Wildlife of Northeast India and Bhutan

Wildlife & Birds of Assam and Bhutan

Tour - 17 days

About Assam and Bhutan

Assam is the only state in north-east India that is almost entirely low lying. It consists largely of the flood plains of the Brahmaputra, one of the largest untamed rivers in the world. The climate is fantastic for rice cultivation, all kinds of tropical crops, bamboo cultivation and fish farming.

Assam is relatively densely populated. The legal part of the population consists of at least 35 million people on an area of 78,000 square kilometers (similar to Czechia, a bit smaller than Austria).

Region

Assam (India) & Bhutan

Best Time

March/April &
Nov/Dec

No. Of Days

15 days

Trip Character

Jeep tour,
wildlife/ birding tour

Sleeping Altitude

100 - 2900 m

Price

INR XXX/ $ XXX

ABOUT THIS TOUR

On this tour, you will travel to the kingdom of Bhutan and the rarely visited Northeast of India. This area is home to some very special and spectacular wildlife, including the Indian one-horned rhino, the clouded leopard, the red panda and incredible variety of colorful birds. Many of the birds are large and can be seen easily, especially in Kaziranga N.P, such as the greater adjutant stork, the black-necked stork (both as large as a 12-year old child), pelicans and the great hornbill.

You will start from Jorhat, India’s second most easterly town and then visit Kaziranga N.P., home to three quarters of the remaining population of Indian one-horned rhinos.

You will continue to the picturesque Nameri N.P. and then to Manas N.P., right at the border with Bhutan. This park has the highest number of endangered animals of all Indian parks. To name a few: clouded leopard, hispid hare and pygmy hog.

From this park, we’ll cross into Bhutan, where we visit the adjacent park in Bhutan, Royal Manas N.P. This park is home to the increasingly rare red panda. We’ll cross this park on foot and then continue our journey through Bhutan. Gradually, we’ll see the transition from (semi) tropical rainforest to the temperate moist forests of the lower Himalayas.

YOUR custom-made TRIP

The tour described here, as well as the other ones on our website, are mainly meant as suggestions. We would be happy to offer you a travel proposal that fully meets your personal demands and expectations. That means that you choose where you want to go, what level of accommodation and type of transport you want and what activities you prefer.

Please let yourself be inspired by this and other trips on our website and then drop us a line (or call us) to explain your travel wishes. We will be happy to help you put together the perfect trip. You can reach us over e-mail, Messenger, Whatsapp or mobile phone.

EXTENSIONS & VARIATIONS

Apart from the tour as described here, you could consider the following add-ons and changes:

