The Best of Bhutan, Manas & Kaziranga

Tour Code: IND05

A 19-day holiday exploring Kaziranga (the finest of India's national parks), the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Manas National Park and the magical kingdom of Bhutan, plus an exciting optional extension to the Sunderbans.

19 days from
£6,995
Land only price from
£6,495
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Highlights

  • The world's largest population of Greater One-horned Rhinoceros in Kaziranga
  • Hog Deer, Swamp Deer, Hoolock Gibbon & the chance of seeing a Tiger
  • Extensive bird list featuring waterbirds, raptors & Bengal Florican
  • Montane birds including Himalayan specialities & rarities
  • Unique Bhutanese architecture including spectacular temples & dzongs
  • Optional extension to Sunderbans to search for crocodiles & Tiger
  • Expert local naturalist guides
Summary

Summary

We visit three very different destinations – each dominated by the mighty Himalayan range – for this unusual tour. First we head to Bhutan, which contains some of the world’s most pristine wildlife habitats and we’ll explore its forests and valleys in search of wildlife, as well as finding time to admire aspects of its unique culture. Next we spend three days in the World Heritage Site of Manas National Park, enjoying the area’s wildlife before transferring to Kaziranga National Park. Situated on the Brahmaputra River in Assam, Kaziranga has a superb variety of birdlife and is probably the best place in the world to see the endangered Greater One-horned Rhinoceros.

Grading

This is a wildlife tour that includes no strenuous walking (other than optional walks in Bhutan). Most excursions will be by Jeep.

The mighty Himalaya exerts its influence over every aspect of the flora and fauna of northern India and nowhere is this better exemplified than in the three areas that we will visit during this tour: the floodplain of the Brahmaputra River in Assam, the World Heritage Site of Manas and the pristine montane forests of Bhutan. Each destination is fascinatingly different from the others but the trio combined together produce a birdwatching and wildlife tour par excellence.

Our holiday begins in Kolkata, located in eastern India on the banks of the Hooghly River. From here we fly to Paro and enter the tranquil ‘Land of the Thunder Dragon’, a mountainous country of boundless and beautiful rhododendron and oak forests, where remarkable dzongs and the culture, architecture and dress of a proud Buddhist people characterise a rich and unspoiled Himalayan kingdom where wildlife abounds. A 2-night stay in the high valley of Paro allows us to explore this historic valley that sits beneath snow-capped Chomolhari, one of the highest of Bhutan’s Himalayan peaks. Here we will visit the huge Rimpung Dzong, the National Museum and the impressive ruin of Drugyel Dzong, and we will climb through beautiful forest to the spectacular Taktsang Monastery (or Tiger’s Nest). An early morning drive will then take us to the Dochu La, a high pass clothed in wonderful oak and hemlock forest where many rare birds may be found. From here we descend to Punakha, the old capital, for a 2-night stay that will allow us to enjoy its magnificent riverside dzong and make visits to Tashithang and Jigme Dorji National Park in search of such rarities as White-bellied Heron and Blyth’s Kingfisher.

At Gangtey Gompa the peaceful Probjikha Valley holds an upland mire famed for its wintering Black-necked Cranes. We are most likely to see these endangered birds on the November tour, though on both tours we will encounter the wealth of interesting birdlife to be found in the surrounding high temperate rhododendron forests. We will spend our final night in this peaceful and magical kingdom in the capital Thimpu, before a scenic flight takes us to the city of Guwahati. We then travel by road to Manas National Park.

Manas National Park, which straddles the border between Bhutan and India, is both a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site and a World Biosphere Reserve. Named after the Manas River that flows through its heart, Manas was declared a Tiger Reserve under 'Project Tiger' in 1973 and today is thought to be home to 22 animals. We will enjoy the park's wildlife on a series of morning and afternoon safaris and, if fortunate, may see the 'Indian Big Five' — Asian Elephant, Wild Water Buffalo, Greater One-horned Rhinoceros, Leopard and Tiger!

From Manas we will drive to the southern edge of Kaziranga National Park. We stay here for a memorable four nights at the comfortable and evocatively named Infinity Lodge, from which we will undertake daily excursions into the reserve by jeep.

Kaziranga is a 430 square kilometre park, consisting of broad tracts of tall elephant grass interspersed with evergreen forests, shallow lakes and reedbeds. It is probably the best place on Earth to observe the very rare Greater One-horned Rhinoceros and it is possible to encounter as many as 40 of these prehistoric-looking beasts during a day in the field. Asian Elephants are also plentiful and herds of wild Water Buffalo watch our progress with an air of bellicose suspicion. Grazing Sambar, Hog Deer and Swamp Deer add to the diversity and provide prey for the Leopards and Tigers which roam the park, although amid so much cover they are always hard to see. Continuing our exploration we may disturb sounders of Wild Boar, sending them crashing through the undergrowth, and maybe chance upon some of the more elusive residents such as Gaur, Leopard Cat and Sloth Bear, whilst the rare Capped Langur, Assam Macaque and Hoolock Gibbon form a trio of primates that inhabit the woodlands. Despite the profusion of mammals, the birdlife is not eclipsed and a tremendously diverse bird list features many rare or local species such as Bengal Florican and Adjutant Stork.

A short flight from Guwahati or Jorhat will take us back to the bustling city of Kolkata, testing our abilities at mountain identification as we fly parallel to the great Himalayan massif, passing several of the world’s highest peaks. For tour members wishing to postpone their homeward flight, we recommend a post-tour visit to the Sunderbans, the world’s largest delta and mangrove swamp, renowned for its waterbirds and Tigers!

 

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Depart London
Day 2
Arrive Kolkata
Day 3/4
Paro
Day 5/6
Punakha
Day 7/8
Gangtey
Day 9/10
Thimpu
Day 11
Fly Guwahati, transfer to Manas National Park
Day 12/13
Manas National Park
Day 14/17
Kaziranga National Park
Day 18
Fly Kolkata
Day 19
Fly London
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What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation: Comfortable tourist hotel in Kolkata and simple but comfortable hotels and lodges in Kaziranga, Darjeeling and Bhutan, all with private facilities.
  • Food: All included in the price, except for main meals required in Kolkata.
Reviews
Extensions

Extensions

Sunderbans 5-day Extension

4 days from £695
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Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost
Mon 3rd Nov – Fri 21st Nov FULL £6,995

2026

Departures Availability Cost
Sun 1st Mar – Thu 19th Mar SPACES £6,995
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Tue 3rd Nov – Sat 21st Nov SPACES £6,995
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2027

Departures Availability Cost
Sun 28th Feb – Thu 18th Mar SPACES £6,995
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Wed 3rd Nov – Sun 21st Nov SPACES £6,995
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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

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Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

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