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Remote Tribes of Northeast India
offered by supplier M15964 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 15
day(s)
Group Size: 2
- 12
people
Destination(s):
India
Specialty Categories:
Cultural Journey
National Parks
Season: April - January
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 4095 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 4095 US Dollar (USD)
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The Northeast India, popularly known as the "Land of Seven Sisters", it is characterized by simple and exotic tribes, lofty mountains, lush valleys, dense forests teeming with varied flora and fauna, fascinating scenery and pastoral life amidst isolated splendor. Ethnically, an area very rich and varied in dance and music, presents a complex pattern of large tribal population.
The multi-layered and intricate cultural design makes difficult if not impossible the classification and categorization of the hill and tribal folk comprising over seventy-five percent of the total population of the area.
Assam - remote, exotic and an extravaganza of landscape scenery, and Arunachal Pradesh - rich in varied flora and fauna, are the home of a large number of tribes of different socio-economic and religious pattern, which we’ll try to explore along this unique, unparalleled journey.
Your Itinerary
Day 01: Arriving Kolkata
Namaste! We are welcomed at the Airport the traditional Indian way, with hands clasped together. After immigration and custom formalities, we are transferred to our hotel.
Overnight: Hotel in Kolkata (2 nights) (D)
Day 02: Kolkata
Kolkata is the most populace city of India and surprisingly, one of the cleanest. Morning we start our tour of the city that was once home to Mother Theresa. Here we get an interesting insight into the culture of the Bengalis and see the influence the East India Company had on the British rule of India. We visit the Victoria memorial, the famous Race Course, built for the noble Englishmen, the concert hall named Rabindra Sadan and the Academy of Fine Arts where one can find a great collection of old textiles, miniatures, Moghul swords, Tagore memorabilia and modern Bengali art. (B,D)
Day 03: Kolkata / Guwahati (flight)
In the morning we leave Kolkota for visiting one of the most remote areas of our-day India, the Northeastern States… On the Brahmaputra River, Guwahati is the biggest city of Assam, treated as The Gateway to the Northeast India and the most important destination in the entire Northeast. Located on the bank of the Brahmaputra River, it is the largest commercial, industrial and educational center of the region. On arrival we check in to our Hotel and rest of the day is free for us to walk around and do some shopping as well. After lunch, we will visit 'Kalakshetra', a place where Assamese history and culture is depicted in a sprawling enclosure. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Hotel Dynasty, Guwahati (1 night) (B,L,D)
Day 04: Guwahati / Itanagar (drive)
After breakfast we leave for Itanagar, the State Capital of Arunachal Pradesh. The journey will take about seven hours on a scenic drive, with several stops en route, to experiencing the rural life and culture. On arrival to Itanagar we check in to our Hotel and later have free time for wandering around. Itanagar is also known as 'the Land of the Dawnlit Mountains' and it is spread over a huge area. Nestled on top of flat hills, the city offers a lovely climate. It is placed in beautiful and serene surroundings with a bracing climate making them its hallmark qualities. Ruins of an old palace and other such monuments embrace within themselves the city's ancient history and some historians even identify the city with the ancient, 11th Century capital of Mayapur, under the Jitari dynasty. Itanagar today is divided into two parts, 10 km apart from each other, with the older part of the city named Naharlagun.
Overnight: Hotel Donyi Polo Ashok, Itanagar (1 night) (B,L,D)
Day 05: Itanagar / Ziro (drive)
We spend our morning visiting the State Museum & the Old Market of Itanagar. Later we will set off for Ziro, some 160 km away. Before reaching Ziro we will stop at villages inhabited by Nishi tribes, later continuing on with our exploratory tour in Northeast and drive to Ziro, the abode of the Apatani tribe. En route we’ll also visit some other tribal villages as well. On arrival we’ll check into our hotel and the rest of the day is free.
