Assam Tea Tour

Go for an early morning stroll into the tea gardens, the best time to experience the therapeutic aromas and the plantations fresh with new leaves and greenery. Later after a leisurely breakfast, you will leave for a guided tour of the tea factory to learn about the various processes involved in the production of tea and if possible have a conversation with the manager. Afternoon and evening will be free at leisure to relax in the peaceful ambience of the lush green plantations. Horse riding through the countryside and plantations may also be possible on prior notice. A visit to the planter's clubhouse can be knowledgeable and hints at the rich colonial days. To experience a spectacular sunset, a boat ride can be organized in the mighty Brahmaputra River depending on the river conditions and weather. Evening can be spent exploring the town's busy markets and dine in a nice restaurant.

After a leisurely breakfast, leave for Gatoonga Tea Estate near Jorhat (4 hours) to arrive at a boutique luxury heritage bungalow for your stay. En route at Sivasagar you will be visiting the architecturally rich medieval ruins and temples of the Ahom Dynasty that once ruled Assam for more than 600 mighty years. Rest of the day free to settle down to the easygoing plantation life.

In the morning hours, you will visit the Adivasi women pluckers to observe their work and end up plucking some of your own leaves. After breakfast at leisure, you’ll leave for a guided visit to a nearby factory, followed by a tea tasting tour of the different grades of tea produced in the factory. You will also visit the nearby Tea Research Association at Tocklai where pioneering experiments and research is conducted to help tea growers. You will get a chance to interact with some of the scientists and professionals who are experts in their field. After lunch, you’ll be visiting some nearby villages to observe the simple and sustainable lifestyle of the Indian countryside. Evening at leisure, maybe visit the clubhouse for dinner through a classic setting.

For a day excursion, you will leave for Majuli (2 hours), which is the largest inhabited river island of the world and a hotbed of ages-old Assamese monastic culture. En route cross the mighty Brahmaputra River in a scenic ferry ride. Spend the day visiting monasteries of the island where you will meet monks who live a peaceful life learning forms of arts, drama, music, dance and philosophy. Visit tribal villages and a mask making center. Lunch will be in a village house where you will get to taste and can learn to cook various ethnic Missing dishes by a warm family. Return to bungalow by dusk for overnight. Evening will be at leisure. Alternatively, for the wildlife inclined, a day trip to nearby Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary can be arranged where snakes, butterflies, birds and primates rule the jungle.)

After breakfast, leave for Adabarie Tea Estate near Balipara (4-5 hours) for stay in a boutique luxurious planter’s bungalow owned by the Williamson Magor Group, the biggest tea company of the world. The journey will thus cross to the Himalayan drained north-bank of the Brahmaputra. Afternoon and evening will be free at leisure to get acquainted with the plantation life in and around the bungalow. As the properties here have their own little organic farms, you may want to pluck some of the produces and learn to cook them in a local way in an informal cooking lesson.

After breakfast, leave for a tea tasting tour and a factory visit guided by an expert. Meeting with the manager will be insightful in learning more about Assam tea. Later in the afternoon, you will get to experience a unique tea time elephant trek, giving you a chance to interact with an elephant and its mahout, and stroll around the plantations and nearby villages. Alternatively, you may also choose a leisurely cycle tour instead of an elephant. Evening at leisure.

After breakfast proceed for Kaziranga National Park, the home of the “One Horned Rhinoceros”. Check in at your resort. Later visit Tribal Villages around. Overnight stay at Resort.

Early morning explore Western Zone of Kaziranga National Park on back of elephant. Apart from world's endangered One-horned Rhinoceros, the Park sustains half the world's population of genetically pure Wild Water Buffaloes, over 1000 Wild elephants and perhaps the densest population of Royal Bengal Tigers anywhere. Kaziranga is also a bird watcher's paradise and home to some 500 species of birds. The Crested Serpent Eagle, Palla's Fishing Eaglonward e, Gray headed Fishing Eagle, Swamp Partridge, Bar-headed goose, whistling Teal, Bengal Florican, Storks, Herons and Pelicans are some of the species found here. We will return to the resort for breakfast. Afternoon we have arranged a jeep safari through the Central Zone of the National Park. Overnight stay at Kaziranga.
 

Early morning explore Western Zone of Kaziranga National Park on back of elephant, After a leisurely breakfast, leave for Guwahati airport to board the flight to Kolkata