Into the Wilds of Assam & Bengal

Day 1 : Arrival in Delhi

Arrival in Delhi. Welcome at the airport and move to the hotel nearby. Overnight stay at the hotel.

 

Day 2 : Delhi – Guwahati – Kaziranga National Park

Departure for Guwahati: 2h 30 flight.
Drive to the Kaziranga Park to reach your hotel. Kaziranga National Park is located in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of the state of Assam in India on the eastern edge of the Himalayas, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It covers an area of 429.93 km² consisting mainly of high reed beds, grassy meadows, swamps and tropical forest irrigated by 4 major rivers including the Brahmaputra and its many backwaters.

 

Day 3 : Kaziranga

Kaziranga National Park is one of the last areas in India that has not been modified by man, it is far from the tourist influx of other regions of India. This park is home to the largest population of Indian rhinos, making it one of the most beautiful national parks in the world. Kaziranga is also one of the best places to see large mammals such as tigers, barasingha, Asian elephants and buffaloes. Kaziranga is an important area for birdlife. The park is home to a wide variety of migratory birds, waterfowl, raptors and scavengers that delight birders around the world.
Kaziranga was once home to 7 species of vultures and, despite the mischief of diclofenac (an anti-inflammatory) which polluted the carrion and decimated the populations, the Indian vulture, the slender-billed vulture and the chaugoun vulture have survived. Other families of birds are also visible such as the hornbill, scalloped hornbill, swamp akalat, baya weaver, Finn’s weaver, Hodgson’s whinchat, striped grasshopper and Burnes’ prinia.

 

Day 4 : Kaziranga

Continuation of the safari in the park of Kaziranga

 

Day 5 : Kaziranga – Guwahati – Kolkata

Departure from your hotel in the morning to reach the airport of Guwahati for a flight towards Kolkata (Calcutta). Capital of West Bengal, on the left bank of the Hooghly river, with more than 4 million inhabitants in a metropolitan area of 14 million (3rd in the country), Kolkata is one of the most fascinating cities in India. Its architectural heritage is incredibly rich. Nicknamed “the city of joy” or “the city of palaces”, it is also called “cultural capital” of the country. Marked by history, the city abounds in things to see.

 

Day 6 : Kolkata

Morning: departure for the discovery of the Maidan, green lung and historical, cultural and leisure space of the city of Kolkata, then direction Dalhousie square, former British colonial administrative center: Writers Building, High Court, St John’s church (1787).
Visit to the Victoria Memorial (1921) erected in honor of the Empress of India with its museum that houses a vast collection.

 

Day 7 : Kolkata – Sundarban (by surface + boat)

Then visit the Marble Palace (1835), an incredible 19th century palace filled with valuable European art. In this “marble palace”, everything is amazing: the collection of classical statues, paintings, porcelain and even the menagerie at the back of the park. Then visit the home and cultural center of Tagore, the illustrious Indian composer, writer, playwright, painter and philosopher of the early XXᵉ century. Overnight at the hotel in Calcutta.

 

Day 8 : Sundarban

The Sundarbans National Park is a unique natural wonder in South Asia and the world. The delta spans India and Bangladesh over an area of about 10,000 square kilometers with one of the largest halophilic mangrove forests in the World. It is the delta of the two great Indian rivers, the Ganges and the Brahamputra in the Bengal basin.

Located in the state of West Bengal, the Sunderbans are named after the Sundari trees that are found en masse in this region. The park was established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1977 and as a national park on May 4, 1984. It covers an area of about 1,355 km. The amazing and powerful Royal Bengal Tigers can be seen basking in the sun on the banks of the river along with other wildlife such as macaques, Indian grey mongoose, leopard cat, Ridley sea turtle, wild boar, jungle cat, fox, flying fox, fishing cat, chital, pangolin and many more. Crossing the river by boat takes you on a nature walk and provides a variety of cultural adventures.

 

Day 9 : Sundarban – Kolkata

Return to Kolkata by land.

 

Day 10 : Kolkata

In the morning, stroll in the flower market and see the famous Howrah Bridge, the mythical bridge of Kolkata, a feat of engineering that allows millions of pedestrians to cross the Hoogly River (one of the branches of the Ganges) every day.

Then a walk in the craftsmen district of Kumartuli, famous center of creation of Hindu clay idols which are used during religious festivals. This will be followed by a subway ride to Park Street. Then visit the Indian Museum, one of the oldest museums in the world (1814) and the second largest museum in India; it has six sections and rare collections of antiquities, armor and ornaments, fossils, skeletons, mummies and Mughal paintings. Overnight stay at the hotel.

 

Day 11 : Departure from Kolkata

After breakfast, travel to the airport for your return flight.

 

Hotels: Selection of charming hotels with the best quality/comfort ratio for the region. Please send us a program request for more information.

The Trip Included: Full board, superior category hotels, tour guide transportation in air-conditioned bus and entrance fees on site

Not included: international airfare, visa to enter India, insurance, drinks and tips for driver and guide/