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Birding in Himalayas, India: Keoladeo + Sultanpur + Ranthambore + Jim Corbett

Birding Holiday, India: Golden Triangle + Himalayas

14 NIGHTS FROM:

$4,786

Per person sharing

Scheduled flights quoted separately

7IPB14D

• Birding in Himalayas, India

• Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary

• Naini Devi Bird Reserve

• Sattal Lakes

• Jim Corbett National Park

• Taj Mahal & Agra Fort

• Chambal National Reserve

• Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary

• Ranthambore Tiger Reserve

• Okhla Bird Sanctuary

This amazing holiday combines birding in Himalayas, India with Keoladeo and Sultanpur Bird Sanctuaries near Delhi, the amazing Taj Mahal, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve & Jim Corbett National Park, with private jeeps. Also visit Naini Devi Bird Reserve, the Sattal Lakes, Chambal National Reserve & Okhla Bird Sanctuary. English-speaking driver, local birding guides, all park fees & transfers included.

Detailed itinerary ▶

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Day 1

You will be met at Delhi Airport and transferred to your hotel in this ancient capital of kingdoms and empires that is now a sprawling metropolis.

Delhi's strategic location was one of the main reasons why successive dynasties chose it as their seat of power and today it is a conglomerate of seven cities. The division between the old walled city and New Delhi marks a division in lifestyles, with the old city retaining its past traditions whilst New Delhi strives to match the pace of the 21st century.

On arrival enjoy an orientation tour of the 17th century walled city of Old Delhi including driving past the splendid Red Fort, once the most opulent palace in the Mughal Empire and the Jamia Masjid (or Friday mosque), the largest in India. Also enjoy a chaotic rickshaw ride through Chandani Chowk - one of the busiest markets in Old Delhi. We continue to the Raj Ghat - the simple but moving memorial on the site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated.

Note: Both the Red Fort and the Temple are closed Mondays, when alternative sightseeing is offered.

Day 2

This morning enjoy an orientation tour of modern New Delhi, starting with a visit to the Qutub Minar, an ancient victory tower built of red sandstone and marble in 1199 and still the tallest minaret in India. With its imposing cylindrical towers and surrounding ruins, it is today a World Heritage Site.

Our next stop is Humayuns Tomb, the beautiful mausoleum of the Mughul Emperor Akbar, that inspired the Taj Mahal. We drive along the Rajpath - the capital's broadest avenue - where you will see the imposing arch of the India Gate war memorial, Parliament House, the Rashtrapati Bhavan presidential residence built for the Viceroy of India, and the government buildings on Raisina Hill.

Afterwards transfer to Delhi Station in good time to board the 12.40 train (air-conditioned chair car) for your 5-hour journey to Sawai Madhopur in southeast Rajasthan. You will be met at Sawai Madhopur station and transferred to your hotel situated near Ranthambore National Park. Originally the hunting grounds of the Maharaja of Jaipur, this world famous tiger sanctuary is the largest wildlife reserve in northern India and covers an area of over 250 sq miles (400 sq km).

Note: To avoid unnecessary stress, on the train you will be accompanied by a local helper who will ensure you disembark at the correct stop. Please note he is not a guide and may have limited English. Always be alert for possible theft (eg do not wear expensive watches or jewellery & never leave your belongings unattended); do not buy any food or drink from hawkers and know the toilets are likely to be in a poor condition. Because of the very short (2-minute) stops at each station, train travel in India is not recommended for the elderly or those travelling with children.

Day 3

This morning enjoy a private jeep safari in Ranthambore National Park, accompanied by a birding guide. In addition to the many mammals and reptiles found here, there are over 270 different bird species - including eagles, falcons, owls, greylag geese, flamingos, parakeets, fly catchers, bee-eaters, grebe, terns, woodpeckers, hornbills and kingfishers.

Early morning is the best time to see tigers in this reserve, but be aware that it is extremely difficult to find them in the jungle and sightings are never guaranteed. Best viewings are generally at the end of the dry season (March to May, although it is extremely hot from April onwards), when the tigers search out the waterholes - but you need to take at least 4 game drives for a good chance of a sighting.

