The Western Himalayas is rich in its birdlife and some 500 species of birds are found in this region. The other hotspot area is Eastern Himalayas, one of the richest bird areas in India where some 536 bird species have been identified (Ali 1977).
New Delhi – Kolkata – Sunderban – Bagdogra – Gozoldoba – Gorumara – Lava – Darjeeling – Manebhanjan – Sandakhphu – Garibans – Tonglu – Megma – Darjeeling- Kolkata
17 nights / 18 days
To view animals in wild habitat Indian Nature Tours uses transport, ranging from elephants, quite often jeeps, canters, variety of boats and rickshaws are very interesting. Thus, the visitors get to see these rare fauna from close quarters in their own surroundings. It is just not about visiting National Parks in India, it is about being there at the right time, with the right people, to know in advance what to expect, to be looked after well in a strange land, and to take back home memories bag full, is like traveling with Indian Nature Tours.
On arrival at New Delhi/Kolkata our Guide will receive you at the airport. We will spend a few hours in Kolkata looking for the Bengal Bushlark, Fulvous Whistling Ducks and Swinhoe’s Snipe or the Blunt-winged Warbler and Rusty-rumped Warbler (according to season) then we drive 2-1/2 hrs to Sonakhali and cruise to Sunderban Tiger Reserve. We stay at our own Sunderban Jungle Camp.
We spend the day cruising through the creeks looking for the seven species of kingfishers, including the Brown-winged, Collared and Ruddy Kingfisher.
The day is spend cruising through the creeks of the Reserve and in the villages looking for Loten’s, Purple and Purple-rumped Sunbirds etc.
Early Morning we leave for Dumdum and fly to Bagdogra and drive to Gozoldoba Barrage where we will try to locate the Ferruginous Pochard, Eastern Marsh Harrier, Osprey, Great Crested Grebe etc. We stay overnight at Gorumara Jungle Lodge.
We will visit the small 80 km2 Gorumara National Park early morning and see the Green Imperial, Pintailed, Wedge-tailed, Pompadour and Yellow-footed Green Pigeons, we will also try to spot the Collared Falconet, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, etc. In the afternoon we will visit Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary and look out for Sultan Tits, Lesser Adjutants etc. We stay overnight Gorumara Jungle Camp.
We bird on the other Birding Trailand look for the Lesser Rachet-tailed, Greater Rachet-tailed and Spangled Drongo. We will also look for the Long-tailed Broadbills, Fairy Bluebird and Large Wood Shrike. Then we drive to Lava. The late afternoon will be spend birding at Lava.
We will spend birding at various birding trails around Lava and Neora Valley National Park. Here we will look for the Mountain Hawk and Black Eagle, Khaleej Pheasants, Black-throated Parrotbills, Barwings, Shrike-babblers, Yuhinas, Shortwings, Redstarts, etc.
We will bird around the Lava in the morning and drive to Darjeeling.
We will spend the day birding at aTiger Hill looking for Spotted Laughingthrush, Broad-billed Warbler, or the enigmatic Gould’s Shortwing.
We will bird watch on the way down to Manebhanjan and drive all the way to Sandakhphu at 12000 ft.
The whole day is spend birding at and around Sandakhphu. Here we will look for Spotted Nutcracker, Dark-breasted, Beautiful, Pink-browed and Dark-rumped Rosefinch.
We trek down to spend the day birding on the route. The overnight in fully serviced tents.
We spend the day birding at Gairibans looking for Fire-tailed Myzornis, Red-headed Bullfinch or the Yellow-browed Tit. The overnight fully serviced tents.
We spend the day at Tonglu and Megma and look for Little Bunting etc.
We drive from Tonglu to Darjeeling.
The morning will be spend birding in Darjeeling town and then we head back for Bagdogra for New Delhi or Kolkata where you will be transferred to International Airport or to the City Centre.
