DAY

DESCRIPTION

Pickup from Guwahati airport and drive to Nameri. Over Night Stay at Nameri Ecocamp or similar. 245 kms; Drive time: 5.5 hours.

Situated in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas Nameri Tiger Reserve is one of the most scenic parks in all of India. This 200 sq. km park lies on the border of Assam and West Arunachal with the altitude varying between 80m and 300m. Most parts of Nameri are covered by Moist Mixed, Deciduous Forests and over 600 species of plants can be found in the area. It is the only place in India where one can see the highly endangered, White-winged Wood Duck, a resident of the dense tropical evergreen forest. is home to many other bird species like Sultan Tit, Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, Common Merganser, Ibis Bill, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Oriental Hobby, Crow-billed Drongo, Maroon Oriole and many more wonderful birds. If lucky, one can see large congregations of Whreath & Great Pied Hornbills.

In the morning you can raft on the Jia Bhorali river for observing water birds like Ibis Bill, Blyth?s Kingfisher, White-capped River-chat and the rare Long-billed Plover. In the afternoon go for a forest trek on the other side of the river. Over Night at Nameri Eco camp or similar.

In the morning you can go for a trek on another route in the forest. By mid day you will need to leave for Jorhat. Over Night Stay at Earl Grey Hotel in Jorhat or equivalent. 180 kms; Drive time: 5 hours

Leave early in the morning to visit the Hollogapara sanctuary which is home to 6 species of primates namely Hoolock Gibbon, Pig tailed macaque, Stump tailed macaque, Assamese macaque, Rhesus macaque and Slow Loris. Leave from the sanctuary by 12 pm and head to Nimati ghat from where you will take a ferry over the Brahmaputra to go to Majuli island. Over Night Stay in Bamboo cottage in Majuli or other hotel..

Majuli, one of the largest river island in the world is a store house of art and culture. The name is a conjunction of Ma which denotes Laxmi (the goddess of prosperity) and Juli meaning greenary. The island has been the hub of Neo-Vaishnavite culture since the 15th century, having been initiated by the revered Assamese saint Sankardeva. This new creed of faith started by Srimanta Sankardeva preached devotion to a single God, Lord Krishna or Vishnu, (Eka Sarana). The hallmark of the Neo-Vaishnavite movement is reflected in two distinctively unique institutions, viz., the Satra and the Namghar, both of which are intimately associated with the social, cultural as wellas religious life of the Assamese society.

Besides culture, Majuli is also a hotspot for birders with many migratory birds favoring its wetland ecosystem. Many species like the Spot Billed Pelican, Greaterand Lesser Adjutant Stork, Open Billed Stork, Purple Heron, Whistling Teal, Rudy Shell Duck can be seen in the plentiful.

Before breakfast you can do a boat ride in a country boat for seeing water birds like Open billle Stork and Pellicans. Post breakfast visit some of the Satras to get an understanding of the Vaishanvite culture. Stop over at the mask making and pottery villages, to interact with the artisans. If you like to cycle then you can also go out to explore the island on cycle. Over Night Stay in Bamboo cottage in Majuli or other hotel.

After breakfast take a ferry back to Nimati Ghat, from where you will drive back to Kaziranga. Over Night Stay at Wildgrass Resort or equivalent. 85 kms; Drive time: 2 hours

Circumscribed by the mighty Brahmaputra towards the North and East, and by the Mora Diphlu in the South, Kaziranga National Park is home to the largest population of the One Horned Rhinoceros in the world, as well as one of the highest density of tigers in a protected reserve. Other herbivores like the Wild Asiatic Water Buffalo, Eastern Swamp Deer, Hog Deer and Wild Boars are seen here in abundance. The park has treasures to offer to the avid birdwatcher as well, with many rare species in view like Pallas's Fish Eagle, Spot billed Pelican, Lesser Adjutant, Swamp Francolin, Blue-bearded Bee-Eater, and Finn's Weaver.

Rise up early in the morning for a safari on Elephant back which would get you really close to the Rhinos. After breakfast head out for a jeep safari in the Eastern Range (Agaratoli) of the park. The birds likey to be seen are Pallas Fish Eagle, Lesser Adjutant, Swamp Francolin, Spot billed Pelican, Bar headed Goose, Grey headed Lapwing, Black necked Stork. After lunch go for a safari in the Western range of the park where concentration of Rhinos is very high, also you will mainly see grassland birds like Chestnut-capped Babbler, Black faced and Yellow Breasted Buntings over here. Over Night Stay at Wildgrass Resort in Kaziranga or equivalent.

Today go for a safari in the Central Range of the park. This range includes nesting of the globally threatened Pallas's Fish Eagle and a colony of Spot-billed Pelicans. Many other woodland birds would be observed over here. 240 kms; Drive time: 5 hours. After lunch drive to Guwahati Airport / Railway station. Tour ends..