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The new 'A Passage through Assam' cruise and tour features sailing on the mighty Brahmaputra River, a vast and remote region that is rich in wildlife and cultural history.

The small group tour, for up to 18 Saga guests, includes a visit to Mother Theresa’s House, watching for wildlife in Kaziranga National Park, tasting tea in an Assam plantation and seeing the Mishing tribe’s stilted houses.

Guests fly to Kolkata for a two-night stay in the Lalit Great Eastern Hotel (4Q) in the heart of Old Calcutta to view the Victoria Memorial and Indo-Gothic St Paul's Cathedral before the call to Mother Teresa’s House to learn about her humanitarian work.

A domestic flight and a transfer to Kamakhya takes guests to MV Mahabaahu (4 Anchor) for a seven-night sailing on the river where endangered long-nosed Gangetic dolphins can often be seen.

An excursion to Peacock Island to look for the Golden Langur, an endangered monkey with a luxuriant gold coat and a masked black face, is another highlight while the next day is spent cruising through the unspoilt region and learning about village life on the Brahmaputra’s islands.

MV Mahabaahu is a comfortable, air-conditioned ship which cruises by day and berths each night in peaceful, picturesque settings. The ship has five decks, a restaurant, bar, small pool and a spa. There are yoga sessions each morning, and talks on history, culture and wildlife. Each of the 23 en-suite cabins has a picture window or guests can upgrade to a cabin with a balcony.

A jeep safari through Kaziranga National Park, one of the world's finest wildlife reserves and home to two-thirds of the world's population of one-horned rhino, is on the itinerary and guests can also look for elephants, buffalo, tigers, panthers and deer before a boat safari to a deserted island to watch the night sky.

The cruise continues to a Mishing Village to see the chang ghars, riverbank houses built on raised platforms. Here women weave cotton and silk – and guests can arrange to get clothes made as there is a tailor on board ship!

MV Mahabaahu sails on to Majuli Island, a watery paradise carpeted with rice fields. It is also the seat of Neo-Vaishnavite culture, an offshoot of Hinduism. In Sivasagar, the ancient city of the Ahom kings, guests see 18th-century lakeside temples and the remains of one of the great palaces.

After disembarking MV Mahabaaju the tour continues through rural Assam for lunch at a tea plantation before returning to Kolkata for an overnight stay in the Lalit Great Eastern Hotel.

Those who wish to extend the holiday can opt for a further three nights in Darjeeling or six nights on a Golden Triangle tour of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.

-ENDS-

For details call free on 0800 414 383 or visit saga.co.uk/india

12 nights from £2,399 departing from Birmingham, Manchester or London Gatwick on January 26, February 23, March 23, April 13, October 12 and 26, November 9 and 16, 2017 (Please note January 26, February 23, March 23, November 16 follow a reverse itinerary). Price includes VIP door-to-door chauffeur service, return flights and transfers, airport taxes, three nights in hotels, seven aboard ship, and two in flight, 27 meals: 10 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 10 dinners, porterage, Saga tour manager, tourist visa for UK citizens, optional travel insurance and additional cancellation rights or a reduction if not required.

• Kaziranga National Park is closed in October so departures on October 12 and 26 feature a boat safari plus a sailing to the village of Bishwanath ghat.

Editors: Saga Holidays is the winner of 16 Gold British Travel Awards 2015 including Best for All-Inclusive Holidays, Best for Escorted Adventures, Best for Wildlife & Nature, Best for Special Interests.

Contact PR Officer Jessica Myers email jessica.myers@saga.co.uk or call 01303 772499

Saga is a leading provider of products and services primarily tailored for customers over the age of 50 in the UK. The Saga brand has been carefully developed over the past 60 years to become one of the most recognised and trusted brands among UK consumers aged over 50. Saga is synonymous in the UK with the over 50s market and is recognised for its high quality products and services. These include cruises and holidays, home and motor insurance, savings and share dealing and the UK’s award winning Saga Magazine.