THE FULL BRAHMAPUTRA

DAY 1 EMBARK DIBRUGARH

Arrive to Dibrugarh in the morning and transfer to your Pandaw ship. After lunch visit to the Jokai Botanical Cum Germplasm Centre which showcases quite extraordinary flora, in particular orchids and medicinal and aromatic plants.

DAY 2 JEYPORE DIBRUGARH

Travel by car to the Namphake Tai village where there is an ethnic Tai (as in Thai) community maintaining their distinct Thai costume and culture around a Buddhist monastery. Also of interest is an Ashokan pillar situated nearby.

After lunch, continue to the Jeypore rain forest area where several types of wildcat, leopards and the Royal Bengal Tigers survive in good strength in this hill country of great beauty.

In Jeypore we visit the Royal Palace, lake and other attractions and then continue after lunch to the picturesque hill station of Margherita, so named by an Italian railway engineer after the Queen of Italy. Here the Ledo Road to Burma, famed from the last war, begins. Return by car to Dibrugarh and enjoy an evening cruise up toward Dibru Saikhowa National Park.

DAY 3 DIBRU SAIKHOWA NATIONAL PARK

This less well-known park has an area of 765 square miles and is at the meeting place of three rivers and is mainly evergreen forest and is very lovely. It is a haven for endangered species with thirty-six recorded mammals including leopards, jungle cats and tiger. All very elusive and unlikely to be seen. More evident are an incredible profusion of bird life. After a morning visit we begin our sail down the Mighty Brahmaputra River.

DAY 4 SIBSAGAR AND MAJULI

Arrive at Sibsagar, capital of the Tai-speaking Ahoms who came from Yunan and China in the 13th Century AD. Explore the Shiva Dol, built in 1734, the highest Shiva temple in India. Continue after lunch to the ancient town of Majuli, where we explore the impressive Satras dating back to the 15th century.

DAY 5 MAJULI ISLAND

Visit a local village on what is the world’s largest river island and home to the ethnic ‘Mishing’ people. Here, women weave on hand-looms to create characterful costumes and we enjoy a demonstration of a Dhoti & Chaddor - traditional dresses for the men and women of the Mishing communities. It is a pleasant place to explore.

DAY 6 RIVER SAFARI

After more dramatic scenic cruising, we take a boat safari on the Eastern range of Kaziranga where River Dhansiri and River Brahmaputra meet. Here, observe wildlife at its most natural including pied kingfishers, eagles, vultures, water buffalos, monitor lizards and otters. Dinner is enjoyed al fresco on a deserted island.

DAY 7 KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK

Our expedition continues with a visit to the UNESCO accredited Kaziranga National Park where we enjoy a safari searching for the elusive Greater One-Horned Indian Rhinoceros and Indian tiger. We also travel to Biswanath Ghat and discover the charming village by small boat where women weave colourful traditional handicrafts by the riverside.

DAY 8 SILGHAT

In the morning take an excursion through stunning countryside to a tea estate and factory producing the famous Assam tea. After lunch, pass Tezpur and a gigantic 3 Km long arched bridge and sail downstream toward Guwahati.

DAY 9 SAILING

Spend the day enjoying the stunning natural scenery and wildlife of the Brahmaputra River. Observe river dolphins and birds of prey as we pass uninhabited islands and the fragile communities that live here. After tea enjoy a talk on ‘The River Brahmaputra and the tribal life that exists alongside’.

DAY 10 GUWAHATI

Enjoy a full day city tour of Guwahati visiting Nilachai Hill, commonwealth graves Kama-Khya temple and the Assam state museum. In the evening our crew will provide a farewell dinner onboard.

DAY 11 DISEMBARK GUWAHATI

Disembark and transfer to your hotel or airport for your onward journey.