Other animals you can hope to see include leopard, hyena, jackal, jungle cat, caracal, civet, desert cat, mongoose, ratel, sloth bear, langur & macaque monkeys, wild boar, palm squirrel, flying fox, porcupine, long-eared hedgehog, marsh crocodile, tortoise and softshell turtle. Also antelope such as sambar deer, chital, nilgai, chinkara and black buck.

In the afternoon return to the park for another birding and game drive.

Note: Zones 1 to 5 are closed every Tuesda and during Holi and the monsoon season (July to early October). Zones 6 to 10 are closed every Wednesday, but otherwise remain open all year.

You will need to take a copy of your passport with you to enter the national park. Please note that we have no control over the driver and vehicle allocated to you, as this is done by the local park authorities according to a rota. In the winter months wear warm clothes, including woolly hats and gloves to protect you from the wind chill in your open vehicle.

Day 4

Rise early this morning and transfer to Sawai Madhopur Station in good time to board the 07.05 express train (air-conditioned chair car) travelling for 2.15 hours to Bharatpur.

This is the home of Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary, the most famous bird sanctuary in India and a Ramsar World Heritage site. Birding is at its peak from December to February, when many migrants visit. On arrival enjoy birding with a specialist guide, using a cycle rickshaw to get around the park and with a packed lunch provided.

Note: When available, a horse cart will be used instead of a rickshaw).

When you board the train take only a small day pack, as your main luggage will remain with your driver. To avoid unnecessary stress, on the train you will be accompanied by a local helper who will ensure you disembark at the correct stop. Please note he is not a guide and may have limited English. Always be alert for possible theft (eg do not wear expensive watches or jewellery & never leave your belongings unattended); do not buy any food or drink from hawkers and know the toilets are likely to be in a poor condition. Because of the very short (2-minute) stops at each station, train travel in India is not recommended for the elderly or those travelling with children, where a road transfer will be substituted. This will also be done during adverse weather conditions.

Day 5

Today enjoy birding in Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary with a naturalist birding guide, including a morning birding walk and 2-hour afternoon cycle rickshaw ride deeper into the park.

This sanctuary consists of a combination of dry grasslands, woodlands, swamps and wetlands that in winter (December/March) attract huge congregations of water-dependent migrants. Birding here is outstanding, except during May/June when the wetlands dry up. It is home to over 360 different species including:

Water birds: painted stork, cormorant, egret, asian open-billed, black-headed ibis, darter, shoveller, teal, bronze-winged and pheasant-tailed jacanas, ruddy shelduck, demoiselle and sarus cranes, gadwall, pintail, mallard, coot, purple moorhens.

Raptors: king vulture, white-rumped vulture, marsh harrier, pied harrier, crested serpent eagle, ring-tailed fish eagle, short-toed eagle, black-shouldered kite, Pallas's fish eagle, tawny eagle, collared scops owl, spotted owlet, dusky horned owl.

Others: lark, pipit, kingfisher, dove, myna, bulbul, blue jay, oriole, plum-headed parakeet, hoopoe, shrike, bee-eater, wagtail, finch.

Migrants: steppe eagle, pale and marsh harriers, osprey, common teal, Indian little ringed plover.

Day 6

Enjoy another morning of birding in Keoladeo Ghana National Park with a guide.

Afterwards we drive 1-hour to the ancient city of Agra set along the banks of the Yamuna River and originally the capital of the Mughal Empire. Agra is world renowned as the home of the Taj Mahal - that great symbol of love built by emperor Shah Jahan in the 16th century as a memorial to his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This magnificent white marble mausoleum took 22 years to build and, apart from its stunning design and perfect symmetry, it is noted for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of the best marble inlay work ever done.

After visiting this magnificent mausoleum, we continue 1.5-hours to Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary. This national reserve was created to protect the critically endangered gharial (also known as the gavial, or fish-eating crocodile), the red-crowned roof turtle and the endangered Ganges river dolphin. It also offers excellent birding opportunities.

Note: Taj Mahal is closed every Friday. You are allowed a maximum of 3-hours at the monument and cannot take in anything except your camera, water and essential medicine.

Day 7

Today is dedicated to bird watching in the national Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary, including a shared morning boat ride and a shared afternoon jeep safari with a birding guide.

