Most first-time visitors to India head for the Golden Triangle. But the country’s eastern edge offers something quieter and more varied: tea-covered hills, river islands, wild grasslands where one-horned rhinos graze, and Himalayan hill stations with views of Kanchenjunga.

This guide walks you through a 14-day Northeast India tour that links Kolkata, Assam, Kaziranga National Park, Kalimpong and Darjeeling. It shows what each stage feels like, where you stay, and who the journey suits best.

Why Choose a Northeast India Tour?

Northeast India and the Eastern Himalayas are less crowded than India’s classic routes. In one trip you can combine four very different experiences:

• Colonial heritage in Kolkata
• Tea country in Assam and Darjeeling
• Wildlife in Kaziranga National Park
• Mountain scenery and Buddhist culture around Kalimpong and Darjeeling

The result is a slower, more atmospheric journey. You stay in heritage hotels and tea bungalows instead of moving through standard city hotels.

The Route at a Glance

Kolkata → Jorhat → Majuli Island → Kaziranga → Guwahati → Kalimpong → Darjeeling → Glenburn Tea Estate → Kolkata

The trip lasts 14 days including flights. Three short domestic flights (Kolkata–Jorhat, Guwahati–Bagdogra and Bagdogra–Kolkata) keep the long distances manageable.

Kolkata: Colonial Heritage and Culture (Days 2–3)

Kolkata, the former capital of British India, is a good place to start. You explore the flower market beneath Howrah Bridge, the colonial buildings around Dalhousie Square and the book stalls of College Street. Other stops include Kalighat Temple, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Victoria Memorial and Mother House, associated with Mother Teresa.

You stay at the Taj Bengal for two nights, which gives you time to recover from the international flight.

Assam Tea Country (Day 4)

From Kolkata you fly to Jorhat, one of the historic centres of India’s tea industry. You stay at a heritage tea bungalow surrounded by plantations, and a private estate visit shows how Assam tea goes from leaf to cup. A guided tasting follows.

Majuli Island: The Cultural Soul of Assam (Day 5)

A ferry ride takes you to Majuli, often described as the world’s largest river island. Centuries-old satras (monastic centres), village life along the Brahmaputra and a traditional monastic dance performance give a good introduction to Assam’s Neo-Vaishnavite culture.

Kaziranga National Park: Rhinos, Elephants and Wild Grasslands (Days 5–7)

Kaziranga is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the world’s largest population of greater one-horned rhinoceroses. This journey includes three guided jeep safaris through different zones of the park.

Besides rhinos, you may see:

• Asian elephants
• Wild water buffalo
• Eastern swamp deer
• Many bird species

Bengal tigers also live in the park, but sightings are never guaranteed. You stay at Diphlu River Lodge for two nights, so the early-morning safaris start without a long transfer.

Wildlife is one of Travel Mart TM’s strongest themes. If safaris are your main interest, browse our full range of wildlife tours in India.

Guwahati: Sunset on the Brahmaputra (Day 7)

After the last safari, you drive to Guwahati, Assam’s largest city. If time permits, you visit the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra, a cultural institution dedicated to the saint and reformer. The evening ends with a dinner cruise on the Brahmaputra, a relaxed way to close the Assam section.

Kalimpong: A Quiet Himalayan Hill Station (Days 8–9)

From Guwahati you fly to Bagdogra and continue by road to Kalimpong. This former British hill station is known for orchid nurseries, Buddhist monasteries and a calm atmosphere away from busier tourist centres. Highlights include the Durpin Dara viewpoint and Zang Dhok Palri Phodang Monastery.

Darjeeling: The Queen of the Hills (Days 9–10)

Darjeeling combines colonial villas, winding streets, mountain culture and wide views of the Himalayas. Your sightseeing includes the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre.

One highlight is the Joy Ride on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the UNESCO-listed Toy Train, from Darjeeling to Ghoom and back. It is included in the price and runs subject to railway operations. You stay at The Windamere Hotel.

Glenburn Tea Estate: Darjeeling Tea at the Source (Days 11–12)

The final stage takes you to Glenburn Tea Estate, set against the Kanchenjunga range. A guided tour of the plantation and tea factory follows the leaf from plant to cup, and a private tasting introduces Darjeeling tea, often called the “Champagne of teas”. The rest of your time is free for walks and quiet days among the tea gardens.

Return to Kolkata and Rajbari Bawali (Days 13–14)

You fly back to Kolkata and spend the last night at Rajbari Bawali, a mansion more than 300 years old and one of Eastern India’s distinctive heritage hotels. The next day you transfer to the airport for your flight home.

What Is Included?

• Accommodation in double rooms at the hotels listed in the itinerary
• Half board throughout, full board in Kaziranga and at Glenburn, breakfast in Kolkata
• All transfers and sightseeing in an air-conditioned vehicle
• English-speaking tour escort on the main sections of the route
• Guided tea tastings
• Ferry transfers and local vehicle on Majuli Island
• Three park entries and three jeep safaris in Kaziranga
• Toy Train Joy Ride in Darjeeling
• Domestic economy flights with 20 kg checked and 7 kg cabin baggage
• Travel insolvency protection certificate

The tour starts from € 4,999 per person, with a minimum of 2 travellers.

Who Is This Tour For?

This journey suits travellers who:

• Want wildlife and culture in the same trip
• Enjoy tea, heritage hotels and slower travel
• Prefer a private, guided itinerary over a fixed group tour
• Have visited India before, or want to start with a lesser-known region

Related Tours

If you want to compare options, take a look at our Jewels of Northeast India tour through Meghalaya, Assam and Kaziranga, a 13-day route from € 3,699 per person. You can also explore all our India tours or read about choosing between a private and a group tour in Asia.

Plan Your Northeast India Tour

Every itinerary can be adjusted to your travel dates, interests and budget. See the full day-by-day programme on the Northeast India tour page, or contact our tour manager Yana for a free consultation and three tailored tour options.