BENGAL DESPATCH 6 - SUNDERBANS DOWNSTREAM
Day 1. Board in central Calcutta AM. Sail down river, passing Garden Reach, Diamond Harbour, Kedgeree (any guesses as to what is on the menu for lunch?) to the fishing port of Namkhana where we turn out of the Hooghly estuary.
Day 2. We enter the maze of mangrove-covered islands which make up the Sunderbans – we may well see sails above the trees as this is one of the last places on earth where sailing ships are used for day-to-day trade. We visit the crocodile rescue centre at Bagabatkhana and stop at tiger-free Lothian Island to take the boardwalk through the mangroves to an observation tower. We continue on to anchor at Sajnakhali on the edge of the core area of the sanctuary.
Day 3. We have a day to cruise the channels through the islands in our country boat Although they are there deep in the mangrove forest, we shall not see actually see tigers – something to be grateful for since all are maneaters and few who see them live to tell the tale. We shall however see crocodiles, monitor lizards, deer and plenty of bird life.
Day 4. We take the country boat to Basanti where we disembark and are driven c. 4hrs to central Calcutta or airport.
BENGAL DESPATCH 7 - SUNDERBANS UPSTREAM
Day 1. You are collected from airport or your hotel late morning and driven c 4hrs to Basanti. Here you are met by our country boat and taken out to board our ship at Sajnakhali on the edge of the core area of the Sunderbans wildlife sanctuary.
Day 2. We have a day to cruise the channels through the islands in our country boat Although they are there deep in the mangrove forest, we shall not see actually see tigers – something to be grateful for since all are maneaters and few who see them live to tell the tale. We shall however see crocodiles, monitor lizards, deer and plenty of bird life.
Day 3. We cruise through the maze of mangrove-covered islands which make up the Sunderbans – we may well see sails above the trees, as this is one of the last places on earth where sailing ships are used for day-to-day trade.. We visit the crocodile rescue centre at Bagabatkhana and stop at tiger-free Lothian Island to take the boardwalk through the mangroves to an observation tower. We continue on to anchor at the little fishing port of Namkhana, on the edge of the Hooghly estuary.
Day 4. Sail up river all day passing Kedgeree (any guesses as to what is on the menu for lunch?), Diamond Harbour and finally Garden Reach, to arrive in central Calcutta where we anchor downstream of the Howrah Bridge. Disembark, or remain on board for the onward upstream cruise Bengal Despatch 1 (complimentary accommodation on board ship is provided tonight for those taking both cruises).
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