Tea tourism in India - Assam & Darjeeling
This 13 Day tea tourism in India tour program spans from touring tea gardens in Darjeeling & exploring Assam’s awe-inspiring natural beauty, brimming wildlife, exquisite tea gardens and beautiful culture
Ever wonder from where this most exquisite beverage that starts our day comes from? The minute someone talks about tea we are reminded of Assam and Darjeeling, the place we get most of our tea produce from. Known for its aroma and flavour, the tea produce from these places are considered the best in the whole of India. If you are a tea connoisseur and a nature enthusiast, Assam Darjeeling Tour and Tea Tourism in North Bengal may be just the right getaways for you. So you may ask what is tea tourism in India? It is an absolutely amazing touring trip where you get accommodated amidst the tea plantations in a bungalow and get to taste and experience everything pertaining to tea. Though a new concept, it is fast catching up with more tourists visiting these lush green tea estates. It is particularly more recognized among foreigners, who have heard stories from their fathers or perhaps great-grandfathers about their lives spent in the tea gardens in India as early settlers or tea planters.
This Assam Darjeeling tour is a special package tour designed especially for the tea lovers who would want to experience the production of their favourite beverage. You would be able to see and experience the process of tea manufacturing and processing from a tea production unit in Darjeeling. Along with tea production, you would also be able to experience the heritage, art and culture and hospitality of Assam. You would be staying at some of the tea estates in West Bengal, particularly in Darjeeling district, and Assam that has been converted from British-built tea planter’s bungalows into luxury lodgings.
We would also have a tryst with the wilderness in Kaziranga National Park in this Assam Darjeeling tour package. Famous for its project rhino and project tiger, this national park is one of the most beautiful parks you would see in India.
Come and experience Assam and Darjeeling with us in this expert designed Tea tourism in India tour program. The bonus? You would get to taste cups and cups of the finest tea in the whole world.
Itinerary
13 Days / 12 Nights
This Tea tasting tour in India has been carefully designed to give you a taste of the exciting, endless possibilities and can be tailored to suit your exact preferences.
You will be arriving and will be received by our representative at the Bagdogra Airport. We will then drive you around 69kms to Darjeeling. Let the beauty and serenity of the place sink in. You will be experiencing more of Glenburn Tea Estate Darjeeling West Bengal tomorrow. The rest of the day is at your disposal. Explore the areas surrounding your accommodation.
Overnight stay in: Glenburg Tea Estate
Today we would be exploring the Glenburn Tea Estate – one of the best tea gardens in Darjeeling. Our tea tourism in Darjeeling & North Bengal would officially start here. For nature lovers, this place would look like a piece of paradise on earth. The place offers a wonderful panoramic view of the surrounding greenery of the tea plantation. You can spend some time idly spotting birds and gazing at the moving clouds. We would then visit a tea manufacturing factory. Experience the process of changing the green tea leaves to brew-ready packages. You would be able to learn how the flavor and quality of the tea leaves are determined and how additional flavors are added to the product before it gets packed. The entire process of plucking and collecting of tea leaves would be at your disposal at these factories. Watch the main ingredient of your favorite beverage go through the process of wilting, maceration, fermentation, fixation, sweltering, rolling, drying and curing before it gets packaged ready to go. You would then return to your accommodation
Overnight stay in: Glenburg Tea Estate Darjeeling
On the 3rd day morning, you will board a domestic flight from Bagdogra to Guwahati for your Eastern Himalayas tour. On arrival, you would be checked-in to the Norkhill Hotel. The rest of the day is at your disposal. Get plenty of rest. You are also free to check out the tea gardens in Assam and do a bit of cloud gazing.
The next day, we would take you to tea auction centre. Established in the year 1970, this place is famous for its Assam tea auctions and is probably the busiest trading facilities of tea in the entire world. You can have a look at how the tea gets auctioned and traded on a daily basis in this auction centre.
We would then proceed to explore the Assam Tea Brokers as part of our Assam Tea Tourism. Established almost at the same time as that of the tea auction centre, this place approximately 20 million kg of tea every year. We would then have a tea tasting session where you would get to taste different flavours and varieties of tea here.
Overnight stay in: The Elgin Nor-khil, Gangtok
On the 5th day, we would be driving you to Kaziranga National Park. Established in 1904, to preserve wildlife, especially the rhinos and tigers by Lady Curzon, this grew to be one of the largest tiger reserves of India. It is home to around 40 plus reptile species, 35 mammals, and around 479 species of birds. Some of the most commonly spotted animals in this national park are One-Horned Indian Rhinoceros, Indian Elephant, Bengal Tiger, Hog Deer and river dolphins among others. Some of the most spotted birds are Bengal Florican, White-tailed Fishing Eagle, Wreathed Hornbill and Black-breasted Parrotbill.
