Arrival at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata, India

Airport pickup any time night or day. 

We will start the day visiting the atmospheric Park St Cemetery - a little creepy and sad and also amazingly atmospheric.

Lunch at the iconic Indian Coffee House at College St.

Coffee had been grown in India by Indians since the 16th century. 

The concept of coffee houses began to gain a little popularity in the 18th century in Madras and Calcutta. However, as part of the racial discrimination policy of the British rulers, Indians were not allowed into these coffee houses, which were mainly Europeans-only establishments. During the late 1890s, the idea of an "Indian Coffee House" chain was formed. 

The place became a meeting place for poets, artistes, literati and people from the world of art and culture. The coffee house is famous as the breeding place of the political movement that lead to india's Independence.

Later onto the Marble Palace. This grand old Palace will leave you amazed with its eclectic collection of Victoriana and a glimpse into how the wealthy once lived.

Later in the afternoon to head down to Malik Ghat- the flower market. No way to describe this other than WOW, so come along for the experience under the edge of the famous Howrah Bridge. 

In the evening we will share a celebratory Welcome Dinner together.

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Leaving town this morning we will head out to rural Phulia, an area famous for its superb weaving. 

We’ll spend the day wandering around the village, seeing all aspects of fine cotton and silk weaving.

We can also check out the village market for gamcha- Bengali bath towels and other things destined for the local market. 

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We will start out early to wander around the ruins of its old Rajbari [Ruler’s mansion] and then visit the nearby sculpture village and an amazing garden.

Half way to Murshidabad we will turn off the highway to the peaceful fields around Plassey for a picnic lunch. Once a grisly scene of battle where Clive [of India as he was later known] orchestrated the defeat of the Nawab of Bengal through bribery and deception and annexed the rich state of Bengal for the British East India company. 

Murshidabad was a famously wealthy city and capital of the Kingdom of Bengal until the East India Company established colonisation of Bangal and moved the capital To Calcutta. 

There are beautiful palaces and mosques that attest to its former wealth and it is still a hub for fine handloom. 

Fine handloom cotton from this region has been a prized trade good since Roman times. William Dalrymple’s The Golden Road offers many insights into its rich history.  

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Murshidabad is a wonderful town that times seems to have forgotten, once the principle seat of a very rich kingdom is it now home to a thousand wonderful photographs of crumbling mansions, palaces, mosques and temples, beautiful gardens and fields.

We will spend the day exploring many beautiful old places– a mansion housing a car that cost 80 Rupees, superb garden of Rajasthani merchants, a Palace of 1000 Doors. Yes, we love the place.

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A short drive out to a weaver’s village, experience the medieval feeling of the steamy silk processing rooms where they reel the silk off, the women working on spinning cotton threads for weaving and the river bank for washing, a hive of activity.

Lunch will be as the very lucky guests of a local family, a truly delicious treat. 

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Travelling across a landscape of rice fields, bananas, and mango trees, we are heading to a small village income generation project of Muslim design Kantha- geometrical motifs, bright colours, beautiful work. 

We are guests of the village, will share lunch and spend time with a group of local women who will be our teachers starting us off on a cushion cover for you to finish along our travels. 

If we are lucky we will see or even have the opportunity to purchase some older kanthas as well.

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Shantiniketan is the location of a University set up by Rabindranath Tagore, a Renaissance man and one of India’s most famous artists he became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913.

Tagore was and is a major influence on the arts especially in Bengal and more widely in India. The University of Shantiniketan’ s degree awards are handed out by the Prime Minister of India each year.

We will start the day visiting our friend Mrs Khatun and through her tutelage start a fine silk kantha piece to work on as we travel and then in the afternoon tour the galleries and grounds of the University 

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Once capital to the Malla kingdom, Bishnupur is a lovely spot to wander around and visit its 400-year-old terracotta temples. Superb. 

We got lead astray on our last visit looking for the shell cravers, so this time we think we know which village to wander into and hope to find them, or else just enjoy a stroll through a nice village. Fingers crossed. 

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The legacy of poverty, whilst being addressed in India is still has work in progress. On arriving back in Kolkata we will visit The Mother’s House, home and headquarters of The Sisters of Charity. Mother Teresa and her group have done so much in building awareness about poverty and its effects.

Along the way you will have seen much Gamcha- the bright checked handwoven bath towels of Bengal, like us you might even be a little addicted to them by this stage. Today we will visit a designer who turns bright bold gamcha into fabulous fun clothes and accessories

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Heading out of town to one of the world’s biggest mangrove swamps and home to the largest population of Bengal Tigers- The Sundarbans National Park and Tiger Reserve. 

We’ll spend the days cruising, hoping to catch a glimpse of tigers as well as the many other creatures of the swamps- crocodile, birds, birds, birds, smaller cats, antelopes and reptiles. 

Night time we will retire to cosy cabins on shore. 

During our visit to the area we will visit a local village, an interpretation centre and the shrine where the local honey collectors pray before entering the Sundarbans, a dangerous occupation

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Time on the boat will allow time to work on our stitching as well as enjoying the view .

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Return to Kolkata today.

Let's celebrate our adventures with a farewell dinner tonight.

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Departures from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata, India

We will drop you to meet your flights.

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Physical Fitness for Sightseeing.

This adventure is crafted for enthusiastic, active travellers with a good general level of health and mobility.

