The largely inaccessible and relatively sparsely populated Himalayan region that stretches from eastern Nepal to the northeast Indian state of Assam provides refuge to a diverse range of wildlife..
The red panda and hoolock gibbon are extremely rare with eastern Nepal one of the best remaining places in the world to spot the elusive red panda in the wild and the Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary the only place to see this species of gibbon in India. This itinerary links the remote high-altitude jungles that line the Nepalese border with Assam’s Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, combining these two places with Kaziranga National Park, one of India’s finest reserves and home to two-thirds of the world’s population of one-horned rhinoceros to create a unique wildlife journey. Either side of the wildlife viewing time is spent in bustling Kolkata, former capital of the British Raj and the itinerary ends with three nights in the Nepali capital of Kathmandu to see the many cultural treasures.
Kolkata – Jorhat – Kaziranga – Bagdogra – Siliguri – Kaiakata – Kathmandu
Trip Highlights
- Habre’s Nest in eastern Nepal is the best place to see elusive red panda in the wild
- Spend 3 nights in Kaziranga, known for its large population of one-horned rhinoceros
- Hoollongapar Sanctuary is the only place to see endangered hoolock gibbon in India
- The town of Patan is the artistic and architectural centre of the Kathmandu valley
- Discover the grand monuments, churches, temples and museums of Kolkata
- Explore the temples and palaces of Durbar Square in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu
Itinerary
Day 1
Depart the UK
Depart the UK and fly to Kolkata via the Middle East.
Day 2
Arrive Kolkata
Arrive in Kolkata where you will be met and transferred to your hotel in the city. The remainder of the day will be at leisure. One of the great cities of India, Kolkata was established as a trading centre of the East India Company and, ultimately, the capital of the British Raj. Resplendent with grand monuments, churches, temples and excellent museums, Kolkata is charming city and bastion of Bengali culture.
Calcutta Bungalow
The Elgin Fairlawn
Oberoi Grand Hotel
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Day 3
Kolkata
Today discover Kolkata with your guide. There is plenty to see and do in Kolkata and highlights include an exploration of the city’s colonial architecture, the Maidan and white-marble Victoria Memorial, the colourful riverside flower market, Howrah Bridge and the exhaustive collections of the India Museum which is both the oldest, and largest, in Asia.
- Breakfast
Calcutta Bungalow
The Elgin Fairlawn
Oberoi Grand Hotel
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Day 4
Kolkata to Jorhat – by air
After breakfast you will be taken to Kolkata airport in good time for the flight to Jorhat which remains one of Assam's major centres for tea growing and processing. Stay outside of Jorhat at Thengal Manor, a charming 1920s heritage hotel and a base from which to visit the nearby Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary.
- Breakfast
Thengal Manor
Day 5
Jorhat – visit Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary
The Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary is a protected area of evergreen forest and home to India’s only population of hoolock gibbon. Native to northeast India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and parts of southwest China, this endangered species is known for its striking looks and loud call, living high in the jungle canopy. The sanctuary also supports the rare Bengal slow loris, elephant, leopard and other primates including four species of macaque and langur.
- Breakfast
Thengal Manor
Day 6
Jorhat to Kaziranga – 120kms
This morning leave Jorhat and follow the Brahmaputra south to Kaziranga National Park, one of the finest wildlife reserves in India. Stay here for the next three nights.
- Breakfast,
- Dinner
Diphlu River Lodge
Day 7-8
Kaziranga National Park
The grasslands of Kaziranga National Park line the banks of Brahmaputra River and famously support two-thirds of the world’s population of one-horned rhinoceros. Kaziranga is also home to healthy numbers of tiger and elephant, the latter of which can be seen in large family herds. Spend the next two days in different parts of the park on morning and afternoon jeep safaris in the company of an experienced naturalist.
- Breakfast,
- Dinner
Diphlu River Lodge
Day 9
Kaziranga to Bagdogra via Guwahati / Bagdogra to Siliguri – 20kms
This morning you will be met and transferred to Guwahati airport. Fly to Bagdogra and make the final road transfer to neighbouring Siliguri where you will stay overnight.