Spend extra days at Kaziranga National Park, enhancing your chances of seeing the elusive tiger. Kaziranga has 6 different ranges, parts of the park that each have their own character in terms of landscape and chances of seeing different species. So you need 6 days to see them all.
Spend a few days more at Punakha and Thimphu, as these places have a lot to offer if you are interested in the Bhutan’s culture. Also, Thimphu is a very pleasant little city and has excellent cappuccino bars where you can work on your notes and sort your 10.000 pictures.
If birding is your main interest, consider spending a few days at Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, which is located half a day’s drive west of Nameri National Park.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Delhi / Kolkata ✈︎ Jorhat - Kaziranga N.P. (flight 2.5 h, drive 1.5 h)
At Jorhat our guide and driver will welcome you. They’ll take you to Kaziranga N.P. Early afternoon, you'll check in to a comfortable lodge. Altitude 85m.
Day 2 & 3: In Kaziranga N.P.
Kaziranga covers about 1000 sq km of tall grasslands, swamps, mixed and semi-evergreen forests on the banks of the majestic Brahmaputra River. It is best known for its Indian (one-horned) rhinos but also has wild elephants, swamp deer, Hoolock gibbons, a very healthy tiger population and around 500 bird species. Today and tomorrow you'll visit the park twice daily with a specialised naturalist. Altitude 85m.
Day 4: Kaziranga - Nameri National Park (5 h)
First we drive to beautiful Nameri N.P. on the other side of the Brahmaputra. During a 2 hour rafting trip down the Bhorelli river we go looking for wildlife and aquatic birds. The rafting is easy and two helmsmen will come along. Wild buffaloes and sometimes elephants come in the evening to drink at the river bank. Altitude 95 → 110m.
Day 5: Nameri - Manas National Park (6 - h)
Early morning we go inside the park to look for birds like merganser, Pallas’s fish eagle, lapwings, cormorants, ruddy shell duck, kingfishers and perhaps the elusive white-winged wood duck and the Great Indian Hornbill. Then follows a long drive to Manas National Park. Altitude 100 → 2430m.
Day 6: In Manas N.P.
Early morning we make an elephant safari for about an hour. Later on two jeep safaris can be made, one up north and one in the east. Or you can take a walk along the banks of the Manas River. Altitude 85m.
Day 7: Manas - Gelephu (Bhutan) (3 - 4 h)
After early birding in the park, we drive to Gelephu, just across the border in Bhutan. Altitude 80 → 220m.
Day 8: Gelephu - Pangbang (Royal Manas N.P) (4 h)
We'll dive north to Zhemgang, the SE over a small road to Pangbang in Royal Manas N.P. In the afternoon we go looking for red panda’s, giant squirrels, goral and birds in the forest. Altitude 220 → 240m.
Day 9: In Royal Manas N.P.
A long, but exciting, day hike (6,5 h) will take us to Pangtang. We’ll pass through pristine rainforest and open enclaves inhabited by bulbuls, barbets, thrushes, hornbills, kingfisher, wagtails and trogons. Altitude 240 → 240m.
Day 10: Pangtang/ Manas N.P. - Tingtibi (1.5 h)
In the morning jeeps drive us over a small tarmac road through bird-rich forests to a comfortable tented camp at beautiful Tingtibi, near Zhembang. On the way we’ll do a lot of birding, and also in the afternoon. Altitude 240 → 600m.
Day 11: At Tingtibi
The whole day will spent birding in and Tingtibi. Altitude 600m.
Day 12: Tingtibi: - Phobjikha (7 h)
In the morning jeeps drive us over a small tarmac road through bird-rich forests to a comfortable tented camp at beautiful Tingtibi, near Zhembang. On the way we’ll do a lot of birding, and also in the afternoon. Altitude 600 → 2900m.
Day 13: In Phobjikha
Phobjikha is a protected conservation area where black-necked cranes live. On a walk through the valley you hopefully will see the cranes, as well as other bird species. And you’ll visit Gangte Goemba (monastery), belonging to the oldest Buddhist sect in Bhutan and Tibet. Altitude 2900m.
Day 14: Phobjikha - Punakha (3.5h)
Phobjikha is a protected conservation area where black-necked cranes live. On a walk through the valley you hopefully will see the cranes, as well as other bird species. And you’ll visit Gangte Goemba (monastery), belonging to the oldest Buddhist sect in Bhutan and Tibet. Altitude 2900m.
Day 15: Punakha - Thimphu (3 h)
In the morning, we visit a bird-rich forest in the Mo Chhu valley. After that, we drive to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. We stop at the Dochu La (3120m) and follow a trail through beautiful an, again, bird-rich forests to a little temple with good views of the Himalayan peaks. In springtime the many rhododendrons are in full blossom. Altitude 1400 → 2250m.
Day 16: Thimphu - Paro (1 h 20 min)
There are three ways to spend the major part of this day. The first is to visit some highlights in Thimphu, the second to take a walk of 3-5 h to a monastery in the mountains above Thimphu, birding on the way. The third is to hike to the famous Taktsang Goemba, better known as Tiger’s Nest in Paro (4.5 h walk). Overnight is in Paro. Altitude 600m.
Day 17: Paro ✈︎ Delhi / Kolkata (flight 2.5 h)
A morning flight takes you from Paro to Delhi (or Kolkata, Kathmandu, Bangkok), hopefully with wonderful views of the Himalayas. If you have asked us to arrange accommodation and transfers in Delhi you will be picked up from the airport by our driver.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TOUR

Kaziranga National Park

Kaziranga N.P. is one of the crown jewels of Indian conservation. It is set for the protection of the Indian (unicorn) rhino. In 1908, when Kaziranga was first declared a Reserved Forest, less than 15 animals of it were still alive, now there are more than 2400. This is due to a for India unusually strict protection, in which a real war was – and is -fought with poachers who target the horn. This has worked out well, and not only for the rhinos. Nowadays Kaziranga is home to the largest populations of wild buffalos, wild elephants and swamp deer of Asia, as well as around 500 bird species. And the tiger… ? Kaziranga also has the highest density of tigers in Asia (largest number per 100 km2). Seeing rhinos in Kaziranga is easy, the tiger is a different matter. From our own experience, your chances of seeing one on a jeep drive are around 10%.

