Itinerary

1. Day 1 – Arrival at Barpeta Road and Welcome to the Wild

   • Arrive at Barpeta Road via train, well-connected from Guwahati.

   • Meet your local guide and transfer to a serene eco-lodge situated on the edge of Manas National Park.

   • Check into your jungle cottage overlooking misty sal forests filled with bird calls.

   • Refresh with a welcome drink made from locally sourced lemongrass and jaggery.

   • In the evening, take a soft-guided nature trail along the Manas River banks.

   • Spot Himalayan pied kingfishers, giant squirrels, langurs, and more.

   • Optional activity: Attend a tribal cooking demonstration by Bodo women featuring bamboo shoot delicacies.

   • Enjoy a traditional Assamese dinner with forest-foraged greens.

   Overnight stay at a jungle eco-lodge near Manas National Park.

   Meals Included: Dinner

2. Day 2 – Morning and Evening Safari in Manas National Park

   • Begin your day early with a morning jeep safari (5:30 AM to 10:00 AM) into the Bansbari and Bhuyanpara Ranges.

   • Look out for Asiatic wild buffalo, Indian elephants, barking deer, swamp deer, and rare bird species like the Bengal florican and great hornbills.

   • Return to the lodge for a hearty breakfast including puris, fresh fruits, and Assam tea.

   • Visit the Bodo Cultural Craft Centre to learn about local weaving traditions.

   • Try weaving a “dokhona,” the traditional Bodo dress, on a handloom.

   • Enjoy midday leisure time at the lodge garden or opt for a herbal foot soak.

   • Set off on a second safari in the afternoon (2:30 PM to 5:30 PM) with chances to spot leopards, boars, and langurs.

   • Watch the sunset over the floodplains of the Manas River.

   • Return to the lodge for dinner and rest.

   Overnight stay in the buffer zone of Manas National Park.

   Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

3. Day 3 – Travel to Assam Tea Country and Stay in Colonial Heritage Bungalow

   • After breakfast, drive for approximately 2 hours to reach a tranquil tea estate in the Pathsala or Nalbari region.

   • Check into a colonial-era tea bungalow with Burma teak floors, vintage décor, and a breezy veranda.

   • Enjoy a guided walk through the estate’s lush green tea gardens.

   • Learn about plucking techniques, the difference between CTC and Orthodox tea, and the important role of women in tea cultivation.

   • Relax in the evening with tea and snacks during sunset on the veranda.

   • Optional: Attend a bonfire storytelling session about British-era tea trade routes.

   • Dine on a fusion menu combining Continental and Assamese cuisine.

   Overnight stay at the heritage tea estate bungalow.

   Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

4. Day 4 – Tea Making, Rustic Picnic, and Village Experiences

   • Visit a functioning tea factory or a small-scale handmade tea production unit.

   • Observe the full process of roasting, rolling, drying, and packaging.

   • Sample freshly made Orthodox black tea and green tea.

   • Drive to a scenic countryside location near the Barnadi River or a local bamboo grove.

   • Enjoy a rustic picnic featuring traditional items like rice cakes, puffed rice, pickled jackfruit, and sweet tea.

   • In the afternoon, choose from optional cultural activities such as a bullock cart ride to a nearby Bodo settlement.

   • Participate in a local “Jhumur” folk dance with villagers.

   • Spend the evening relaxing at the tea bungalow garden, reading, or enjoying photography.

   Overnight stay at the tea estate.

   Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

5. Day 5 – Departure via Guwahati and Farewell

   • After breakfast, drive for approximately 4.5 hours to Guwahati through the scenic Assamese countryside.

   • Optional en route visit to Hajo, a pilgrimage town featuring shrines of Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim significance.

   • Take a brief chai break by the Brahmaputra River.

   • Drop at Guwahati Airport or Railway Station for your onward journey.

   Meals Included: Breakfast