Tour of North East India - Tea Plantations & National Parks

Upon arrival at Kolkata International Airport, you will be welcomed by your Authentic India Tours representatives who will transfer you to your hotel for a 2 night stay.

The rest of the day is free to relax and enjoy the wonderful facilities of your luxury hotel or to explore the local area. Just a short walk away is the new Kolkata market.

Accommodation: The Oberoi Grand, Kolkata

Meals included: Breakfast

Today is an opportunity to discover this charming metropolis with a full days sightseeing tour. It’s an early start to visit the colourful flower market, followed by a boat ride on the Hooghly River.

The afternoon’s sightseeing includes the Victoria Memorial, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Indian Museum, one the largest museums in India.

Accommodation: The Oberoi Grand, Kolkata

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, you will be taken to the Godhkhali Boat Jetty which is about 3 hours away. Here you will board the boat to Sundarban National Park which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for its waterways, lush mangrove forests and one of the largest reserves of the Bengal Tiger.

As you drift along the waterways and cruise through the gentle creeks and canals of the Sundarban National Park, keep a look out for endemic and migratory birds and wildlife.

Approximate travel time and distance: 6 hours, 150 kms

Accommodation: Sundarban Jungle Camp

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Today is full of adventure and it’s an early start.  Breakfast is served on board the boat as you cruise through gentle creeks, dense forest and numerous rivers inside the Sundarban Tiger Reserve towards the Dobanki Watch Tower. The canopy walk at Dobanki watch tower is about half a kilometre long and at a height of 20 ft it offers a unique experience.

The cruise continues along the River Matla where you’ll get a sighting of the Bay of Bengal. There’s then an option of a visit to the Jharkhali watch tower for wildlife viewing or a visit to the tiger rescue centre to see the famous Royal Bengal Tiger. This is followed by the Butterfly garden and lunch.

If time permits you will then visit the native village of Dayapur to capture the sights and sounds of true Sundarbans. A walk through this village will give you a sense of their lifestyle, local crafts, cuisines and how they co-exist with the tigers. Your tour will pass through a buzzing village market followed by a wildlife movie and dinner.

Accommodation: Sundarban Jungle Camp

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

There is time for another short boat ride through the creeks this morning before an early lunch.

You will then be transferred by boat back to Godkhali where you will be met by your driver and taken to your hotel in Kolkata by car.

Approximate travel time and distance: 6 hours, 160 kms

Accommodation: The Oberoi Grand, Kolkata

Meals included: Breakfast

This morning you will be taken to Kolkata airport for the flight to Guwahati. You will be met on arrival and driven to Tezpur, the heart of the tea growing area.

Twice a week on a Tuesday and Wednesday a tea auction is held at Guwahati. If time permits we can visit the Tea Auction Centre to observe the proceedings before driving to Tezpur.

Approximate travel time and distance: 4 hours 30 mins

Accommodation: Wild Mahseer Lodge, Tezpur

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Today is a chance to relax and enjoy a leisurely day at the tea estate surrounded by warm hospitality and the scenic beauty.

Various blends of tea from the Addabarie Tea Estate will be on offer this afternoon at the Tea Tasting Session.

Accommodation: Wild Masheer Lodge, Tezpur

Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast, we take the short 60 minute drive to Kaziranga. Famed as a haven for the one horned rhinoceros, one of India’s great wildlife emblems, Kaziranga National Park encompasses grasslands, wetlands and forests stretching for about 60 kms on the south side of the Brahmaputra River. Its 2400 plus rhinos account for two thirds of the world’s population and you’re highly likely to see some on any safari in the park.

After lunch, enjoy the first jeep safari to the Eastern zone of the park.

Approximate travel time and distance: 1 hour, 50 kms

Accommodation: Diphlu River Lodge, Kaziranga

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

It’s an early morning start to visit the central zone of the park and the chance to spot elephants followed by breakfast in your hotel. You will then be taken on a jeep safari to the western part of the park followed by another jeep safari in the afternoon to the central part.

Accommodation: Diphlu River Lodge, Kaziranga

Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

After an early breakfast the drive to Nimati Ghat near Jorhat will take about 3 hours. On route we make a detour via a public ferry to visit Majuli Island. Majuli is the largest fresh water deltoid island in the world, situated in the upper reaches of the River Brahmaputra. This land, with a population of about 1.6 million people, is endowed with a rich heritage and is home to neo-vaishnavite culture. You will visit Kamalabari Satra, the oldest satra in Majuli Island, Samuguri Satra which is famous for mask making and the Mishing village.