Nameri National park

Nameri is a beautiful national park located between the Jia Bhorelli river and the foothills of the eastern Himalayas. The vegetation consists of moist deciduous forests with epiphytes and lianas, sections of cane and bamboo, and some open grasslands along the rivers. The park is very popular with bird enthusiasts, but also non-birders will greatly enjoy its pleasant atmosphere. Birds to look for are merganser, Pallas’s fish eagle, lapwings, cormorants, ruddy shell duck, kingfishers and perhaps the elusive white-winged wood duck and the great Indian Hornbill. In 2000 part of the park was declared a tiger reserve. Accommodation is in Nameri Eco-Camp with comfortable tents under thatched roofs with attached bathrooms and in lush forest surroundings.

Manas National park

Manas N.P. is located against the backdrop of the Bhutanese Himalayas and between the rivers Sankos in the west and Dhansiri in the east. It consists of dense jungle interspersed with alluvial grasslands and savannah and semi-alpine green forests. Wild elephants – numbering more than 500 – hog deer, musk deer, sambar deer and the beautiful Hoolock gibbon, an endemic ape species – can be seen with a small amount of luck. There are quite a few tigers and also the black leopard and the elusive mist leopard can be found here. Manas is home to at least 400 different species of birds, including some particularly colourful ones; such as the strikingly blue Indian roller, the orange-red flameback (a woodpecker) and the little minivet, to name just a few. If we’re lucky, we’ll witness the majestic flight of the Great Hornbill or of the less majestic but even more rare rufous-necked hornbill.

Gelephu

Gelephu is one of the three Bhutanese bordertowns where foreigners can enter or exit the country. Bordering Assam, it is low-lying, in a warm, fertile region with quite a lot of rainfall. Although it has only about 10.000 inhabitants, it even boasts a small airport (only for domestic use, no international arrivals). Gelephu is also the gateway to Royal Manas National Park, for those coming from India. Those who do so, will have their first glimpses of Bhutan in Gelephu. Although it does not have the majestic dzongs and large temples that are considered the highlights of West and Central Bhutan, entering Gelephu from India will definitely be like entering a different world. The quaint semi-traditional houses, the quiet and well-behaved traffic, the soft-spoken people, many of whom still prefer the traditional gho and kira – it all adds up to a distinct Bhutanese look and feel.

Royal Manas National Park

Royal Manas N.P. in Bhutan consists of hills covered in covered in dense, subtropical jungle and steep valleys with raging rivers. Connecting seamlessly to Manas N.P. in India, its is part of one of South East Asia’s largest conservation areas. Mammals to look out for are red panda’s, giant squirrels and goral. Wreathed hornbills, rufous-necked hornbills and great hornbills can be seen early morning and late afternoon. Other species that may be observed are the rare pied falconet, red-faced liocichla, gray-breasted tesia, white-spectacled warbler, silver-breasted broadbill, scaly thrush, snowy-browed flycatcher, pale-headed woodpecker, pale blue flycatcher, pygmy blue flycatcher, pale-chinned (Brooks) flycatcher, blue-eared barbet, ward’s trogopan, violet cuckoo and, near the streams, various species of forktail.

Birding at Tingtibi

The avifauna of the area around Tingtibi is extremely rich. It includes barred cuckoo-dove, nine species of cuckoos, chestnut-breasted partridges, pin-tailed green pigeons, red-headed trogon, rufous-neked hornbill, white-browed piculet, bay woodpeker, lesser shortwing, blyth’s kingfisher, blue-bearded bee-eater, white-tailed robin, fulvettas and yuhinas, grey-headed parrotbill, rufous-faced warbler, pygmy blue flycatcher, sultan tit, several scimitar-babblers, black-faced laughing thrush and other thrushes. You may also be lucky enough to spot the beautiful nuthatch, white-bellied heron, collared treepie and lesser rufous-headed parrotbill, maybe even the extremely rare Siberian ruby-throat.

