Overview
For any first-time birdwatcher to India, nothing is better than a comprehensive birdwatching tour of North India. From lowland marshes and forests, to the Himalayan foothills, this tour covers a staggering variety of landscapes, each playing home to its own wild community. An easy, yet very fruitful, birdwatching tour, the Classic North India tour is great for birders, wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, and even first-time birdwatchers and families.
Meals: on own
Accommodation: Lemon Tree or similar
Your adventure begins as you touch down in New Delhi, a centre of civilization for millennia, and now the capital of India! You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel. Or maybe take in some of the historical sites like Humayun’s Tomb, India Gate, or Lodhi Gardens.
Overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast in Delhi and Dinner in Jaipur
Accommodation: Umaid Bhawan or similar
A morning of birding at Sultanpur National Park is the perfect way to kick off this tour. In winter, Sultanpur provides is home to a panorama of migratory and resident birds such as Sind Sparrow, Black-breasted Weaver, pelicans, and other waterbirds. From Sultanpur, we move to the royal city of Jaipur, a place rich with history. Jaipur is filled with various temples, palaces, forts, and other monuments hearkening back to the days of the Maharajas. An afternoon safari at Jhalana is the perfect quick addition to any Jaipur visit. Jhalana is a leopard- and bird-rich habitat ideal for a quick but fruitful safari.
Key species: Leopard, Sind Sparrow, Black-breasted Weaver, Indian Pitta, Spotted Owlet, Jungle Nightjar
Overnight stay
Meals: Breakfast in Jaipur, Lunch and Dinner in Ranthambore
Accommodation: Shergarh Resort or similar
Post breakfast, we move to Ranthambore National Park. Once the hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur and the British, it was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1955 and a National Park in 1980. Ranthambhore is arguably one of the best wildlife reserves in North India to spot a tiger. An afternoon safari is the ideal introduction to the tiger reserve.
Key species: Tiger, Leopard, Brown Fish Owl, Indian Eagle-Owl, Indian Peafowl, Rufous Treepie.
Overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Shergarh Resort or similar
Morning and afternoon jeep safaris to the National Park for Tiger tracking and wildlife viewing.
Overnight stay.
Key species: Tiger, Leopard, Golden Jackal, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Indian Peafowl, Painted Spurfowl, Brown Fish Owl, Indian Eagle-Owl, Indian Vulture, Red-headed Vulture.
Meals: Breakfast in Ranthambore, Lunch and Dinner in Bharatpur
Accommodation: Kadamb Kunj or Similar
From the tiger-populated forests of Ranthambhore, we move to Keoladeo National Park, more popularly known as Bharatpur. One of the smallest national parks in the country at just 29 sq. km, Bharatpur has a variety of habitats and is the winter home of over 350 species of birds.
Key species: Egyptian Vulture, Indian Peafowl, Greater Coucal, Painted Stork, Great White Pelican, Crested Serpent Eagle.
Overnight stay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Kadamb Kunj or Similar
A full day of birdwatching at Bharatpur.
Key species: Great White Pelican, Ruddy Shelduck, Eurasian Spoonbill, White-breasted Waterhen, Oriental Darter, Knob-billed Duck, Brown Hawk-Owl, Rufous Treepie.
Overnight stay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Kadamb Kunj or Similar
A day trip to the National Chambal Sanctuary on the Chambal River is a perfect addition to any visit to Bharatpur. Home to the endangered Gharial (or Fish-eating Crocodile), the river is also home to a wide variety of aquatic birds.
Key species: Gharial, Gangetic Dolphin, Indian Skimmer, Black-bellied Tern, River Tern, Great White Pelican
Overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast in Bharatpur Lunch in Agra and Dinner on own
Accommodation: Park Inn or similar
It’s time to bid adieu to Bharatpur and move back to Noida. En route we stop at the city of Agra to admire one of India’s most famous monuments – the Taj Mahal. Located on the Yamuna River, the Taj Mahal was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
Overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast in Noida, Packed Lunch and Dinner in Pangot
Accommodation: Jungle Lore Birding Lodge or similar or similar
It’s time to move into the Himalayas to the tiny village of Pangot. Just 10km from the popular hill station of Nainital, Pangot is an incredible place for birdwatching. The road from to Pangot passes through mixed forests of thick oak, pine and rhododendron. Perennial creeks and streams crisscross the area, adding to its beauty. If time permits, we can stop and learn about the community eco-tourism project at Chhoti Haldwani.
