Viking Expands India River Program With Second Brahmaputra Ship and 2029 Sailings
Viking will add a second Brahmaputra ship in 2028 as it opens India river sailings through 2029.
Photo: Courtesy of Viking Cruises
Viking has opened bookings for its India river voyages through 2029, adding new departure dates and confirming a second vessel on the Brahmaputra River, set to enter service in 2028. The expansion builds on the company’s initial India rollout, with the Viking Brahmaputra scheduled to begin sailing in late 2027 and its sister ship, the Viking Ganges, following the next year.
Both vessels will operate along the Brahmaputra River in Assam, sailing between Guwahati and Nimati Ghat as part of a 15-day itinerary called Wonders of India. The program combines an eight-day river cruise with a fully guided land component covering Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur.
The addition of a second ship effectively doubles Viking’s capacity in the region. Each vessel will carry 80 guests across 40 staterooms, each with a veranda and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors.
“Since announcing our new river voyages in India, we have seen strong interest from guests eager to explore this remarkable region,” said Torstein Hagen, the chairman and CEO of Viking. “By adding a second ship on the Brahmaputra River in 2028 and opening 2029 departure dates now, we look forward to inviting even more curious travelers to explore India in Viking comfort in the years to come.”
On land, the program covers the Golden Triangle, including the Taj Mahal in Agra, Old Delhi, and Jaipur’s Palace of Winds. On the river, guests will travel through Assam, with stops that include village visits, temple sites in Guwahati, and wildlife excursions in Kaziranga National Park, known for its population of one-horned rhinos.
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The Brahmaputra itself remains a relatively underdeveloped river cruise corridor compared to Europe or Southeast Asia, with fewer operators and limited ship capacity. Viking’s entry—and now expansion—creates more structured options within longer India itineraries, particularly those combining cultural touring with nature-focused segments.
Additional pre- and post-cruise extensions are also being introduced, including stays in Delhi, Dubai, and Kathmandu, as well as combined itineraries covering Cochin and Mumbai. These extensions range from two to five nights and are fully guided in select cases.
The newly released sailings for 2027 through 2029 are now open for booking, with the Viking Brahmaputra debuting in late 2027 and the Viking Ganges entering service in 2028.
