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Complete Northern India - Tigers and Himalayas Tour
offered by supplier M17130 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 20
day(s)
Group Size: 1
- 12
people
Destination(s):
India
Specialty Categories:
Birdwatching
National Parks
Season: February
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 3459 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 3459 US Dollar (USD)
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Our company offers you the opportunity to participate in its very first exploration tour of Northern India. The comprehensive itinerary covers the birding specials and enthralling landscapes of the Indian Himalayas, 5 days at Bandhavgarh National Park – India’s Tiger-viewing mecca and a visit to the famous Keoladeo National Park at Bharaptur, with its extensive swamp, savanna and thicket habitats.
The Exploration Tour has two key elements – it represents our company's first tour to an area which we plan to develop as a destination and it gives you the opportunity to join a discounted exploratory adventure to this exciting birding destination. The tour runs similarly to all of our other tours. The only difference is that it is also the guide’s first trip to the area. We still expect to see the vast majority of specials that occur in Northern India as the guide will conduct extensive pre-tour research.
The guide for this tour is Namibian-born Duan Biggs, who has birded extensively on all the continents except Antarctica. Duan has been leading birding groups to a variety of African destinations since 1999 and started leading birding groups in Australia in 2007. Duan will get help from ground operators and local guides for smooth running of the trip.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Delhi. After arrival, we will explore the ancient and fascinating city of Delhi and start gaining familiarity with the common local birds.
Days 2 - 5: Bharaptur and Keoladeo National Park. Keoladeo National Park is India’s most famous birding reserve, and has been dubbed "one of the finest birding reserves in the world". It hosts a wide variety of wetland species including Oriental Darter, Asian Openbill, Painted Stork, Cotton Pygmy Goose, the impressive Pheasant-tailed and Bronze-winged Jacana, Bar-headed Goose, Lesser Whistling Duck and the sizeable Sarus Crane.
We will enjoy a range of these species as we search for the less common types such as Ferruginous and Red-crested Pochards. The acacia savannas and thickets hold Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Black-rumped Flameback, Indian Hornbill, Coppersmith Barbet, and White-ailed Eagle. Mammalian attractions include the enigmatic Blue Bull or Nilgai, Sambar, Black Buck, Wild Pig and Indian Grey Mongoose.
We will also search for the nocturnal Collared Scops Owl and Dusky Horned Owl. After our last day at Bharaptur we will get into an air-conditioned sleeper-coach and take an overnight train to Umaria, from where we will drive passed a series of lagoons rich in waterbirds to the village of Tala – our gateway to the legendary Bandhavgarh National Park.
Days 6 - 11: Tigers and Bandhavgarh National Park. Bandhavgarh National Park, tucked away in a hilly mountain range in Madya Pradesh state offers the best opportunity in the world to see the largest of all cats, the Tiger. The valleys of the national park are clad in Sal trees and the upper reaches in mixed forest. Bamboo stands are also numerous resulting in a rich avian diversity.
With the assistance of the expert local driver guides we will focus our attention on finding the mighty beast. We have a reasonable chance of several encounters, and if we have the fortune of seeing one of the huge territorial males at close range this will surely rank as one of the tour highlights.
In the range of habitats present in Bandhavgarh we will search for species such as White-naped Woodpecker, Red and Painted Spurfowl, Sirkeer Malkoha, White-bellied and Greater Racket-tailed Drongo and the aptly named Indian Scimitar Babbler. In the drier areas of the National Park we may encounter Painted Sandgrouse and Chestnut-tailed Starling. Other impressive species that we will be on the hunt for include Malabar Pied Hornbill, Peafowl, Red Junglefowl and Green Bee-eater.
The endemic Indian Nuthatch and the Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker also occur. Birds of Prey that we may encounter include White-rumped, Indian and Red-headed Vultures as well as Crested Serpent Eagle and Oriental Honey Buzzard. At night we will turn our attention to locating nocturnal species such as Indian Scops Owl and Mottled Owl. Other mammalian attractions include Rhesus Macaque, Indian Gazelle, Striped Hyeana, Wild Boar, Sloth Bear, Barking Deer, Hanuman Langur, Jungle Cat and the rarely seen Indian Wild Dog. For those who like the view from up high – Elephant-back safaris are available at Bandhavgarh.
On our last day we will travel to Umaria, and then relax and get some rest in the comfortable air-conditioned overnight sleeper coaches on the overnight train to Agra – the gateway to one of the seven wonders of the world – the exquisite Taj Mahal.
Day 12: Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal was completed in 1648 and is said to be the world’s finest example of Moghul architecture. This architectural masterpiece was described by the poet Rabindranath Tagore as ‘the tear on the face of eternity’. We will spend most of the day enjoying the various pavilions, forts and other attractions of the Taj Mahal, with your guide keeping a constant lookout for any by-passing birds of interest. We will take the evening train to Delhi where we will overnight.
Day 13: Delhi to Nainital via Gajraula. From Delhi we head to Gajraula, close to the Ganges River. Here we will search for Great Black-headed Gull, River Tern and White-tailed Stonechat. From Gajraula we head onto Nainatal situated next to a dramatic crater lake.
Days 14 - 16: Nainatal and the Himalayas. Nainital is within striking range of the Himalayas, with peaks visible from vantages near the town. In the Himalayan foothills we will search for species such as the enigmatic Bearded Vulture, Himalayan Griffon, Great Barbet, Speckled Piculet, Gray Treepie and Rusty-cheeked Scimitarbill. We will climb to higher altitudes to where will enjoy spectacular vistas of the western Himalayas on the borders of China and Nepal.
A host exciting species await us here: Altai Accentor, Koklass Pheasant, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Pink-browed Rosefinch, Black-tailed Jay, Black-throated Tit and the spectacular Spotted Forktail. This area is Laughing-thrush paradise with numerous species represented including Chestnut-crowned, Streaked and White-throated.
Day 17: Nainital to Corbett National Park. This day we will travel on some impressive mountain roads to Corbett National Park. On route we will search for Long-tailed Broadbill and Blue-headed Redstart among others.
Day 18 - 19: Corbett National Park. Although this reserve is also known as the Corbett Tiger Reserve, Tigers here are notoriously hard to find. The altitude in this reserve varies from 400m to 1100m above sea level and contains a variety of habitats from mature jungle to open grasslands and broad river valleys.
An extensive range of species can be found in the different habitats including the spectacular Great Hornbill, the peculiar Chestnut-headed Tesia, Brown Dipper, Little Forktail and the striking Wallcreeper. Other potential species include Jungle Owlet, Great Thick-knee and White-tailed Rubythroat.
Day 20: Return to Delhi. On day 20 we will return from Corbett National Park, to where the adventure began back in Delhi.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Single supplement US$419.
Included:
* All Accommodation
* Transport on Tour
* Meals
* Park Entry Fees
Excluded:
* Alcoholic beverages
* Drinks and bottled water
* Camera and video camera permits for National Parks
* Additional services such as Elephant-back Safaris
* Airport transfers
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
India
Birdwatching
National Parks
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