The Eight States of Northeast India
A Grand Birding Expedition Through Meghalaya • Assam • Arunachal Pradesh • Mishmi Hills
This extraordinary 20-day journey explores one of the world’s most biodiverse corners — Northeast India, a region of deep valleys, ancient forests, Himalayan peaks, and tribal cultures. From Shillong’s pine-clad hills to Kaziranga’s grasslands, from the alpine heights of Sela Pass to the remote and mystical Mishmi Hills, you will experience the full diversity of the Eastern Himalayas.
Expect Himalayan endemics, Eastern Himalayan rarities, forest skulkers, bamboo specialists, bugun-zone specials, and some of the least-seen birds in India.
Day 1: Arrive in Guwahati- Drive to Shillong (Megalayas)
Arrive at Guwahati Airport and begin your journey into the lush green hill state of Meghalaya. As you climb toward Shillong, enjoy scenic views of rolling hills, pine forests, and mist-covered valleys. If time permits, enjoy evening birding around forest edges near Shillong. Region overview:
Shillong lies in the Khasi Hills, known for evergreen shola forests, pine groves, orchids, and cool mountain air. Target species: Gray Sibia Other possibilities: Long-tailed Sibia, Black-faced Warbler, Assam Laughingthrush
Day 2: Full Day Birding in Shillong Hills
Explore forest patches, waterfalls, ravines, and pine-scrub habitats surrounding Shillong. These areas hold rich mid-hill birdlife and mixed flocks.
Habitat: Pine forests, subtropical broadleaf forest, and highland scrub. Target species: Gray Sibia
Also possible: Bar-throated Minla, Chestnut-tailed Minla, Russet Bush Warbler, Darjeeling Woodpecker
Day 3: Shillong → Drive to Nameri National Park
Descend from the hills into the Brahmaputra valley and travel toward Nameri National Park. This beautiful park sits along the Jia-Bhorelli River. Afternoon birding along riverside trails and forest patches.
Region overview: Nameri is a mix of riverine forest, grassland, and dense jungle at the foothills of Arunachal. Target species: Blyth’s Kingfisher, Tickell’s Thrush, Pale-chinned Flycatcher, Bengal Bushlark
Special highlights: Possibility of White-winged Duck near forest pools.
Day 4: Morning at Nameri → Drive to Dirang
Enjoy early morning birding along forest streams — ideal for kingfishers, thrushes, flycatchers, and leaf warblers.
Then drive toward Dirang through dramatic mountain scenery, terraced fields, and riverside villages.
Region overview:
Dirang sits in a cold valley surrounded by evergreen and temperate forests and is home to Monpa tribal culture.
Target species: Tawny Fish-Owl, Blyth’s Kingfisher
Other notable birds: Crested Kingfisher, Himalayan Cutia (rare), White-throated Needletail
Day 5: Full Day Birding at Mandala Phudung
Mandala is one of Arunachal’s best high-altitude birding areas, full of bamboo thickets, conifer forests, and mossy undergrowth.
Habitat:
3,000–3,400 m elevation, bamboo belt, oak forests, rhododendron slopes.
Target species:
Broad-billed Warbler, Hume’s Bush Warbler, Brown-throated Fulvetta, White-breasted Parrotbill,
Scaly Laughingthrush, Red-headed Bullfinch, Pink-browed Rosefinch
Other highlights:
Slender-billed Scimitar-Babbler, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Himalayan Bluetail
Day 6: Dirang → Birding at Sela Pass (4,000m+)
Travel upward to the iconic Sela Pass, surrounded by alpine meadows, rocky cliffs, and glacial lakes. Temperatures are cold and birdlife is specialized.
Habitat:
Alpine tundra, rhododendron scrub, rocky slopes.
Target species: Blanford’s Rosefinch, Alpine Thrush, Himalayan Thrush
Possible rarities: Grandala (seasonal), Snow Pigeon, Fire-tailed Myzornis
Day 7: Sela → Descend to Tenga Valley
Search for birds along the pass before descending into lush mid-altitude forests and rushing streams of Tenga Valley.
Habitat:
Mixed broadleaf forest, bamboo thickets.
Target species: Bugun Liocichla (rare & restricted), Spotted Elachura
Other birds: Beautiful Nuthatch (chance), Barred Cuckoo-Dove
Day 8: Tenga → Lama Camp (Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary)
Enter the legendary Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, one of India’s most celebrated birding sites, with pristine forests and stunning scenery.
