This 9-day guided trekking and birding itinerary weaves together the lowland rainforests of Nameri in Assam, the extraordinary Eaglenest Sanctuary, and the high-altitude birding country around Sela Pass in Arunachal Pradesh.

Combining early-morning trail birding with gentle treks, comfortable eco-lodges and a few thoughtfully curated cultural experiences — Monpa villages, Tawang Monastery and visits to local tea and river communities — the journey offers travellers both the wildlife and the human story of the Eastern Himalayas. An expert local bird guide accompanies the group throughout Why Travel Here: One of the richest birding circuits in the Eastern Himalayas, spanning lowland riverine and subtropical foothills (Nameri), biodiverse mid-elevation forests (Eaglenest), and stark alpine landscapes (Sela Pass).

A chance to spot Himalayan specialties — pheasants, laughing thrushes, trogons and hornbills — alongside rare endemics found in Eaglenest, and high-altitude species such as snow pigeons and finches.

Gentle to moderate trekking, well-suited to fit walkers comfortable with short steep sections and high-altitude driving.

• Day 1 | Guwahati – Tezpur Arrive at Guwahati Airport, where your birding guide will greet you, and drive 4.5 hours to Tezpur. Check in by tea time, with an evening briefing on the journey ahead.
• Day 2 | Tezpur – Nameri – Tenga Valley An early morning forest walk and birdwatching session inside Nameri National Park, followed by breakfast at a local home. Continue on to Tenga Valley, with an afternoon birding session by the river.
• Day 3 | Tenga – Eaglenest Sanctuary A pre-dawn start for a birding trail near Aloobari–Lama Camp on the edge of the sanctuary, combining short drives with walks through the forest. Packed meals provided.
• Day 4 Tenga – Eaglenest Sanctuary Another early start, venturing deeper into the sanctuary towards Eaglenest Pass and Sunder View. Roads are rough, but the day is largely spent walking and birdwatching, with sightings continuing on the drive back.
• Day 5 | Tenga – Dirang – Mandala Drive to Dirang, pausing to visit the Dirang Dzong — the only Dzong outside Bhutan. Continue to Mandala with birding stops en route, and check in to the atmospheric Mandala Bird Lodge, set quietly on a hilltop.
• Day 6 | Mandala – Dirang A dawn birding expedition on foot through the hills, followed by a relaxed return to Dirang. In the afternoon, visit a Monpa village to experience tribal life, sample millet beer and enjoy local snacks.
• Day 7 | Dirang – Sela Pass – Dirang A pre-dawn drive to Sela Pass (around 13,700 ft), known for sightings of the blood pheasant amid snow-clad landscapes. Lunch is a 7-course immersive meal at Chug Valley, hosted by a local women's collective. Return to Dirang to unwind — your birding journey concludes here.
• Day 8 | Dirang – Sapoi Drive down to Sapoi, with an en route stop at the Tipi Interpretation Centre and a traditional Assamese thali lunch. Check in to a family-run farm homestay set within a tea garden.
• Day 9 | Sapoi – Guwahati Airport After breakfast, drive to Guwahati Airport for your onward flight, bidding farewell to your guide and driver.

Activities & Experiences on this Journey

• Guided birding walks through lowland forests, mid-elevation sanctuaries and high alpine passes
• Pre-dawn expeditions into one of the Eastern Himalayas' richest biodiversity zones
• High-altitude birding above 13,000 ft amid snow-clad landscapes
• Visits to heritage forts and architectural landmarks unique to the region
• A stay at a remote, old-world hilltop bird lodge
• Cultural visits to Monpa villages with millet beer and local snacks
• Immersive multi-course meals hosted by local women's collectives
• Visits to forest interpretation centres exploring rainforest ecosystems
• Stays in family-run homestays nestled within tea gardens

– Prime seasons: April–June (spring breeding, many birds in song/plumage) and Sept–Oct (post‑monsoon clear weather, migrant influx).

Sela Pass and surrounds area can be snowbound in deep winter, so for high‑altitude birding it is best to travel late spring/summer and autumn.

Guest Testimonial

“The Curtain Call Adventures birding trip to Arunachal that I went on was well planned and staffed with highly knowledgeable birding guides. We focused on 3 locations – Eagles Nest and the Bugun Reserve Forest which is renowned for its rare Bugun Liochicla, (which I was fortunate to see on two separate occasions), Mandalya which is actually above the clouds and finally the road up to and beyond Sela Pass, which is a high-altitude birding site. Each of the locations had different species of birds and for the avid birder offered an opportunity to come across many different topographical species of birds. The field trips were totally focused on birding and photography and we were given plenty of time to wander in the forests to see as many species as possible.⁠⁠We were accompanied by Milo, our guide and an expert on the birdlife in the area. We were able to identify and photograph approximately 120 species of birds on the 5 day trip of which 80 were ‘lifers’⁠. It was also my first experience lugging a camera and 500 mm lens through a snow storm when we were on the Sela Pass to photograph the Fire Tailed Myzornis, the Grandala and the Blood Pheasant.”

Arvind Palaniappan, Bangalore

Assam and Arunachal Birding Tour, April 2024