Agora Voyages

Safari & Cruise in Assam

Package price per person sharing twin

Product Code : AGORA153

Cool breeze, the sweet smell of jasmine, the sound of splashing waves of the Brahmaputra River and the clear blue skies, define the beauty of Assam. Assam is known for it’s world class Assam tea, and the wonderful tea plantations. It also boasts two out of India’s five UNESCO environmental world heritage sites. Explore Manas and Kaziranga National Park for a safari. Short cruise on the Brahmaputra River and explore the little-visited Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. We will sway with the tides of the river leading north to the jade tea-estates of Jorhat and mesmerizing Majuli Island we conclude the journey in Dibrugarh. This region has unparalleled remote beauty that allows your soul to find its quest.

Day 01; Delhi/ Mumbai/ Kolkata - Guwahati (flight)

Guwahati to Manas National Park (150kms/ 3hrs approx)

Fly Delhi/ Mumbai/ Kolkata to Guwahati, meet your driver and proceed to Manas National Park a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Covered by tall grass and dense semi-evergreen forest Manas is located at the Himalayan foothills on the Bhutanese border. This beautiful Project Tiger reserve is home to most of the larger animals found in Kaziranga and over twenty-two species in the park are classified as endangered. Dinner & overnight at resort/ lodge.

Day 02; Manas

Take an opportunity to ride and elephant, and see several different species of deer and monkeys and over 380 different species of birds. There is a wide range of wildlife to observe including wild buffalo, elephant and tiger. We visit the local villages, a nearby tea garden and Bodo tribal for some authentic hand weaving. All meals & overnight at resort/ lodge.

Day 03; Manas - Guwahati (150kms)

Begin Brahmaputra Cruise

Breakfast at resort. This morning after you are full of local experiences, you will be met and transferred to Guwahati to join either the ABN Charaidew or ABN Sukapha cruise boat which will be your base for the next three nights. Later leave Guwahati and cruise downstream to an overnight stop close to the village of Viajynagar. Lunch, dinner & overnight in Cruise.

Please note that this cruise is operated on a ‘join in’ basis and you should expect to be joined by other travellers.

Day 04; Brahmaputra Cruise

Cruise upstream to the little town of Sualkuchi, loud with the clatter of looms, to visit its silk weaving workshops and witness the whole process of silk manufacture. From here drive to Hajo, a place sacred to Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists and visit a hilltop Muslim shrine with far-reaching views and a simple Hindu temple with a sacred tank full of great carp, catfish and turtles. Later re-board and cruise to an overnight mooring near the Saraighat War Memorial. All meals & overnight in Cruise.

Day 05; Brahmaputra Cruise

Continuing upstream disembark at Pandu docks for a short sightseeing tour of Guwahati including a visit to the Kamakhya Temple which is located atop Nilachal Hill and the poignant Commonwealth War Graves cemetery. Later cross by country boat to the mid-stream Peacock Island with its population of golden langur monkeys before re-embarking and cruising on to Kurua on the north bank. All meals & overnight in Cruise.

Day 06; End Cruise

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary - Kaziranga National Park (200kms/ 4hrs)

This morning cruise past jungle-covered hills and turn into the Mayong River. After breakfast disembark the cruise. Using the country boat, cruise to the road-head and from there enter the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary by road. This small park has a dense population of the India one-horned rhinoceros and it would be unlucky not to spot some of these amazing armoured beasts on a jeep safari around the park. Later leave Pobitora and drive to Kaziranga National Park for three night stay. Dinner & overnight at resort/ lodge.

A World Heritage Site, Kaziranga National Park is located in a beautiful setting on the banks of the Brahmaputra River and covers a vast area. Predominately swamp with tall thickets of elephant grass, Kaziranga provides the ideal habitat for the Indian one-horned rhinoceros. There are also good populations of tiger, wild elephant, sambar, swamp deer, hog deer, wild pig and many other species.

Day 07; Kaziranga National Park

If your quest is to see the wildlife – over the next two days explore Kaziranga and the surrounding area enjoying an early morning and an evening game safari by jeep and on elephant back. Aside from the one-horned rhinos, Kaziranga is also home to over 1,000 wild buffalo, sambar, swamp deer, elephant, python and tiger. There are also a wide variety of birdlife as well as river otters and dolphins, which are regularly seen. If possible, also visit a tea gardens and a Mising tribal village. All meals & overnight in resort/ lodge.

Day 08; Kaziranga National Park

Explore Kaziranga and the surrounding area enjoying an early morning and an evening game safari by jeep and on elephant back. All meals & overnight in resort/ lodge.

Day 09; Kaziranga - Jorhat (100kms/ 2hrs approx)

Breakfast at resort, leave Kaziranga and follow the Brahmaputra River northeast to Jorhat where you will stay for two nights. Jorhat is one of Assam’s major tea centres and, due to its location, is also an excellent base for exploring nearby Majuli Island. Lunch, dinner & overnight at hotel/ resort.

Day 10; Jorhat - visit Majuli Island

After a healthy breakfast we leave Jorhat and drive to Neematighat for the one-hour ferry ride to Majuli. A World Heritage Site, Majuli is located in the Brahmaputra River and is the largest inhabited river-island in the world. The island has long served as a monastic retreat to the local Vaishnavite community, is noted for its traditional Assamese and Mishing tribal architecture as well as for its beautiful rural setting. Majuli is also a bird-watchers’ paradise. Lunch at local restaurant or with local family. In the afternoon return to Jorhat. Dinner & overnight at hotel/ resort.

Day 11; Jorhat - Sivasagar - Dibrugarh (150kms/ 4hrs approx)

Breakfast at hotel, drive to Sivasagar where a series of Ahom monuments, tanks and temples encompass the 600 year old history of the Ahom dynasty. From here continue on to Dibrugarh and the Heritage Chang Bungalow where you will stay for two nights. Dibrugarh is the gateway to the ‘hidden land’ of Arunachal Pradesh. Lunch, dinner & overnight at hotel/ resort.

Day 12; Dibrugarh

Today explore Dibrugarh and visit the Mancotta Tea Estate to learn all about tea – from its origin to how it is grown to its processing and tasting. This area of India is one of the oldest tea producing regions in the country and plenty of time will be spent enjoying the estate’s 157-year-old tea gardens. All meals & overnight at hotel/ resort.

Day 13; Dibrugarh - Kolkata (flight)

Breakfast at hotel. As per your flight schedule transfer to Dibrugarh airport to board flight for Delhi/ Mumbai/ Kolkata.

Garland welcome and assistance on arrival at airport

11-Nights / 12-days accommodation in offered hotels or similar (standard room)

Full board accommodation staring from 1st day dinner and end with last day breakfast.

Deluxe Air-conditioned private vehicle with English speaking chauffeur as per tour program.

2 Time shared safari in Kaziranga National Park with naturalist (1 gypsy & 1 Elephant).

4 Time shared safari in Kaziranga National Park with naturalist (3 gypsy & 2 Elephant).

Monuments Entrances of sightseeing places mentioned in the itinerary (almost all places of tourist interest are included in our itinerary)

Ferry transfer to visit Umananda Island and Majuli Island.

Tea estate visit and tea testing.

English speaking tour guide on sightseeing days (local guide in each city).