We would be spending the next two days exploring the wilderness in different ways. We would go on an elephant safari on the 6th day. One of the most popular tourist attractions of Kaziranga, the elephant safari is the most sought-after forms of safari. You would be able to appreciate the wildlife better from the back of an elephant as it would give you a better vision. We would also undertake a jeep safari wherein you would spot animals and birds from a safe distance while being close enough. You can also see many elephants bathing in the nearby river stream.
We would then visit the nearby village and get acquainted with the local culture. The villagers make their living out of weaving and we would be able to see some gorgeous handwoven craft here.
Overnight stay in: Diphlu River Lodge
Today, we would travel to Jorhat where you would be checked-in to a heritage tea planter’s bungalow. Rest of the day is for you to relax and unwind.
We would explore the tea estates of this region and explore the beauty and splendor of this region. Jorhat is an important town of Assam and is pretty busy and fast growing. It has a perfect balance of heritage and modernity which is pretty interesting to explore and observe.
We would visit Tocklai Tea Research Institute today. Established in the year 1911, this is the largest and also the oldest Tea Experimental Station in the world. This research center experiments and research on all aspects pertaining to tea cultivation and processing. Its advisory network spread covers more than 1076 tea estates. You would be going on a guided tour through the research center and museum to understand the history of tea cultivation and the milestones they have achieved.
Overnight stay in: Jorhat heritage tea planter’s bungalow
From Jorhat, we would travel to Dibrugarh where you will be checked-in to a heritage tea planter’s bungalow. After a brief rest, we would proceed to a tea manufacturing plant in Dibrugarh. It is astounding to see how far the art of tea manufacturing has evolved in these years. The process is a mix of ancient traditions and modern technology that makes the tea flavor and quality consistent even after all the evolutions in technology. We will have another session of tea tasting here. Having tasted both, you would now be able to bring out the subtle difference in tastes and flavors of Assam and Darjeeling tea and appreciate its unique properties.
The next day, you would get a chance to get acquainted with the culture and art of Assam. We would be visiting cultural dance performance by the natives of Assam. We would see the traditional dance forms pertaining to this place.
Overnight stay in: Dibrugarh heritage tea planter’s bungalow
The 13th day would mark an end to our Tea tourism in India tour program and you would be departing to Delhi/Kolkata on your onward journey home. However, you have the option of checking our river cruise tours or other tour extension packages if you want to extend your vacation in India.
Quick Facts
Wildlife
One Horned Rhinoceros, Wild Buffalo, Indian Elephant, Royal Bengal Tiger, Indian Wild Boar, Eastern Mole, Pangolin, Indian Gaur, Swamp Deer
Must Do’s
The harvest season begins in the month of March, it would be a delightful experience to learn from the local people the whole process of how a tea leaf moves from a bush to a factory and finally into a teacup
Ideal for
This is ideal for those interested in history, culture and exploring new horizons.
Options & Extension
Possible extensions for this tour will be a Kolkata city tour for 2 days or a Brahmaputra River Cruise from Guwahati. One can also venture out on coffee tour to the South of India across Coorg, Wayanad & Munnar.
Dates & Rates
| Fully inclusive rate per person sharing | Price |
|---|---|
| 10 October 2017 - 15 April 2018 | Available On Request |
- Accommodation on double sharing basis
- Breakfast at all hotels, except at Kaziranga, where the stay is on full board basis
- Transport by an air-conditioned chauffeur-driven Toyota Innova
- Morning & Afternoon Game drive (one each) at the Kaziranga National Park
- Bottled drinking water available during sightseeing tours and long drives
- Internal domestic flights
- All government taxes applicable
At Camps & Lodges
- Accommodation on a twin sharing basis
- All meals
- Park fees
- Photographic fees (non-professional)
- Services of an English-speaking naturalist
- Forest guide fees
- Scheduled safari activities in the morning and evening
- All applicable taxes
- This rate is not valid in on special holidays such as Christmas / New Year / Diwali etc
- Check in time at the hotels is 14:00 hrs and check out time is noon.
- The quote is valid for two people travelling together and sharing the same room.
- Vehicle included for this trip is an air conditioned Toyota Innova
- Air fare mentioned is based on current fares applicable in economy class.
- The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays.
- Only morning game drives are possible in the national parks on Wednesdays, as the parks are closed on Wednesday afternoons
- Game drives at National Parks are in shared jeeps
- This offer only applies to the hotels and resorts specifically mentioned in the itinerary
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