Bird Watching Tour in Nepal
Detail Itinerary
Day 1 Kathmandu 1350m
Prior to your landing in Kathmandu, you should have some excellent views of the Himalayas eastwards of Dhaulagiri. After checking into your hotel you will be briefed by your Tour leader on your programme.
Day 2 & 3 Phulchowki 1520-2760 m.
After a very early breakfast we depart for Phulchowki 18km southeast of Kathmandu. Pulchowki at 2760m is the highest of the mountains encircling the Kathmandu valley and provides an ideal introduction to the birds of Nepal. Regularly recorded resident species include Besra, Black Eagle, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Kalij Pheasant, Common Hill Partridge, Ashy Woodpigeon, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Mountain Scops Owl, Collared Owlet, Golden-throated Barbet, Speckled Piculet, Crimson-breasted Pied and Rufous-bellied Pied Woodpeckers, Grey-chinned Minivet, Striated Bulbul, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Spotted Forktail, Chestnut-headed and grey-bellied Tesias, Chestnut-crowned and black faced Warblers, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Lesser Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler, Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler, Grey-throated and Spiny Babblers, White-crested, striated, Rufous-chinned and grey-sided Laughing thrushes, Red-billed Leiothrix, Cuttia, White-browed Green and Black-eared Shrike-Babblers, Hoary Barwing, Blue-winged Minla, Nepal Fulvetta, Yellow-browed Tit, Brown-throated Treecreeper, Black-throated Sunbird, Maroon Oriole, Eurasian and Lancelated Jays, Red-billed Blue Magpie and Brown Bullfinch. A further 55 species have been known to visit the area as migrators or occasional visitors. Phulchowki’s forests are also very rich in flora and butterflies. Mammals include Leopard, Yellow-throated Marten and Orange-bellied Squirrel. After this fine introduction to Nepali Birds, we will return to our hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 4 By Road to Pokhara
A scenic drive of approximately 7 hours plus a stop for lunch at Mugling beside the Trisuli River. The southern side of the lake is covered in extensive forest with rich bird life and excellent views of the Annapurna range, Phewa Lake and Pokhara. We will have plenty of time for a late afternoon exploration of this forest.
Day 5-7 Pokhara 915m
We explore in detail the forest along the southern shore of the lake. Apart from the many birds found here, you will also be rewarded with some of the best views of the Annapurnas and Machhapuchhare, Pokhara has to offer. Species regularly seen in this forest and along the shore of the lake include Besra, Red-thighed Falconet, Pallid and Pied Harriers, Eurasian Griffon, Red-headed and Eurasian Black Vultures, Kalij Pheasant, Ducks, Gulls, Terns, Waders, Bulbul, Black-backed Forktail, Puff-throated Babbler, White-crested, Lesser Necklaced and Rufous-chinned Laughing Thrushes, Red-billed Leiothrix, Minivetts, Crimson Sunbird, Maroon Oriole, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Red-billed and Green Magpies, Long-tailed Mountain Thrush, Chestnut-headed and Grey-bellied Tesias, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Small and Rufous-bellied Niltavas and Snowy-brown Flycatcher, Long-tailed Broadbill, Pale Blue Flycatcher, White-tailed Robin, Spiny Babbler, White-browed Scimitar-Babbler, Striated Munia, Lesser Whitethroat and Thick-billed Warbler.
Day 8 By Road to Chitwan
Transfer by road from Pokhara to Chitwan a drive of approx. 4 hours. After checking in, you will have time for a late afternoon Nature Walk or Elephant Safari. The Royal Chitwan National Park covers 932 sq. km. and supports some 450 species of birds. Flocks of Common and Demoiselle Cranes occur on passage between March and May and October/November. Along the marshes and small lakes there are Cormorants, Darter, Cinnamon Bittern, Black-crowned Night and Purple Herons, Asian Openbill, Woolly-necked and Lesser Adjutant Storks, Lesser Whistling Duck, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Balloons Ruddy-breasted and Brown Crakes, Purple Gallinule, Bronze-winged Jacana, Painted Snipe and Stork-billed Kingfisher, Chestnut-crowned and Spotted Bush Warblers, Yellow bellied Prinia, Clamorous Reed, dusky and Smoky Warblers, and Red-capped Babbler. Forest species regular seen are Lesser Fishing and Grey headed Eagle, Brown Fish Owl, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Kalij Pheasant, Emerald Dove, Orange-breasted Green and Pompadour Green Pigeon, Moustached Parakeet, Green-billed Malkoha, Brown Hawk Owl, Crested Treeswift, Pied and Great Hornbills, Streak-throated Green, Rufous, Himalayan Golden-backed and Greater Golden- backed Woodpeckers, Large Woodshrike Rosy Minivet, Black- crested Bulbul, Golden fronted Leafbird, Pale-chinned Flycatcher, Black-napped Monarch, Puff-throated Babbler, White-browed Scimitar-Babbler, Grey-throated Babbler, Crimson Sunbird, Thick-billed Flowerpecker, Hill Mynah, Black-hooded Oriole, White-rumped Shama, Lesser Necklaced, Greater Necklaced and Rufous-necked Laughing-thrushes, Nepal Fulvetta, Streaked Spiderhunter, yellow-bellied Warbler, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Forest Eagle, Tawny Fish Owls, Red-headed Trogon, White-browed Piculet, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Long-tailed Broadbill, Ruby-cheeked Sunbird and Little Spiderhunter.
Elephant Safari - Travel through open grassland and dense forests on elephant back in search of rare game. Be on the look out for the great one horned rhino, four species of deer, wild boar, sloth bear, leopard, bison and the big one, The Royal Bengal Tiger.
Canoeing A traditional dugout canoe takes you on a silent trip down the Rapti River to view birds, crocodiles and the animals of the riverbank.
Nature walk Our trained naturalists take you to prime spots to view deer, rhino, sloth bear and other wild life. Detailed knowledge of the wild life and jungle will enhance your trip.
Birding An early morning walk along the Rapti River is a must to view many of the 450 species of exotic birds including Giant Hornbill, Lesser Florican and Paradise Flycatcher. Again, our naturalists will accompany you.
Day 9 Chitwan
Full day Safari Program
Day 10 Chitwan
We depart the Lodge by Land Rover for an excursion further into the Chitwan National Park.
Day 11 Chitwan
After lunch we have a one-hour drive to Hedauda where hopefully we will find the very rare Ibisbill in the gravel beside the Rapti River.
Day 12 Kathmandu
After an early morning Bird watching walk we transfer by road to Kathmandu.
Day 13 Kathmandu
Kathmandu stands at 1350 meters and the valley is surrounded by hills at an altitude of around 2400 meters. There are three important cities in the valley, the most significant being Kathmandu itself. Patan is the most Buddhist of the three and is across the Bagmati River to the south of Kathmandu, but so close as to be almost an extension of the capital. Bhaktapur, also known as Bhadgaon, is the most “mediaeval” and is situated in the eastern part of the valley. While Kathmandu and Patan have undergone great changes in the two decades since Nepal ended its long isolation, Bhaktapur has changed very little and is still much as it was three decades ago.
Day 14 Depart Kathmandu
Bird sightings depend greatly on the season, timing, and patience. Sightings mentioned in the itinerary are only a guideline and cannot be guaranteed.
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