Located along the pristine Chambal River, this wildlife reserve consists of arid deciduous forest separated by many ravines and hills, with some sandy beaches. You can find over 320 different species of resident and migratory birds here, including some from Siberia. Vulnerable species include the Indian courser, Indian skimmer, Sarus crane and Pallas's fish eagle. The Pallid harrier and Lesser flamingo are near threatened, with other species including the Greater flamingo, Great thick-knee, Brown hawk owl and Darter. Winter visitors include the Black-bellied tern, Ferruginous pochard, Red-crested pochard and Bar-headed goose.

Animals you will find in this reserve include the Muggar crocodile, Indian wolf, Smooth-coated otter and Striped hyena. 8 of India's rare turtle species are also found here, including the Three-striped roof turtle, Indian narrow-headed softshell turtle and Crowned river turtle. You may also see the Indian flapshell turtle, Soft shell turtle, Indian roofed turtle, Indian tent turtle and Monitor lizard. Mammals include the Jungle cat, Wild boar, Rhesus macaque, Hanuman langur, Indian flying fox, Golden jackal, Bengal fox, Common palm civet, Indian small mongoose, Indian grey mongoose, Sambar, Nilgai, Blackbuck, Indian gazelle, Northern palm squirrel, Indian hare, hedgehog and porcupine.

Note: In the winter months wear warm clothes, including woolly hats and gloves, to protect you from the wind chill in the morning & evening.

Day 8

Enjoy another shared boat ride in the Chambral Wildlife Sanctuary this morning, with your birding guide.

Afterwards we travel 5-hours through rural countryside to the capital city of Delhi.

Day 9

Rise early this morning and transfer to New Delhi Station in good time to board the 06.00 express train (air conditioned executive class) to Kathgodam, arriving around 11.40.

Here you will be met and transferred 1.5-hours on mountain roads to the former British hill station of Nainital in the Himalayas, set on a beautiful lake with the Naina Devi Hindu Temple on its northern shore. A cable car runs to Snow View observation point (at 2,270m), with vistas over the town and mountains including Nanda Devi, Uttarakhand’s highest peak.

After checking into your hotel, enjoy an afternoon of birding with a specialist birding guide in the Himalayan Botanical Gardens.

Day 10

Today is devoted to birding in the Naini Devi Himalayan Bird Conservation Reserve, travelling along winding mountain roads with a specialist birding guide.

From the town of Pangot, we explore on foot the forests of Kilbury. In this birding sanctuary you will find a variety of habitats, ranging from sub-tropical Himalayan broad-leaf forests, alpine grasslands, meadows and pine forests, to rhododendron shrubberies. Naini Devi is also home to five different species of oak.

The wide variation in altitude in this region supports diverse bird life, with over 580 different species - including the chestnut-bellied nuthatch, hill partridge, chukar partridge, kalij pheasant, koklass pheasant, goldcrest, rufous sibia, black-chinned babbler, black-throated tit, rock bunting, yellow-breasted greenfinch, red-billed leiothrix and green-tailed sunbird. The endangered bearded vulture and Himalayan griffon can also be found here.

A variety of mammals can also be found in Naini Devi Himalayan Bird Conservation Reserve including barking deer, yellow-throated marten, stoat, mountain weasel, yellow-bellied weasel, Royle's pika and several types of bats.

Day 11

Today we travel 2-hours from Nainital to our wilderness lodge situated along the northern perimeter of Jim Corbett National Park.

The Western Himalayan region of Uttarakhand has one of richest and most diverse bird habitats in Asia, with over 620 recorded species, largely due to the great variation in altitude, with rich and varied forest types found in a relatively small region. Vanghat is situated in a range of hills that are a transition zone between the plains to the south and the mountains to the northeast, so almost all these species can be seen here - either as residents or migrants.

Along the way we stop for birding on the banks of the Kosi River to search for sought after species, such as the migrant Ibisbill. We then continue to our birding lodge, accessed by walking 1.3-miles (2 km) across the countryside, followed by a bamboo-raft river crossing.

