Overview
The Central Himalayan Birding Tour is ideal for wildlife enthusiasts, birdwatchers, and photographers. Not only does it cover multiple locations, but also multiple landscapes and terrains, in order to maximise your number of species.
Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, Corbett is not only home to tigers, but also Asiatic Elephant, several deer species, and other animals like Jungle Cat, Yellow-throated Marten, and more. Birdwatchers are drawn to the abundant bird diversity of the park, with species like Great Hornbill, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Lineated and Brown-headed Barbets, Indian and Hooded Pittas, Black Francolin, Red Junglefowl, and many more.
Apart from Corbett, you also get the chance to explore multiple locations further up in the mountains, including the birding Edens of Sat Tal, Pangot, and Munsiyari, the lush deodar pine forests of Jageshwar, and everything in between!
From lush oak and pine forests, to farmland, riversides, and alpine meadows, these locations not only vary in habitat, but also in altitudes, meaning that you can cover the maximum number of species, like Blue Whistling and Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrushes, Eurasian and Black-headed Jays, Western Tragopan, Kalij, Koklass and Cheer Pheasants, and more, in the least amount of time, optimising your birdwatching checklist.
Meals: On Own
Accommodation: Hotel Shanti Palace or similar
Arrive Delhi Airport, you will be met by Asian Adventures representative and transfer to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Jungle Lore Birding Lodge
You will be met and taken to Pangot (306 km / 8 hr.), a journey that takes you on one of the World's more spectacular mountain roads as we climb up into the Kumaon Hills on our way to this delightful ‘lake city’. Afternoon birding with a guide near the lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Jungle Lore Birding Lodge
Birding at Pangot, Baggar, Timla Pani, Cheena Peak & Nainital
Overnight stay
One can see Cheer, Koklas and Khalij, Crested Serpent-eagle, Mountain Hawk-eagle, Woodpeckers such as Brown-fronted, Stripe Breasted, Rufous-bellied etc. Thrushes such as Dark- throated, Mistle etc. Striated Prinia can be see in the terraced fields. Warblers such as Tickell's Leaf-warbler, Greenish, Golden-spectacled, Grey-hooded. Flycatchers such as Asian Brown, Rusty Tailed, Ultramarine, Verditer, Tickell's Blue, Rufous-bellied Niltava etc., Orange-flanked Bush Robin, Blue-capped Redstart Laughingthrushes such as White-throated, Striated & Streaked, Chestnut-crowned etc. Look for Accentor, Upland Pipit, Blue Winged Minla, Whiskered Yuhina etc. Slaty-headed & Red-breasted Parakeet, Grey Bushchat, Long-tailed & Grey-backed Shrike, Common Kestrel, Besra, Chestnut Bellied Rock Thrush etc. Streaked Laughingthrush is a common garden bird here
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: V Resort or similar
Drive in the morning to Sat Tal (39 km / 2 hr.)
Overnight stay
The habitat offers species such as:
White-crested Laughing Thrush, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Red-billed Leothrix, Siberian Rubythroat, Rock Bunting etc. This scattered and deliberately undeveloped area is one of the most pleasant destinations. Look for Rufous-chinned & White Crested Laughing Thrush, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Greater Yellow-naped Flameback, Speckled Piculet, Golden Bush Robin etc
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Van Sarai
Drive in the morning to Jageshwar (97 km / 3.5 hr.). This scattered and deliberately undeveloped area is one of the most pleasant destinations. The tree cover is of deodar and is relatively unexplored by birders.
Overnight stay
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner (Lunch on own on the way)
Accommodation: The Last Frontier’ in thatch & stone cottages.
Drive to Munsiyari (194 km / 7 hr.) in the morning stopping en route for birding.
Overnight stay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: The Last Frontier’ in thatch & stone cottages.
Three days in Munsyari to explore Gori River, Balanti Farms, alpine meadows, Kala Muni and Maheshwari Kund.
Overnight stay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Chestnut Grove
Drive early morning to Vijaypur (181 km / 6 hr.), stopping en route to check out the thick oak forest just after Chaukhori. Birding in Ramganga River at Nachani can be very rewarding for water birds such as River Lapwings, Waders, Mergansers and other Waterfowl.
Overnight stay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Holm Farms
Drive to Ranikhet (6 hours) in the morning stopping en route for birding at Kausani. Rest of the birding around Ranikhet. Ranikhet is good for raptors.
Overnight stay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Tiger Camp
Drive to Corbett National Park in the morning stopping en route for birding at Kumeria. Corbett Tiger reserve has spectacular avifauna diversity.
Overnight stay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Tiger Camp
Today’s two safaris into the park will focus on birds and any indication of Tiger presence can also lead us to a great sighting of this big cat etc.
Overnight stay
Species:
Great Hornbill, Pallas's Fish Eagle, Red-collared Falconet etc. are some of the rare birds that are found in Corbett. More birds include Jungle Owlet, Scaly-bellied Woodpecker, Red-breasted Parakeet, Himalayan Swiftlet, Stork-billed & Crested Kingfisher and White-tailed & Siberian Rubythroat
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Shanti Palace or similar
Morning safari to Jhirna range forest. Drive back to Delhi at noon. Arrive Delhi in the evening (7-8-hour drive). Arrive Delhi in the late evening.
Overnight stay
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: None
Morning transfer to Delhi airport to connect flight back to home. Tour ends with happy notes
Included
- Accommodation on twin sharing basis Meals as per the itinerary
- Guided birding Two Jungle visits in Corbett National Park in 4WDs
- All surface transfers by a private vehicle All taxes
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.
Bandhavgarh
Somewhere or the other, we've all heard that we need to get in touch with our inner child. With such a playful nature, it seems these subadult tigers in Bandhavgarh have beaten us to it.
Andamans
The Andaman Teal, previously considered a subspecies of the Sunda Teal, is one of the many sought-after endemics that the islands have to offer.
Uttarakhand
A myriad of beautiful flowers are in bloom at Jungle Lore Birding Lodge, not only enhancing the beauty of the lodge, but attracting many nectar- and insect-feeding birds