Overnight: Blue Pine Hotel, Ziro (2 nights) (B,L,D)
Day 06: Ziro
One of the most beautiful hill station of Arunachal Pradesh, located at about 1500 meters above mean sea level in the midst of the pine clad mountains, Ziro is the headquarter of Lower Subansiri District inhabited by more than 50,000 friendly Apatani people. The land of Apatanis’ is a valley, uneven and dotted with a number of hillocks beneath the lust paddy field. We spend our day visiting the Apatani villages of Hong and Hari. The Apatani people, who worship the nature God, extend hospitality more so during festivals like Myoko, Murung and Dree. They design beautiful Handloom and Handicrafts, besides, practicing famous paddy - fish cultivation. The area is also rich in biological diversity, having varied flora and fauna. In the evening we’ll enjoy a traditional dance-show in one of these villages. (B,L,D)
Day 07: Ziro / Daporijo (drive)
After another early breakfast we will proceed towards Daporijo. On arrival here, we first check in to the Government Lodge, and after Lunch we go to visit nearby remote tribal villages. Daporijo is home to important tribes the Hill Miris, Tagins and Adi-Gallongs. The Adis are very accomplished weavers of cane goods and much of their work can be seen in the famous cane suspension bridges of Arunachal. The Meghna Cave Temple is also a popular attraction of Daporijo. Will return to our Lodge for Dinner and overnight.
Overnight: The Government Lodge, Daporijo (1 night) (B,L,D)
Day 08: Daporijo / Along (drive)
Today we start early in the morning and proceed to Along. The main tribe of this area is called Adi Gallong. Once reaching Along we will first visit the local market and museum. Our accommodation & dinner will be at the Holiday Cottage. Afternoon we will visit the nearby Kabu village. Walk up to the hanging bridge over the Siyom River made of bamboo and cane. After traipsing across this bridge we walk for a couple of hours through farmlands to reach the village of Paya. Wander around the village, meet the locals, experience their daily life and later cross the river again through another hanging bridge, where our vehicle will be waiting to take us back to Hotel in Along.
Overnight: Hotel Holiday Cottage, Along (1 night) (B,L,D)
Day 09: Along / Pasighat (drive)
We drive this morning to Pasighat and visit more tribal villages on the way. On arrival we check into Hotel Oman and later in the evening have a sightseeing of Pasighat town.
Overnight: Hotel Oman, Pasighat (1 night) (B,L,D)
Day 10: Pasighat / Dibrugarh (drive)
After breakfast we start our journey to Dibrugarh. Along the way we will cross the mighty Brahmaputra River by ferry. On arrival we meet with our local guide, who will assist and transfer us to beautifully appointed Tea Guest House. Dibrugarh lies on the banks of the Brahmaputra River and it is the largest tea-exporting town in India. It is also the gateway to the Sate of Arunachal Pradesh. Dibrugarh is surrounded by tea gardens with the misty outlines of the Himalayas in the background. It has the world's largest area covered by tea gardens. Even within the city limits there exists a tea garden - Jalan South Tea Estate. Besides tea one will find cane and bamboo furniture plus local garment products like Muga, Ari, and Mulberry Silk. The traditionally made rice beer, called Hanz, is a unique & preferred drink in the region. It is brewed by natural fermentation process, and a rare sticky rice called bora is used to give a unique sweet taste.
Overnight: Hotel in Dibrugarh (1 night) (B,L,D)
Day 11: Dibrugarh / Dikhou Mukh (drive + Cruise)
We drive today to the River Port in Dikhou Mukh to embark on RV Sukapha or Charaidew ship and start our river adventure on the mighty Brahmaputra River.
