India Expedition: Sikkim, Assam & Nagaland
Overview
Highlights
- Embark on full day trips to vast national parks, including Kaziranga National Park, home to two-thirds of the world’s one-horned rhinos, as well as wild boar, tigers, elephants, panthers and some incredible birdlife.
- Learn about the proud warrior traditions of the Naga people and their resistance against colonial forces, exploring hillside villages like Khonoma and Kigwema.
- Visit a lush Khasi village dubbed the cleanest in India by the former prime minister, then hike to a living root bridge that looks like something out of a fairy tale.
- Gaze out at the Himalayas from the Darjeeling Toy Train as it winds its way through the mountains – it doesn’t get much more fun than a steam-powered locomotive ride.
- Travel to parts of India seldom seen by tourists, and be rest assured that with a local trip leader by your side every step of the way, you’ll find the best lookout points, dinner spots and local secrets.
- By travelling on this trip, you’ll learn about our Intrepid Foundation partner, Positive Change for Marine Life. Donations help them to nurture ocean health with community-led conservation initiatives that inspire coastal restoration, sustainable fishing practices and waste-management. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Trip includes
- Kigwema Village visit
- Khonoma Village visit
- Jorhat - Tea Plantation Visit
- Kaziranga National Park - Morning Jeep Safari
- Kaziranga National Park - Evening Jeep Safari
- Shillong - Single Root Bridge
- Darjeeling - Tiger Hill
- Darjeeling - Toy Train ride
- Gangtok - Rumtek Monastery
Itinerary
Namaste! Welcome to India. Your adventure begins in vibrant Kolkata – a hub for Bengali theatre, dance, poetry, art, music and film. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe visit the grand Victoria Memorial and spend some time relaxin...
This morning after breakfast, you’ll take a private transfer to the airport and board a flight to Dimapur. When you arrive, you’ll have some time for lunch before driving to Kohima – the capital city of Nagaland – stopping along the way to stretch your legs. Arrive in...
Set off in the morning on a half-day excursion to Khonoma Village, stopping at Kigwema Village on the way – a traditional Naga village. The Naga people are the Indigenous people of northeastern India and northwest Myanmar, made up of a variety of tribes that share sim...
This morning, leave Kohima and drive towards Jorhat. Grab a window seat if you can and watch the rolling scenery pass you by. When you arrive this afternoon, you’ll visit the local tea plantations for a tasting and a visit to the Tocklai Tea Research Center. Walk arou...
Travel to Majuli today – located on the Brahmaputra River, this is one of the largest river islands in the world and has been the cultural capital of Assam ever since the 16th century. Take a ferry to the island, looking out for the many migratory birds that call this...
After the breakfast this morning, take a private transfer to Kaziranga National Park – this UNESCO World Heritage Site is the oldest park in Assam and sits right on the banks of the Brahmaputra River. Kaziranga is a natural habitat dedicated to the conservation of the...
Set out on two jeep safaris through Kaziranga National Park today, scheduled for the early morning and the evening to maximise the chances of spotting wildlife. Look out for elephants, deer, wild boar and, of course, the famed one-horned rhino. Local birdlife is also plentiful, so keep an eye on the sky to spot eagles, parakeets, blue-tinged Indian rollers and more.
After breakfast, leave Kaziranga and drive towards Shillong. When you arrive, head out for an orientation walk with your leader. For dinner tonight, the street food in town is recommended, so you might want to head out straight after your walk for some momos (dumplings) and chutney or local specialty jadoh (spicy and sour rice).
Drive to Mawlynnong today. This tiny village has made a huge commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly living – efforts that saw it crowned ‘Asia’s Cleanest Village’ by India’s former prime minister. When you arrive, take a walk around the gleaming, litter-free stree...
Enjoy a leisurely morning, then say goodbye to Shillong and travel to Guwahati. From here, you’ll take an overnight train to New Jalpaiguri, departing at around 10 pm.
Rise and shine early this morning as the train pulls into New Jalpaiguri at around 6 am. Make tracks for Darjeeling, where you can enjoy the rest of the day at leisure among the Himalayan mountains. Maybe take a stroll around the town to check out the colonial-era arc...
Take an early morning walk to Tiger Hill today to catch a glorious sunrise over the snowy peak of Kanchenjunga – the world’s third-highest mountain. Then, return to Darjeeling for a few hours at leisure. In the afternoon, you’ll transfer to Ghoom and board the Darjeel...
Head to Gangtok this morning. This is the capital of the northeastern state of Sikkim. Its chaotically laid-out townscape and jovial atmosphere make it a nice place to walk around. Maybe head to a local viewpoint and if it's clear, spot the majestic peak of Khangchendzonga in the distance. Tonight, you’re free to find a local dinner or find a good spot to watch the sunset.
Sprawling down a mountain ridge, Gangtok is a haven for Tibetan Buddhists. This morning, you’ll visit the monastery at Rumtek – also called the Dharma Chakra Centre, this monastery is the centre of the Karmapa controversy. A lengthy battle has been played out in the I...
Drive to the airport in Bagdogra this morning, then fly back to Kolkata. If the hustle and bustle are too much to bear after your mountain getaway, you can explore the vast green fields of the Maidan (also known as ‘the lungs of Kolkata’) or take refuge in the beautiful botanic gardens along the banks of the Hooghly River.
With no activities planned for today, your trip comes to an end this morning. If you’d like to extend your stay in India, just speak to your booking agent.
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Dates & Availability
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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
Intrepid Travel Reviews & Ratings
Excellent varied trip getting the sense of India
We like Intrepid's style of travel with small groups of 10-12 people using local transport and getting off the beaten track. We have done 5 Intrepid trips and North ...
It was great trip well organised and
It was great trip well organised and fantastic tour leader we...
I really enjoyed my trip, it was
I really enjoyed my trip, it was more than I expected fo...
Thanks to this company I was able
Thanks to this company I was able to travel around india, safely and in an organized manner.
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