Bird and wildlife safari in Assam with extension to Darjeeling and Lava

Asia / India

Do you want to take part in a wildlife safari in the fabled national park of Kaziranga watching rhinos, elephants, buffaloes and thousands of wintering and resident birds? Do you want to take a boat ride to see such rarities as Ibisbill and River Lapwing? Do you want to walk in a tropical rain forest looking for wintering Himalayan bird species while listening to the howling of Hoolock Gibbons? We take you to 3 national parks of Assam in North-East India to experience the incredible richness of fauna and flora, the wide variety of habitats and landscapes and the busy everyday life of local people.

The vast grasslands of Kaziranga National Park harbour the world's largest population of Indian Rhinoceros and a significant population of Asian Elephant as well. The park is also home to more than 450 species of birds including many rarities. Nameri National Park is home to the secretive White-winged Duck and the sought-after Ibisbill. Manas National Park on the Bhutanese border is famous for Golden Langur, Pygmy Hog and Hispid Hare and it offers fascinating birding in its varied habitats.

In addition to Assam we offer you the extension to the fabulous North Bengal located in the Eastern Himalayas. You can visit Darjeeling, a beautiful colonial hill station with tea plantations and unique views of the world's highest peaks as well as an array of fascinating Himalayan species in and around town. Lava and Neora Valley National Park, harbouring many sough-after high-elevation rarities, are also on our menu.

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Fact File

14 days in Assam visiting 3 national parks famous for rare birds and mammals
optional 6 days extension to North Bengal including Darjeeling and Lava
start and finish in Delhi with half day birding around Delhi
using 3 accommodations in Assam located at the parks with excellent birding on site

Highlights

visiting world famous Tiger Reserves Kaziranga, Manas and Nameri
wide variety of birds, mammals, butterflies and habitats
plenty of resident and migrating bird species with many globally threatened species
many interesting mammals including rhinoceros, elephant, buffalo, deer, gibbons, langurs and macaques
elephant ride in Kaziranga, boat ride in Nameri and Manas
unique scenery of the Himalayas and fantastic birds in North Bengal

Accommodation

2 nights in Delhi

4 nights at the Bansbari Lodge in Manas

2 nights at the Eco Camp at Nameri
5 nights in the famous Wild Grass Resort in Kaziranga
3 nights in Darjeeling
3 nights in Lava

Departure Dates

March-April

http://www.ecotours.hu/calendar

Price

Ask for the actual price.
Our price includes:

all travel as noted in the itinerary;
all accommodation based on shared rooms (most rooms are twin bedded), at most locations there are single rooms as well for extra charge (Please ask for a single room at the time of booking!);
3 meals per day, generally breakfast at the accommodation, packed lunch, dinner (consists of at least two courses);
services of the leader(s);
trip materials.

Not included:

flights to and from Delphi
optional programmes to places of interest and entrance fees involved;
airport and other departure taxes, tips;
food beyond generally 3 meals/day mentioned in the itineraries;
excess baggage charges;
telephone calls;
alcoholic beverages;
compulsory personal insurance.

If you have questions about the inclusion of any cost item, please contact us.

Activity level

Birding is restricted to jeep rides inside Kaziranga and Manas

Generally easy walks in Panbari Forest, Tea Garden at Wild Grass and in Nameri

Leeches are sometimes present in Panbari, leech socks are provided

Boat ride in Nameri and Manas in rubber boats taking 2 persons with 2 boatsmen

During the day hot and sunny, cooler temperatures during the night

In the Himalayas jeep rides on gravel roads and easy walks downhill

Weather can be unpredictable in the Himalayas with rain, fog and dropping temperatures while nights can be cold

Itinerary

Start to Delhi spending the night on the plane.

After arrival in the morning we spend a day in Delhi checking out birding locations in the surrounding area.

3-6
We fly East to Guwahati, capital of Assam and reach Manas National Park by jeep. In the park we explore grassland and forest and also take a half-day boat ride on the river. Optionally we take a ferry across the river to Bhutan to look for Golden Langur.

7-8
We leave for Nameri stopping en route for birding. In Nameri we take a boat ride on the river with stops on the sand banks to look for wintering and resident bird species.

9-13
We take a ferry to the other side of the river to look for the rare White-winged Duck then we leave for Kaziranga. In Kaziranga we spend 4 days exploring the Central, Western and Eastern Ranges of the park by jeep, the nearby Tea Garden and Panbari Forest. As an option we visit Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, the only place in India where 7 species of primates can be seen.

14
After breakfast we travel to Guwahati Airport by jeep and we fly back to Delhi.

15
We depart for home in the morning to arrive in the evening.

Extension to Darjeeling and West Bengal
14-15
We fly from Guwahati to Bagdogra Airport and travel in jeeps to Darjeeling. In the city we visit the Zoo and the Botanical Garden to get familiar with the bird species of the Eastern Himalayas.

16-18
We watch the sun rise over Kanchenjunga, the second highest peak in the Himalayas. On Tiger Hill we look for rare bird species. Afterwards we leave for Lava by jeep stopping en route for enjoying scenic views and for birding. In Lava we visit several trails looking for bird specialties of the region. We also make a day trip to Neora Valley National Park, one of the last remaining pristine ecosystems in the Eastern Himalayas.

19
We explore one more trail in Lava and after lunch we head back to Darjeeling.

20
We board our jeeps for the last time to go to Bagdogra Airport from where we fly to Delhi.

21
We depart from Delhi in the morning to arrive home in the evening.

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