Loved the opportunity to sail through a part of India where I could see both various wildlife in their natural environment and observe local village life. Our shore excursions were very interesting both culturally and nature wise.

At Kaziranga National Park, we had an early morning elephant safari, followed by an afternoon jeep safari. For me the highlight of the experience was twofold. Spotting a tiger with its prey was so exciting as was riding an elephant. Sitting astride a nursing mother, while learning about the habits of female elephants was also thrilling. Watching rhinos with their young was great. For bird watchers these safaris were fantastic.

We had the opportunity to visit some villages where we could observe women weaving, visit local markets, talk with students and generally observe village life. We were able to enter temples and homes, plus we saw several local performances. In addition, our meals on the ship exposed us to local cuisine, which I found great. While on the ship, we also experienced local music and dances, which complemented our onshore experiences. The overall service we received onboard was excellent.