This is the ultimate Himalayan wildlife trip for photographers and naturalists. Our goal is a quiet exploration of some of the premier natural areas of Nepal, Bhutan and northeast India. Much of your journey will be by elephant, as these majestic creatures are uniquely suited for pursuit of large animals in the tall grass and dense forests of South Asia.
In Nepal, your main destination will be Chitwan National Park,where we expect you to encounter rhinos, possibly tigers, and numerous other large animal species, in addition to many birds, reptiles and other species of this rich riverine and subtropical forest ecosystem. By the time of your visit, thousands of waterfowl will also have arrived from northern Asia. In Bhutan, you will not miss the famous scenic sites, but your unique destination will be the rich forests of Manas in south central Bhutan, where golden langurs, rufous necked hornbills and tigers still roam. This is an area of Bhutan which was only opened to foreigners in the past year, so your group will have the incredible opportunity to be among the first nature expeditions on some of the trails.
While in Bumthang, you will witness a very colorful temple festival, and your visit also coincides with the King’s birthday, which will be a day of spectacular pageants throughout the country. Continuing out of Bhutan by road, you will enter Assam in northeast India for a visit to Kaziranga National Park, where you may find wild elephants, Asiatic buffalo, rhinos and tigers. You will finish your stay in India with a stop in Calcutta, where we intend to surprise you with an extraordinary encounter with the India of myth and legend.
* Your Tour Leader
Your tour leader, Will Weber, Ph.D., has traveled throughout Asia since his first trip to Nepal as a Peace Corps volunteer in 1970, where he served as a high school math and science teacher and helped organize the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Department. He speaks Nepali fluently, and he has made five visits to Bhutan and numerous trips to India. In each country, you will also be joined by local expert English-speaking guides with specialized knowledge of the areas we will visit. Evening activities will include wildlife tales from their long careers as trekking and wildlife guides.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Kathmandu
Arrive in Kathmandu from Bangkok or Delhi, followed by a group meeting and orientation. Enjoy a short walking tour to acquaint yourself with the Thamel neighborhood near which you will be staying. There are many restaurants in this area, featuring virtually every international cuisine, so you will have no shortage of choices for meals eaten on your own, and our guides will be happy to share their favorite selections. This evening we will have a group dinner to introduce everyone and offer a briefing on the trip ahead. Early arrival in Nepal is suggested to reduce jetlag and for additional sightseeing. Accommodation at the Malla Hotel. Meals: (D), Lodging: Malla Hotel.
Day 2: Kathmandu
After breakfast, you will take a Mount Everest “flightseeing” trip for an eagle’s eye view of the worlds highest peak, and the highest part of the Himalayan Range. At this time of the year, early snows may well expand the snowy magnificence of the peaks, and you are likely to glimpse at least six of the 10 highest peaks in the world! In the afternoon, you will take a walking tour of Kathmandu that will include two dramatic temples famous for their rhesus monkey populations, as well as their sacred importance to religious pilgrims. Dinner will be on your own at one of the many neighborhood restaurants. Meals: (B), Lodging: Malla Hotel.
Days 3 - 5: Chitwan National Park
Today you will arrive in Chitwan National Park either by plane or car. Located in the southern plains of Nepal, Chitwan was originally preserved as a royal hunting reserve, and is Nepal’s first and most famous national park. The riverine, savanna and hilly subtropical hardwood forest provide an ideal habitat for one of the densest tiger populations on earth. You will explore on foot, elephant back and in dugout canoes in search of tigers, as well as rhinos, four species of deer, crocodiles, leopards, gaur and more than 300 species of birds. Your visit coincides with the autumn migration return of thousands of waterbirds from northern Asia. You will stay in private tented camp accommodations on an isolated island, surrounded by the incredible sights, sounds and smells of the jungle. Your guide has visited this area frequently since he first worked on the initial development of the park as a Peace Corps Volunteer in 1973. Meals: (B, L, D), Lodging: Camping.
Day 6: Chitwan / Kathmandu
Return to Kathmandu by air, and enjoy a free afternoon to explore on your own. Kathmandu invites exploration on foot. Your guides are available for tips and advice. Overnight at the Malla Hotel. Meals: (B), Lodging: Malla Hotel.
