Kolkata or Delhi – Dibrugarh (Assam)-Siva Sagar – Kaziranga – Dibrugarh – Kolkata or Delhi

BEST SEASON – October to April (fixed departure dates)

Accommodation – Best Available

Popular areas for horse riding in India are Rajasthan and North East India. On this tour we take you to North East India where you will ride through tea plantations, along the River Brahmaputra and also enjoy a visit to Kaziranga National Park on the rest day of the horses. There is plenty to amuse the non-riders.

You need to be fit and a reasonably experienced rider to take part in this holiday.

Day 1 - Arrive at Dibrugarh  airport. Transfer to a Heritage Chang Bungalow (about half an hour) in the midst of a tea estate. Afternoon visit the stable and familiarize with the horses, tack and saddlery. Interface with the grooms. A short introductory ride in the outdoor riding school. Evening at leisure. Overnight at the Chang Bungalow.

(Riding Time- 30 mins.)

Dibrugarh  is the “Camelia” town of Upper Assam, an undisturbed haven, with its rich tea gardens resembling a lush green carpet. Experience and enjoy the richness of these tea gardens while staying at the Heritage Chang Bungalows. These are constructed on stilts and are situated in a serene atmosphere free from pollution.

Day 2 - After breakfast, take a ride around a tea estate - enjoy the ride in the midst of the rolling carpet of tea bushes. Learn about tea while you ride – its origin and culture and how it is grown. Ride up to a factory to see the manufacturing of tea and learn all about tea tasting and its quality. The ride thereafter takes you through more tea plantations up to Greenwood Tea Estate. Lunch on a tea plantation. Return  in the afternoon  to the riding school. Evening cultural programme on the lawns of the bungalow. Overnight at the Chang Bungalow.

Day 3 - A day of cross country riding along the banks of the Brahmaputra river – the best possible way to see the countryside as you journey unhurriedly and enjoy the thrill of riding along  the beaches of the river and the grasslands, often encountering rural settlements. Lunch on the grassland near the river. Return late in the afternoon to the Chang Bungalow.  Overnight at the Chang Bungalow.

(Riding time during the day : 3 – 4 hrs)

Day 4 - Post breakfast, the ride today takes you through a tea estate on to the riverfront from where you take a boat cruise to a river island in the midst of the mighty Brahmaputra. A picnic lunch is organized. Enjoy kayaking in the river. Return late in the afternoon to the mainland. Evening at leisure/ shopping. Overnight at the Chang Bungalow.

(Riding time during the day : 2 hrs)

Day 5 - Drive to Siva-sagar (about  2 hours) and visit the Ahom monuments and temples which encompass the 600 year old history of the Ahom Dynasty that ruled Assam. Stop by weekly market places (on Sundays only ) enroute. After lunch at Siva-sagar,  drive to Kaziranga National Park (about  3 hours). Reach in the evening and stay overnight at Bon Habi Lodge or similar.
 
(Rest day for the horses)

Sivasagar was once the capital of the Ahom Kings. In the town of Sivasagar, one can still see the remaining well preserved relics. Palaces, tanks, forts, places of worship and burial sites (vaults) at Charaideo present the richness of this highly evolved and advanced civilization.

Day 6 – After  breakfast go for a Jeep Safari to the Central range followed by a jeep safari in the Western range.  Kaziranga is a World Heritage Site and is famous for its large population of one horned rhinos. The park also has a large variety of fauna and avifauna in a unique habitat. Overnight at Bon Habi lodge or similar

(Rest day for the horses)

Kaziranga national PARK  - is a World Heritage Site, where more than 75% of the world’s total population of the great Indian one horned Rhinoceros can be found. It lies on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River and is one of the oldest parks of Assam. Besides rhinos, the Asiatic Water Buffalo numbering over 1200, elephants over 1000, tigers more than 81, Swamp deer, Barking deer and Hog deer can be seen. About 400 species of birds are found in Kaziranga National Park. Sighting is excellent and is always a great experience.

Day 7 - Early morning enjoy an elephant ride inside the National park. Lunch at the forest lodge. Return to Dibrugarh in the afternoon. Reach by evening. Overnight at the Chang Bungalow.

(Rest days for the horses)

Day 8 - A day of wilderness riding - Ride inside a natural reserve forest following the wilderness trails up to a wet land often encountering rural village settlements. Breakfast is served in a nature interpretation centre on the fringes of the forest.  After breakfast, ride back to the Chang Bungalow. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight at the Chang Bungalow.

(Riding time during the day :  4 hrs)

Day 8 and day 9 are not included in the programme in case there is only one rider. Programme ends after visit to Kaziranga.

Day 9 - Early morning time for a short ride in the tea plantations. Afternoon at leisure or option to visit a weaving centre. Overnight at Chang Bungalow.

(Riding time during the day :  2 - 3 hrs)

Day 10 - Time for a short final ride. Return to the Chang Bungalow for brunch. Transfer to airport for flight to onward destination.

FIXED DEPARTURE DATES

Oct-07 : 03 Oct to 12 Oct
Nov-07 : 07 Nov to 16 Nov
Dec-07 : 05 Dec to 14 Dec
Jan-08 : 09 Jan to 18 Jan
Feb-08 : 13 Feb to 22 Feb
Mar-08 : 12 Mar to 21 Mar
April-08 : 09 Apr to 18 Apr

OPTION – combine this with visit to other parts of India -  Sikkim, Bhutan, Darjeeling or further into North or South India.