Rare Wildlife and Pheasants of the Indian Himalayas

Meals: On Own
Accommodation: Hotel Shanti Palace

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. After checking in, we can proceed to our first birding destination, Sultanpur National Park, for a day of birding.

Overnight stay.

Meals: Breafast and Dinner
Accommodation: Walterre Resort

After an early breakfast, you will check out and drive to Dehradun. From Dehradun, you move a little further to Walterre, an elegant boutique bungalow designed for birders, arriving in time for lunch. We will spend the rest of the day birdwatching in the Doon Valley.

Dinner and overnight stay at Walterre Resort.

Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Walterre Resort

We have a full day of birdwatching today in Mussoorie, and its surroundings. We will also visit Jabarkhet Nature Reserve for a nature trek and some Himalayan bird watching. The forests of Jabarkhet and the surrounding areas have immense ecological values both for the biodiversity they harbour and the services they provide. As one of the few remaining natural forest patches near Mussoorie with connections to the Shivalik Hills and the middle Himalayas, they form an important wildlife corridor. They also sustain a critical water source that feeds into the Kolti Nala, which is the source of water supply for a large section of Mussoorie residents.

In the evening return back to the resort.

Dinner and Overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Magpie Jungle Camp

We will check out after an early breakfast and head to Chopta. The road to Chopta runs along the Ganga and Alaknanda Rivers before turning into the Mandakini valley in Rudraprayag . On arrival at the Magpie Jungle Camp, we will have some refreshments. In the evening, one can take a walk at the camp’s grassland patches for acclimatization or visit some of the nearby places for a short walk.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Magpie Jungle Camp

Post breakfast, we can drive down to Chopta base (about 8km from our lodge) to start the trek for Tungnath and Chandrashila. The Tungnath Temple is the highest Shiva temple in the world and the complete trek is covered with lush green meadows and one can see the entire range of snow-clad Himalayas. The trek is also a great route to look out for Snow Partridge, European Goldfinch, Red-fronted Rosefinch, and more Himalayan birds.

After reaching Tungnath, one can enjoy the view of the Himalayan ranges and, after a little refreshment, we can move further for Chandrashila, where we can enjoy a 180-degree panoramic view of the Himalayas.

Overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Magpie Jungle Camp

We have a full day of birding in and around Chopta today to look for targets. Chopta is probably the best and most easily accessible place in India to see Himalayan Monal, as well as other birds like Kalij and Koklass Pheasants, Brown Dipper, nuthatches, and laughingthrushes.

Overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Rest House

Today, we will drive from Chopta to Gwaldam. Upon reaching Gwaldam, we have the rest of the day at leisure. Located on the border of the Kumaon and Garhwal regions, Gwaldam has historically been a place of conflict between the two ancient kingdoms. There are a number of picnic and devotional spots in the area like Badhangari, Gwaldam Naag, Angyari Mahadev, Machchi Taal, Buddha Temple, and the river sites of Pindar, and a wildlife rich area along the Roopkund road.

Overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Lavanya

We have time for a morning birdwatching session at Gwaldam. After breakfast, we will check out and drive to Sat Tal with a packed lunch, where we will arrive by evening after checking out the many birding stops along the way.

Dinner and overnight stay at Lavanya Resort. 

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 in Sat Tal
Accommodation: Hotel Lavanya 

We have a full day of birding today in Sat Tal to look for our targets. Sat Tal, named after the seven lakes in the area, is a birding paradise, with species such as Blue-winged Minla, Ashy Bulbul, Mountain Bulbul, Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush, and more, found here.

Overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Jungle Lore Birding Lodge

We have an early morning birding session today in Sat Tal. After lunch, from one Himalayan village to another, we continue our mountain birding odyssey, and move to Pangot, where we will spend the rest of the day birdwatching.
 

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 and Dinner
Accommodation: Jungle Lore Birding Lodge

We have a full day of birding today at Pangot to look for our targets. Around 250 bird species have been recorded in this area, and one can see a variety of Himalayan species like Himalayan Vulture, Blue-winged Minla, Spotted & Slaty-backed Forktails, Blue Whistling Thrush, Rufous-bellied and Himalayan Woodpeckers, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Kalij Pheasant, and a variety of other species.

Overnight stay

Meals: Breakfast in Pangot, Lunch & Dinner in Tiger Camp
Accommodation: Tiger Camp

Today, we will proceed to Corbett National Park. Upon reaching, we will check in into our resort, and spend the rest of the day birding in Kumeria. Located near the Corbett National Park, Kumeria is a reserve forest rich in bird diversity. From the large Great Slaty Woodpeckers and Oriental Pied Hornbills, to the small Himalayan Bulbuls and warblers, and everything in between, Kumeria is home to birds of all shapes, sizes, and colours.

Overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast in Tiger Camp, Lunch and Dinner in Dhikala
Accommodation: Dhikala Forest Lodge

After breakfast, leave for your morning and afternoon safaris through Dhikala zone on an open vehicle. Arrive at the main tourist complex at Dhikala, where you can capture the panoramic expanse of the park on your camera. An exciting drive through the unforgettable, sylvan beauty of the Khinanauli range offers wildlife viewing in plenty and a chance sighting of the elusive tiger. Return to the tourist complex. Enjoy a wildlife film screening. You will be spending the night in the Dhikala Forest Rest House.

Note: Dhikala Forest Rest House is a basic lodge, and will not be luxurious.

Meals: Breakfast in Dhikala, Lunch in Tiger Camp
Accommodation: None

Depart on a morning safari through the open “chaurs” (grasslands) and mixed forests, and then drive back to Tiger Camp. The drive is a safari in itself. Arrive at Tiger Camp for late lunch.

After lunch, we will drive back to Delhi, where you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.