Your trip begins with a two day city tour exploring Calcutta, this culturally rich city of India. Discover this exciting city on a ‘Heritage Walk’ of the distinct architectural heritage of Calcutta. It highlights the evolution of this city from where it all began, Dalhousie Square. The first walk takes us on a two hour journey around some 15 buildings in the area, including the imposing Writers Building, the newly renovated Town Hall, the St John’s Churchyard and the historic Metcalfe Hall. We also visit the House of Rabindranath Tagore and the Marble Palace. The tour includes visits to a number of the city’s museums and monuments along with a taste of an era gone by with a city tram ride.

In the morning transfer to Sonakhali jetty through beautiful countryside and rural bazaar’s with stopovers at a local tea shop and fishermen’s villages. You will arrive at Gadkhali mid morning and will be greeted with morning tea and a briefing by a local guide. You will then board a motorised boat for a two hour cruise through rivers Bidya, Durgaduani and Gumdi. An optional stopover at Gosaba is possible to visit the house of Sir Danniel Hamilton - a Scottish banker who initiated the first co-operative movement of India here. Enjoy a hot lunch at the Sunderbans Jungle Camp after checking-in. Your afternoon will be occupied by a three hour Birding and Game cruise to Sudhanyakhali watch tower through creeks and canals, searching for the elusive tiger, as well as estuarine crocodiles, rhesus monkeys, Irrawaddy dolphins, water monitors, several species of crabs and birds, otters and various other species of flora and fauna. You will return to camp by evening greeted with tea and snacks and ‘infotainment’ by one of the camps poacher-turned-guide. A hearty meal of local cooking from the village’s organic farm will mark the end of an eventful day at Sunderbans Jungle Camp. After a filling breakfast, your next day will mostly consist of a full-day Game Cruising and Birding trip to the National Park. Lunch will be served on board. Back to camp in the evening where you are invited for an evening experience at the local rural theatre (Bonobibi Yatra) performed by the villagers. The theatre tells the interesting story of the Tiger Lord, Forest God and Goddesses, fishermen and honey collectors with lots of local songs and dances. Dinner and overnight at Sunderbans Jungle Camp. After breakfast you will enjoy a guided Village Walk with further opportunities to interact with local villagers. You will experience wonderful encounters helping you understand more about their lifestyle, local crafts, cuisines and even the indigenous farming and household equipment used by the villagers. You will finish your tour with a guided adventure cruise in a manually-oared country boat. Dinner and overnight at Sunderbans Jungle Camp.

After an early breakfast the next day, transfer back to the airport and board a flight to Guwahati or Jorhat and proceed to Kaziranga Tiger Reserve. Kaziranga National Park in Assam has to be the most beautiful and attractive place you can choose to visit in Northeastern India. An UNESCO World Heritage Site Kaziranga’s 900 sq.kms of lush green flood plains is home to some of most fascinating wildlife of Asia. The next day, embark upon Elephant back safaris and game drives in the Eastern and Central range of the park. Overnight at the Jungle Lodge.

After breakfast you will drive to Guwahati. After a brief rest your pre-booked hotel, you will set out for a cultural visit to the Kamakshya Shakti temple, Assam Craft Emporium and Umananda temple which is located on the smallest Island named Peacock Island on Brahmaputra river. Overnight you will stay with an Assamese family in their beautiful homestay.

Moving on from Guwahati, your day begins with a brief introduction to Brahmaputra – one of the greatest river systems in the world that flows through three countries – China, India and Bangladesh! And finally you reach Manas. Lying on the foothills of the Himalaya, Manas is the most stunning pristine wildlife habitat in India, comparable to the best in the world in the beauty of its spectacular landscape. It is also a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, a Project Tiger Reserve, an Elephant Reserve and a Biosphere Reserve - a unique distinction. Manas is the melting point of the west and the east, with many species at the westernmost and easternmost point of their range representing a gateway for species exchanges between the typically Indian and Malayan' faunas. A total of 55 mammals, 50 reptiles and three amphibians have been recorded, several species being endemic. Manas contains 21 of India's Schedule I mammals and at least 33 of its animals listed as threatened, by far the greatest number of any protected area in the country. After checking in at Florican Jungle Cottage - a community based lodge run by a local conservation NGO, you will be greeted by your hosts with a small traditional reception ceremony. Your local trip guide will de-brief you about the project and the tour. Overnight at Florican Jungle Cottage. In the morning you will set out for a day-long wildlife and patrolling expedition with our conservation team in the park. You will explore the Central core of the National Park and visit patrolling camps, species conservation and monitoring centres. You will return to camp by evening greeted with tea and snacks and ‘infotainment’ by one of the coordinators of the project. A hearty meal of local cooking from the village’s organic farm will end your day at Florican Jungle Cottage. On the last day, transfer to Guwahati airport and depart for Delhi/Calcutta for onward journey.

