Description
Think Assam and the two things that come to your mind are rhinos and tea estates. And for good reason too. Assam after all is one of the last remaining refuge of the one-horned rhinoceros and is the single largest tea-growing region in the world.
Overview
Think Assam and the two things that come to your mind are rhinos and tea estates. And for good reason too. Assam after all is one of the last remaining refuge of the one-horned rhinoceros and is the single largest tea-growing region in the world. However, our Assam cycling tour takes you also to hidden nooks and crannies of this fabulous land that has been bountifully blessed with the triple gifts of nature, culture, and cuisine. From the unique cultural geography of Majuli, the largest river island in the world to walking the trail of critically endangered animals such as the Hoolock Gibbon and the Bengal Slow Loris, this is a trip on which each day is an exciting new adventure.
- Ride through a varied terrain comprising of rainforests, tea plantations, and Himalayan foothills.
- Visit the Kaziranga National Park, home to the largest population of one-horned rhinoceros in the world.
- Explore the unique culture of Majuli, the largest river island in the world located in the mighty Brahmaputra river.
- Learn more about tea plantations and the unique process of making tea from picking to packing.
- Get a chance to spot some of the rarest animals on the planet such as the Hoolock Gibbon and the Bengal Slow Loris.
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Duration
6 days / 5 nights
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Start
Dibrugarh | 08:00hrs
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Finish
Guwahati | 17:00hrs
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Hotels
Country Inns
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Riding Style
Easy
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Average Distance Cycled
50km or 30mi
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Total Distance Cycled
~ 250km or 150mi
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Bicycle Hire
INR 800 per day
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Support Vehicle
Included
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Group Size
Min 6, Max 12
GROUP KITTY
- A group kitty is an amount of money collected at the start of the trip from each client, which is used to buy refreshments and sometimes meals for guests and crew.
- Trip Leaders will offer to administer the tipping kitty, but will always ask first to see if any member would like to do it on behalf of the group.
- A group kitty will be fully accounted for. All amounts will be written down and be available to be viewed by the group at any point.
- Leaders may suggest to the group to use the group kitty for additional purposes such as purchasing snacks and tea and tipping.
Inclusion
- Small boutique hotels/home-stays, as mentioned in the tour details (subject to availability)
- True to their heritage and character, small luxury and boutique hotels that reflect local ethos. They hold within them, an unassuming charm and regional character that is an extension of the destination itself. Most of them fall under 3 star category with a possible mix of homestay and 4 star.
- Meals as per itinerary
- On each trip, guests are given the opportunity to dine on their own so that they discover a location independently. Your guides are happy to make recommendations should you so desire.
- A Van support that follows throughout the trip and carries all belongings. If at any point riding seems a little hard, the van takes you for as long or as little as you wish it to. It also provides you refreshments along the way and sometimes a chilled beer.
- Expert Trip Leader(s) who look after your every need
- Small boutique hotels/home-stays, as mentioned in the tour details (subject to availability)
Exclusion
- Bring your own bicycle or hire from us.
- Refreshments & mineral water while cycling
- Transportation to and from the trip including train
- Personal items purchased during the trip
- Some meals are not included (check your itinerary)
- Beverages
- Gratuities for your Trip Leader(s) are not included in your trip price. Industry-standard is 5-7.5% of your trip price for the guide team. Please tip your guides at your discretion, based on their level of professionalism, guest care, and service.
Itinerary
We begin the day’s cycling with a visit to Namphake village on the outskirts of Dibrugarh. This village is one of a kind as it is home to the Tai Phake people, a tiny community of only about 5000 in India most of whom are settled in this village. The Tai Phake migrated from Myanmar and Thailand in the 17th & 18th centuries and practice Buddhism. The town has a beautiful Buddhist monastery. As we bike along the languidly meandering Dihing river, we get to witness a curious geographical feature formed by the river’s meandering curves – oxbow lakes. Oxbow lakes are horseshoe-shaped lakes formed by the meandering path of rivers with a wetland at their center. The Dihing river forms a beautiful oxbow lake at Sasoni Merbil, an ecotourism spot that is a birder’s paradise. The terrain remains flat for the most part.
