New 2027 India & Sri Lanka Journeys

Vancouver, BC, June 18, 2026 – Scenic Group has announced the expansion of its luxury river cruise and land touring portfolio with the deployment of Scenic Aura to the Hooghly River in India. Launching in October 2027, the boutique ship will introduce an exclusive collection of newly curated itineraries across India and Sri Lanka. 

During its inaugural season from October 2027 and March 2028, Scenic Aura will welcome no more than 44 guests for a truly all-inclusive ultra luxury river experience through the cultural heartland of West Bengal. The newly released itineraries feature a unique collection of Scenic Freechoice excursions and exclusive Scenic Enrich events to showcase the vibrant cities, sacred sites and riverside villages, complemented by curated land journeys in India and Sri Lanka.

"The introduction of Scenic Aura on India’s Hooghly River is a significant milestone for Scenic Group with the collection developed entirely around what our guests are asking for," said Adam Burke, Scenic Journey Designer. "These itineraries have been thoughtfully designed to provide unique and exclusive experiences that are culturally rich and showcase the best of India and Sri Lanka, all delivered with the depth of inclusions and personalized service Scenic is known for."

New 2027–28 India & Sri Lanka Program

The India program has been designed as a fully integrated river cruise and land journey program with five new itineraries from 17-25 days, across North India, South India, Rajasthan and Sri Lanka. Anchored by a 9-night all-inclusive ultra-luxury Lower Ganges River cruise along the Hooghly River, a storied waterway flowing through some of India’s most historically significant regions, each journey offers a distinctive new way to experience the subcontinent.  For complete details on all itineraries, visit India & Sri Lanka Journeys, and view the brochure for an overview of available journeys here.

Unique Scenic Enrich & Scenic Freechoice Experiences

Each itinerary will feature unique Scenic Enrich experiences, including an elegant High Tea at Kathgola Palace in Murshidabad to time at the revered Hooghly Imambara, celebrated for its spiritual resonance and Mughal influenced architecture. The ISKCON Global Headquarters will be a highlight, where devotional music and vibrant rituals offer a deeply immersive encounter with living spirituality. Guests will also meet master craftspeople in Matiari’s artisan quarter and travel by traditional toto to Katra Mosque through the atmospheric streets of Nawabi era Bengal.

The Ultimate in All-Inclusive Ultra-Luxury

Scenic Aura will be re-designed by Scenic Group’s expert team at MKM Yachts for an intimate boutique ship experience. Details of the interior revitalization will be released later this year.

Scenic is unmatched in its truly all-inclusive river cruising experience, with everything included as standard. Each spacious suite will feature a private balcony, separate bedroom and Scenic Sun Lounge. All meals across up to four dining experiences, complimentary beverages throughout the day, an in-suite mini-bar, unlimited Wi Fi, a resort-style pool, yoga classes, a Wellness Centre and fitness area, plus self-service laundry facilities are included. On combined land and river journeys, Scenic also includes handpicked hotels and special stays, internal transport, tipping and gratuities, while land groups are limited to just 25 guests to ensure an intimate, personalized experience.

Scenic Group's Broader Asia Expansion

Reflecting its ongoing commitment to growth, innovation and creating unique discovery experiences, Scenic Group’s expansion into India forms part of a broader investment in Asia as a destination. The launch of Scenic Aura on the Hooghly River is among several major developments set to follow in 2028, with Scenic Spirit II joining Scenic Spirit on the Mekong River, Scenic Eclipse II returning to Asia and Oceania, and Emerald Xara arriving in Asia. Together, these milestones represent a significant expansion of Scenic Group’s regional portfolio, offering guests an unrivalled collection of river, ocean discovery and land journeys.

Early Interest Signals Strong Demand

With Scenic Aura accommodating just 44 guests per departure, the inaugural season has already generated significant interest, particularly from Scenic and Emerald Rewards members during the pre-registration phase. These highly sought-after journeys are expected to sell out quickly and are now available to book through an exclusive Early Access release, with full itinerary details and updated pricing to be confirmed in November 2026.

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About Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours has grown over its 40-year history to include award-winning river and ocean cruises and handcrafted land journeys that take guests to many of the world’s most fascinating destinations.

Beginning in Australia in 1986 and now operating worldwide, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours delivers a truly unique all-inclusive, ultra-luxury experience. Its Scenic Discovery Yachts, Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II, with Scenic Ikon set to launch in 2028, deliver unrivalled ocean discovery across all seven continents, visiting more than 100 countries and 600 ports. Scenic’s award-winning river fleet is also expanding, growing from 12 to 15 ships with new additions planned for 2027 and 2028 in Europe, the Mekong and India. Complementing its cruise offering, Scenic’s handcrafted land journeys and extensions provide immersive, seamlessly curated experiences around the world.

Scenic Group has established a strong presence in Canada, with its head office located in Vancouver, British Columbia. The company employes more than 80 people across Canada and is dedicated to supporting the unique needs of travellers and advisors through its all-Canadian Contact Centre. Scenic Group comprises Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Emerald Cruises & Tours, and Mayflower Cruises & Tours.

Scenic can be found on X (formerly Twitter) at @ScenicLuxury, on Facebook as @ScenicCruises and on Instagram as @Scenic.luxurycruisestours.  Discover more about our journeys, download brochures, and make reservations through travel advisors or by contacting us directly in Canada at scenic.cruises, (866) 689-8611, or email: info@scenic.ca.

As of June 2026, our website URLs have been updated to scenic.cruises and emerald.cruises. Through these, Canadian guests and travel advisors will continue to be directed to dedicated local content, offers, itineraries, support and event information.

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Molly Campbell, PR & Media Relations

Email: ScenicGroupCA@casacom.ca