Journey to Eastern India
Tribes and Nature in the Far North East (22 days / 20 nights)
Arunachal Pradesh and Assam are two of India's most picturesque states. Nestling in the far north-east, they seem to have been forgotten by the rest of the country, but this is precisely what has enabled them to preserve their distinctive customs and rituals. From the mountainous state of Arunachal, the true ethnic cradle, to the plantations and parks of Hassam, home to rhinos, tigers and elephants, this journey will take you into a bewitching tribal world.
Itinerary: Delhi-Guwahati-Nameri-Dirang-Tawang-Bomdila-Itanaga-Ziro-Talle Valley-Daporijo-Along-Boleng-Komsing
Pasighat-Dibrugarh-Majuli-Kaziranga National Park- Guwahati
Day 1 Paris / Delhi
Flight from Paris to Delhi. Arrival in Delhi, welcome at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 Delhi / Guwahati / Nameri
After breakfast, and depending on your flight time, transfer to Delhi airport for a flight to Guwahati. Welcome at the airport and departure for Nameri, located near the Bhorali river and the large Nameri national park, where the Mising tribal villages live in the heart of peaceful, lush nature. Lunch during the visits. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 Nameri / Dirang
After breakfast, you will discover the small village of Dirang. Lunch on the way. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. You will then visit the village and the Dzong, a typical Tibetan fortress that once served as a border post with Tibet. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 Dirang / Tawang
After breakfast, you'll discover a magnificent road that stretches across the Himalayan mountains. You will cross the Sela pass at an altitude of over 4000m. Lunch en route. Arrival at Tawang, a place marked by its military past. Check-in at the hotel, followed by a visit to the Jaswant Singh monument, built as a tribute to the wars of yesteryear. We will then drive to the splendid Nuranang Falls nestling in the mountains.
Day 5 Tawang
After breakfast, you will visit the imposing Tawang monastery. Built in the 16th century, nearly 700 monks now live within its walls. You will then visit the Ane Gompa Nunnery, where you can learn about the daily life and work of the monks. You will also visit the village of Monpa and the highly unusual Tawang market. At the end of the day and at last light, you will contemplate the magical place of Urgeyling, birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama, the great spiritual master of Tibetan Buddhism. Lunch during the visits. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 6 Tawang / Bomdila
After breakfast, departure for Bomdila. On the way, visit the Gompa, a Tibetan town where monasteries seem to spring up like mushrooms. Visit the market to discover the local crafts. Lunch stop. Arrive in Bomdila at the end of the day and check into the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 7 Bomdila / Itanagar
After breakfast, departure for the capital of Arunachal: Itanagar. Lunch en route. Arrive in the afternoon and check into hotel. Itanagar has an extremely interesting museum, famous as the Jawaharlal Nehru Museum. The time spent here will give us an initial insight into the culture and traditions of the people of this region. All types of bamboo, the cane architecture of the dwellings of the different tribes, clothing, design and functional tools and other crafts are present here. There is also a Buddhist temple nearby for those wishing to recharge their batteries. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 8 Itanagar / Ziro
After breakfast, off to Ziro, known as the refuge of the Apatani tribe. This village can be considered one of the largest and most organised tribal villages in Asia. The exceptionality of the Apatani tribe can be seen in the faces of the women and their crushed noses, different from those we will find in other tribes. Apatani is also one of the most beautiful valleys in the region, with a multitude of rice fields and numerous areas reserved for fish farming. Visit to the village. Lunch during the visits. Cultural evening in the village. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 9 Talle Valley
After breakfast, the day will be devoted to a hike in the heart of the Talle valley. During this day you will be able to appreciate the beauty of the extraordinary flora and fauna. Picnic lunch. Return to Ziro at the end of the day. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 10 Ziro / Daporijo
After breakfast, departure for Daporijo, seat of the Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh, at an altitude of 600 m, inhabited by the Tagin tribe. On the way, visit Miri Hill and the Tagin villages. Lunch before setting off again for Daporijo. Arrive at the end of the day and check into the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 11 Daporijo / Along
After breakfast, departure for Along through forests and mountain fields. Lunch on the way. Arrive in Along and check into your hotel. End of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 12 Along / Boleng / Komsing
After breakfast, departure for Boleng. Once there, you will begin a 3-hour hike to the peaceful village of Komsing. After a walk through fields and forests, you arrive at the village. Settle in the village. Dinner and Ponung dances. Overnight in the village.
Day 13 Komsing / Boleng / Pasighat
After breakfast, departure for Boleng and on to Pasighat. Lunch en route. On the way, stop to visit villages in the countryside. Arrive late afternoon and check into hotel. Then a walk around the village. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 14 Pasighat
After breakfast you will cross the Sang River to visit the surrounding villages such as Ayeng di Padam, Siluk , Aohali, and Idu. Lunch during the visits. Return to Pasighat in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 15 Pasighat / Dibrugarh
After breakfast, you will leave for a ferry cruise on the Brahmaputra River to reach Dibrugarh. On the way you will be able to observe scenes of daily life and magnificent landscapes. Arrive in the afternoon and visit the tea plantations. Check-in at the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 16 Dibrugarh / Majuli
After breakfast we visit Sibsagar, the ancient Ahom capital. Then back on the ferry to Majuli. Lunch en route. Arrival in Majuli and accommodation. Dinner and overnight in Majuli.
Day 17 Majuli
After breakfast, visit the exceptional site of Majuli, consisting mainly of Hindu monasteries. Majali is the largest island in the middle of a river in the world. It is a place inhabited by tribes and gurus. This day will be an opportunity to discover daily life and tribal culture in these villages. Lunch during the visits. Dinner and overnight in the village.
Day 18 Majuli / Kaziranga National Park
After breakfast, departure for Kaziranga National Park. Lunch en route. Arrive at the end of the day and settle into your lodge. The end of the day is free for you to rest. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 19 Kaziranga National Park
After breakfast you will set off on an elephant safari. This magnificent park is located in the fertile plains on the south bank of the Brahmaputra River, at the foot of the Himalayan hills of Assam. It is one of the last areas of northern India that has not been altered by man. If you're lucky, you'll catch a glimpse of the one-horned rhinoceros, of which Kaziranga is the last major habitat in India. The wildlife is abundant and easy to observe, with wild elephants, tigers, bears and many species of birds. Lunch and departure for another safari. Return to the lodge in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 20 Kaziranga National Park / Guwahati / Delhi
After breakfast, and depending on your flight time, transfer to Guwahati for a flight to Delhi. Lunch depending on your flight time. Welcome at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 21 Delhi / France
After breakfast, you will set off to explore Old and New Delhi. You will visit the most important and significant places in the Indian capital. During the day, you will admire the Gate of India, a monument to the soldiers who gave their lives in the First World War. You can also visit Humayun's Tomb, a magnificent example of Mughal architecture. You will then discover Jama Masjid, a 17th-century mosque. It is the largest in the country and can hold up to 25,000 people. Lunch during the visit. The Raj Ghat, home to the memorial to Gandhi, the father of the nation. You will be able to contemplate the Qutub Minar, also known as the Victory Tower, which remains the tallest tower in India and the third tallest in the world. Finally, you'll head to the Connaught district, which is characterised by its lively, modern feel. Here you can see the Presidential Palace, Parliament and the country's other institutions. Farewell dinner. Depending on your flight time, transfer to the airport for your flight to France. End of our services.
Day 22 France
Arrival in France.