Day 7: Kathmandu / Paro
You will transfer to the airport for a mid-day flight to Bhutan, which may be one of the most thrilling landing approaches of any commercial flight in the world. Upon arrival in Paro, you will be met by your Bhutanese guide and transferred to your hotel. If time and daylight permit, you may also have the opportunity to do some sightseeing. Meals: (B, L, D), Lodging: Local hotel.
Day 8: Paro / Thimpu
After breakfast, you will hike the fairly steep route to the Taktsang Monastery, which will take about one and a half hours. Be sure to keep an eye out for grey langurs in the forests along the way! You will definitely feel the effects of Bhutan’s relatively high altitude, and some participants may wish to climb only part of the way to the Taktsang Monastery. After the hike, you will continue sightseeing in and around Paro, with a visit to Kichu Lakhang, Drugyel Dzong and the National Museum. In the evening, you will drive approximately one and a half hours to Thimphu and overnight at a local hotel with a view of the city. Meals: (B, L, D), Lodging: Local hotel.
Day 9: Thimpu / Gangtey
The morning will be spent sightseeing in and around Thimphu. Today is the King’s birthday, a major holiday in Bhutan, and you may be lucky enough to witness archery practice and pageants, amidst much singing and dancing. After lunch, you will begin the 5-6 hour drive to Gangtey, where you will overnight at a local hotel. Meals: (B, L, D), Lodging: Local hotel.
Day 10: Gangtey / Bumthang
After breakfast, visit Gangtey Gompa and its surroundings before driving to Bumthang. En route, you will also visit Trongsa, which forms the central hub of the nation and is the location from which attempts at unification have historically been launched. It is from here that the first monarchy was elected, and it remains a tradition that the crown prince has to take the position of governor before he takes the seat of the throne. In addition to its historical and political significance, the landscape around Trongsa is spectacular for miles on end. This afternoon, you will visit the Kuenga Rabten village, where you can see a spectacular waterfall.
Just above the king’s second palace, there is a nunnery that houses hundreds of Buddhist nuns. Your visit coincides with Jambay Lakhang Drup and Prakhar, which are temple festivals in Bumthang. These very colorful ceremonial events depict ancient Buddhist legends. Built in the eighth century by the Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo, Jambay Lhakhang is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Bhutan. The festival is known for two special events - Mewang (fire blessing ceremony) and Tercham (dance of treasure). During the fire blessing ceremony, locals run underneath a huge flaming gate made out of dry grasses, allowing the grasses to fall on their head.
You will have to ask your guide about the exact time of the dance of treasure, as its scheduling is kept secret. The dancers perform this dance completely naked, and it is believed that Tercham can bless infertile women. It is usually performed at night around a bonfire. Overnight at a local hotel. Meals: (B, L, D), Lodging: Local hotel.
Day 11: Bumthang / Gelephu
The drive from Bumthang to Gelephu is approximately 8–9 hours and the road will become narrower and less even, as you will be entering an area few foreigners have visited. Gelephu is at an elevation of 950 feet above sea level and is the largest flat terrain in the country. This area is known as “Hathi Zar,” because of the large population of elephants that have lived here. You will overnight at a guest house or camp. (Note that various circumstances may influence the actual route we take to Manas. The route described here is the most probable). Meals: (B, L, D), Lodging: Guest house or camp.
Day 12: Gelephu / Kanamakra
From Gelephu, we will drive 30 kilometers up to Kanamakra. It is a fair-weather road, and we will need a four wheel drive vehicle. After arriving in Manas National Park, our itinerary over the next three days will be determined by local conditions, recent knowledge of game movements and the wishes and ambitions of the group. We will have the opportunity to walk through the thick forests on patrol trails used by the park staff.
Here, we will be immersed in a true sub-tropical ecosystem featuring rich biodiversity and many species of plants, mammals and birds unique to this fast-disappearing habitat. This is also elephant and tiger territory. For our overnight, we will prepare a trekking style camp with all chores performed by the staff, as there are no other tourist accommodations in this area. Meals: (B, L, D), Lodging: Camping.
