14 Days Birding North India
Corbett National Park, Pangot (Nainital), Sat Tal, Chambal, Bharatpur, Ranthambhor NP
This tour is designed for fast pace birding in northern region of India. This has proven to be an extremely productive tour. This tour can be customized. Best time: November to April.
Day 1: New Delhi
You will be met and transferred to the hotel.
Overnight: Good Standard Hotel
Day 2: New Delhi-Sat Tal
Drive in the morning to Sat Tal (7 hours).
Afternoon birding near the lodge. This scattered and deliberately undeveloped area is one of the most pleasant destinations.
Target Species: White-crested Laughingthrush, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Red-billed Leothrix, Siberian Rubythroat, Rock Bunting etc.
Overnight: In a camp
Day 3: Sat Tal-Pangot
A 2-hout transfer to Pangot along mountain roads birding along the way then Birding around Pangot.
Target Species: Rufous-Chinned Thrush, Rufous-Breasted Accentor, Greater Yellow-Naped Flameback, Speckled Piculet, Blue Whistling Thrush, Red-Billed Blue Magpie, Blue-Capped Redstart and White Capped Water Redstart.
Overnight: Jungle Lore Birding Lodge.
Day 4 & 5: Pangot
Birding at Pangot, Baggar, Timla Pani, Cheena Peak & Nainital. One can see many terrific birds; Streaked Laughingthrush is a common garden bird here. Cheena Peak at 2610 meters is also alive with birds!
Target Species: Streaked Laughing Thrush, Slaty-Headed & Red-Breasted Parakeet, Grey Bushchat, Long-Tailed & Grey-backed Shrike, Common Kestrel, Besra, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush, Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, White-throated Laughing Thrush, Grey-winged Blackbird, Green-backed Tit, Hill Barbet, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Black-chinned Babbler, Black-headed & Maroon Oriole, Himalayan Griffon Vulture, Lammergeyer, Khalij, Koklas & Cheer Pheasant, Crimson Sunbird and Fire-Breasted Flowerpecker.
Overnight: Jungle Lore Birding Lodge.
Day 6: Pangot-Corbett National Park
Drive to Corbett National Park in the morning stopping en route for birding at Corbett Falls. Corbett Tiger reserve has spectacular avifauna diversity. Drive to Dhikala tourism zone. Arrive at the main tourist complex in the evening.
Target Species: Great Hornbill, Pallas's Fish Eagle, Grey-headed & Lesser Fish Eagle, Red-collared Falconet, Tawny Fish Owl, Scaly-bellied Woodpecker, Red-breasted Parakeet, Himalayan Swiftlet, Stork-billed & Crested Kingfisher & White-tailed & Siberian Rubythroat.
Overnight: Dhikala Tourist Complex
Day 7: Corbett National Park
Morning and afternoon visit to the grasslands & forested area for birding. We will visit the grasslands for the special birds there.
Target Species: Common Stonechat, Black Francolin, Purple A& Crimson Sunbird, Golden-fronted & Orange-bellied Leafbird, Black-shouldered Kite, Hen Harrier, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Chestnut-tailed Starling, Hodgson’s Bushchat Etc.
Overnight: Tiger Camp
Day 8: Corbett National Park-Noida
You will explore the river edge at Kumeria for riverine species etc. Other species that are possible in the forest. Drive to Noida in the afternoon (6 hours).
Target Species: Tawny & Brown Fish Owl, Asian Barred Owlet, Plumbeous Redstart, Brown Dipper & The Three Species Of Forktails, Crested Tree Swift, Spangled Drongo, Blue-bearded Bee-Eater Etc.
Overnight: Good Standard Hotel
Day 9: Noida-Agra-National Chambal Sanctuary
Transfer to Chambal early in the morning (5-hour drive) via Agra.
Afternoon boat cruise with a guide to see the riverine special birds and other taxa such as Fish-eating Crocodile and Marsh Mugger; Gangetic Dolphin; turtles etc.
Target Species: Indian Skimmer, Black-bellied Tern, flocks of migratory waterfowl, cranes such as Common, Demoiselle and Sarus;
Overnight: Chambal Safari Lodge
Day 10 & 11: Bharatpur
Transfer to Bharatpur late in the morning calling in Taj Mahal & Fatehpur Sikri en route (optional).
Full days of birding in Keoladeo Ghana National Park on foot and cycle rickshaws with a birding guide.
Overnight: Good Standard Hotel
Day 12: Bharatpur-Ranthambhor NP
Drive to Ranthambhor National Park (5 hours) in the morning stopping en route at Bund Baretha for birding.
Afternoon birding outside Ranthambhor National Park and around the resort.
Target Species: Grey Francolin, Sirkeer Malkoha, Painted Sandgrouse, Indian Courser, Yellow-Wattled Lapwing, Southern Grey Shrike, Isabelline Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Variable Wheatear, Ashy-Crowned Sparrow Lark, Greater Short-Toed Lark, Blue Rock Thrush etc.
Overnight: in the resort
Day 13: Ranthambhor National Park
Morning & afternoon tiger-tracking & birding in Ranthambhor National Park in open trucks and jeeps (if available). You can have the option of going to the park for tiger-tracking or visiting the 1000-year old fort.
Overnight: in the resort
Day 14: Ranthambhor National Park-Delhi
Connecting train from Sawai Madhopur (railhead for Ranthambhor National Park) at 0700 hours to New Delhi. Arrive at 1230 hours.
You will be met and transferred to the hotel (room for wash & change in a small hotel). One can have the option of city tour or birding in the city forest or Sultanpur wetlands on own, the vehicle and the driver will be at your disposal till the airport departure.
Connecting flight late evening on return / onward destination.
Tour Price: Rate of Exchange UK £1 = INR 70 will apply
2 paying persons: UK £ 1950 per person; 4 paying persons: UK £ 1700 per person; 6 paying persons: UK £ 1675 per person;
8 paying persons: UK £ 1625 per person; 10 paying persons: UK £ 1575 per person; 12 paying persons: UK £ 1525 per person;
Single room supplement: UK £ 520
The price is valid from Oct 2011 to June 2012
Price includes: land transport, accommodation, birding with guides, safaris in 4WD & a boat cruise in Chambal, meals as per the itinerary, an elephant ride.
Price excludes: Flights, Indian visa, travel insurance, park entry fee, tips, laundry, phone calls, all drinks, extra snacks and meals not specified above, camera/video (if applicable) fee etc.