SUNDARBAN

Day 01:  Kolkata to Sundarbans : Visit Sajnekhali Watchtower

• Reporting time : Between 8:30 hrs – 09:00 hrs.

• Tour Departure at: 9:15 – 09:30 hrs

• Nearest landmark: Bhowanipur Police Station

Start at 9:15 – 09:30 hrs from Kolkata in an AC vehicle and transfer to Sonakhali/Godhkhali/Jharkhali, a journey of about 3.5 hrs by surface transfer.

Spl Note: with us, your Sunderbans Cruise starts the moment you reach Godhkhali. We do not inconveniencing you by making you cross the river from Godhkhali to Gosaba on a Kheya (A local ferry) as some tour operators do and then make you ride a local rickshaw on bumpy roads for about 45 minutes to reach Pakhiralaya or to your resort. We do not save the cost of hiring a boat on Day 1. For us, your comfort is of utmost importance and not saving costs.

Board the waiting motor Steamer at the Jetty for your journey to the World’s largest Mangrove forest, the Sunderbans Islands and the homeland of the Royal Bengal Tiger.

What makes the Sundarbans unique is that unlike other Tiger Reserves in India or abroad, there is no Jeep safari or Elephant Safari in Sundarbans. Here spotting the tiger is through boat journey. You can choose to call it a Boat Safari. In fact you are always on the Boat Safari in Sundarbans whenever you are in the Forests of Sundarbans.

Our Sundarban Tiger Reserve approved guide who awaits your arrival on the Steamer apprises you and keeps on providing information  about this Unique Ecosystem as the boat cruises down the rivers Hogol, Gomar, Durgaduni and Gumdi and in about an hour and a half you would reach the Sajnekhali watchtower.

Enroute enjoy birding and game cruise and try to sight wildlife from the Sajnekhali watchtower and also visit the Sajnekhali Museum, the River Terrapin Pond and Mangrove Interpretation Centre.

Thereafter enjoy the Sunset over the horizon outside the forest of Sundarbans and return to the resort for the night stay.

Overnight stay would be at the resort/Boat depending upon your prior choice.

Breakfast (Packed on the way)

Day 02:  Sundarban Tiger Reserve cruise and Sudhanyakhali Watchtower

Early in the morning, you may visit the village around the resort and then start your journey to the Sundarban Tiger Reserve. This involves cruising through the creeks of Pirkhali and visiting the watchtower of Sudhanyakhali and Jharkhali (Optional).

Most of the tigers are sighted from the Sudhanyakhali Watchtower. Some other wildlife like axis deers, wild boars and crocodiles may also be seen from this watch tower.

This watch tower has a capacity to host 25 persons at a time. There is a sweet water pond where animals come to drink water. Behind the pond are long stretches of observation lines, bereft of any vegetation where one can sight animals from a distance. The Brahmini Kite, Brown Winged Kingfisher, Jungle cat as well as the Monitor lizards is very often sighted from the Sudhanyakhali Watchtower. Then we may follow any of the following two options:

• Option 1: Thereafter, we can opt to cruise through the creeks and canals of the Sundarban Tiger Reserve looking for a chance to spot the Royal Bengal Tiger and other wild animals and after lunch on the boat, at around 12:00 – 12:30 hrs, depart for Godhkhali.

OR

• Option 2 (Depending upon India Beacons choice): Visit the Jharkhali watchtower and depart from Jharkhali. After lunch on the boat, at around 12:00 – 12:30 hrs, we depart for our last destination, Jharkhali. At Jharkhali, visit Asia’s first Tiger Hospital wherein at present two tigers are kept for treatment and recuperation.

Arrive at Kolkata by about 16:30 / 17:00 hrs. Your Sundarban tour ends with sweet memories.