- Breakfast
Lemon Tree Hotel
Day 10
Siliguri to Kaiakata – 110kms
This morning leave Siliguri and cross the international border into Nepal. From here continue to remote Habre’s Nest, a one-of-a-kind research hub and wildlife guesthouse established to conserve and study the rare red panda. Habre’s Nest is surrounded by prime red panda habitat with breathtaking views of the high Himalayas. Run by wildlife enthusiasts, the lodge offers simple accommodation and facilities in what is one of the subcontinent’s most secluded and isolated regions.
Please note that there is a minimum stay of 5 nights at Habre’s Nest
- Breakfast,
- Dinner
Habre’s Nest
Day 11-14
Kaiakata
Over the next four days discover the wildlife that calls this high-altitude Himalayan jungle home. The area around Habre’s Nest supports an incredible diversity of wildlife and, aside from the elusive red panda also offers fabulous birdwatching with more than 300 species recorded. Other rare animals that have also been seen here include clouded leopard and panther, Himalayan black bear, flying squirrel, false cobra and Himalayan salamander.
- Breakfast,
- Lunch,
- Dinner
Habre’s Nest
Day 15
Kaiakata to Bhadrapur – 90kms / Bhadrapur to Kathmandu – by air
After breakfast transfer to Bhadrapur airport and fly to Kathmandu where you will be met and transferred to your hotel in the city. This afternoon head into the old city, taking a walking tour to see some of the key sights. Highlights include temples and palaces of Durbar Square and the 2500-year-old Swayambhunath Stupa, the city’s oldest and most important place of Buddhist worship.
- Breakfast
Yak and Yeti Hotel
Dwarika's Hotel
Day 16
Kathmandu – visit Pashupatinath, Bodhnath and Patan
This morning it is an early start to visit the temple complex of Pashupatinath, a significant pilgrimage and cremation site for Nepal’s Hindu population. From here continue to Bodhnath Stupa then travel outside of the city to visit the ancient settlement of Patan. The artistic and architectural centre of the Kathmandu valley, Patan’s central square is the setting for a collection of fine monasteries and temples.
- Breakfast
Yak and Yeti Hotel
Dwarika's Hotel
Day 17
Kathmandu – visit Changu Narayan and Bhaktapur
Today continue your exploration of the Kathmandu valley, starting your day at Changu Narayan temple. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and over 1,500 years of age, Changu Narayan is set up high with fabulous far-reaching views. From Changu Narayan head to Bhaktapur which served at the capital of the region between the 14th and 16th centuries. Places of interest here include Nayatpola Temple, the tallest in Nepal, and Durbar Square.
- Breakfast
Yak and Yeti Hotel
Dwarika's Hotel
Day 18
Kathmandu to the UK
Return to the airport in the morning to board the flight back to the UK via the Middle East.
- Breakfast
Extending your stay...
Include a further wildlife reserve in North East India with Manas National Park an excellent option. A beautiful reserve in the Himalayan foothills, Manas is renowned for its excellent birdwatching with 400 species recorded. Manas can be fitted between Kaziranga and the flight from Guwahati.
Chitwan National Park is Nepal’s oldest reserve and famous the world over. Set within Nepal’s lowland terai, the swamps, grasslands and thick forests support a wide range of species including tiger, one-horned rhinoceros, leopard, elephant, sloth bear as well as marsh and gharial crocodile.
Discover isolated Bardia National Park, located in the far west of Nepal. Little-visited, many consider Bardia to be the finest reserve in the country with many endangered or rare species found here. The nearest airport to Bardia is Nepalgunj with regular flights from Kathmandu.
Idyllic Pokhara boasts a spectacular setting, framed by three of the world's 8,000 metre peaks. The walking here is excellent and there is also fine birdwatching as well as a large butterfly population with over 200 species recorded. Pokhara can be linked to both Kathmandu and Chitwan.
