Birding & Wildlife

  • 9 Nights / 10 Days
  • Best During November - April

Tour Highlights

  • Visit Nameri National Park – Home to the Great Hornbill
  • Walk through the Jungles of Nameri
  • Visit Kaziranga National Park – Home to the One Horned Rhinoceros
  • Enjoy the Elephant Safari at Kaziranga
  • Drive through the dense forests of Kaziranga in a Jeep
  • Visit the Gibbon Wild Life Sanctuary
  • Visit the Jokai Reserve Forest
  • Visit the Dibru Saikhowa National Park
  • Stay at a Heritage Bungalow and Relieve the Colonial Era

Tour Description

Ornithology stems from the Greek word "ornithos" which means bird and "logos" which means knowledge. It has a long history and its study has helped evolve several key concepts in evolution, behaviour and ecology. Our Birding and Wildlife of North East India tour package delves into the virgin Mishmi Hills of Eastern Arunachal Pradesh, traverses through DibrugarhDibru Saikhowa National Park and Kaziranga National Park. It aims at providing our valuable travellers with a varied experience and also an insight into the various bird species that can be found in the region. You can expect to spot some rare birds like the Sclater's Monal and the Lesser White Fronted Goose.

Tour Itinerary

DAY 01: GUWAHATI- NAMERI, ASSAM

Received at Guwahati airport and transfer to Nameri National Park (215 kms / 05 hrs). Check in at Nameri Eco Camp (tented accommodation) for 02 nights. Overnight at eco-camp.

The Nameri National Park is located on the banks of the river Jia Bhorali on the northern side of the Brahmaputra. Situated on the foothills of the great Himalayas, it is a tiger and a bison country. Deciduous forests, with the river Jia Bhorali flowing by its side, have added a unique charm to it. Nameri is famous for its sizeable population of the very rare White-winged Wood Duck. Other interesting birds to be found here includes the White-cheeked Partridge, the Great, the Wreathed, and the Rufous-necked Hornbills, the Oriental Hobby, the Amur Falcon, the Jerdon's and the Black Bazas, the Pallas's, the Grey-headed, and the Lesser Fish Eagles, the Silver-backed Needletail, the Long tailed broadbill, the Long-billed Plover and the Ibisbill. Apart from these a number of forest birds like pygmy woodpeckers, woodpeckers, orioles, barbets, thrushes etc., can also be sighted here. Also 6-7 species of bulbuls can be easily seen in a day.

Birding is done while trekking inside the Reserve or while rafting down the Jia Bhorali River.

Note: No elephant or jeep safari facility is available at Nameri National Park.

The Park remains open from 1st Nov to 30th April only.

DAY 02: NAMERI, ASSAM

Full day Birding/Jungle Walk through the dense forests & beautiful landscapes of the Nameri National Park. Overnight at the Eco-Camp.

DAY 03: NAMERI – KAZIRANGA, ASSAM

After breakfast drive to Kaziranga (115 kms / 03 hrs). Check in at the hotel for 03 nights.

Later in the afternoon enjoy a Jeep Safari at the Kaziranga National Park. Overnight at the hotel.

Kaziranga National Park (100 mtr. approx.) - is a World Heritage Site, where more than 75% of the world’s total population of the Great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros can be found. It lies on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River and is one of the oldest parks of Assam. Besides rhinos, the Asiatic Water Buffalo, Elephants, Tigers, Swamp Deer, Barking Deer and Hog Deer can be seen. About 400 species of birds are found in the Kaziranga National Park, among which are the Swamp Francolin, the Great Hornbill, the Pallas’s Fish Eagle, the Pied Falconets, the Greater Adjutant Stork and the Long Billed Vulture. There is no telling what one might find in Kaziranga but it is always a great experience. The specialty here is the Blue Naped Pitta among a host of Raptors and Waterfowl. The adjoining buffer areas are worth a try too, as numerous rare sightings are reported regularly.

Timings (Kaziranga NP):

Jeep Safari:

Forenoon: Entry time between 07:00 to 09:30 Hours. Visiting time till 12:00 Noon

Afternoon: Entry time between 13:30 to 15:00 Hours. Visiting time till sunset.

Note : National Park in this sector remains open from 1st Nov to 30th April every year. However during October like previous year, we are hopeful that this coming October also the Forest Dept. will be able to keep the National Park open for Safari's wef 01 Oct. However, this can only be confirmed nearer to date, which Forest Dept. will declare keeping the weather and other factors in mind. Incase park is opened in Oct there is limited access as full access to all the ranges are normally not permitted due to weather and road condition. Alternatively 01 Nov to 30 Apr is confirmed date for opening of park. Hence suggest to plan the trip accordingly

DAY 04: AT KAZIRANGA, ASSAM

Early morning enjoy an Elephant Safari (subject to availability) followed by a Jeep Safari post breakfast.

Afternoon go for another Jeep Safari.

Timings (Kaziranga NP):

Elephant Safari - approx 45 mins duration

05.30 - 06.30 AM

06.30 - 07.30 AM

Note: Elephant Safari for foreign nationals are held only on Kaziranga Range, Kohora (Central Range)

Jeep Safari:

Forenoon: Entry time between 07:00 to 09:30 Hours. Visiting time till 12:00 Noon

Afternoon: Entry time between 13:30 to 15:00 Hours. Visiting time till sunset.