From Delhi, embark upon a flight to the tea capital of Assam - Jorhat, and transfer immediately to Nemaitighat from whence, you will take a ferry to Majuli Island. Majuli is cultural hot spot where Guru Shankar Deva had first introduced the monastic order in Vaishnovism. Majuli – considered to be the largest river island in the world has several ancient monasteries that still practice the monastic school of Satriya dance form and religious activities. The island is already threatened due to constant erosion caused by the changing course of Brahmaputra and is short-listed by UNESCO as a future World Heritage Site. Overnight at Guest House. After a good night's rest, your next day will be filled with cultural and village experiences in Majuli (on foot and bicycle) including a local lunch in a Mishing tribal village. Overnight at Guest House.

Early next morning, travel to Pakke Tiger Reserve in East Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh. Inhabited by the colorful Nyishi tribe, Pakke is a pristine habitat and a host to rare fauna and four species of Hornbill. Here the Nyishi community has shown an outstanding example of community participation in conservation to safeguard their natural heritage. Overnight at Pakke Junge Camp. Rise early next morning for a jungle tour and a village experience in Pakke. Overnight at Pakke Jungle Camp.

The next day, embark upon a 7 hour drive to Ziro in the great Apatani plateau. Apatanis are perhaps the most well settled of the indigenous tribal people of Arunachal Pradesh who have stayed behind and chosen to practice old tradition and customs as way of life even after the British left their land. Moving from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a more settled agricultural economy, harnessing the murmuring river Subansiri, the Apatanis live in perfect harmony with nature - for every tree they fell, five fresh saplings are planted. The Apatanis are appreciated for their long conservation tradition and their legendary skill and knowledge of weaving. The Apatani valley has been short-listed as one of the most prominent sites to be included in the future UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Overnight at village Home stay or at a small Hotel. Your next day will revolve around village and cultural experiences. Overnight at village Home stay in Ziro.

We drive for 6 hours on the next day for a transit halt at Daporijo en route Basar Valley. Overnight at Hotel. On the next morning, we continue our journey to Basar valley where we will stay for 02 nights to mingle with the Adi Gallong tribal community and enjoy their hospitality, local food and culture. Overnight at village Home stay or camping in the village.

Begin the 10th day of your journey with a drive to Passighat where you have the rest of the day at your disposal to explore at leisure. Overnight at hotel or Home stay. The next morning, we make the short ferry ride across the notorious Brahmaputra river to Dibrugarh. Overnight at Heritage Tea Bungalow in the middle of a tea plantation. Enjoy an excellent Bihu cultural celebration in the evening followed by a traditional Assamese fish dinner with local recipes. On the last day, transfer to Dibrugarh airport for onward journey.

Arrive at Bagdogra airport and set off immediately for Darjeeling. Your trip begins with an experience in a Darjeeling tea plantation - near the small mountain town of Kurseong 'A Place of White Flowers'. Selimhill is considered to be one the best organic tea gardens of the Darjeeling hills. During the stay at Tea Estate you will visit the plantations and the factory to gain some understanding about the cultivation and processing of organic tea. You will visit local communities and garden villages where you will participate in a traditional cultural performance by the villagers; you will enjoy a birding trek & a cooking class in the evening.

From Selim Hill you will take a short drive to Tinchulay. Tinchulay which literally means three Chulas or ovens, is a Model Village and a Community Tourism initiative of Help Tourism, local villagers and WWF-India (West Bengal State Office) in the Darjeeling Hills. You will be hosted by one of the oldest and largest joint families of Darjeeling hills (about 22 family members) here who has put together a guest house with 04 double bedded and 04 four-bedded rooms with private toilet cum bath in one building. The Honeymoon cottage is a new addition. Dining hall with local fresh food of traditional dishes and common regular items are provided from house kitchen. Tinchulay is a unique experience of typical Himalayan village hospitality at its best. Close-by is a good viewpoint for viewing the snow capped mountains. Interesting village and forest walks are part of your stay here. Experience the different processes of village livelihood.

