Cruise trips are one of the best ways to see a place, whether they last a day or a week. You may connect with nature by floating across serene rivers or turbulent ocean waves.

This monsoon, consider taking a cruise to explore Kerala’s Alleppey Backwaters or Varanasi’s majestic ghats. Here are our top five recommendations for inexpensive cruises that would be ideal monsoon getaways in India.

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1. Oberoi MV Vrinda, Kerala

A five-day trip on the Oberoi MV Vrinda is among the greatest ways to discover Kerala’s backwaters. The passengers are taken through a number of picturesque locations in Kerala while the cruise glides over the serene waterways. The tour departs from Cochin and includes stops at St. Mary’s Church and the 100-year-old Sree Bhagavathy Kshetram Temple in Nedumudy, among other places.

2. MV Nicobar, Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Take the MV Nicobar out on the open waters to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The ship, which departs from Visakhapatnam, Chennai, and Kolkata, has 300 staterooms and can accommodate over 1,200 passengers. The three to four-day journey to the Andaman islands may be a memorable one.

3. Alaknanda Nordic Cruiseline, Varanasi

On this little cruise journey, take a tour of the holy city of Varanasi. The day-long excursions on the 84 ghats of Varanasi are offered by the Alaknanda Nordic cruise ship. It also provides evening meal cruises. On this excursion, you may see both the activity of the small pilgrim city and the serene Ganges’ waves.

4. MV Mahaprabhu Cruise, Assam

Discover Assam in a whole new way! It could be challenging to go via this northeastern state from the mainland. Bypass the winding, dusty roads and cruise the Brahmaputra River to see Assam’s treasures. From two to five day tour packages are available from MV Mahaprabhu Cruise. Satras of Majuli Island, Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati, Bengali, and silk weavers’ villages are just a few of the places it visits.

5. Antara Ganges Voyager, Sunderbans

Spend a little extra money on a luxurious boat that passes through the Sunderbans. Observe wildlife in its natural setting as you cruise through this UNESCO biosphere reserve’s network of waterways. You will be given a tour of India’s largest protected mangrove forest during the four-day immersive adventure.