DAY 05: KAZIRANGA, ASSAM

Another full day at Kaziranga with morning and afternoon Jeep Safaris.

DAY 06: KAZIRANGA- JORHAT, ASSAM

Post breakfast go for a Jeep Safari. Later in the afternoon drive to Jorhat (80 kms / 02 hrs) and check in at the hotel for the night.

DAY 07: JORHAT- GIBBON WLS - DIBRUGARH, ASSAM

Early morning visit the Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary (22 kms/ 40 mins). Later in the afternoon drive to Dibrugarh (140 kms / 03 hrs) and check in at the Mancotta /Chowkidinghee Heritage Chang Bungalow.

The Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, famed for its Hoolock Gibbon population, is an isolated wildlife forest surrounded by tea plantations. With an area of around 20 sq km, it is in the south bank of the Brahmaputra River in Jorhat District, Assam. This sanctuary was established with the aim to protect the hoolock gibbon, an ape species, in the country. There are about 40 species of mammals that live in the sanctuary. Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary protects the Capped Langur, the Stump-Tailed Macaque, the Pigtail Macaque, the Assamese Macaque, the Rhesus Macaque and the Slow Loris.

Dibrugarh is the gateway to the “Hidden Land” of Eastern Arunachal Pradesh and Northern Myanmar. The Ahoms from Thailand came through Northern Myanmar to this area in the 13th century to establish their Empire which thrived in the ancient land of Assam. It is the “Camellia” town of Upper Assam, an undisturbed haven, with its rich tea gardens resembling a lush green carpet. Experience and enjoy the richness of these tea gardens while staying at the Heritage Chang Bungalows. These are constructed on stilts and are situated in a serene atmosphere free from pollution.

When the British established their tea plantations in the mid-19th century they quickly built comfortable bungalows designed to make life as pleasant as possible in what, was to them, a hostile and strange land. One of the main features of these buildings has given rise to their name – Chang Bungalow. Chang in the local language means “raised on stilts” and the design served multi purposes- to keep the house cool by allowing the breeze to blow underneath and to keep both water and animals out!

DAY 08: DIBRUGARH – JOKAI - TINSUKIA, ASSAM

Today early morning we drive to Jokai Reserve Forest. It’s a small broadleaf forest, minutes away from Dibrugarh. Numerous low altitude tropical species are present here in good numbers like the Small Niltava, Little Pied Flycatcher, Black-winged and Large Cuckoo-shrikes, flock of Pompadour Green Pigeons, Jay-walking Emerald Dove, Red headed Trogon, Crimson Sunbird, Ruby Checked Sunbird, Scarlet Backed Flowerpecker, Black breasted Thrush etc. during spring rare cuckoos (like the Asian Emerald Cuckoo) and flycatchers can be seen here. Later in the afternoon drive to Tinsukia (50 kms / 01 hr) and check in at the Wathai Heritage Bungalow, Limbuguri TE for 02 nights.

Steal yourself away at the Wathai Heritage Bungalow, Limbuguri Tea Estate. This plinth bungalow will allow you to rejuvenate your senses. Located just 5km from the Dibru Saikhowa National Park, it is the ideal retreat for a birding break. This ‘Managers Bungalow’, defines serenity and you will most certainly leave revitalized. It has been recently renovated and is the ideal base whether on a quest for quietude or seeking refuge whilst on an explorative ornithological voyage at the neighboring Dibru Saikhowa National Park. Although reverine in nature, this park remains open most of the year with innumerable varieties of colourful birds chirping at various pitches and hopping from branch to branch. It is indeed an orinthologist’s delight. Endangered species like Gangetic Dolphin and Feral Horses are common sights in Dibru- Saikhowa.

Fresh tea can be enjoyed in the ‘jali room’ to the front of the bungalow in a peaceful atmosphere overlooking the manicured gardens, while meals are served in the spacious dining room complete with an original fireplace. The family room and two large bedrooms complete with ensuite enables eight people to sleep here very comfortably.

DAY 09: DIBRU-SAIKHOWA NATIONAL PARK, ASSAM

Early morning we visit the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and the Maguri Beel. We take several boat rides on the Dibru River, go for a jungle walk, for a variety of bird sightings and the Gangetic Dolphin sightings. Overnight at the Bungalow.

Dibru-Saikhowa National Park has the most distinct and vibrant wilderness on earth and is known for its pristine scenic beauty. The forest in this park ranges from semi-evergreen to deciduous to littoral to swampy marshes with patches of wet evergreen jungles Dibru-Saikhowa is a safe haven to many rare and endangered species of over 350 birds and is a must visit site for target-list birders. The big four here are Jerdon's Bushchat, Black-breasted Parrotbill, Marsh babbler and Jerdon’s bushchat. Several other rarely observed species can be found in the extensive grasslands, wetlands, and riverine forests. These include Baer's Pochard, Bengal Florican, Pale-capped Pigeon, Falcated duck, Baikal teal, Chinese spotbilled duck and Rufous vented prinia etc. Dibru-Saikhowa is a haven for an incredible no of Waders, Ducks, Raptors and its specialty grassland birds.

DAY 10: TINSUKIA-DIBRUGARH FLY OUT

In time transfer to the Dibrugarh Airport (55 kms / 1 hr) to board the flight for your onward destination.

Inclusions

Exclusions

Cancellation Policy