Day 13: Kanamakra / Kukulung
From Kanamakra, we will begin our trek along the international border of Bhutan and India. The trail is used by the park staff for patrolling, and you will be awed by the diverse plant and animal species that surround you. After walking for approximately 4-5 hours, we will arrive in Kukulung and overnight at our freshly prepared camp (altitude 100 meters). This day and the next are truly exploratory. Very few tourists have been permitted in this area. Meals: (B, L, D), Lodging: Camping.
Day 14: Kukulung / Manas
Continue walking along the international border of Bhutan and India. On the way, we will come across wild buffalo, hoof marks of several ungulates, scat of elephants, guars, leopards, deer and golden langur. Several rare species of birds also call this area home. The walk is approximately 5-6 hours. Overnight in tented camps. Meals: (B, L, D), Lodging: Camping.
Day 15: Manas / Halt
Explore the camp area and enjoy an elephant ride in and around Manas. We will arrange other activities based upon the suggestions of local game scouts and rangers. Overnight at camp. Meals: (B, L, D), Lodging: Camping.
Day 16: Manas / Guwahati
After breakfast, we will take a boat to Mathang Guri and then continue by car to Gauhati, a substantial city in Assam, India. The drive takes about five hours, and the evening will be free for you to explore on your own. Overnight at a local hotel. Lodging: Local hotel.
Day 17: Guwahati / Kaziranga
This morning, we will travel overland to the Kaziranga National Park (approximately 5-6 hours). Upon arrival in Kaziranga, we will be transferred to the Diphlu River Lodge, where we will spend the next three nights. Located on the banks of the Diphlu River, which separates the park from the lodge boundary, your lodge is ideally situated. Accommodations will be in a twin bedded room with en suite facilities. Meals: (B, L, D), Lodging: Diphlu River Lodge.
Days 18 - 19: Kaziranga National Park
Your explorations inside the reserve will be a mixture of early morning and evening jeep drives, and hopefully, trips on elephant back. (Though we will request elephant rides, they cannot be guaranteed, as it depends on the availability of the elephants).
Created as a wildlife sanctuary in 1940, Kaziranga protects about 230 square kilometers of riverine forest and grasslands along the Brahmaputra River. Look for tigers, wild elephants and the largest concentration of one-horned rhinos remaining in Asia. Dwelling in this rich environment are hundreds of animal species, including tens of thousands of individual birds and dozens of other mammals. Meals: (B, L, D), Lodging: Camping.
Days 20 - 21: Kaziranga / Guwahati / Kolkata
After breakfast this morning, we will depart for Guwahati (approximately 5-6 hours) to catch an afternoon flight to Kolkata. Upon arrival at the Kolkata airport, we will be met and assisted with a transfer to the Oberoi Grand Hotel. Later today, we will enjoy a walk amidst the rooftops with excellent views of Kolkata, followed by an authentic Bengali dinner. On the second day, we will have a full day tour of the Kolkata area with a local guide.
Beginning early this morning with a boat cruise on the River Ganges, we will pass by local flower markets and the Kali Temple at Dakshineshwar, eventually reaching Belur Math. This is the home of the ‘sanyasis’ who follow the simple way of living of the 19th century philosopher Lord Ramakrishna. Interestingly enough, one of his disciples, Lord Vivekananda, was the saint who created a storm in Chicago by introducing Hinduism to the West. While on your tour, we will enjoy a picnic brunch. We will spend two nights at the Oberoi Grand Hotel, staying in a premier room. Meals: (B), Lodging: Oberoi Grand Hotel.
Day 22: Kolkata / Bangkok or Delhi
In the morning, you can choose to participate in walking excursions or do some sightseeing and last minute souvenir shopping on your own. Later, we will be transfered to the international airport to connect with your flights to Bangkok or Delhi.
Day 23: Home
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight home. (Additional travel in India may be possible).
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
$6,995 with 12-16 participants, includes airfare between Nepal-Bhutan and Assam-Kolkata. Single Supplement = $1,600
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
Nepal
Bhutan
India
Wildlife Viewing
Photography and Videography
|