Trongsa Dzong

Trongsa is a small trading town with a very strategical location, halfway between East and West Bhutan. In the past, it was very important, which large and very elongated dzong. This castle monastery lies high above the valley and was in the past very important for the penlops (district heads) who controlled trade and other traffic between East and West Bhutan. The road ran straight through the dzong so that it was easy to levy taxes on merchandise or to arrest undesirable elements. The current royal dynasty of Bhutan comes from this region and it is still customary for a heir to the throne to work here as a penlop before taking up the highest office.

Birding Between Tingtibi and Phobjikha

This stretch covers a range of habitat from tall, dense, evergreen forest characterized by moss and lichen-covered oak and rhododendron together with broad-leaved trees such as horse-chestnuts, laurels, maples and alders. At higher elevation, the composition changes to conifers such as fir, spruce, larch, hemlock and juniper. Bamboo is another important feature in this region, holding a number of special but elusive species. Important species that can be seen are Himalayan griffon, Himalayan swiftlet, lammergeier, snow partridge, purple cochoa, scaly-breasted wren babbler, longtailed minivet, Himalayan monal pheasant, speckled wood pigeon and rufousbellied bulbul.

Phobjikha

Phobjikha is a protected area (Conservation Area) consisting of a number of connected vast, high-altitude valleys surrounded by thick forests. It is both scenically and culturally very rewarding, but Phobjikha is mostly known for the black-necked cranes that winter here in large numbers between September-end and Mid-March. You can see the cranes during a three-hour walk through the valley and also through the telescope of a specially equipped observation and information center. The black-necked crane is the national bird, and both government and people of Bhutan care deeply concerned about its wellbeing. Other species of birds that can be seen here include amur falcon, redmantled rosefinch, firebreasted flowerpecker, redheaded bullfinch, scarlet finch, whitetailed nuthatch, magpie-robin, goldcrest, great pied hornbill, common hill partridge, snow pigeon, rufous-breasted accenter and whitebacked munia.

Punakha Dzong

The main attraction in Punakha is the dzong. Until 1955 this was the seat of the king and parliament and it is still an important place. The majority of the monks of Thimphu move to Punakha every autumn to spend the much more pleasant winter here. The enormous castle-monastery is wedged between two rivers, the Po and the Mo Chu (Father and Mother River). According to many, this is the most beautiful, and certainly the largest, old dzong of the country. It has three courtyards and a number of beautifully decorated temples, including the Hundred Pillar Temple, which could be described as the ‘Knights Hall’ of Bhutan. Important ceremonies take place here, such as the coronation of a king or the installation of a new government.

Birding at Punakha

The Mo Chhu valley has some bird-rich and beautiful forests. Apart from the birds as such, the forest are a delight to walk through, especially in spring time. Common species here are: blackchinned yuhina, spotted dove, blackchinned babbler, blackbreasted sunbird, redbreasted rosefinch, fulvousbreasted pied woodpecker, large grey babbler, Himalaya tree pie, little bunting, slatybacked forktail, whitebreasted kingfisher, yellowbilled blue magpie, grey heron, steppe eagle Aquila, small niltava, Himalayan griffon, speckled wood pigeon, grey tit and redcrowned jay. At the river near the dzong the spectacular crested kingfisher can be seen.

Sights of Thimphu

The Memorial Chörten, built in memory of Bhutan’s third king Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, attracts devoted Bhutanese from all ranks of the population. At Buddha Point you can view a huge brand-new open-air Buddha statue. A visit to the Changangha Lhakhang, the oldest temple of Thimphu, brings you back in the Middle Ages. Several other ‘sights’ are very worthwhile. A ‘must’ is the Institute for Zorig Chusum, where young people are taught in the thirteen traditional Buddhist arts (painting, carving, sculpting and ten other traditional arts). Thanks to this institute people in Bhutan can still build traditional temples, dzongs and monasteries. Also interesting are the Institute of Traditional Medicine, the Folk Heritage Museum and the Textile Museum.

TakTsang Goemba (Tigersnest)

Near Paro starts the 2 – 2.5 h climb to the world famous Tiger’s Nest (Taktsang Gompa). This beautiful monastery sits like a dovecote against the rocks, pasted 900 m above the valley. Here Padmasambhava would have landed on the back of a tiger after a flight from Bumthang to attack a local evil demon. To this end he meditated here in a cave and in 1692 a temple was built around it. In 1998 a fire devastated a large part of the buildings, but seven years later they were already beautifully restored. Inside, it is a maze of smaller temples and niches partly built on top of each other, which contributes to the mysterious and fairytale atmosphere.