Itinerary:

Day 0-Arrival at Guwahati International Airport:

Arrival and overnight at a hotel in Guwahati.

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Day 1: Introductory Birding in Guwahati Outskirts.

Today will be spent on introductory birding at Garbhanga Reserve Forest for some early and easy forest species and also visiting landfills with high chances of the majestic and endangered Greater Adjutant.
 

Day 2 & Day 3: Birding in Manas National Park

We pick up all the tour participants early in the morning and drive towards the safari zones of Manas National Park, one of India's finest birding destinations and a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated at the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas.

After checking into our comfortable lodge bordering the park, we head out for our first afternoon safari through the extensive alluvial grasslands and riverine forests.

Our initial targets include Bengal Florican, Finn's Weaver, Indian Grassbird, Slender-billed Babbler, Grey-lored Broadbill, along with Great Hornbills and a variety of grassland and woodland specialists.

The birding here will be done from the comfort of our safari vehicles. These safaris also yield rare mammal species like the One-horned Rhinoceros, Capped Langur, Golden Langur and Swamp Deer.

Overnight at a resort near Manas National Park.

Day 4: Transfer from Guwahati to Dibrugarh

One final morning safari allows us to revisit productive areas for any target species we may have missed.

Following a brunch, we drive back to Guwahati and board our evening flight to Dibrugarh.

Overnight stay at our homestay in Dehing Patkai NP.

Day 5 & Day 6: Birding in Dehing Patkai

Dehing Patkai is one of the most underrated forests of India. These lush forests come alive during the winters and are home to some of India's most threatened and overlooked fauna. Over the next two days, we will explore the forest both by vehicle and on foot, quietly searching the dense undergrowth, forest trails, and towering canopy for some of Northeast India's most sought-after rainforest birds.

Target species include Grey Peacock-Pheasant, White-winged Duck, Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush, Rufous-throated Fulvetta, Pied Falconet, Red-headed Trogon, Brown Hornbill, Long-tailed Broadbill and several species of rainforest birds.
Additionally, post-dinner, we will head for a short night trail to look for nocturnal birds like the Collared Scops Owl, Oriental Scops Owl and Brown Boobook.

We then drive towards Maguri Beel on the evening of Day 5, where we will spend the night.

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Day 7: Birding in Maguri Wetlands & Grasslands

This morning, we travel towards Maguri Beel, one of Northeast India's most productive wetland ecosystems.

The extensive marshes, reedbeds and adjoining grasslands are home to several highly localised species, including Swamp Grass Babbler, Marsh Babbler, Black-breasted Parrotbill and Jerdon's Babbler.

The wetlands also support numerous winter visitors from Central Asia and Siberia, including Baikal Bush Warbler, Smoky Warbler, Baikal Teal and the globally threatened Baer's Pochard.

On completion of our evening birding session at Maguri Beel, we head towards Roing which is the gateway to the montane cloud forests of Mishmi Hills. 

Overnight at an ecostay camp at Mishmi Hills
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Days 8, 9, 10, 11: Birding in Mishmi Hills in search of endemics and migrants

Today, we enter the spectacular Mishmi Hills, one of Asia's premier destinations for Himalayan birding.

As we steadily gain elevation, the vegetation changes from subtropical broadleaf forests to cool temperate forests, with every few hundred metres bringing an entirely new bird community.

The Sclater's Monal is a very range-restricted pheasant of the Indo-China highlands, which has been reliably sighted at Mishmi Hills during a small timeframe in November in recent years. 

Our birding here focuses on finding the principal target of the trip: Sclater's Monal, along with lower and mid-elevation forest species like Mishmi Wren-Babbler, Bar-winged Wren-Babbler, Spot-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Ward's Trogon, Long-billed Wren-Babbler, Brown-throated Fulvetta and Manipur Fulvetta.

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Day 12: Transfer to Namdapha National Park

Following an early morning birding session in Mishmi Hills, we begin the scenic drive south towards Namdapha National Park.

After checking into our accommodation, we spent the late afternoon exploring nearby forest trails and riverine habitats as an introduction to one of Asia's richest rainforests.

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Days 13, 14, 15: Birding at the Namdapha National Park

Over the next three days, our primary objective will be one of the rarest birds on the planet—the White-bellied Heron.

The population of the White-bellied heron is on a rapid decline owing to the rampant habitat destruction of riverine forests. Only 100-200 individuals are estimated to remain in the wild, few of which call the forests of Namdapha their home. We will spend long hours exploring the park's rivers and secluded valleys where this critically endangered species has occasionally been recorded. 

We will be exploring areas like M'Pen Bridge, Deban Camp, Haldibari Trails, all the way to the 60-mile point of the national park.

Other important targets include White-cheeked Partridge, Snowy-throated Babbler, Blyth's Kingfisher, White-hooded Babbler, Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler, Grey-headed Parrotbill and Brown-crowned Scimitar Babbler.

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Day 16: Departures from Dibrugarh Airport

We depart from Namdapha and drive towards Dibrugarh Airport for departures
END OF TOUR

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