Day notes
Arrive in Kolkata
On arrival at Kolkata Airport, our representative will be there to meet you and help with your transfer into the city.
Drive (approx. 2 hours) to Baghrol Basa
Evening Activity: Guided Fishing Cat tracking experience.
Baghrol Basa is a small, conservation-focused lodge set amidst rural wetlands. Expect a warm, simple stay in clay cottages built in local style, home-cooked meals, and passionate naturalists dedicated to Fishing Cat research and community conservation.
Wildlife Highlights: The surrounding wetlands are one of the best places in the world to see Fishing Cats, an elusive and largely nocturnal small cat. Look also for Jungle Cat, Indian Smooth-coated Otter, and an array of wetland birds.
Transfer from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport [CCU] to Baghrol Basa
Transfer
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport [CCU]
Baghrol Basa
Check-in to Baghrol Basa
Expert tips:
About Fishing Cats
Fishing Cats (Prionailurus viverrinus) are among the most elusive small wild cats in Asia, perfectly adapted to wetland habitats. They have partially webbed feet, a stocky build, and a unique affinity for water — making them excellent swimmers. True to their name, they hunt fish by stealthily wading or even diving into shallow water, but they will also take frogs, crabs, and small mammals.
Mostly nocturnal and solitary, Fishing Cats are classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to loss of wetland habitats and conflict with humans. Tracking them at Baghrol Basa offers a rare chance to observe this secretive species in the wild, while also supporting important community-based conservation projects aimed at protecting them.
Fishing Cats are increasingly threatened by habitat loss, as wetlands are drained for agriculture and urban expansion. In many areas, they come into conflict with local communities when they prey on domestic fish ponds.
At Baghrol Basa, your visit directly supports a pioneering community-based conservation project that works with local villagers to protect Fishing Cats while improving coexistence. The lodge employs local people as guides and trackers, and a portion of your stay goes towards education programs and habitat protection. Participating in the evening tracking helps researchers collect valuable data on these elusive cats.
Day notes
Early morning optional birding walk.
Spend this evening tracking the Fishing Cats
Day notes
Morning at leisure.
Afternoon birding walk, followed by our final evening Fishing Cat tracking adventure.
Day notes
Fly Kolkata – Jorhat and drive approx. 2–2.5 hrs to Kaziranga National Park.
Diphlu River Lodge offers stylish cottages on stilts overlooking the river or forest. The lodge has a thatched main area with views across to Kaziranga and a relaxed, eco-chic atmosphere. Cuisine is fresh and locally sourced, and the lodge supports local conservation and community projects.
Wildlife Highlights: Kaziranga is famous for its Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros, as well as wild Asiatic Elephants, Swamp Deer, and over 500 bird species.
Check-out from Baghrol Basa
Transfer from Baghrol Basa to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport [CCU]
Transfer
Baghrol Basa
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport [CCU]
Scheduled Flight from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport [CCU] to Jorhat Airport [JRH]
IndiGo [6E]
Scheduled Flight
326
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport [CCU]
11:45
Jorhat Airport [JRH]
13:10
Transfer from Jorhat Airport [JRH] to Diphlu River Lodge
Transfer
Jorhat Airport [JRH]
Diphlu River Lodge
Check-in to Diphlu River Lodge
Day notes
Morning and afternoon private jeep safaris exploring different zones of Kaziranga.
Day notes
Kaziranga & Hoollongapar
Early departure for Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary (2 hrs each way) to search for Hoolock Gibbons, India’s only apes, as well as capped langurs and other primates.
Return by midday for lunch
Afternoon private safari in Kaziranga.
Expert tips:
About Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary & the Hoolock Gibbons
Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary is a small but incredibly important patch of semi-evergreen forest located near Jorhat, Assam. Once part of a larger forested landscape, it is now an isolated island of biodiversity surrounded by tea plantations and villages — a rare green haven that shelters some of India’s last remaining populations of western Hoolock Gibbons, the country’s only true apes.
Hoolock Gibbons are known for their distinctive loud morning calls, which echo through the forest canopy at dawn. They are highly acrobatic, swinging gracefully from branch to branch with their long arms — a movement known as brachiation. Gibbons are monogamous and live in small family groups, often seen feeding on wild figs, leaves, and shoots high in the trees.
The sanctuary is also home to seven species of primates, including Stump-tailed Macaques, Northern Pig-tailed Macaques, Capped Langurs, and Slow Loris, making it one of the richest primate habitats in India. Birdlife is excellent too, with chances to spot Great Hornbill, Green Imperial Pigeon, and a variety of woodpeckers and drongos.
The Hoollongapar forest is a critical refuge not just for Hoolock Gibbons but also for seven other primate species, many of which are threatened. Because the forest is now an island amid tea plantations, connectivity to other forest patches is essential for the survival of these primates.
Conservation organisations are working with tea estate owners to create green corridors that reconnect the fragmented habitat, allowing gibbons to move between forests.
Day notes
Morning and afternoon private safaris for more opportunities to see rare mammals and birds. Look for Fishing Eagles, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, and if lucky, Sloth Bear.
Day notes
Drive to Guwahati
Drive 5 hours towards Guwahati, stopping at Kalia Bhomora Bridge for a boat safari on the Brahmaputra River to spot Ganges River Dolphins.