From Tinchulay you will drive to Ghoom, World's highest Railway Station to take a ride in the heritage toy train for Darjeeling. DHR is a living example of one of the outstanding ingenious transportations and engineering feats, and it is still functional and has retained most of its original features. DHR is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Ghoom you will take a short drive to Darjeeling - the most renowned British summer retreat of India in the Himalayas. Home of the late Tenzing Norgay, co-mountaineer of Sir Edmund Hillary, Darjeeling has since 1954 housed the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute where he trained a generation of mountaineers. The earliest Everest expeditions started their journey from here. Highlights of your Darjeeling Experience will be Heritage walks, Buddhist Cultural experience in Manjushree Centre of Tibetan Culture and History, visit to the Tiger Hill Ridge, visit to Darjeeling Himalayan Zoo - one of the finest centres for conservation of endangered Himalayan wildlife, and your stay at The Swiss Hotel - a quaint and charming small colonial style hotel with lot of characters, wonderful location and spectacular view of Mount Kanchenjunga.

From Darjeeling you will enter Sikkim, and your Sikkim Experience starts with Hee Bermiok, a traditional Limboo village in West Sikkim: The village - set out at the most scenic locations of the Himalayas is an ideal base for your vacations in West Sikkim. In a rural setting far from the hustle and bustle of city life, the resort is a perfect hideaway or refuge from the humdrum of daily life; above all a great Sikkimese hospitality will always be in sight. Highlights of your Sikkim Experience will be the Sikkimese and Tibetan Tantric Buddhist Culture, Hikes, Birding, Village experience, Cooking lessons, Visit to Oldest Royal Monastery of Sikkim, Visit to Local School and Craft Centre, Freshly-cooked Organic Local Food.

The Zurrantee Experience is a great opportunity for a unique insight into the lives of tea planters, and a chance to unwind in the homely yet extravagant environs of the estate's Bungalow. Food is served in colonial planter's style and prepared from vegetables, fruits, herbs and spices picked fresh from the mali bari (vegetable garden). During the stay at Zurrantee you will explore the Dooars Valley, trek through the tea garden or photograph wild elephants while perched on a tree top machaan (platform built on a tree), take safaris in Garumara National Park, have picnic on the banks of the Chel river, visit a haat or colourful local market, enjoy a tribal cultural experience, and understand the fascinating process of tea making. From the bushes to the factory and into the teacup, you will find out what goes into making the perfect blend for the perfect cuppa.

Situated in the Kalimpong sub-division under Darjeeling district, Neora Valley National Park is one of the richest biological zones in the entire Northeast. The land of elegant Red Panda in the pristine undisturbed natural habitat with rugged inaccessible hilly terrain and rich diverse flora and fauna together make the park an important wilderness zone. The forest in Neora Valley has such a luxurious growth that even sunlight finds it difficult to touch the ground. Much of the park is still inaccessible making it an adventurous place for the nature lovers / trekkers who can take the challenge to explore the still-unknown terrain in the Kalimpong hills. You will be hosted at Neora Valley Jungle Camp - a small community-based conservation tourism project run by Help Tourism. This is more of a nature lover's/birder's camp, to support the nearest village community from Kolakham village, which is adjoining to the National Park and witnesses a fast degradation of the buffer area of the park. All activities in the camp are supported by well-trained local people. The highlights of your Neora Valley Experience will be Birding Treks in National Park adjoining areas, Kirat Culture, Local Traditional Food, Village experience, Visit to Buddhist Monastery.

From Neora Valley Jungle Camp you will drive to Ghoom, World's highest Railway Station to take a ride in the heritage toy train for Darjeeling. DHR is a living example of one of the outstanding ingenious transportations and engineering fiats, and it is still functional and has retained most of its original features. DHR is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Ghoom you will take a short drive to Darjeeling - the most renowned British summer retreat of India in the Himalayas. Home of the late Tenzing Norgay, co-mountaineer of Sir Edmund Hillary, Darjeeling has since 1954 housed the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute where he trained a generation of mountaineers. The earliest Everest expeditions started their journey from here. Highlights of your Darjeeling Experience will be Heritage walks, Buddhist Cultural experience in Manjushree Centre of Tibetan Culture and History, visit to the Tiger Hill Ridge, visit to Darjeeling Himalayan Zoo- one of the finest centres for conservation of endangered Himalayan wildlife, and your stay at The Swiss Hotel- a quaint and charming small colonial style hotel with lot of characters, wonderful location and spectacular view of Mount Kanchenjunga.

Early morning from Darjeeling, drive through the Salamander highway, exploring the Himalayan Salamander habitat, tea gardens and pine forests, you arrive the Lake retreat of Darjeeling Hills, Mirik. The lake offers boating and an interesting visit to the Mirik Monastery. On the last day, depart for the closest airport for onward journey.

