Adventure Resorts & Cruises

Most of the passengers are well-traveled 50- to 70-year-olds from English-speaking countries. They are looking to explore India in comfort, while experiencing regional cuisine, customs and culture.

No. The onboard atmosphere is relaxed, and there is no formal dress code. Passengers wear loose, practical clothes in the daytime. Modest clothing is required for visits to temples. In the evening, most people change for dinner into something a little smarter, but it's not a requirement.

No. Fares cover all meals, snacks, bottled water, shore excursions and Wi-Fi. Passengers also receive a memory stick of images taken by the onboard naturalist and photographer as a souvenir. Bar drinks and gratuities cost extra.

Travelers choose Adventure Resorts and Cruises for its immersive shore excursions, which include unscripted village walks where passengers are met by crowds of excited children and locals. There are trips to tea plantations and temples, as well as daily wildlife-spotting opportunities, either on foot or from the ship's two tenders. A highlight is a visit to Kaziranga National Park, famous for India's largest population of one-horned rhinos, colorful birdlife and -- for the luckiest passengers -- a glimpse of a Royal Bengal tiger.

Free morning yoga sessions are held on the ship or riverbank, and on some evenings, atmospheric sundowners are served on the sandbar next to the docking spots.

Best for: Adventurous, wildlife-loving open-minded travelers

Not for: Luxury cruisers and timid travelers nervous about unfamiliar foods and exotic locales