioned cabins with large sliding windows and en-suite bathrooms (Kama Ayurveda toiletries)
Cabins 1–10 are twin (convertible to double); cabins 11–12 are double
Recently refurbished: all cabins now have French balconies and glass shower cubicles; new sundeck furniture and bar
Spa, saloon with library, main-deck dining room and a top-deck sundeck; naturalist on board

A stylish ship whose extra-shallow draught lets her cruise further upstream than any competitor.

Length 50 m, powered by 3 engines
22 cabins in total — 40 guests maximum
Upper deck: 14 twin/double cabins. Main deck: 4 twin/double + 4 single cabins (singles at no supplement)
All cabins have French balconies
Saloon & bar (upper deck), dining room and spa (main deck), vast canopied sundeck with a daytime bar
In-cabin: individual climate control, en-suite shower/WC with Kama Ayurveda toiletries, minibar, electronic safe, tea/coffee facilities, hairdryer, intercom phone, robes & slippers
Maximum 20 guests per guide on excursions

NOTE: All fares are subject to 5% GST (tax subject to change).

Inclusions

Accommodation on board
All excursions and entry fees as per the itinerary
All transfers as mentioned in the itinerary, on a shared basis
Full board (all meals)
Unlimited drinks during lunch & dinner — Indian-origin local beer, local wine and soft drinks only
Services of an English-speaking guide on board and during excursions
Services of an English-speaking naturalist — Brahmaputra cruises only
Port charges

Exclusions

Drinks from the bar
Spa services
Laundry
Tips and camera fees
Insurance
Any pre- or post-cruise hotel accommodation
Any flight or train ticket unless specified
Items of a personal nature

Enquire Now

Please send a message, and we'll get back to you shortly.

Name

Email

Country

Select a Tour

People Traveling

Phone

Tentative Date of Travel

Message