Viking's brand-new Wonders of India itinerary promises to weave the country's famed Golden Triangle with a serene Brahmaputra River Cruise, creating a seamless land-and-water adventure for culturally curious travelers. The 15-day journey opens in 2027, and reservations for both the inaugural and 2028 seasons are already on sale. By combining Delhi's bustle, Agra's Taj Mahal, Jaipur's royal palaces, and Assam's rhino-rich wetlands, the Wonders of India itinerary gives Viking guests a rare, front-row view of India's extremes-historic, spiritual, and wild.
Key Points
- Why it matters: Viking enters India's still-nascent river-cruise market.
- 15-day trip links Golden Triangle touring with eight nights afloat.
- New 80-guest Viking Brahmaputra debuts with all-veranda staterooms.
- 2027 and 2028 seasons are open; lead-in fare from USD 8,999 per person.
- Wildlife drives in UNESCO-listed Kaziranga National Park are included.
Wonders of India Snapshot - How It Works
Guests spend the first six days on land, staying in Luxury Hotels in Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur while exploring Old Delhi's spice bazaars, watching sunrise at the Taj Mahal, and witnessing Rajasthan's pink-sandstone forts. A short flight whisks the group to Guwahati, where they board the 246-foot Viking Brahmaputra. The ship sails upstream and downstream between Guwahati and Silghat, anchoring daily for temple visits, tea-estate walks, and open-jeep safaris inside Kaziranga National Park. All Tours, domestic flights, gratuities, and most meals come standard, and an onboard Viking Expedition Team leads enrichment talks on Assamese culture and wildlife.
Wonders of India Background - Why It Matters
India has long attracted long-haul tourists, yet its rivers remain largely uncharted by international Cruise lines. Viking's entry mirrors its successful foray into Egypt's Nile in 2018, signalling confidence in India's growing infrastructure and traveler demand. The move also taps into surging interest in combination trips that reduce transit friction: guests unpack once aboard the ship, yet still reach far-flung UNESCO sites. For India's northeast, additional river capacity could spur investment in ports and conservation funding, particularly for Kaziranga's one-horned rhinos, whose numbers climbed to roughly 2,600 in 2018. With only 80 guests per sailing, Viking keeps environmental footprint small while delivering high-yield tourism revenue to local communities.
Wonders of India Latest Developments
A newly released booking window and fresh ship details illustrate how Viking plans to differentiate this itinerary. Below is a closer look at what has emerged.
Bookings, Pricing, and Seasonality
Viking quietly opened reservations to its past-guest database in early July 2025, offering a USD 25 risk-free deposit and complimentary airfare credit for select gateways. Twelve sailings appear on the 2027 roster, beginning in December to coincide with Assam's dry, cooler winter. Eighteen departures follow from January through April 2028, avoiding the monsoon and peak summer heat. Lead fares start at USD 8,999, including thirteen guided Tours, domestic flights, and beer, wine, and soft drinks at lunch and dinner. Solo travelers can request "no-single-supplement" cabins, albeit in limited supply.
Purpose-Built Viking Brahmaputra
The forthcoming Viking Brahmaputra embraces the line's Scandinavian aesthetic-light woods, subdued textiles, and floor-to-ceiling glass-yet adopts technical tweaks for India's sand-bar-laden river. A shallow, reinforced draft and azimuth thrusters allow precision maneuvers around shifting shoals. All forty staterooms measure at least 250 square feet and feature private verandas; two Explorer Suites double that footprint and add wrap-around balconies. Public spaces include an indoor-outdoor dining room, a shaded Aquavit Terrace, and a single-deck observation lounge purpose-positioned for wildlife spotting.
Enrichment and Shore-Side Highlights
Viking pairs each sailing with local naturalists accredited by Assam's Forest Department. Early-morning jeep drives into Kaziranga National Park seek out greater one-horned rhinos, Asian elephants, and rare Bengal tigers. Guests also step inside Ahom-era Shiva temples, witness silk-weaving demonstrations on Majuli Island, and share an Assamese thali meal in a riverside village. Evening onboard talks decode India's three primary religions, while daily yoga sessions and an Ayurvedic-inspired spa menu underscore wellness. Optional add-ons include a pre-trip extension to Varanasi and a post-cruise stay at Ranthambore National Park.
Analysis
For first-timers to India, Wonders of India solves two longstanding pain points: logistical complexity and Hotel churn. Viking's fully escorted model removes the usual puzzle pieces-airport pickups, intercity transfers, heritage-site ticketing-so travelers can focus on immersion rather than administration. The eight-night Cruise segment doubles as a floating boutique hotel, minimizing unpack-repack fatigue and keeping guests within a controlled hygiene bubble, a continuing priority in the post-pandemic era. Because the Brahmaputra flows through some of India's least touristed regions, early adopters enjoy a pioneering edge, yet they must accept rustic shore amenities and sporadic cell coverage. Wildlife lovers will welcome Kaziranga's jeep safaris, though intense sunlight and dust mandate adequate sun protection and N95-style masks. Buyers should book promptly; Indian domestic aviation caps baggage at 15 kg, so pack light or pre-purchase excess-weight vouchers. Before committing, read our guide to river cruising for packing hacks and cabin-selection tips.
Final Thoughts
Viking's Wonders of India itinerary positions the line as a leader in India's emerging river-cruise scene, blending marquee icons with off-the-grid wildlife for a balanced, bucket-list experience. Travelers seeking a one-stop introduction to India's history, culture, and biodiversity will find the route delivers maximum variety with minimal complexity. Secure space early, request the highest-deck cabins for panoramic wildlife viewing, and schedule vaccinations at least eight weeks before departure. With thoughtful preparation, the Wonders of India itinerary can be the ultimate gateway to the subcontinent's many contrasts-and a prime example of why a Travel Advisor remains indispensable.