Guide to Price
18 days from £6000 - £6540 per person
What's Included
- International and domestic flights
- Private car with English speaking driver
- Sightseeing with local English speaking guides
- Wildlife viewing with local naturalist
- Hotel accommodation and taxes
What's Not Included
- Cost of visas
- Travel Insurance
- Expenses of a personal nature
from £6000 - £6540
Travel Information
Getting There
British Airways fly direct from London Heathrow to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad. Virgin Atlantic have daily flights to Delhi and Vistara fly direct to Delhi. Emirates, Oman Air, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways also have excellent connections via their respected hubs to Kolkata, Kochi, Trivandrum, Kozhikode, Goa, Jaipur and Lucknow and fly from airports all over the UK.
Flying Times From UK
Direct flights from the UK take between 8 and 10 hours depending on the destination. Flights with stops en-route take between 12 and 14 hours.
Time Zone
India is +5½ hours ahead of GMT.
Visa Requirements
Holders of British Citizen passports are able to apply for an e-Tourist Visa (eTV). There are three different eTVs - a one month eTV (valid for 30 days), a one year eTV (valid for 365 days) and a five year eTV (valid for 5 years). Applications for the one month eTV can only be made within 30 days of travel to India. Applications for the one year eTV and five year eTV can only be made within 120 days of travel to India.
Please note that the very latest an Indian eTV application can be made is 4 days prior to travel to India. The eTV becomes active from the date of entry into India. It is not valid for Protected or Restricted areas.
All international passengers arriving in India are required to complete an e-Arrival Card up to 72 hours prior to arrival India. This applies to all nationalities and must be submitted online via the official portal https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival
Do’s & Don’ts
Smoking and drinking in public places is prohibited in India – with smoking this includes public areas in hotels, restaurants and bars.
E-cigarettes and related products are banned in India. You will be unable to buy e-cigarettes or bring them into the country.
Always ask permission before entering a temple and remember to remove your shoes and any leather objects such as bags, belts or wallets. It is fine to wear socks.
When in a Buddhist temple you should always walk in a clockwise direction with the main building to your right.
Modest, loose-fitting clothing is preferable and is essential when visiting religious places. When visiting a Sikh Gurudwara the head needs to be covered.
Permission should always be asked before taking a person’s picture.
When eating, only the right hand should be used. Indian culture considers the left hand to be unclean.
Money
The currency of India is the Indian Rupee (INR) and comes in notes and coins. Exchanging money is easy and can be done at international airports, most hotels or banks and it is always a good idea to ask for some small denomination Rupee notes. ATMs are now common and reliable in all main cities and credit cards are widely accepted by most hotels, shops and restaurants. In rural areas or wildlife reserves ATMs and money exchange facilities are limited so having cash is essential.
Please note that there are restrictions on bringing Indian rupees into India. Visitors, including tourists, are not permitted to bring any amount of Indian currency into the country. Pounds sterling and other foreign currencies are allowed to be brought into India. For more information please visit the FCO’s Foreign Travel Advice for India.
Tipping
This is left to your discretion, however, tipping for good service in India is part of everyday life. In restaurants and for room service a 10% tip is appreciated and at smaller hotels and homestays a communal ‘tip box’ is common.
For drivers and guides, hotel staff and at national parks, the following amounts should act as a guideline. Please note that these figures are based on two people travelling together:
Tour driver: INR1000 to INR1200 per day (not per person)
Tour guide: INR1000 to INR1200 per day (not per person)
Naturalist (national parks): INR1000 to INR1200 per day (not per person)
Jeep Driver (national parks): INR 500 per day & per safari (not per person)
Hotels (communal tip for all staff): INR 1000 to INR 1500 per day (not per person)
Food & Drink
India is known the world over for its food and especially its vegetarian cuisine. Spice plays an important role in dishes throughout the country as do breads, rice, pickles and chutneys. Although nearly every region has its own speciality, there is a divide between the cuisine of northern India and southern India – the north with its meat dishes influenced by the Mughals and the lighter, fruitier, coconut based dishes of the south. Desserts are common in India with kulfi ice cream and gulab jamun two of the best known and most popular. Nearly all tend to be very sweet, milk based or fried.
