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Tea garden in Upper Assam, near Tinsukia
Birding tours

Birding at the edge of the eastern Himalaya

Tinsukia sits where Brahmaputra grasslands, Assam's last lowland rainforests and the hills of Arunachal Pradesh meet — one of Asia's great birding crossroads, and our home.

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What's taken care of

You watch the birds. We handle the rest.

Local bird guides

Guides who know the calls, the habitats and where a species was seen last week.

Dawn, planned right

Boats on the river at first light, forest trails before the heat, packed breakfasts in the field.

Permits & park bookings

Arunachal permits, park entry, boat and camera fees arranged before you arrive.

Comfortable bases

Tea-estate bungalows, eco-camps and forest lodges chosen for early starts.

Where we go

Six hotspots, a few hours apart

Drive times are from Tinsukia and approximate. Species lists are what each place is best known for — sightings are never guaranteed.

Assam · about 1 hr

Dibru-Saikhowa National Park

River islands and tall grassland explored by boat and on foot. Known for grassland specialists such as Black-breasted Parrotbill, Marsh Babbler, Jerdon's Babbler and Swamp Grass Babbler — plus feral horses and river dolphins.

Assam · about 1 hr

Maguri-Motapung Beel

A wetland beside Dibru-Saikhowa, best from a country boat at sunrise. Winter brings ducks, waders and raptors; the reed beds hold many of the same grassland specialists.

Assam · about 1.5–2 hrs

Dehing Patkai National Park

Assam's lowland rainforest near Digboi and Margherita. Home to the rare White-winged Wood Duck (Assam's state bird), hornbills, and hoolock gibbons calling at dawn.

Assam · 30–60 min

Digboi & the tea estates

Easy half-day birding along tea gardens, forest edges and old oil-town lanes — ideal for arrival or departure days.

Arunachal Pradesh · about 3–4 hrs

Namdapha National Park

One of India's richest forests, reached via Miao. Sought-after species include Snowy-throated Babbler, Beautiful Nuthatch and Rufous-necked Hornbill; birding is from the Deban camp and forest trails.

Arunachal Pradesh · about 4–5 hrs

Mishmi Hills & Mayodia

Via Roing into the Dibang Valley, climbing from subtropical forest to temperate ridges. Famous for Mishmi Wren-babbler and Sclater's Monal, among many Himalayan specialities.

Approximate — verify before quoting. Park opening dates, road conditions and permit rules change. Last reviewed November 2026.

Itineraries

Signature birding journeys

Private tours on your dates, for solo birders, couples, photographers and small groups. Every plan can be shortened, lengthened or built around your target species.

Best first trip

Tinsukia Wetlands & Grasslands

3 days · 2 nightsDibrugarh airport returnEasyNov – Mar
  1. Arrive Dibrugarh; transfer to a lodge near Guijan; sunset at Maguri-Motapung Beel
  2. Dawn boat into Dibru-Saikhowa; grassland walks; afternoon at the river islands
  3. Sunrise country-boat ride on Maguri Beel; transfer to Dibrugarh
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Tea garden in Upper Assam
Most complete in Assam

Upper Assam Birding Circuit

5 days · 4 nightsDibrugarh airport returnEasy – ModerateNov – Apr
  1. Arrive Dibrugarh; evening at Maguri-Motapung Beel
  2. Full day in Dibru-Saikhowa by boat and on foot
  3. Drive to Digboi; tea-estate and forest-edge birding; stay in a heritage bungalow
  4. Full day in Dehing Patkai rainforest, looking for White-winged Wood Duck and hornbills
  5. Morning birding near Digboi; transfer to Dibrugarh
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Expedition

Namdapha Rainforest Expedition

7 days · 6 nightsDibrugarh airport returnModerate – ChallengingNov – Mar
  1. Arrive Dibrugarh; drive to Tinsukia; evening at Maguri Beel
  2. Morning in Dibru-Saikhowa; drive to Miao (Arunachal Pradesh)
  3. Miao to Deban camp on the Noa-Dihing river, birding along the way
  4. Forest trails from Deban with a local guide
  5. Second full day on the trails; night sounds by the river
  6. Deban to Miao and back towards Tinsukia, stopping at Dehing Patkai if time allows
  7. Transfer to Dibrugarh
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High altitude

Mishmi Hills & Mayodia Pass

6 days · 5 nightsDibrugarh airport returnModerateMar – May, Oct – Nov
  1. Arrive Dibrugarh; drive to Roing (Arunachal Pradesh) across the Brahmaputra plains
  2. Lower Dibang Valley forests around Roing
  3. Climb towards Mayodia, birding the mid-elevation forest
  4. Dawn on the Mayodia ridge for high-altitude specialities
  5. Back down to Roing, with stops on the way
  6. Drive to Dibrugarh for departure
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The full journey

Grand Eastern Birding: Assam to the Mishmi Hills

12 days · 11 nightsDibrugarh airport returnModerate – ChallengingNov – Mar
  1. Days 1–2: Maguri-Motapung Beel and Dibru-Saikhowa
  2. Days 3–4: Digboi and Dehing Patkai rainforest
  3. Days 5–8: Namdapha, based at Deban
  4. Days 9–11: Roing, the Dibang Valley and Mayodia
  5. Day 12: Transfer to Dibrugarh
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When to go

Birding seasons

PlaceBest monthsGood to know
Dibru-Saikhowa & Maguri BeelNovember – MarchWinter migrants on the wetlands; boat trips depend on river levels.
Dehing Patkai & DigboiNovember – AprilTrails can be slippery and leech-prone after rain.
NamdaphaNovember – MarchRoads and trails become difficult in the monsoon.
Mishmi Hills (Mayodia)March – May, October – NovemberSnow can close the upper road in winter.

Approximate — verify before quoting. Last reviewed November 2026.

Usually included

  • Private vehicle with driver for the whole trip
  • Local bird guide at every site
  • Stays, meals and packed field breakfasts
  • Boat rides at Dibru-Saikhowa and Maguri Beel
  • Park entry and Arunachal permit paperwork
  • A checklist of likely species for your dates

Before you go

  • Indian citizens need an Inner Line Permit for Arunachal Pradesh; foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit. Rules change — we confirm when you book.
  • Camera and boat fees vary by park and are charged locally.
  • Bring binoculars, muted clothing, rain gear and leech socks.
  • We bird ethically: no baiting, no disturbing nests, and only limited call playback.
  • Tell us your target species and we'll shape the route around them.
Plan your birding trip

Send us your wish list

Tell us your dates and the birds you hope to see. A travel designer and a local guide will build the route around them.

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