Day 12

Today is devoted to birding in the the broad-leafed forested hills and riverine valley habitat at Vanghat, adjacent to the northern sector of the national park that cannot be accessed by day visitors. A rich mix of forest, riverine and mountain species can be sighted here year round, with the winter months being especially good for migratory birds. All birding is done on foot, accompanied by a specialist birding guide from the lodge.

The riverine habitat attracts Lesser and Grey-headed fish eagles, numerous kingfishers and the Brown fish owl, which at dusk is more often heard than seen. Emblematic Great hornbills journey daily up and down the valley, their vast wings audible in flight and they have been spotted feeding on the Ficus trees on the riverside opposite camp. Brown dipper, Wallcreeper and several species of forktail (the Spotted and Little forktail being the most common), Plumbeous and White-capped water redstart and several wagtail species are amongst the altitude migrant visitors to the area.

Walking in the forest reveals the vocal White-throated and White-crested laughingthrush and the beautiful but vociferous Common green magpie. In the upper canopy look out for for the colourful Long-tailed broadbill, Maroon orioles and hunting parties of Blue-winged minla, Black-throated tit, Grey-headed canary flycatcher, Chestnut-bellied nuthatch and Scarlet minivet. Plain-backed and the much sought after Scaly thrush prefer to forage in the undergrowth between sal trees, where one also comes across Khaleej pheasants and junglefowl.

Mammals that can be seen here include herds of elephants that amble through the valley, wild boar, porcupine, barking deer (also known as muntjac), sambar deer, mongoose, marten and troops of langur monkeys. The shy Himalayan goral (a goat antelope species) is frequently seen on the rock faces of the valley opposite the lodge and the extremely rare Himalayan serow antelope is sometimes seen. Cat species are also in abundance around Vanghat, although sightings are always difficult. The forests of Jim Corbett have one of the highest densities of tigers in India and leopards are also present, as well as many smaller species such as the jungle cat, fishing cat and Pallas's cat. Sloth bears and Himalayan black bears are occasional visitors and smaller predators include the Indian python and cobra. In the Ramganga River you can find the Indian otter, mugger crocodile, goonch (a giant catfish) and the immense golden mahseer, the largest carp and a legendary game fish that can reach over 9 ft (2.7 m) in length.

Day 13

This morning spend more time birding around Vanghat with your guide.

In the afternoon we travel 1.5-hours to our lodge situated near the entrance to Jim Corbett National Park - the oldest wildlife sanctuary in Asia, magnificently situated in the foothills of the majestic Himalayas Mountains.

This national park was named after Jim Corbett - the famous hunter turned conservationist who played a key role in its development. Established to protect the endangered Royal Bengal tiger, over 73% of the park consists of dense and moist deciduous forest, with a wide diversity of flora and fauna including nearly 500 different plant species. Check into your lodge situated near the entrance to this famous reserve.

Day 14

Rise early today and depart before breakfast on a private jeep safari into Jim Corbett National Park, accompanied by a specialist birding guide.

This national park is home to the Royal Bengal tiger, over 50 mammals, 25 reptiles and more than 570 different bird species. It is also one of the very few places in India where you can enjoy viewing Asian elephants in the wild. The Ramganga River, which originates in the lower Himalayas, traverses more than 60 miles (100 km) before entering the park near Marchula and provides a vital perennial water source to this national park, which also provides sanctuary to sloth bears, Himalayan black bears and the Indian grey mongoose.

Early morning is the best time to track tigers and other wildlife, but be aware that it is extremely difficult to find tigers in this national park and sightings are rare. Best viewings are generally at the end of the dry season (March to May), when the tigers search out the waterholes. Game drives usually last 3 to 4 hours, but you can return to your lodge sooner if you wish.

After lunch at your hotel, in the afternoon enjoy another private jeep safari in the park.

Note: You will need to take a copy of your passport with you to enter the national park. Please note that we have no control over the driver and vehicle allocated to you, as this is done by the local park authorities according to a rota. In the winter months wear warm clothes, including woolly hats and gloves to protect you from the wind chill in your open vehicle.

This tiger reserve is closed during the Holi & Diwali festivals, as well as during the monsoon season (July to mid November).

Day 15

This morning enjoy a final jeep safari in Jim Corbett National Park.

Afterwards transfer 6-hours to Delhi Airport for your flight home.

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