The sailing covers the best of the Ganges from the colonial splendours of Kolkotta, through the enchanting rural arcadia of West Bengal along the Hooghly and the great expanse of the Ganges itself with its pristine bird and wildlife and cultural treasures dotted along the banks. Though in the days of the British Raj, paddle steamers plied this route on a regular basis, with the advent of the railways in India river navigation was abandoned and the rivers were allowed to silt up. Varanasi, said to be the oldest inhabited city on the planet, is the most sacred city of Hinduism and a place of overwhelming beauty at the same time poignantly moving with its cremation ghats. Varanasi is surely the goal of any 'passage to India' and at the other end of the holy river stands Kolkata, in all its Raj-like magnificence. Between lies several of the most important Buddhist sites in the country, fascinating cities great and small as well as expanses of empty river teeming with bird life, not to mention the Gangeatic dolphin. No vessel could be more appropriate for a trip down this special river than our ultra shallow draft Pandaw K class ships. Important Notice: The cruise schedule includes the latest information regarding your program, but last minute adjustments may occur. The schedule may shift due to the weather or to take advantage of unexpected opportunities. The exact time for each activity will be announced or posted by the onboard tour staff. From September 2024, Pandaw is happy to announce that our India expeditions will be all-inclusive, with complimentary local beers, spirits, mixers and soft drinks for all guests. Also included free of charge is select house wines during lunch and dinner only. Subject to availability. Please Note: The Upper Ganges segment of this itinerary passes through the state of Bihar. In this state it is illegal to serve any drinks containing alcohol. For this reason, we will not be able to serve alcohol onboard the ship.










The sailing covers the best of the Ganges from the colonial splendours of Kolkotta, through the enchanting rural arcadia of West Bengal along the Hooghly and the great expanse of the Ganges itself with its pristine bird and wildlife and cultural treasures dotted along the banks. Though in the days of the British Raj, paddle steamers plied this route on a regular basis, with the advent of the railways in India river navigation was abandoned and the rivers were allowed to silt up. Varanasi, said to be the oldest inhabited city on the planet, is the most sacred city of Hinduism and a place of overwhelming beauty at the same time poignantly moving with its cremation ghats. Varanasi is surely the goal of any 'passage to India' and at the other end of the holy river stands Kolkata, in all its Raj-like magnificence. Between lies several of the most important Buddhist sites in the country, fascinating cities great and small as well as expanses of empty river teeming with bird life, not to mention the Gangeatic dolphin. No vessel could be more appropriate for a trip down this special river than our ultra shallow draft Pandaw K class ships. Important Notice: The cruise schedule includes the latest information regarding your program, but last minute adjustments may occur. The schedule may shift due to the weather or to take advantage of unexpected opportunities. The exact time for each activity will be announced or posted by the onboard tour staff. From September 2024, Pandaw is happy to announce that our India expeditions will be all-inclusive, with complimentary local beers, spirits, mixers and soft drinks for all guests. Also included free of charge is select house wines during lunch and dinner only. Subject to availability. Please Note: The Upper Ganges segment of this itinerary passes through the state of Bihar. In this state it is illegal to serve any drinks containing alcohol. For this reason, we will not be able to serve alcohol onboard the ship.
Before the cruise
Day-by-day stops
After the cruise

Pandaw Cruises
RV Kalaw Pandaw is an 18-cabin expedition river ship built in 2014, operating on the Lower Ganges, Brahmaputra and Hooghly rivers in northern India. Outside-facing teak-finished suites and a generous Sun Deck make her an ideal platform for the Indian river-cruise programme. Maximum guest capacity is 36; tenders are used for shore excursions where no jetty is available.
Dive deeper into marquee destinations before or after your voyage with immersive Land Programs and City Stays.
1 of 1
Port tax is still charge for each child traveling. Children: 8–18 years Child discount: 50%
It is not possible to book a triple. All our cabins are twin or double configuration.
Default rate: 1.5× Standard single supplement is 100% (full single-occupancy fare). Pandaw publishes 'Singles Welcome' departures throughout the year on which the supplement is fully waived (1.0× rate) — these are flagged in the leadin price feed via discount_message='Singles Welcome! No Single Supplement'.
91+ days before departure: 2% penalty 0–90 days before departure: 100% penalty
Crew gratuities are fully included in your cruise program price. However, tipping for local tour guides is not included and is left entirely to the free will of the guests.
We also require that all guests arrange their own comprehensive travel insurance prior to sailing. For full passenger information and detailed terms, please visit: https://www.pandaw.com/passenger-information
Your booking is made with Gvoya — the terms shown above are the Gvoya platform terms applied to this voyage. Full details: Booking Terms·Cancellation Policy
Select up to 3 to compare
From $11,088/ person
+ $125 taxes & port fees
From $13,860/ person
+ $125 taxes & port fees
Get a 360-degree look at our destinations with our blog articles.