The most common drink in India is chai tea which can be bought on nearly every street corner. The yoghurt drink lassi – whether sweet, salty or fruity – is also easy to find. The popularity of coffee has spread from the south whilst Indian beer is well-respected. There is also a fledgling wine industry centred on Nashik in Maharashtra.
Accommodation
There is a huge breadth of accommodation in India with styles varying across the country. India is famed for its heritage properties, the majority of which tend to be found in the north of India. These come in all shapes and sizes from beautifully restored buildings and luxury palaces operated by distinguished hotel groups to small privately owned forts and ancestral homes.
Homestays are also very popular and found throughout the country. Whether a grand and luxurious family residence, heritage property or simple abode, they offer a high level of service and a unique glimpse into everyday Indian life. Please let us know if you would like to include a homestay into your itinerary. In more remote regions, hotels are likely to be clean and simple whilst wildlife accommodation is generally either in jungle lodges or comfortable tented camps. For those looking to relax there are many excellent beachside hotels and an increasing number of retreats specialising in both Ayurveda and yoga.
Shopping
With wholesale markets and bazaars, innumerable shops and stores, India is a shopper’s paradise. The country is best known for carpets and dhurries with Rajasthan, Kashmir and Leh best for these. There is also a bewildering range of clothing, fabric and leatherwear found not only in the smallest of villages but also the largest cities. Gems, silver and jewellery (valuable or costume) are popular throughout the country but especially in Jaipur and Hyderabad whilst Kochi is noted for its antiques. Spices can be bought all over India but purchased straight from plantations in the south. Darjeeling, Assam and the Western Ghats in south India are all known for tea.
Suggested Reading
For India travel advice, Footprint, Rough Guides, Lonely Planet and Bradt have excellent guide books whilst Nelles Maps have comprehensive and up to date maps of the Indian subcontinent. There is also a wide range of literature including from famed authors such as RK Narayan, Vikram Seth, Paul Scott, VS Naipaul, Arundhati Roy and Salman Rushdie. Vivek Shanbhag's more recently translated book 'Ghachar Ghochar' also comes highly recommended. Other good books on India include:
‘India: A History’ by John Keay
‘The Great Arc’ by John Keay
‘No Full Stops in India’ by Mark Tully
‘India in Slow Motion’ by Mark Tully and Gillian Wright
‘City of Djinns’ by William Dalrymple
‘White Mughals’ by William Dalrymple
‘Chasing the Monsoon’ by Alexander Frater
‘The Tears of the Rajas’ by Ferdinand Mount
‘Plain Tales from the Raj’ by Charles Allen
‘Mughal Architecture and Gardens’ by George Michell
'Tea, Love and War: Searching for English Roots in Assam' by David Mitchell
Health
Your doctor is the best person to advise you on staying healthy whilst abroad but current recommended vaccinations are Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus and Diphtheria. Yellow Fever is compulsory, but only if you have visited an affected Yellow Fever area within 5 days prior to your arrival. In some instances anti-malarial tablets may also be needed. For current information on health advice you may wish to visit the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website Travel Health Pro on https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/. The Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad (MASTA) website (www.masta.org) is also a useful resource.
Travel Advice
For current information on India the best resource is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) which is a comprehensive resource and updated regularly. We would also recommend visiting the Safer Tourism Foundation website (safertourism.org.uk) before you travel and will be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.
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Our Reviews
What our clients say
All in all a super special holiday
MR & RR - India - March 2024
All in all a super special holiday. Thanks so much for helping to put it together. The guides and drivers are always so important and they were excellent and kind throughout. Assam and Nagaland are so different from mainland India...a very relaxed vibe in beautiful surroundings. We would happily return.
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