Duration : 10 nights 11 days Destination : Sat Tal, Pangot (Nainital), Ranikhet & Corbett
National Park Best Season :October to May
Day 01 Delhi-Sat Tal Meals: on own (there is a restaurant in the hotel)
Drive in the morning to Sat Tal (6 hours). Afternoon birding with
a guide near the lodge. The habitat offers species such as white-crested
laughingthrush, rufous-gorgeted flycatcher, red-billed leothrix, Siberian
rubythroat, rock bunting etc. This scattered and deliberately undeveloped
area is one of the most pleasant destinations. Overnight stay in a
hotel.
Day 02 Sat Tal-Pangot (Nainital) Meals: dinner Full day birding in and around
Sat Tal. Look for rufous-chinned thrush, rufous-breasted accentor,
greater yellow-naped flameback, speckled piculet etc. You will be
transferred to Pangot (2-hr.), a journey that takes you on one of
the world's more spectacular mountain roads as we climb up into
the Kumaon Hills on our way to this 'lake city'. One can stop along
the way to look for birds which may include blue whistling thrush,
red-billed blue magpie, blue-capped redstart, white capped water
redstart etc. Overnight stay at Jungle Lore Birding Lodge.
Day 03 & 04 Pangot Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner Birding
at Pangot, Baggar, Timla Pani, Cheena Peak & Nainital. One can
see slaty-headed & red-breasted parakeet, grey bushchat, long-tailed
& grey-backed shrike, common kestrel, besra, chestnut-bellied
rock thrush etc. Streaked laughing thrush is a common garden bird
here.
Day 05 Pangot Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner A trail
leads up to Cheena Peak, which at 2610 meters offers views of the
snow-clad Himalayan peaks including Nanda Devi. Also a very good
birding area is the quiet old road through oak & rhododendron
forests. The viewpoint is alive with grey-headed canary flycatcher,
white-throated laughing thrush, grey-winged blackbird, green-backed
tit. We also look for hill barbet, grey-headed woodpecker, black-chinned
babbler, black-headed and maroon oriole. Nearby mountains could
include Himalayan griffon vulture, lammergeyer, khalij, koklas &
cheer pheasant, crimson sunbird, fire-breasted flowerpecker etc.
Day 06 Pangot-Ranikhet Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner Early
start for a 4-hour drive to Ranikhet through the Himalayan roads
stopping en route for birding and to look for three species of forktails
& brown dipper. Birding in the surroundings of the lodge. One
can see green-tailed sunbird, scaly-breasted wren-babbler, black
bulbul, rufous sibia, black eagle, red-headed & Egyptian vulture,
black-throated sunbird, blue-throated barbet, common kestrel etc.
Day 07 Ranikhet-Corbett National Park Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner Drive to
Corbett National Park in the morning stopping en route for birding
at Kumeria. Corbett Tiger reserve has a spectacular avifauna diversity.
Great hornbill, Pallas's fish eagle, grey-headed & lesser fish
eagle, red-collared falconet etc. are some of the rare birds that
are found in Corbett. More birds include tawny fish owl, scaly-bellied
woodpecker, red-breasted parakeet, Himalayan swiftlet, stork-billed
& crested kingfisher and white-tailed & Siberian rubythroat.
Tiger Camp makes an ideal base for birding.
Day 08 Dhikala Forest Lodge (Corbett National
Park Meals: breakfast &
dinner Drive early morning to Dhikala tourism zone. Arrive at the
main tourist complex in the afternoon. Afternoon visit to the grasslands
for birding. Overnight stay at Dhikala Forest Lodge. Birding in
the lower jungle track along the Ramganga river is very rewarding
for water birds such as river lapwings, waders, mergansers and other
waterfowl. While relaxing at the lodge or visiting the grasslands
one can see long-tailed nightjar, jungle owlet, spot-bellied owl,
common stonechat, black francolin, purple and crimson sunbird, golden-fronted
& orange-bellied leafbird, black-shouldered kite, hen harrier,
changeable hawk-eagle, chestnut-tailed starling etc.
Day 09 Corbett National Park Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner Morning
elephant safari through the grasslands and dense forests. This is
the best mode of transport for tiger-tracking. Return for breakfast
and then spend time till lunch on a watchtower overlooking a water
hole. Drive to Tiger Camp stopping en route for birding. Some of
the best birding areas of Dhikala are Sambhar Road and Khinanauli.
One can expect to see great slaty woodpecker, great hornbill, puff-throated
babbler, white-rumped shama, pallas's fish eagle etc. Arrive at
Tiger Camp for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 10 Corbett National Park Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner Full day
at Corbett with a morning or evening elephant / jeep ride into the
park. You may search the boulder-strewn river for the rare and elusive
Ibisbill as well as brown dipper. The best birding areas are in
the buffer zone along the Kosi River near Tiger Camp. You can also
bird-watch across the river from the resort that can be crossed
by a bridge a short distance upriver from the hotel or by wading
across the Kosi. It can be fairly rewarding as one can see mergansers,
crested kingfisher, green heron, egrets and cormorants etc.
Day 11 Corbett National Park-Delhi Meals: breakfast, packed lunch You will explore
the river edge at Kumeria for tawny & brown fish owl, Asian
barred owlet, plumbeous redstart, brown dipper and the three species
of forktails. Other species that are possible in the forest are
crested tree swift, spangled drongo, blue bearded bee-eater etc.
Drive back to Delhi at noon. Arrive Delhi in the evening (6-hour
drive).
Bird sightings depend greatly on season, timing, and patience.
Sightings mentioned in the itinerary are only a guide
and cannot be guaranteed.
Services and accommodation can be provided in Delhi
as well.
Please let us know the number of people travelling
on this tour and we will send you the total cost. We also specialize
in customizing the tour. Should you need any changes we would be
happy to modify the itinerary. The tour may include arrangements
such as accommodation, travel, meals, permit, guides, activities
etc. or services as required by the client.
How to book
The booking of this itinerary is with Asian Adventures, F-313, Lado Sarai, New Delhi - 110030
Tel: (+91 11) 44128785 . Email: wildindiatours@vsnl.com
To confirm your booking please send a 25%
deposit by wire transfer to Standard Chartered Bank, Account
No 52805001839 which is in the name of "Asian Adventures",
using Swift Code "SCBLINBBDEL". Branch address: M-1 NDSE
Part I, New Delhi-110049. India. Or you can send a cheque payable
to Asian Adventures at F-313, Lado Sarai, New Delhi - 110030
Cancellation charges are 30
days before arrival date 25%, 21 days before arrival date
50%, 15 days before arrival date 90%, 7 days before arrival date
100% of the total itinerary cost.
Remaining balance to reach
Asian Adventures at least 30 days before tour commencement
by wire transfer (to bank account stated above) or by sending a
cheque made payable to Asian Adventures to the above address. Alternatively
you can pay the balance in cash upon arrival.