(A Twelve day tour of Assam covering a Singpho Village and their Tea, Tai Phakial Village, Tea Tour with stays in Heritage Tea Garden Manager's Bungalows, Majuli Island, World Heritage Site Kaziranga National Park, Nameri National Park and Rafting on the Jia Bhoroli River, Short Cruises on the Mighty River Brahmaputra, Guwahati & Surroundings including Silk Village Sualkuchi)

Day 01: Arrival at Dibrugarh airport from Delhi:

Our Tour Manager will welcome you upon your arrival at Dibrugarh airport in Eastern Assam. Later transfer to a heritage tea garden bungalow. Dibrugarh is one of the main tea belts in Assam.

Assam is the largest producer of tea in India with a share of over 50% of its total production. Unlike many tea producing nations in the world, the Tea Gardens in Assam are fairly big in size covering several hectares. Assam tea is known for its Black Teas-Orthodox and C.T.C.

Day 02: Dibrugarh-Singpho village-Dibrugarh:

Early morning have a tea tour. If plucking season is on you can check how that magical ‘one bud two leaves’ are picked by the tea pickers with precision. You can also visit the tea factory to see how that ‘cup that cheers’ is processed.

After breakfast we take up an excursion to visit a Singpho tribal village near Eastern Arunachal border. The Singphos are of Tibeto-burman stock & they are the original tea drinkers of Assam. It was through one of the heads of the Singphos, that the British rulers learnt about tea & soon after they started cultivating tea commercially in Assam, paving the way for a new beginning in the world of tea.

We visit the village & interact with the people. We check how the Singphos have been making their own brand of traditional organic tea. Of late this traditional tea is being exported to some countries like Canada. Later return to the Dibrugarh tea garden bungalow.

Day 03: Dibrugarh-Namphake village-Dibrugarh:

After breakfast we have an excursion to Namphake village, a village of the Tai(Thai) Phakial tribe. They are Buddhists of the Hinayana sect and still live in houses raised on stilts & follow their own traditions & cultures. Later return to the Dibrugarh tea garden bungalow.

Day 04: Dibrugarh-Sangsua/Gatoonga Tea Estate(Jorhat) (3 & ½ hr) :

After breakfast transfer to Sangsua/Gatoonga tea estate near Jorhat, another important tea belt in Assam. En route visit some monuments of the mighty Tai Ahom kingdom at Sivasagar. The Tai Ahoms migrated to Assam from the Yunan province of China in 1228 AD & ruled Assam for 06 centuries before Assam fell to the British. The Ahom rule in Assam was a highly civilized one and it is the golden age in Assam history. They were successful in repulsing as many as 18 attacks from the Mughal rulers and thus prevented the Muslim expansion to China and the South East Asia. Overnight at the heritage tea garden bungalow at Sangsua/Gatoonga.


Day 05: Sangsua/Gatoonga-Majuli Island-Sangsua/Gatoonga:

Early in the morning we have a tea tour. Later take a short drive & a ferry ride in a chartered motorized boat on the mighty river Brahmaputra to visit the largest river island in the world, the Majuli Island. It is the centre of Assam’s famous Vaisnavite form of Hinduism. The religious and cultural traditions are kept alive by the dedicated monks living in the monasteries locally known as Sattra. The ‘Sattriya dance’ of this sect is the latest entry into India’s recognized classical dances.

We shall visit some monasteries and interact with the celibate monks. In the late afternoon we return the same way to Sangsua/Gatoonga tea estate.

Day 06: Sangsua/Gatoonga tea estate-Kaziranga National Park (02 hr):

First half at leisure in the tea estate. After lunch transfer to Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the home to the endangered one horned rhinoceros (2048 rhinos as per 2009 census). Besides, the park has several species of mammals and birds. The park has 70% of the world population of the Asiatic Water Buffalos & the Eastern Swamp Deer. The park was brought under the Project Tiger recently for special efforts to protect its near 100 Royal Bengal Tigers. Amongst birds, the park has 25 globally threatened bird species. Overnight at Wild Grass Resort.

Day 07: Kaziranga National Park:

Full day at Kaziranga. We start our Jungle Safari on elephant back early in the morning in the central range of the park for one hour. Afterwards, back to hotel and breakfast. After breakfast we take you deep inside the central range of the park in a jeep. Then, we come back for lunch and rest for two hours. Again in the afternoon, we take up another jeep safari this time covering the western range of the park. Overnight at Wild Grass Resort.

Day 08: Kaziranga National Park-Nameri National Park ( 02 hr):

After breakfast we enter the park again in a jeep this time covering the Eastern range of the park. Later after lunch transfer to Nameri National Park near Western Arunachal border.

The Nameri National Park is the home of the near extinct White Winged Wood-Duck. Besides, the park abounds in Elephants, Tiger, Leopards, Sambar, Barking Deer, Wild Pig, Gaur, Wild Dogs and a variety of birds including four species of Hornbill. Overnight at Eco Camp, a camp resort.

Day 09: Nameri National Park:

Early morning you can have a walk inside the park. Later after breakfast we gear up for a river rafting down the sparkling river Jia Bhoroli which forms a boundary to the park. Overnight at Eco Camp, a camp resort.

Day 10: Nameri National Park-Guwahati (04 hr):

Transfer to Guwahati. Overnight at hotel Nakshatra/Pragati Manor/Nandan (3*).

Day 11: Guwahati-Sualkuchi-Modon Kamdev-Guwahati:

After breakfast we take a cruise in a chartered vessel down the mighty river Brahmaputra to Sualkuchi, the famous silk village of Assam producing Mulberry, Muga and Eri silk products. From Sualkuchi we take a drive to Modon Kamdev to see the archaeological ruins of an ancient temple. The erotic carvings there indicate the strong tantric traditions of the region. Later drive back to Guwahati & visit the famous Shakti temple of Kamakhya atop Nilachal Hill.

In the late afternoon, visit Assam Govt. Emporium if you are interested in taking home some mementos from Assam’s famous handloom & handicraft products. Overnight at hotel Nakshatra/Pragati Manor/Nandan (3*).

Day 12: Guwahati airport transfer:

Transfer to Guwahati airport on time for your departure flight.

The end of the tour.
 

Season of Visit : October - April

Price quoted valid until April, 2010

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