Northeast India Tour – Tea Estates, Kaziranga & the Himalayas | 14 days

Your extraordinary journey to one of India's most fascinating and less-explored regions begins today. Look forward to legendary tea estates, colonial elegance, magnificent landscapes and the remarkable wildlife of Northeast India.

On arrival in Kolkata, you will be warmly welcomed and transferred to your distinguished hotel.

The former capital of British India remains one of Asia's most absorbing cultural centres. Grand colonial buildings, traditional neighbourhoods, historic cafés and lively markets tell the story of its eventful past and give Kolkata its unmistakable character.

The remainder of the day is yours to rest after the international journey or to gain your first impressions of this captivating city.

→ Accommodation: Taj Bengal 5★, Kolkata
→ Meals: None

Today you discover the many faces of Kolkata, often regarded as India's cultural capital and once the centre of British power on the subcontinent.

Begin at the colourful flower market beneath the iconic Howrah Bridge. Continue to the grand colonial buildings around historic Dalhousie Square before exploring College Street and its legendary book market.

After a traditional Bengali lunch, visit the revered Kalighat Temple and experience the nostalgic character of Kolkata's historic trams. You will also see the imposing St Paul's Cathedral and the magnificent Victoria Memorial, sometimes described as the “Taj Mahal of the British Raj”.

Your exploration concludes at Mother House, closely associated with the life and work of Mother Teresa and now her final resting place.

→ Accommodation: Taj Bengal 5★, Kolkata
→ Meals: B / L

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Jorhat, one of the historic centres of India's tea industry and an important cultural hub in Assam.

On arrival, continue to a stylish heritage tea bungalow surrounded by rolling countryside and seemingly endless plantations.

During a private visit to a traditional tea estate, you will gain a fascinating insight into the production of world-renowned Assam tea, from the careful plucking of the leaves to the finished cup. A guided tasting of selected teas completes the experience. As the evening sun casts a golden glow across the gardens, settle into the timeless atmosphere of your historic tea retreat.

→ Accommodation: The Banyan Grove Heritage, Jorhat
→ Meals: B / D

This morning, travel by ferry to Majuli Island, often described as the world's largest river island and regarded as the cultural soul of Assam.

Centuries-old satras, traditional villages and the unhurried rhythm of life along the Brahmaputra offer an intimate introduction to Assam's Neo-Vaishnavite culture. A traditional monastic dance performance adds another memorable dimension to your visit.

After returning by ferry, continue to Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Asia's most important wildlife sanctuaries. The park protects the world's largest population of greater one-horned rhinoceroses.

→ Accommodation: Diphlu River Lodge 4★, Kaziranga
→ Meals: B / L / D

Before sunrise, set out on your first guided jeep safari through Kaziranga's mist-covered grasslands. In the quiet of the early morning, the park reveals one of India's most compelling wildlife experiences.

Look out for greater one-horned rhinoceroses, Asian elephants, wild water buffalo, eastern swamp deer and an impressive variety of birds. The Bengal tiger also inhabits Kaziranga, although sightings are never guaranteed.

After breakfast, visit the Kaziranga Orchid and Biodiversity Park. Later in the afternoon, return to the national park for a second jeep safari through another of its diverse wildlife zones.

→ Accommodation: Diphlu River Lodge 4★, Kaziranga
→ Meals: B / L / D

Begin the day with a final early-morning jeep safari in Kaziranga National Park, giving you another opportunity to experience its remarkable landscapes and wildlife.

After breakfast, leave Kaziranga and travel towards Guwahati along the mighty Brahmaputra. As Assam's largest city and an important cultural and spiritual centre, Guwahati combines ancient traditions with modern urban life.

Time permitting, visit the renowned Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra, a cultural institution dedicated to the life and legacy of the influential saint, poet and social reformer Srimanta Sankardeva. Its exhibitions offer a valuable introduction to the traditions and cultural diversity of Assam.

In the evening, enjoy one of the journey's most atmospheric experiences: a dinner cruise on the Brahmaputra. As the sun descends behind Assam's gentle hills and the river turns golden, savour selected regional dishes and the distinctive atmosphere of one of Asia's great waterways.

→ Accommodation: Vivanta Guwahati 5★,
Guwahati→ Meals: B / D

Transfer to the airport for your flight from Guwahati to Bagdogra. From there, continue by road through dramatic mountain scenery to the charming Himalayan town of Kalimpong.

This former British hill station is known for its colonial heritage, orchid nurseries and peaceful atmosphere away from the region's busier tourist centres.

The remainder of the day is at leisure.

→ Accommodation: Mayfair Himalayan Spa Resort 5★, Kalimpong
→ Meals: B / D

Today you explore Kalimpong's cultural and scenic highlights. Visit the Durpin Dara viewpoint, Zang Dhok Palri Phodang Monastery and one of the region's celebrated orchid nurseries.

Afterwards, continue to Darjeeling, the legendary “Queen of the Hills” and home of one of the world's most famous teas.

→ Accommodation: The Windamere Hotel 4★, Darjeeling
→ Meals: B / D

Experience Darjeeling's distinctive atmosphere, shaped by colonial villas, winding streets, mountain culture and sweeping views across the Himalayas.

Your sightseeing includes the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre.

Another highlight is the included Joy Ride aboard the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, affectionately known as the Toy Train. The journey runs from Darjeeling to Ghoom and back along one of India's most celebrated historic mountain railways, subject to railway operations.

→ Accommodation: The Windamere Hotel 4★, Darjeeling
→ Meals: B / D

Today, travel to Glenburn Tea Estate, one of Darjeeling's most distinguished and historic tea properties.

Set against the magnificent Kanchenjunga range, this elegant plantation retreat combines heritage character, gracious hospitality and a profound sense of tranquillity.

→ Accommodation: Glenburn Tea Estate Heritage, Glenburn
→ Meals: B / L / D

Today you delve deeper into the world of Darjeeling tea. During a guided tour of the estate and tea factory, follow the journey of the leaf from the plant to the cup. A private tasting introduces the delicate aromas and distinctive character of the tea often called the “Champagne of teas”.

The remainder of the day is yours to relax amid Glenburn's beautiful tea gardens and peaceful Himalayan scenery.

→ Accommodation: Glenburn Tea Estate Heritage, Glenburn
→ Meals: B / L / D

Leave Glenburn and transfer to Bagdogra Airport for your flight to Kolkata. On arrival, continue to the beautifully restored Rajbari Bawali.

Dating back more than 300 years, this magnificent mansion is one of Eastern India's most distinctive heritage hotels and offers a fascinating glimpse into Bengal's aristocratic past.

Enjoy the atmosphere of this historic residence and take time to reflect on the many impressions of your journey.

→ Accommodation: Rajbari Bawali 4★, near Kolkata
→ Meals: B

After an extraordinary journey through legendary tea estates, rich cultural landscapes and magnificent wilderness, transfer to Kolkata International Airport for your flight home.

You leave with lasting memories of Assam, Majuli Island, Kaziranga, Darjeeling, the Eastern Himalayas and the warm hospitality that defines this remarkable part of India.

→ Meals: B