DAY 01 MANAS NATIONAL PARK

We’ll meet you at Guwahati Airport and transfer by road (approx. 3 to 4 hrs) to Manas National Park on the border with Bhutan, checking in to the simple ABN Bansbari Lodge. This Project Tiger reserve is now recovering well from earlier poaching – the tiger count is estimated at around 30, and wild elephant number some 500.

Stay overnight at ABN Bansbari Lodge (full board).

DAY 02 MANAS NATIONAL PARK

We’ll take an early morning elephant ride through grassland, hopefully seeing several different species of deer and monkeys, as well as some of the park’s 380 different species of birds, perhaps including the rare Bengal florican or the great hornbill. After breakfast, we walk through a local village, visit the nearby tea garden and see Bodo tribal hand weaving.

If time permits, we will see working elephants bathing in the nearby Beki River before carrying on by jeep to Mothanguri Lodge to see the sun set over the Manas River. Returning at dusk, we should see some wild life, perhaps including wild buffalo, wild elephant, and, if we are exceptionally lucky, a tiger. After supper we watch a tribal dance around the camp fire.

Stay overnight at ABN Bansbari Lodge (full board).

DAY 03 RIVER CRUISE

After a leisurely breakfast we drive 4 hrs to Guwahati to embark on ABN Charaidew.  join the boat mid-afternoon close to the great Saraighat Bridge. Cruise downstream to an overnight stop close to the south bank village of Vijaynagar.

Stay overnight on river boat (full board).

DAY 04 RIVER CRUISE

After breakfast we will disembark and explore a riverside village on foot before heading upstream to the little town of Sualkuchi where we can walk to its silk weaving workshops. We shall see the whole process of silk manufacture, from cocoon to spinning to dyeing and finally to hand weaving into exquisite saris and dress lengths. We then drive on to Hajo, a place sacred to Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists. We visit a hilltop Muslim shrine with far-reaching views over the surrounding rural landscape, as well as the simple Hindu temple with its frieze of elephants and its sacred tank full of great carp, catfish and turtles. Later we return to the boat and cruise to an overnight mooring near the Saraighat War Memorial.

Stay overnight on river boat (full board).

DAY 05 RIVER CRUISE

Today we cruise further upstream before disembarking at Pandu docks where we have a sightseeing tour of the city of Guwahati and drive up Nilachal Hill to see the holy Kamakhya temple. The interior of the temple, with its tantric rites and animal sacrifice, may not be for the more squeamish so if you prefer, stay outside and absorb the exterior. Visit the poignant Commonwealth War Graves cemetery as well as shops selling local crafts. Cross by country boat to the mid-stream Peacock Island with its population of golden langur monkeys before re-embarking and cruising for about an hour and a half upstream to Kurua on the north bank.

Stay overnight on river boat (full board).

DAY 06 KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK

We start cruising further upstream past jungle-covered hills, and turn into the Mayong River. We cruise up in our country boat for a kilometre or two to the road head from where we drive to the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. This small park has a dense population of the Asian one-horned rhinoceros, and we shall be unlucky if we do not spot some of these amazing armoured beasts on a jeep safari around the park. Guests are then driven 4 ½ hrs to Kaziranga National Park, where we stay at the superbly situated and very comfortable ABN Diphlu River Lodge, looking across into the park. Kaziranga is a World Heritage site and, with a population of well over 1500 rhinoceros, is the best place in the world to see these beasts. There are also good populations of tiger, wild elephant, sambar, swamp deer, hog deer, wild pig and many other species.

Stay overnight at Diphlu River Lodge (full board).

DAY 07 KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK

An early start sees us rise at dawn and drive for a few minutes to Kaziranga’s Central Range for an early morning elephant ride, the best way to get really close to the rhino and other animals. After breakfast back at the lodge, we walk through terraced tea gardens and past a Karbi tribal village and then drive to a Mising tribal village, with their distinctive houses raised on piles. After lunch we take a jeep safari in the western range, and scan the wilderness from an observation tower.

Stay overnight at Diphlu River Lodge (full board).

DAY 08 TRANSFER FOR ONWARD TRAVEL

An early start for the 4½ hour drive back to Guwahati Airport, or 2½ hour transfer to Jorhat Airport. Alternatively prolong your stay at Kaziranga, subject to availability.

Subject to availability we will use the following hotels for our guests:

STANDARD CHECK IN TIME IS 14:00 HRS AND CHECK OUT TIME IS 12:00 NOON AT MOST OF THE HOTELS.

B = Bed & Breakfast
L = Lunch
D = Dinner

What’s included:

• Accommodation on a full board twin sharing basis at hotels mentioned or of a similar category. Rooms will be their standard ones unless otherwise specified. We reserve the right to substitute accommodation of an equivalent standard if the accommodation shown is not available during your travel dates.
• All transfers, sightseeing and overland trips in an air conditioned vehicle.
• Services of an English speaking guide for sightseeing.
• Jungle safaris.
• Entrance fee to the places of visit including ASI monuments. (Camera fees if applicable not included)
• Assistance at airports/railway station and at the hotels at the time of check in/out in all the major cities.
• 3.09% Service Tax on total bill

What’s not included:

• International flights. We are happy to help you book these or you can arrange your own.
• Domestic flights.
• Insurance.
• India visa fee.
• Drinks from the bar & purchases of a personal nature.
• Any services of accompanied escort (supplement advised, if required).
• Tips and gratuities.
• Any expenses incurred due to any unforeseen situation or any other reason beyond our control including acts of god, change in government tax policy, etc.