From Delhi you will arrive by flight at Bagdogra, and embark upon a spectacular 3 hour long journey to Darjeeling - the most renowned British summer retreat of India in the Himalayas. Home of the late Tenzing Norgay, co-mountaineer of Sir Edmund Hillary, Darjeeling has since 1954 housed the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute where he trained a generation of mountaineers. The earliest Everest expeditions started their journey from here. In the afternoon you will take a gentle walk to the Japanese Peace Pagoda followed by a visit to the Manjushri Centre of Tibetan Culture and History. You will stay at The Swiss Hotel- a quaint and charming small colonial style hotel with lot of characters, wonderful location and spectacular view of Mount Kanchenjunga. The highlights of your next day will be an early morning sunrise tour to the Tiger Hill ridge; visit to the Darjeeling Himalayan Zoo - one of the finest centres for conservation of endangered Himalayan wildlife, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute & Everest Museum; a heritage steam-tour by DHR (Darjeeling Himalayan Railway - An UNESCO World Heritage Site) and a Buddhist experience in the famous Ghoom monastery. your stay at The Swiss Hotel- a quaint and charming small colonial style hotel with lot of characters, wonderful location and spectacular view of Mount Kanchenjunnga.

After breafast the next day, depart from Darjeeling. The road meanders down the Rangeet valley and again climbs up gradually from the north bank of the river. The total time to reach Hee is between three to four hours. Welcome with traditional lunch and local dance. Overnight at Barsey Jungle Camp, an authentic Limboo Home stay. Spend all of next day in a village visiting Srijanga temple and Shiva temple offering Puja (worship) in the traditional Limbo way. Also visit the sacred Phengdorjee water falls. Spend time in the Heritage village exploring the rich traditions. Overnight at Barsey Jungle Camp. Next morning begins with an early breakfast and transfer to Hilley – the gateway to Barse Rhododendron sanctuary. Trek about 6 km to reach Brse summit from where one can enjoy a jaw-dropping view of Mt.Kanchenjunga and its associate peaks. Overnight at Trekkers’ Hut or camping.

The next day is to continue in Barshey and trekking to the Taal, the area where the Rhododendrons bloom in abundance. Return for late lunch and rest. On the following morning, trek down to Hilley, where a car awaits to take you to your next destination Pemayangtse - the nearest motorable view point of Mount Kanchenjunga and the most important centre of Tibetan Tantrik Buddhist culture. Overnight at Hotel Elgin Mount Pandim.

The next day you will visit some of the oldest Royal monasteries of Sikkim, a sacred lake whose water is believed to have the magical power to keep the flying dry leaves of the surrounding trees away, cascading water falls, one of the highest gorge bridges of Asia, a local craft centre and an orphanage. You may wish to attend a Buddhist meditation session and meet the wonderful, ever-smiling mountain communities of the village.

Begin the next day with a 4 hour drive to Kalimpong heritage town, famous for its Orchids and Himalayan plants, Tibetan art and craft, Missionary Institutions and boarding schools. Due its mid-altitude and perfect weather year round, Kalimpong is a well known retreat in the Himalayas which used to be a major trading centre along the ancient Silk Route connecting Lhasa in Tibet via Jelepla and Nathula passes and finally crossing over the mystical Chumbi valley. After lunch visit the private Orchid Sanctuary owned by the family-run lodge named The Orchid Retreat where you will rest for the night.

Early next morning, drive 3 hours via Kalimpong to Neora Valley, a pristine habitat at the tri-junction of Sikkim, West Bengal and Bhutan, and is one of the best birding sites in Eastern Himalaya. Check in at Neora Valley Jungle Camp, an excellent Eco resort which has stunning location that confirms a jaw-dropping view of the lush valleys and most expansive view of Mount Kanchenjunga on a clear day. You have the rest of the day at your leisure. Neora Valley is one of the last remaining pristine ecosystems of the Eastern Himalayas with its amazing Bio-diversity, and is home to many rare and endangered plants, animals and birds. It exhibits a rich variety of habitat as the area comprises the catchments and watershed of the Neora River with its tributaries. The Park with its dense forests is located on the tri-junction of Bhutan, Sikkim and West-Bengal, and its boundary extends from 30 m of altitude up to 3200 m on an area of only 88 square km. Though this sounds rather small, it has to be considered that due to the topographical features the surface of the Park is much larger. The whole of next day will be spent in exploring the Neora Valley, enjoying the nippy mountain air. A visit to the beautiful Kolakham village provides excellent opportunity to experience the local life and culture of the indigenous Rai community. Overnight at Neora Valley Jungle Camp. On the last day, make the 4 hour drive to Bagdogra airport for onward journey.