Overnight: Aboard Cruise Ship RV Sukapha or Charaidew (4 nights) (B,L,D)
Day 12: Cruise on River Brahamputra
After a leisurely breakfast aboard we take a short side-trip by road to Sibsagar, the one-time capital of the Ahom Kings of Assam. Shan by origin (Assam and Siam share the same derivation), but converted to Hinduism, they ruled Assam for some 700 years until the 1820’s, and their culture and architecture is a strange and delightful amalgam of Indian and SE Asian. Will visit temples with stupa-like profiles, and palaces of distinctive form & note, the crocodiles and rather sexy caryatids that adorn the roof of the Rang Mahal. The temple tank here is claimed to be the world's largest hand-excavated reservoir. Return to the ship for lunch and cruise for 3 hours down river to Majuli Island, supposedly the world's largest river island. (B,L,D)
Day 13: Cruise
In the morning visit the Majuli Island, which possesses unique Hindu Monasteries famous for their dance drama performances. The whole island is now short-listed for future UNESCO World Heritage status. We will visit Auniati Monastery with an eclectic Museum, enjoy a typical Mising tribal lunch in a stilted bamboo hut and in the afternoon will attend a dance performance at Kamalabari Monastery. Returning to the ship we cruise downstream for an hour or two. (B,L,D)
Day 14: Cruise
A day spent mostly on the River, though we shall stop and make a short visit to the tribal village of Jamuguri. By afternoon, Kaziranga National Park will be on our left and wild elephants are sometimes visible from the boat, and once, memorably, a tiger. (B,L,D)
Day 15: Kaziranga National Park
This morning we will arrive at the little temple town of Vishnath, with a fine Ahom-period Temple. Take a walk ashore before continuing the voyage down to a delightful mooring at Silghat, with butterflies abounding in the surrounding jungle. We disembark here, and check in to Bonhabi Resort. Later we visit the Park. Kaziranga is the name of a remarkable success story of conservation of the One Horned India Rhinoceros and other wild lives in the North East India. It is not only the homeland of the Great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros, but also provides shelter to a variety of wilds. It is one of the significant natural habitats for in situ conservation of biological biodiversity of universal value. The values and criteria made Kaziranga National Park to get listed and preserved as a World Heritage Site in 1985. The Kaziranga National Park is situated in the two districts of Assam, namely Golaghat and Nagaon. Beside the great one horned Indian Rhino, the other major wild attractions include a large population of Indian Elephants, Indian Bison, Swamp Deer or Barasingha, Hog Deer, Sloth Bears, Tigers, Leopard Cats, Jungle Cats, Otters, Hog Badgers, Capped Langurs, Hoolock Gibbons, Wild Boar, Jackal, Wild Buffalo, Pythons, Monitor Lizards, etc. and it is a birding paradise as well.
Overnight: Bonhabi Resort, Kaziranga National Park (1 night) (B,L,D)
Day 16: Kaziranga National Park / Guwahati / Kolkata (drive & fly)
In the morning, after breakfast, we are transferred to Guwahati airport in time for our flight to Kolkata where we connect our flight to Delhi, Singapore or other gateways. (B)
End of Tour and our Services
Tour details for the ‘Remote Tribes of Northeast India’
Tour Price includes:
• Accommodation as mentioned (or similar), including all hotel taxes
• Meals as mentioned (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
• All sightseeing and transfers by private AC cars/minivans
• Road taxes, parking fees, driver’s overnight wages
• Cruise ‘package’ for RV “Sukapha” or “Charaidew” (4 nights on full board)
• Services of local English-speaking guides and escort
• Entrance fees to museums, monuments, parks and sites included in the itinerary
• Restricted Area Permit Fee (USD: 50 per person / minimum 4 people)
• City sightseeing, ferry transfer, Village Visit & traditional Dances as mentioned in the itinerary
Tour Price does not include:
• International airfares and all airport taxes
• Domestic air tickets for the Calcutta / Guwahati / Calcutta sectors (est. USD: 380.00 per person)
• Meals not mentioned
• Insurance & visa fee
• Personal expenses / Beverages / Tips / Bills
• Movie and Camera fees at some monuments and tribal villages
• Services not mentioned above
Tour highlights & World Heritage Sites (WHS):
• Victoria Memorial – Kolkota (WHS)
• Tea gardens in Dibrugarh
• Adi Gallong tribes around Along
• Apatani Tribe, Ziro area
• Itanagar, the State capital of Arunachal Pradesh
• Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati
• Kaziranga National Park (WHS)
• Majuli Island, now short-listed for future UNESCO World Heritage status
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Land Prices for 2008
USD / CAD: 4,095.00 – per person in double occupancy.
Single supplement is USD / CAD: 1,400.00
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
India
Cultural Journey
National Parks
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