Jorhat, the gateway to north east Assam is the heartland of tea. Besides its many tea estates, it has the famous Tocklai Experimental Centre that conducts research into new varieties of tea and its therapeutic effects.

Approximate travel time and distance: 7 hours, 220 kms

Accommodation: Thengal Manor, Jorhat

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

It’s a leisurely day today to enjoy life in the tea estate. After breakfast, spend the morning relaxing amidst the grounds taking an occasional stroll and tasting the exquisite varieties of tea.

Later there is a visit to a tea factory where you can witness the various processes that take place to make tea. This is followed by a tea tasting session.

Accommodation: Thengal Manor, Jorhat

Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast, your travels take you to Dibrugarh via the historical city of Sivasagar.

Sivasagar was the capital of the Ahom rulers from 1228 to 1826 AD. On arrive at Sivasagar you will stop at the Rang Ghar, also known as the royal observatory. After lunch at a local restaurant, you will visit the Shiva and Vishnu Temples as well as the Sivasagar Water Tank.

Later we continue the 2 hour journey to Dibrugarh. In the evening you can enjoy a traditional dance performed by the local tea tribes, while sipping the garden fresh tea.

Accommodation: Mancotta Chang Bungalow, Dibrugarh

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

After breakfast you can explore the tea garden with an expert tea taster who will demonstrate how freshly made tea is carefully measured out and brewed in special cups designed for sampling. You can then participate in the tea tasting session to judge the samples for appearance, aroma, taste and strength.

In the afternoon you will be transferred to the airport to board your return flight to Kolkata where you will be met and taken to your hotel.

Approximate travel time and distance: 1 hour 30 mins

Accommodation: The Oberoi Grand, Kolkata

Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

In plenty of time you will be taken to Kolkata Airport to board your return flight.

Alternatively if you have time you could extend your holiday with a beach extension, a tour of South India or a trip to the Himalayas.

Meals included: Breakfast

Pricing and Inclusions

The price guide for this 14 day North East India Tea Plantations & National Parks Tour is £4190 based on two people sharing. This tour is available from November – April only.

The prices do not include flights.

Authentic India Tours is a member of ABTA and ATOL. All the holidays on this website are ABTA protected. If you would like us to arrange your holiday including flights we will be happy to provide a quote and your holiday will also be ATOL protected.

This is a private tour and can be tailor-made to meet your exact requirements. Prices will vary depending on the number of people, length of tour, accommodation & season. Reductions are normally available for groups of three or more. Some hotels operate an additional peak pricing rate during busy times which is normally from mid December to mid January.

Please get in touch with your dates and we will be pleased to provide you with your personal itinerary and accurate quote.

Included with this tour are the following:

• Meet and greet assistance on all arrivals and departures.
• All internal road travel by a private chauffeur-driven air-conditioned large car.
• All scheduled sightseeing expenses including English speaking guides and entrance fees at monuments.
• Game drives at Sundarban National Park and Kaziranga National Park as per the itinerary.
• Economy class flight tickets for Kolkata to Guwahati and from Dibrugarh to Kolkata. (Please be aware the luggage allowance on all domestic flights is only 15 kg per person. You will have the option to buy and extra 5 kg or 10 kg as required).
• Accommodation for 13 nights on double/twin sharing basis.
• Meal Plan: Bed & Breakfast in Kolkata; Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner for the rest of the tour.
• Mineral water on all days of travel

Price does not include:

• International flight tickets
• Travel insurance and visa
• Expenses of personal nature like laundry, tips, beverages etc
• Meals other than mentioned in the above meal plan
• Camera and video fees at national parks, museums & monuments

The prices given above are per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room. All prices were valid at the time of publication but they may be subject to change, based on your date of travel and local market fluctuations. You will be informed of any price differences prior to booking.

For further information or a quote based on your exact dates of travel, any alternative accommodation or a change to the itinerary, please call Authentic India Tours on 01792 315499 or email us at info@aitholidays.com

Please remember all our private tours are designed to meet your exact requirements, and this tour is just an example to help inspire you.

For more information please email info@aitholidays.com or call our India specialists on 01792 315499.

ABTA and ATOL Protected Tour Package

Authentic India Tours is a member of ABTA and ATOL. All the holidays on this website are ABTA protected. If you would like us to arrange your holiday including flights we will be happy to provide a quote and your holiday will also be ATOL protected.