Meals: D
Distance Cycled: 70kms/ 43.5 miles
Today is a day of experiencing wonders, natural and man-made, that can only be described in superlatives. We ride out due south-west towards Majuli, the largest river island in the world. We get there by crossing the Bogibeel bridge, the longest rail-cum-road bridge in India. The Brahmaputra – the 9th largest river in the world by discharge – shall be our constant companion from here on. The Brahmaputra is the only river in India that is regarded as male and as we cross its mighty sweep, we get to appreciate why. The Majuli island is approachable only by boat and we ride in one to explore the island’s unique geography and culture. Life in Majuli is laid back, as is expected of a place cut off from the rest of the world by a powerful and ferocious river. A unique feature of Majuli’s cultural life is the presence of Vaishnavite monasteries that bind the society together with their distinctive rituals and customs. Stay tonight is at La Maison de Ananda – literally, the house of happiness. A charming bamboo cottage built on stilts in the local style, this simple yet delightful property lives up to its name.
Meals: B, D
Distance Cycled: 70kms/ 43.5 miles
We head south this day towards the city of Jorhat. Once again, we cross the mighty Brahmaputra and feel overwhelmed by its sheer presence. Jorhat is an important cultural and urban center in Assam. We stay tonight at the Thengal Manor, a heritage property built in 1929 by an affluent Assamese planter family. The property is situated 15kms from the city of Jorhat in the midst of verdant tea gardens. Since tea plantations are the lifeline of Assam, and tea planters the region’s aristocracy, the Thengal Manor offers you a glimpse into what it is like to live the planter’s life. With its colonial architecture, antique wooden décor, charming fireplaces, and sprawling gardens, the Thengal Manor is sure to make you feel like an aristocrat yourself.
Meals: B, D
Distance cycled: 50kms/ 31 miles
Today we ride out to the Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, a verdant forest of canopied evergreen trees that is home to two critically endangered animals – the Hoolock Gibbon and the Bengal Slow Loris. The Hoolock Gibbon is the only species of ape found in India and is concentrated mostly in Assam. It is considered one of the most endangered primates with only 5000 individuals surviving in the world. The Bengal Slow Loris is another threatened species found in this forest, though being nocturnal, it is hard to spot. In addition, the sanctuary is home to various other threatened animals such as the Assamese macaque, tigers, and wild elephants. With its beautiful Hollong and Nahar trees forming dense canopies, the sanctuary is a tropical paradise. We take a motorized Safari inside the sanctuary.
Meals: B, D
Distance cycled: 20kms/ 12.5 miles
Today we head out in a westerly direction, riding parallel to the Brahmaputra, towards Kaziranga. Kaziranga is famous the world over as the home of the one-horned rhinoceros. It is a reputation well-earned. With 2413 rhinos, Kaziranga is home to two-thirds of the world’s one-horned rhino population. It is also home to the densest tiger population of any protected area in the world, besides hosting wild elephants, wild buffaloes, and the Gangetic dolphin. Of the 35 mammal species found in Kaziranga, 15 are on the IUCN red list of threatened animals. A vast expanse of marshland, elephant grass, and tropical rainforests crisscrossed by 4 rivers and populated with some of the most fascinating beasts on earth, Kaziranga is everything you ever imagined a wildlife safari to be. Today’s ride takes us through numerous tea plantations and beautiful Assamese villages.
Meals: B, D
Distance cycled: 60kms/37 miles
We begin the day with an early morning safari into Kaziranga. Late morning, we proceed onwards to Guwahati that is connected by rail and air to all major Indian cities.
Cancellation Policy
Life is unpredictable and we understand that sometimes you have to cancel or change your trip dates and it is our endeavor to make it as easy as possible for you. However, please understand that we plan everything including guide fees, permits, accommodation, and ration in advance. Therefore, any cancellation means inconvenience and certain losses to the people involved in various stages of the program. Keeping that in mind, our cancellation charges are as below,
- Cancellations prior to 30 days from the start of the event: Full refund as cash.
- Cancellations between 30 days and 15 days to the start of the event: 50 % refund as cash.
- Cancellations less than 15 days to the start of the event: No refund.
- Cancellations will be accepted only by email.
Note: We reserve the right to cancel a program before departure in the event of logistical problems arising due to natural calamities, strikes, wars or any other circumstances that make the event inadvisable. In this case, we will refund 50% of the event fees.
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