Rare Wildlife and Pheasants of the Indian Himalayas

Meals: On Own
Accommodation: Lemon Tree Premier, Aerocity

Your adventure begins as you touch down in New Delhi, a centre of civilization for millennia and now the capital of India! You will be met at the airport and transferred to Lemon Tree Premier, Aerocity. After checking in, we can proceed to Sultanpur National Park for a day of birding.

Overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodation: Parvat Homes Resorts

After an early breakfast, you will check out and drive to Dehradun. From Dehradun, you will continue a little further to Parvat Homes Resorts & Cottages, a serene boutique retreat located near Jolly Grant Airport, arriving in time for lunch. The resort offers comfortable cottages with beautiful views of the valley and mountains, warm hospitality, and a peaceful atmosphere ideal for birders. We will spend the rest of the day birdwatching in the Doon Valley.

Dinner and overnight stay at Parvat Homes Resorts

Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Parvat Homes Resorts 

We have a full day of birdwatching today in Mussoorie and its surroundings. We will also visit Jabarkhet Nature Reserve for a nature trek and some Himalayan birdwatching. The forests of Jabarkhet and the surrounding areas have immense ecological value both for the biodiversity they harbour and the services they provide. As one of the few remaining natural forest patches near Mussoorie, with connections to the Shivalik Hills and the middle Himalayas, it forms an important wildlife corridor. They also sustain a critical water source that feeds into the Kolti Nala, which supplies water to a large section of Mussoorie residents.

In the evening, return to Parvat Homes Resorts & Cottages.

Dinner and overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Snow View, Chopta

We will check out after an early breakfast and head to Chopta. The road to Chopta runs along the Ganga River and Alaknanda River before turning into the Mandakini Valley in Rudraprayag. On arrival at Hotel Snow View, we will have some refreshments. In the evening, one can take a walk around the nearby grassland patches for acclimatization or visit some nearby places for a short walk.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Snow View, Chopta


Post breakfast, we can drive down to the Chopta base (about 8 km from our lodge) to start the trek for Tungnath Temple and Chandrashila. Tungnath is the highest Shiva temple in the world, and the complete trek is covered with lush green meadows offering spectacular views of the snow-clad Himalayas. The trail is also excellent for spotting Himalayan birds such as Snow Partridge, European Goldfinch, and Red-fronted Rosefinch.

After reaching Tungnath, one can enjoy the magnificent Himalayan views and, after a little refreshment, continue further to Chandrashila, where a 180-degree panoramic view of the Himalayas awaits.

Overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Snow View, Chopta

We have a full day of birding in and around Chopta today to look for target species. Chopta is probably the best and most easily accessible place in India to see the Himalayan Monal, along with other birds like Kalij and Koklass Pheasants, Brown Dipper, nuthatches, and laughingthrushes.

Overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Nature's Treat Resort

Today, we will drive from Chopta to Gwaldam. Upon reaching Gwaldam, we will have the rest of the day at leisure. Located on the border of the Kumaon and Garhwal regions, Gwaldam has historically been a place of conflict between the two ancient kingdoms. There are a number of picnic and devotional spots in the area, like Badhangari, Gwaldam Naag, Angyari Mahadev, Machchi Taal, Buddha Temple, and the river sites of Pindar, along with wildlife-rich areas along the Roopkund road.

Overnight stay at Nature's Treat Resort.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Harshikhar, Bhimtal

We have time for a morning birdwatching session at Gwaldam. After breakfast, we will check out and drive to Sattal with a packed lunch, arriving by evening after exploring several birding stops along the way.

Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Harshikhar.

The habitat here offers species such as White-crested Laughingthrush, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Red-billed Leiothrix, Siberian Rubythroat, and Rock Bunting. This scattered and deliberately undeveloped area is one of the most pleasant birding destinations, with chances to spot Rufous-chinned and White-crested Laughingthrushes, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Greater Yellow-naped Flameback, Speckled Piculet, Golden Bush Robin, and more Himalayan birds.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner in Sat Tal
Accommodation: Hotel Harshikhar, Bhimtal

We have a full day of birding today in Sat Tal to look for our targets. Sat Tal, named after the seven lakes in the area, is a birding paradise, with species such as Blue-winged Minla, Ashy Bulbul, Mountain Bulbul, Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush, and more, found here.

Overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Jungle Lore Birding Lodge

We have an early morning birding session today in Sat Tal. After lunch, from one Himalayan village to another, we continue our mountain birding odyssey, and move to Pangot, where we will spend the rest of the day birdwatching.
 

Overnight stay

One can see Cheer, Koklas and Khalij, Crested Serpent-eagle, Mountain Hawk-eagle, Woodpeckers such as Brown-fronted, Stripe Breasted, Rufous-bellied etc. Thrushes such as Dark- throated, Mistle etc. Striated Prinia can be see in the terraced fields. Warblers such as Tickell's Leaf-warbler, Greenish, Golden-spectacled, Grey-hooded. Flycatchers such as Asian Brown, Rusty Tailed, Ultramarine, Verditer, Tickell's Blue, Rufous-bellied Niltava etc., Orange-flanked Bush Robin, Blue-capped Redstart Laughingthrushes such as White-throated, Striated & Streaked, Chestnut-crowned etc. Look for Accentor, Upland Pipit, Blue Winged Minla, Whiskered Yuhina etc. Slaty-headed & Red-breasted Parakeet, Grey Bushchat, Long-tailed & Grey-backed Shrike, Common Kestrel, Besra, Chestnut Bellied Rock Thrush etc. Streaked Laughingthrush is a common garden bird here

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Jungle Lore Birding Lodge

We have a full day of birding today at Pangot to look for our targets. Around 250 bird species have been recorded in this area, and one can see a variety of Himalayan species like Himalayan Vulture, Blue-winged Minla, Spotted & Slaty-backed Forktails, Blue Whistling Thrush, Rufous-bellied and Himalayan Woodpeckers, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Kalij Pheasant, and a variety of other species.


Overnight stay

Meals: Breakfast in Pangot, Lunch & Dinner in Tiger Camp
Accommodation: Tiger Camp

Today, we will proceed to Corbett National Park. Upon reaching, we will check in into our resort, and spend the rest of the day birding in Kumeria. Located near the Corbett National Park, Kumeria is a reserve forest rich in bird diversity. From the large Great Slaty Woodpeckers and Oriental Pied Hornbills, to the small Himalayan Bulbuls and warblers, and everything in between, Kumeria is home to birds of all shapes, sizes, and colours.

Overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast in Tiger Camp, Lunch and Dinner in Dhikala
Accommodation: Dhikala Forest Lodge

After breakfast, leave for your morning and afternoon safaris through the Dhikala zone on an open vehicle. Arrive at the main tourist complex at Dhikala, where you can capture the panoramic expanse of the park on your camera. An exciting drive through the unforgettable, sylvan beauty of the Khinanauli range offers plenty of wildlife viewing and a chance sighting of the elusive tiger. Return to the tourist complex. Enjoy a wildlife film screening. You will be spending the night in the Dhikala Forest Rest House.

Note: Dhikala Forest Rest House is a basic lodge and will not be luxurious.

Meals: Breakfast in Dhikala, Lunch in Tiger Camp
Accommodation: None

Depart on a morning safari through the open “chaurs” (grasslands) and mixed forests, and then drive back to Tiger Camp. The drive is a safari in itself. Arrive at Tiger Camp for late lunch.

After lunch, we will drive back to Delhi, where you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.