Key species: Blue Whistling Thrush, Greater Yellownape, Himalayan Bulbul, White-throated Laughingthrush, Streaked Laughingthrush
Overnight stay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Jungle Lore Birding Lodge or similar
Full day of birding at Pangot.
Key species: Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Hill Partridge, Kalij Pheasant, Striated Laughingthrush, Grey-hooded Warbler, Greater Yellownape, Red-billed Blue Magpie
Overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner in Pangot
Accommodation: Jungle Lore Birding Lodge or other neighboring lodges
Second full day of birding at Pangot.
Key species: Whiskered Yuhina, Brown Wood Owl, Koklass Pheasant, Cheer Pheasant, Rufous-throated Partridge, Black Francolin
Overnight stay
Meals: Breakfast in Pangot, Packed Lunch & Dinner in Sat Tal
Accommodation: Hotel Lavanya or similar
From one Himalayan village to another, we continue our mountain birding odyssey. From Pangot, we move today to Sat Tal, another birding paradise, named after the seven lakes in the area.
Key species: Slaty-headed Parakeet, Red-billed Leiothrix, Blue-winged Minla, Ashy Bulbul, Mountain Bulbul
Overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast in Sat Tal, Lunch and Dinner in Corbett National Park
Accommodation: Tiger Camp
After our bird-filled days, we return to our tiger quest. We will travel down the mountains to Corbett National Park. Established in 1936 as Hailey National Park in order to protect tigers and their habitat, Corbett National Park is India’s oldest national park. In the 1970s, it also became the first national park to come under the Project Tiger initiative. An evening of birding along the Kosi River with a guide will help you get acquainted to the birdlife of the park.
Key species: Ibisbill, Striated Heron, Little Cormorant, Indian Cormorant, Grey Heron, Western Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail
Overnight stay
Meals: Breakfast in Tiger Camp, Lunch and Dinner in Dhikala
Accommodation: Dhikala Forest Lodge
Morning and evening jeep safaris in Corbett National Park.
Key species: Tiger, Asiatic Elephant, Great Hornbill, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Long-tailed Broadbill
Overnight stay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch in Dhikala and Dinner in Tiger Camp
Accommodation: Tiger Camp
Morning Safari in Dhikala, Checkout from the lodge at noon. Afternoon drive back to Tiger Camp in the slow pace. Arrive Tiger Camp in the late afternoon / early evening.
Overnight stay
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: None
After a productive morning birding session in Kumaria, we will move out of the Himalayas and back to Delhi. Say goodbye to the Himalayan birds and animals you’ve been admiring for the last few days. We’re sure they’ll be along the road to see you off.
Included
- Accommodations on twin sharing basis Meals as per the itinerary
- Jungle visits in Jhalana Leopard Park, with entrance fee & park guide Jungle visits in Ranthambhore National Park, with entrance fee & park guide
- Jungle visits in Corbett National Park, with 4WD, entrance fee & park guide Birding in Bharatpur on Cycle Rickshaws with entrance fees.
- Boat Safari in Chambal with entrance fees. Taj Mahal visit with the Guide and with entrance fees.
- Transport in a private vehicle for all long and short journeys Dedicated Guide
- A Travel Kit Government tax
Video
Location
Stories
Ladakh
The Black-necked Crane is one of the many sought-after species for birders visiting Ladakh. The grace of cranes has inspired stories, songs, and even artwork throughout the ages.
Gir National Park Gujarat
Sometimes it's not just the species spotted but also the amazing moments. Some of our guests had the unique opportunity to witness the mating of Asiatic Lions in the Gir Forest, truly a special moment.
Delhi
Surajpur is an amazing wetland close to the nation’s capital. Apart from being one of the monsoon homes for the Bristled Grassbird, it is also home to another sought-after species: the Bengal Bush Lark.
Rajasthan
One advantage of living near the birding hotspot of Bharatpur is that you can see some amazing birds, like the graceful Sarus Crane, in your backyard during this lockdown
