10 Days Birding the Himalayan Foothills
Delhi-Sat Tal-Pangot (Nainital)-Corbett National Park-Delhi
Duration: 10 days & 9 nights. This tour can be customized. This tour is designed for birding in the central Himalayan region. One also enjoys the experience tiger tracking on elephant back in Corbett National Park. Best time: November to April
Day 1: New Delhi
You will be met and transferred to the hotel.
Overnight: Good Standard Hotel
Day 2 & 3: Sat Tal
Drive in the morning to Sat Tal (7 hours). Afternoon birding near the lodge with your guide. The habitat offers many attractive species including Red-billed Leothrix and Siberian Rubythroat, etc. This scattered and deliberately undeveloped area is one of the most pleasant destinations.
Target Species: White-crested & White-throated Laughingthrush, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Red-billed Leothrix, Siberian Rubythroat and Rock Bunting.
Overnight: in a camp with en suite facility
Day 4: Sat Tal-Pangot
Moving on to Pangot birding en route. You will be transferred to Pangot (2-hr.), a journey through the mountain roads. Stopping along the way to look for riverine and hill country birds.
Target Species: Rufous-chinned Thrush, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Greater Yellow-naped Flameback, Speckled Piculet, Blue Whistling-thrush, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Blue-capped Redstart, White capped Water Redstart etc.
Overnight: Jungle Lore Birding Lodge
Day 5 & 6: Pangot
Birding at Pangot, Baggar, Timla Pani, Cheena Peak & Nainital. Streaked laughing thrush is a common garden bird here.
A trail leads up to Cheena Peak at 2610 meters offers a very good birding area. The viewpoint is alive with birds.
Target Species: Slaty-headed & Red-breasted Parakeet, Grey Bushchat, Long-tailed & Grey-backed Shrike, Besra, Chestnut-bellied Rock-thrush, Streaked Laughing-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, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker etc.
Overnight: Jungle Lore Birding Lodge
Day 7: 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 including some cracking birds!.
Drive to Dhikala tourism zone. Arrive at the main tourist complex in the evening.
Target Species: Great Hornbill, Pallas's, 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 and Siberian Rubythroat
Overnight: Dhikala Tourist Complex
Day 8: Corbett National Park
Morning and afternoon visit to the grasslands & forested area for birding.
Visit the grasslands for its special birds.
Overnight: Dhikala Forest Lodge
Target Species: Jungle Owlet, Spot-bellied Owl, Common Stonechat, Black Francolin, Purple & Crimson Sunbird, Golden-fronted & Orange-bellied Leafbird, Black-shouldered Kite, Hen Harrier, Changeable Hawk-eagle, Chestnut-tailed Starling, Hodgson’s Bushchat etc.
Day 9: Corbett National Park
Drive to Tiger Camp stopping en route for birding.
Some of the best birding areas of Dhikala are Sambhar Road and Khinanauli.
Afternoon birding at Kumeria.
Target Species: Great Slaty Woodpecker, Great Hornbill, Puff-throated Babbler, White-rumped shama, Pallas's Fish Eagle etc.
Overnight: Tiger Camp Cottages.
Day 10: Corbett National Park-Delhi
You will explore the river edge at Kumeria for riverine species. Other species are possible in the forest.
Drive back to Delhi at noon.
Arrive Delhi in the evening (6-hour drive).
Transfer to the airport.
Target Species: Crested Treeswift, Spangled Drongo, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Tawny & Brown Fish Owl, Asian Barred Owlet, Plumbeous Redstart, Brown Dipper and the three species of forktails.
Tour Price: Rate of Exchange UK £1 = INR 70 will apply
2 paying persons: UK £ 1285 per person; 4 paying persons: UK £ 1100 per person; 6 paying persons: UK £ 1000 per person; 8 paying persons: UK £ 975 per person; 10 paying persons: UK £ 950 per person; 12 paying persons: UK £ 930 per person
Single room supplement: UK £ 450
The price is valid from Oct 2011 to June 2012
Price includes: Land transport, accommodation, meals as per the itinerary, guided birding, permits, safaris.
Price excludes: International and domestic flights, Indian visa, travel insurance, tips, laundry, phone calls, all drinks, bottled water, extra snacks and meals not specified above, camera/video (if applicable), fee at monuments etc.