Featured Cultural Expedition

Wildlife Photography Tour of Northeast India

11 Days · Assam

Expedition overview

A dedicated photography expedition across Assam's three flagship wildlife reserves — Kaziranga, Nameri and Manas — with river dolphins on the Kulsi, gibbons at Hoollongapar and the tea country of Jorhat in between.

Why choose this expedition

Three of India's most important wildlife parks — Kaziranga, Nameri and Manas — on one itinerary.
Boat photography of the endangered Gangetic river dolphin at Kukurmara.
Photograph the only ape of India — the Hoolock gibbon — at Hoollongapar.
Time on the Jia Bhoroli river by raft for White-winged Wood Duck and Ibisbill.
Bodo tribal village visit in Manas adds a cultural counterpoint to the wildlife.

Itinerary highlights

Brahmaputra sunset cruise
Kukurmara river dolphins
Greater Adjutant Stork
Kaziranga Central Range elephant ride
Kaziranga Western Range jeep safari
Kaziranga Eastern Range birding
Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary
Tocklai Tea Research Institute
Jorhat tea bungalow
Nameri rafting on Jia Bhoroli
White-winged Wood Duck
Manas Bansbari range
Mathanguri Indo-Bhutan border
Bodo tribal villages
Panbazar bat colony

Cultural highlights

Brahmaputra sunset cruise from Guwahati
Tea bungalow stay at Jorhat
Tocklai Tea Research Institute — the oldest in the world
Bodo villages on the fringes of Manas
Kaziranga evening cultural programme

Tribal communities encountered

Bodo
Assamese tea tribes

Wildlife & nature

Kaziranga — one-horned rhino, water buffalo, swamp deer, wild elephant, tiger
Nameri — White-winged Wood Duck, hornbills, Ibisbill, river terns
Manas — Bengal Florican, golden langur, pygmy hog, hispid hare
Hoollongapar — Hoolock gibbon and six other primate species
Kulsi river — Gangetic dolphin

Photography opportunities

One-horned rhino at sunrise on the Central Range
Bengal Florican in Manas grasslands
Ibisbill on the gravel beds of the Jia Bhoroli
Gibbon family in the Hoollongapar canopy
Greater Adjutant Stork at the Guwahati dumping ground

Festival experiences

Bihu (Apr)
Raas Mahotsav (Majuli, Nov)

Day-wise itinerary

Day 1
Arrive Guwahati
Arrive at Guwahati and board an evening Brahmaputra cruise on this Northeast India wildlife tour, photographing the amber sunset over river islands, fishing boats and the city skyline.
Day 2
Kukurmara to Kaziranga
Boat quietly on the Kulsi river to spot endangered Gangetic dolphins surfacing at dawn, then journey east toward Kaziranga National Park and its celebrated rhino country.
Day 3
Kaziranga Central & Western
Ride elephants at dawn in Kaziranga National Park's Central Range before jeep safaris through tall grasslands and rich wetland bird habitats teeming with life.
Day 4
Kaziranga Eastern Range
Spend a full day on Kaziranga National Park safari in the Eastern Range, photographing pelicans, raptors and waders, then join an evening cultural performance by the fireside.
Day 5
Hoollongapar Gibbon & Jorhat
Walk beneath the canopy at Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary on this wildlife photography tour of Northeast India, home to India's only ape, then retreat to a heritage tea bungalow in Jorhat.
Day 6
Jorhat to Nameri
Drive west through Assam's verdant tea belt to Nameri National Park, with evening birding around the historic Wild Mahseer estate by the Jia Bhoroli.
Day 7
Nameri rafting & forest walk
Raft the Jia Bhoroli at dawn searching for Ibisbill and hornbills, then trek into Nameri National Park's riverine forest with an expert naturalist guide.
Day 8
Nameri to Manas
Journey west to Manas National Park on this Assam wildlife tour, a UNESCO treasure on the Bhutan border where golden langurs, pygmy hogs and wild buffalo roam free.
Day 9
Manas Bansbari & Mathanguri
Safari through Manas National Park's Bansbari range to Mathanguri, then share a traditional meal in a Bodo village on the park's forested edge.
Day 10
Manas to Guwahati
Return to Guwahati on this Northeast India wildlife tour, stopping at Panbazar to photograph one of the city's extraordinary twilight bat colonies against a fading Assam sky.
Day 11
Departure
Depart from Guwahati after a final morning by the Brahmaputra, reflecting on eleven extraordinary days of wildlife photography across Assam's wilderness.

Responsible travel notes

Use long lenses and silent shutter when possible — never bait or call animals.
Stay on designated tracks inside the parks; never leave the jeep without the guard.
Carry out all packaging and plastic — Manas and Nameri have no waste infrastructure.
Buy tea, weaves and handicrafts directly from village producers.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time for this tour?: November to early April. Parks close in the monsoon (mid-May to mid-October) and reopen in November.
What photo gear should I bring?: A long lens (400–600 mm) for wildlife, a wide for landscapes and tea country, and a fast 70–200 for portraits and gibbons in low light.
Are elephant rides ethical?: Kaziranga's working elephants are managed by the forest department for short, low-impact morning rides. We offer it as optional and most guests prefer jeep safaris.

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Living Roots Expeditions designs each journey with handpicked village hosts, local guides and ethical partners.

Email us at hello@livingrootsexpeditions.com