Day 1
New Delhi
- Day 1
Arrive New Delhi
Arrive at Indira Gandhi International. Private transfer to your hotel.
East India Tour
12 nights
A 12-night journey through the wildlife landscapes of eastern India, Kaziranga's rhino-rich Brahmaputra floodplain, the Sunderbans mangrove tiger reserve, and the UNESCO-listed Manas at the foothills of Bhutan. Built for travellers who want a deeper, less-trodden alternative to central or northern India safaris.
Tour at a Glance
- Duration
- 12 nights
- Route
- New DelhiKazirangaSunderbansManas
- Highlights
-
- India's flagship one-horned rhino population in Kaziranga
- Mangrove tiger habitat and tidal river safaris in the Sunderbans
- Golden langur, wild buffalo, and pygmy hog in UNESCO-listed Manas
- Brahmaputra cruises, jeep safaris, elephant grasslands, and Himalayan foothills
Who this tour suits
Is this the right tour for you?
For travellers who already know the central India tiger circuit and want a meaningfully different east India counterpart. Kaziranga's Brahmaputra grasslands, the tidal mangrove world of the Sunderbans, and the rare endemics of Manas (golden langur, pygmy hog, wild buffalo) deliver a wildlife experience you cannot replicate elsewhere in India. Suits committed wildlife travellers, photographers, and birders.
Best time to travel
When to do this tour
- November to March: The core window. Kaziranga and Manas are both open and at their best for rhino, elephant, and birding.
- October and April: Shoulder months with fewer travellers; Sunderbans tides remain navigable.
- Avoid May to October: Kaziranga and Manas close for the monsoon. Sunderbans is workable but humid and rough on the water.
Day by Day
East India Tour Itinerary
A starting-point itinerary, requoted and adjusted to your dates and pace.
Days 2–4
Kaziranga
- Day 2
Delhi to Kaziranga
Morning flight to Guwahati, drive to Kaziranga (about 4.5 hours). Evening at the lodge.
- Day 3
Kaziranga safaris
Morning jeep safari in the Central or Western range, afternoon drive in the Eastern range for birding.
- Day 4
Kaziranga safaris
Optional elephant-back safari at sunrise (subject to availability) and a full afternoon jeep drive.
Days 5–7
Manas
- Day 5
Kaziranga to Manas
Road transfer to Manas (about 5 hours) via Guwahati. Evening at the lodge.
- Day 6
Manas safaris
Morning and afternoon jeep drives through Bansbari and Bhuyanpara ranges.
- Day 7
Manas safaris and river cruise
Morning safari and an afternoon Manas River boat ride for golden langur and waterbirds.
Day 8
Kolkata
- Day 8
Manas to Kolkata
Drive to Guwahati and fly to Kolkata. Evening exploration of the colonial heart.
Days 9–11
Sunderbans
- Day 9
Kolkata to Sunderbans
Drive to Godkhali (about 3.5 hours) and boat transfer to your Sunderbans lodge.
- Day 10
Sunderbans cruises
Full-day boat safaris through the tidal creeks and watchtowers in the core zone.
- Day 11
Sunderbans cruises
Continued boat safaris and a village walk on the forest edge.
Days 12–13
New Delhi
- Day 12
Sunderbans to Kolkata to Delhi
Boat and road transfer back to Kolkata, evening flight to Delhi.
- Day 13
Departure
Private transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
Inclusions
What's included, and what's not
Indicative inclusions for the East India Tour. Final inclusions are confirmed in your costed plan.
What's included
- All accommodation in safari lodges and city hotels, on a twin-sharing basis
- All meals at safari lodges; breakfast at city hotels
- All private jeep safaris in Kaziranga and Manas with permits and forest fees
- Boat safaris and tidal cruises in the Sunderbans core zone
- Senior naturalist on every safari, English-speaking
- Domestic flights Delhi to Guwahati and Kolkata to Delhi
- All private vehicle transfers and a Sunderbans boat transfer
- A dedicated tour manager reachable 24/7
What's not included
- International flights and India e-Visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance (strongly recommended)
- Personal expenses, alcohol, laundry, and tips
- Optional elephant-back safari at Kaziranga (subject to availability)
- Anything not explicitly listed under inclusions
How we tailor this
Every itinerary is requoted around you
The plan above is a starting point, not a contract. Once you share your travel window, party size, and pace, we requote the tour around your specifics: lodge tier, room configuration, vehicle preferences, optional extensions (Darjeeling, the Taj Mahal, Bandhavgarh), photography upgrades, and any rest days you would like. The number of safaris, the routing, and the lodges are tuned to your group, not a published group itinerary.
Every tour we run is privately guided and personally managed. You will speak with the same person from inquiry to your last evening on the road, and there is a dedicated tour manager reachable 24/7 throughout your trip.
Request Itinerary
Request the East India Tour
Tell us your dates and party size and we'll send a costed plan within one working day.
FAQs
Common questions about the East India Tour
Is the East India Tour a tiger-focused trip?
It is a balanced wildlife tour rather than a pure tiger circuit. The headline animals are the one-horned rhino at Kaziranga, mangrove tigers in the Sunderbans, and rare endemics at Manas. Tiger sightings happen at the Sunderbans but the habitat is dense and encounters are rarer than in central India.
When is the best time to do this tour?
November to March is the prime window. Kaziranga and Manas reopen after the monsoon and the Sunderbans tides are navigable. April is workable but warm; we avoid May to October.
Are the Sunderbans safaris in jeeps or boats?
Boats only. The Sunderbans is an active tidal forest crossed by saline rivers, with no road network in the core. You travel by motorised launch and stop at watchtowers and creek mouths.
How easy is it to combine this with the central India tour?
Very easy as a back-to-back: end East India in Kolkata, fly to Jabalpur or Nagpur, and pick up Bandhavgarh or Pench. We routinely build hybrid 25 to 30 night itineraries when travellers want both.
What is the accommodation standard like?
Best-available: heritage lodges at Kaziranga and Manas, a riverfront resort in the Sunderbans, and a heritage Kolkata property. We can upgrade to top-tier where supply exists, especially Diphlu River Lodge at Kaziranga.
Are the road transfers very long?
Manageable. Kaziranga to Manas is about 5 hours; Kolkata to Sunderbans is about 3.5 hours plus a boat transfer. The longest is the Manas to Kolkata day, broken by the flight from Guwahati.
How many safaris will we get?
Typically 4 to 5 jeep safaris at Kaziranga, 3 to 4 at Manas, and 2 full-day boat safaris in the Sunderbans, in addition to a Manas River cruise.
Is this tour suitable for children?
Yes for older children (ideally 10+). Long road days, boat travel, and early starts make it more demanding than the central India circuit. We adjust the pace for families on request.