Check in at the hotel. Later, meet the Hargila Army, a grassroots group protecting the endangered Greater Adjutant Stork – one of the rarest storks in the world.
Vivanta Guwahati is a contemporary, comfortable hotel offering spacious rooms, a swimming pool, and dining – the perfect stopover before our next flight.
Check-out from Diphlu River Lodge
Self Drive from Diphlu River Lodge to Vivanta Guwahati
Self Drive
Diphlu River Lodge
Vivanta Guwahati
Check-in to Vivanta Guwahati
Expert tips:
The Ganges River Dolphin
The Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica), locally called Susu, is one of only a handful of true freshwater dolphin species in the world. Once widespread across the Ganges-Brahmaputra river systems, they are now classified as Endangered due to pollution, dam construction, accidental entanglement in fishing nets, and declining fish populations.
hese dolphins are almost blind — relying on echolocation clicks to navigate and hunt in the often muddy waters — which makes seeing one surface for air (they breathe every 30–120 seconds) a thrilling moment. Boat safaris on the Brahmaputra give you the chance to witness their rolling surfacing behaviour, often with a loud “splash” as they dive.
Hargila Army & the Greater Adjutant Stork
The Greater Adjutant Stork (Leptoptilos dubius) is one of the world’s rarest storks, with fewer than 1,200 individuals left in the wild. Once considered a nuisance due to their scavenging habits and large, untidy nests in village trees, their numbers declined dramatically.
The Hargila Army — a women-led grassroots movement founded by conservationist Purnima Devi Barman — has transformed attitudes towards the species. The name Hargila means “bone swallower” in Assamese, but today it has become a symbol of pride. The group protects nesting trees, rehabilitates fallen chicks, and celebrates the storks with baby showers and village festivals.
Meeting the Hargila Army gives you a first-hand look at one of India’s most inspiring community conservation success stories, where a near-vilified bird is now a flagship species and source of local empowerment.
Day notes
Flight Guwahati - Bagdora and drive to Maneybhanjang
This morning we transfer to the airport for our flight to Bagdora. Then a drive to Maneybhanjang through forests alive with orchids and wildflowers.
Shikhar Tarry is a rustic lodge at the edge of Singalila National Park. Rooms are simple but comfortable, with an emphasis on providing close access to the park’s Red Panda habitats. Expect friendly hosts and hearty mountain meals.
Wildlife Highlights: The Singalila forests are one of the few places in the world to track Red Panda in the wild. Other highlights include Yellow-throated Martens, Himalayan Black Bear (rare), and a wealth of Himalayan birdlife such as Satyr Tragopan and Blood Pheasant.
Check-out from Vivanta Guwahati
Transfer from Vivanta Guwahati to Shikhar Tarry
Transfer
Vivanta Guwahati
Shikhar Tarry
Check-in to Shikhar Tarry
Day notes
Spend three days on guided Red Panda tracking walks, usually starting at dawn.
The local trackers use their deep knowledge of the forest to locate the pandas, increasing our chance of sightings.
Expert tips:
Red Pandas
Red Pandas (Ailurus fulgens), sometimes called the “firefox” or “Himalayan cat-bear,” are small, arboreal mammals found in the temperate forests of the eastern Himalayas. They are not closely related to giant pandas — instead, they belong to their own unique family (Ailuridae) and are the last surviving member of their lineage.
With their rust-coloured fur, masked face, and ringed tail, Red Pandas are superbly camouflaged among the mossy branches and bamboo thickets where they feed. Their diet is 90% bamboo, but they will also eat berries, blossoms, and bird eggs. Typically crepuscular, they are most active at dawn and dusk. Tracking them with local guides in Singalila gives us the best possible chance of sightings while supporting efforts to protect their fragile habitat.
Red Pandas & Community-Based Tracking
Red Pandas are classified as Endangered, with fewer than 10,000 mature individuals left in the wild. Their main threats are habitat loss due to logging, livestock grazing, and accidental snaring.
In Singalila National Park, your tracking experience is led by local trackers who have been trained to monitor panda populations and protect them from poaching. Tourism creates an incentive for local communities to conserve forests and reduces dependency on unsustainable activities. Every panda sighting you enjoy contributes to a growing database that helps guide protection measures.
Day notes
Maneybhanjang to Kolkata
After breakfast, transfer back to Bagdogra Airport for our flight to Kolkata,
On arrival, transfer to the Taj City Center New Town Kolkata
A stylish city hotel offering a calm retreat before your onward flight. Rooms are modern and comfortable, with excellent service and a choice of restaurants.
Check-out from Shikhar Tarry
Transfer from Shikhar Tarry to Taj City Centre New Town Kolkata
Transfer
Shikhar Tarry
Taj City Centre New Town Kolkata
Check-in to Taj City Centre New Town Kolkata
Day notes
After breakfast, transfer to Kolkata Airport for your international flight home.
Or extend your stay.
Check-out from Taj City Centre New Town Kolkata
Transfer from Taj City Centre New Town Kolkata to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport [CCU]
Transfer
Taj City Centre New Town Kolkata
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport [CCU]