To make the most of your experience, you’ll need to be comfortable walking for 3–4 hours a day — sometimes over uneven ground, up hills, and climbing a few flights of stairs.

You may also find yourself getting in and out of local transport and navigating the occasional over-the-bath shower.

If you enjoy a bit of daily movement and love discovering new places on foot, you’ll thrive on this tour.

Just a friendly heads-up: we need to walk at an average pace - it will not be suitable for those who prefer a slow pace or need frequent rest stops.

Etiquette

• Be mindful when taking photos, especially in temples, on the ghats, or in private spaces. Always consider how you’d feel with a camera in your face.
• That said, many Indian people love a good selfie—say hello, ask politely, show them the photo, and then ask if you can take one of them. Works a charm.

Learning a few local courtesies in the language of the region is always appreciated.

For workshops, an apron is handy for block printing and indigo.

Food

Food is a huge part of culture, and we’re there to try it all. For group meals, we usually order a range of dishes to share, exploring local specialties as we go.

Indian food is cooked from scratch with fresh ingredients, so it’s usually easy to keep track of what’s in your meal. Manufactured products (soy milk, faux meats, etc.) aren’t common.

• Vegetarian – very easy

• Vegan – possible, but a little more challenging

• Chilli-free – not really possible, but we can order mild

• Onion/garlic-free – tricky

• Wheat-free – generally easy

Remember, for Indian cooks “no chilli” feels like “please don’t breathe”—but they’ll do their best!

-Dairy free - can be done becasue we can see what goes into meals

Health

Drink only filtered or bottled water—never from the tap, even for brushing your teeth.

Stay hydrated: aim for at least 2 litres of water a day. 

You’ll feel better and be less likely to get a wobbly tummy.

• See your doctor or a travel medicine specialist before you leave.
• Bring enough medications for the whole trip plus copies of your prescriptions.
• Menstrual products: tampons can be hard to find; pads are readily available.

And don’t forget bug spray.

Money

KNOW YOUR CARD PIN—ATMs will not accept tap.

• There are ATMs everywhere, and it’s easy to withdraw cash once you have your PIN.
• Tell your bank you’re travelling so they don’t block your card for “unusual activity.”
• Travel cards can be handy, but check they work before you leave.
•  Many guests have had good luck with Wise cards.
• Have a backup card tucked away in your suitcase.
• Cash is good as a backup but can be tricky to exchange at a fair rate—ask at the hotel desk.
• Credit cards: less widely accepted, and sometimes incur extra fees.

Currency: Indian Rupee.

Shopping

There will be treasures! Shopping supports the local economy.

If you know you’re interested in something (carpets, spices, textiles), do a little research—knowing prices back home helps.

Bargaining is the norm in markets. If you’re not experienced, Google a few tips and go in with a smile.

NGOs and social enterprises are usually fixed-price.

Suitcase

A normal-sized suitcase plus a fold-up soft bag for extras works best. Big cases are hard to manoeuvre on the bus.

Recommended size for a medium suitcase:

60–70 cm (H) × 40–50 cm (W) × 25–30 cm (D)

or 24–28" × 16–20" × 10–12"

It’s not easy to buy decent luggage at the last minute on the road.

Weather

Days are warm; mornings and evenings can be cool. Layers are your friend. A cardigan and socks are often appreciated.

Power

Power is 240V. European two-pin adaptors are most useful.

The older Indian three-prong plugs are now rarely seen.

Clothing

Lightweight, loose layers are ideal. Three or four outfits are usually enough, and you’ll find plenty to buy along the way.

A scarf is always useful—for cool air-con, temple visits, modesty, sun protection.

For temples, mosques, and other religious sites, wear long trousers or a mid-calf skirt and bring a scarf to cover your head if needed. Otherwise they’ll lend you a cover-up… and it’s usually a polyester sack!

Aim for modest tops: no cleavage. Midriff is surprisingly fine—just look at the aunties in saris!

Leave expensive jewellery at home.

Shoes

Comfortable walking shoes—sneakers or well-strapped sandals—are essential. Footpaths can be uneven and you’ll be too busy looking around to watch every step.

A pair of rubber thongs/flip-flops is great for bathrooms.

Laundry

Any two-night stay is a perfect time to send laundry out. Indian laundry is a joy—washed and ironed, and I’ve never lost a thing.

Fitness

We get on and off the minibus every day. Markets, monuments, and towns all beg to be explored.

You should be comfortable walking for an hour or two, and expect some steps.

Begging

• In general, please don’t encourage begging. 
• Avoid giving lollies, pens, or treats to children—it creates a begging mentality. If you’d like to donate items, we can pass them to a school.
• There’s little pension system: giving a few coins to an elderly or disabled person is a kind and appreciated gesture.
• If you love interacting with kids, a friendly chat, joke, or shared moment is far better than a gift. 
• OR bring a bubble blower - bubbles floating through the air are a universal language of joy.

Tipping

Tipping is customary. Keep small notes handy:

• 20–50 INR for small services (bags, room service, laundry delivery)

• Around 100 INR for guides, performers, or street photo models.

Please also set something aside for our driver—they keep us safe on the roads.

As a guide, think US$2–3 per person per day. Often a group volunteer organises a thank-you at the end of the trip.

Environment

Tread lightly: conserve water and electricity, and carry your rubbish out where possible.

Say NO to plastic.

Please bring a cloth shopping bag.