Nepal Bird Watching Tour - 13 Days Package

Detailed itinerary of the Nepal Bird Watching Tour - 13 Days private tour package: DAY 1 - Arrival in the Kathmandu - Meeting in the airport and transfer to your hotel in Thamel, a colorful and vibrant shopping area close to the city center where you will stay for one night. DAY 2 - Shivapuri Watershed and Wildlife Reserve and Nagarjuna Dada - A local place for bird watching is the Shivapuri Watershed Reserve, 12km north of the city and Nagarjuna in the North West. - Shivapuri National Park is one of the richest forested areas around Kathmandu, which houses about 318 bird species. The forest holds a significant population of three endemic bird species like the Spiny Babbler, the Hoary-throated Barwing, and the White-throated Tit. Shivapuri is a delight for bird watchers who have an eye for exploration. - Possible sightings: Hill Partridge, Great Barbet, Wedge-Tailed Green Pigeon, Eurasian Jay, Kalij Pheasant, Nepal Fulvetta, Asian Paradise-Flycatcher, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Mountain Scops Owl, Grey-winged Blackbird, White-rumped Vulture, Hodgson’s Bush chat. DAY 3 - Chitwan National Park - Today you will leave Kathmandu Valley and take time enjoying the scenery along the river as well head South West towards the lowlands. Our destination, after well-chosen bird-watching stops, is Chitwan National Park. - Over 540 species of birds have been recorded here, and you can expect to see nearly one third of these, as well as many mammals and reptiles. - Possible Sightings on the way: River Lapwing, White-capped Redstart, Wallcreeper. DAYS 4 & 5 - Boat Trip on Rapti River, Jeep Safari - These days offer a good chance for multiple bird and animal sightings. - We start with a hike through the jungle, continue through the grasslands, where we will go on a boat trip over Rapti River, and continue with a Jeep Safari with elephants in the afternoon. - Not only is it possible to see numerous birds and butterflies (over 40 species), while you are in Jeep Safari, it is also very likely to spot wild mammals like rhinos, tigers, deers and many more. - On top of the 4-meter-tall animal, you can come very close to these endangered species while being in a safe place, since the elephants have no reason to attack their fellow species. You will stay in our comfortable lodge just outside the park for one night. - Possible sightings in the Jungle: Red Junglefowl, Indian Peafowl, Oriental Pied Hornbills, Crested Serpent Eagles, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Red-napped Ibis, Lesser Adjutants, Himalayan Ruby throat, Spotted Bush Warbler, Chestnut-capped Babbler, Brown Crake, Woodpeckers, Drongos, Cuckoos, Minivets, Parakeets, Chestnut-headed, Blue bearded Bee-eaters, Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush, Red Headed Trogon Grasslands: Bengal Bush Lark, Slender-billed Babbler, Indian Grass bird, and White-tailed Stonechat. - Possible sightings on the Boat Trip: Citrine Wagtail, Rosy pipit and Stork-billed Kingfisher. - Possible sightings of Mammals: Indian One-horned Rhinos, Wild Boar, Sambar, Hog Deer, Rhesus Macaque, Grey Langur Monkeys, Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear and Gaur. - Possible sightings of Butterflies: Common Mormon, Peacock Pansy and Great Egg fly. DAY 6 - Journey to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve - It is a daylong journey from Chitwan to Koshi Tappu in the Terai Region. We pass by many villages and towns that give a unique insight into the Nepalese way of living. - By making an early start we aim to reach Koshi Camp by late afternoon, where you will stay three nights; you will surely receive a warm welcome. DAYS 7, 8 & 9 - Koshi Camp - The Koshi Camp is a haven for wildlife; like at Chitwan, the night sights and sounds are magical. - You will spend two mornings exploring the local area from a levee which protects the arable land from flooding. - In one morning, you drive to a grassland area close to the Koshi River; it may be necessary to cross it with a silent rubber boat to an otherwise inaccessible island in search for birds. Near the barrage across the river, you may be fortunate and see some of the endangered Gangetic River Dolphins that live here. This region is the last refuge of the wild Water Buffalo in Nepal and we may also see mammals Asian Elephant, Indian Grey Mongoose, Golden Jackal and Bengal Fox. - Possible Sightings: Black Bittern, Bronze-winged Jacana, Siberian Ruby throat, Taiga Flycatcher, Scaly Thrush, Blue-throated Barbet, Spotted Owlet, Brown Hawk-Owl, Black crowned Night, Herons, Indian Flying Foxes, Grey-headed Lapwing, Black-headed lbis, Striated Grass bird, Smoky Warbler, Swamp Francolin, white-rumped Vulture, Red-necked Falcon, Streak-throated Woodpecker, Whistler’s Warbler, Black-throated Thrush, Brown Fish Owls, Indian Courser, Sand Lark, Small pratincole, Pallas’s Gull. DAY 10 - Flight to Kathmandu & City Exploration - This morning we leave Koshi Camp and reach Biratnagar Airport in 90 minutes, from where we catch our returning flight to Kathmandu, with Mount Everest often visible to your right. - We take a city tour this afternoon, and you can expect to visit a Hindu temple as well as a Buddhist Stupa. DAY 11 - Phulchowki Mountain - The next day you will make the short drive to Phulchowki mountain; you’ll travel by Jeeps and a track leads right to the top. - Having brought a picnic lunch, we are able to spend most of the day in this areas (and we have a second opportunity to explore this place on our final full day). - If weather permitting, we will concentrate on the upper slopes on one of our visit, birding a little lower down on the other day (if preferred). - The variety of laughingthrushes, babblers, yuhinas, bulbuls, flowerpeckers, flycatchers, sunbirds, tits and warblers is tremendous. - On a clear day there are impressive views of the snow-capped Himalayas, with our guide able to point to Manaslu (the world’s seventh highest peak), Langtang and part of the Annapurna range. - Possible Sightings: Spring Babbler, Himalayan Cutia, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Rufous Bellied Pied Woodpeckers, Himalayan Bluetail, Green-tailed and Fire-tailed Sunbird, Black-throated Bushtit, Black-throated Parrotbill, Blue-Napped Pitta, racket-tailed Drongo, Tibetan siskin, spotted forktail, Northern Eagle Owl, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Long-tailed Mountain Thrush, Chestnut-headed Bee-Eater, Maroon Oriole, Large Hawk Cuckoo, Eurasian Woodcock, Kalij, Pheasant, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Red-billed, Leothrix, Nepal Fluvetta, Himalayan Shrike-babbler, White-throated Laughingthrush, Black Eagle, Cinereous and Himalayan Vultures, Great Barbets, Rufous Sibia, Grey-hooded and Buff-barred Warblers, Himalayan Black-lored Tit, Black-faced Warbler, Blue-winged and Bar-throated Minlas, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, White-browed Fulvetta and Whiskered Yuhina. DAY 12 - Kathmandu Durbar Square or another day at Phulchowki Mountain - On our last full day, you’ll have the choice to either go to another hike to Phulchowki mountain or if you want to spend your last day in the city, we show you Durbar square, one of three King’s palaces in the Kathmandu valley. - You will see local markets, visit the Natural History Museum and finally, we will invite you to our traditional Nepalese dinner. - Your final night in Nepal is spent in Kathmandu. DAY 13 - Departure - In the morning we will transfer you to the airport to fly back home.