Habitat:
Montane evergreen forest, bamboo, dense valleys.
Target species: Bugun Liocichla, Ward’s Trogon, Gray Peacock-Pheasant
Other highlights:
Cutia, Fire-tailed Myzornis (seasonal), Golden-naped Finch
Day 9: Full Day Birding at Lama Camp
Explore trails filled with mixed flocks and bamboo specialists.
Target species:
Black-headed Shrike-Babbler, Spotted Elachura, Black-throated Parrotbill
Other possibilities:
Sikkim Wedge-billed Babbler, Coral-billed Scimitar-Babbler, Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler
Day 10: Lama Camp → Bompu Camp
Drive deeper into Eaglenest through dark, untouched forest. Bompu offers some of the best birding in the Eastern Himalayas.
Habitat:
Dense evergreen forest, mossy slopes, bamboo zones.
Target species: Rufous-throated Partridge, Purple Cochoa, Beautiful Sibia
Other special birds:
Ward’s Trogon (possible again), Black-faced Laughingthrush, Hodgson’s Frogmouth (chance)
Day 11: Bompu → Rompi Camp (Lower Eaglenest)
Explore lower elevation forests rich in skulkers, babblers, and thrushes.
Target species: Long-billed Thrush, Streak-throated Barwing, White-hooded Babbler
Other highlights: Lesser Rufous-headed Parrotbill, Slaty-bellied Tesia
Day 12: Descend to Khellong
Khellong marks the lowest elevation section of Eaglenest and has warm, humid forest perfect for bamboo-specialist species.
Target species: Gray-sided Laughingthrush, Black-crowned Scimitar-Babbler
Other interesting birds:
Puff-throated Babbler, Sultan Tit, Pale-headed Woodpecker
Day 13: Full Day Birding – Khellong Valley
A rich day of bamboo birding and lowland forest species.
Target species: Marsh Babbler, Collared Treepie
Other highlights:
Rufous-necked Hornbill (chance), Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush, Wreathed Hornbill
Day 14: Khellong → Drive to Kaziranga National
Drive to Kaziranga, famous for its grasslands, wetlands, and the world’s largest population of One-horned Rhinos.
Habitat:
Tall grasslands, elephant grass, semi-evergreen forest, floodplain wetlands.
Target species: Finn’s Weaver
Other highlights: Bengal Florican (seasonal), Pallas’s Fish Eagle
Day 15: Kaziranga → Drive to Tinsukia
After morning birding, drive east to Tinsukia — gateway to several important wetlands and the Dibru-Saikhowa region.
Target species: Western Hooded Pitta, Rusty-bellied Shortwing
Other possibilities:
Jerdon’s Babbler, Black-breasted Parrotbill (if habitat accessible)
Day 16: Full Day Birding – Tinsukia
Explore grasslands, river islands, swamp forest, and wetland edges.
Target species: Marsh Babbler, White-hooded Babbler, Collared Treepie
Also look for: Jerdon’s Bushchat, Swamp Francolin, Black-breasted Parrotbill (rare)
Day 17: Tinsukia → Drive to Mishmi Hills
Cross the Lohit River at the famous Digboi–Tezu route and enter the cloud-filled, mystical Mishmi Hills — one of India’s wildest forests.
Habitat:
Moss forests, bamboo, waterfalls, steep gorges.
Target species: Manipur Fulvetta, Black-throated Parrotbill
Other rare birds: Rufous-vented Laughingthrush, Wedge-billed Wren-Babbler
Day 18: Full Day Birding – Mishmi Hills
Bird along beautiful forested ridgelines, bamboo slopes, and rocky streams.
Target species: Gould’s Shortwing, Gray-lored Broadbill, Green Cochoa
Other specialties: Mishmi Wren-Babbler (elusive), Cachar Wedge-billed Babbler, Beautiful Sibia
Day 19: Mishmi Hills – Bamboo Zones
A second full day for rare specialties and forest skulkers.
Target species: Blue-fronted Robin, Pale-billed Parrotbill, Spotted Elachura
Other highlights: Scarlet Finch, Yellow-throated Fulvetta, Slaty-blue Flycatcher
Day 20: Drive to Dibrugarh Airport – Departure
Optional short birding session before driving to Dibrugarh Airport for your flight. End of an unforgettable Northeast India adventure.