Published by Qantas Travel Insider, Australia

The wild Brahmaputra is both the setting and the star of this week-long expedition-style cruise. The 23-cabin Mahabaahu was purpose-built to navigate the river’s capricious currents and shifting sands on this fascinating itinerary through the lesser-known Indian state of Assam. Passengers meet tribal minorities, visit temples and ruins, have lunch on a family tea plantation and – the undisputed highlight – spend two days exploring the rare wildlife of Kaziranga National Park by elephant and tender (if you’re exceedingly lucky, you may even catch sight of a tiger on the riverbank).