Fine Feathered Friends – Bird Watching Tour
A close encounter with colorful feathers of birds in Nepal
A close encounter with colorful feathers of birds in Nepal
Explore the country’s chief birding hotspots Phulchowki Hill, the lake of Taudaha, Shivapuri National Park, Nagarjun Forest and Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve. Phulchowki hill, situated 20 km south- east of Kathmandu, with some 288 species recorded to date is the most popular bird watching spot in the valley. Taudaha, a picturesque lake on the way to Dakshinkali Temple south of Kathmandu, attracts flocks of migratory birds and water fowls. Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park which lies a few kilometers north of Kathmandu has a good population of Spiny Babbler, Hoary-throated Barwing, Blue Magpies, Kalij Pheasants, Bonelli’s Eagles, Great Himalayan Barbets, Forktails, Redstarts and Kingfishers.
After a delightful tour in the hills of Kathmandu we head to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, one of the best locations for birding in Nepal. Koshi Tappu is the smallest (175 sq km) and easternmost wildlife reserve in Nepal, and lies north-east at the confluence of Sapta Koshi and Trijuga rivers. 485 bird species including 20 globally threatened species have been recorded so far at the reserve. Swamp Francolins, Baer’s Pochard, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, White Ibis, Storks, Lesser Coucal, Striated Marsh Warbler, Black Bellied Tern, Imperial Eagle, Pied and Marsh Harrier, Common Quail, Bengal Floricans (Eupodotis Bengalensis), and many other exotic and migratory waterfowls not found elsewhere in Nepal are found here.
Enjoy blissful nature walks past wooded vales and green forest alive with the chirping of birds, gurgle of brooks and other forest sounds. This is indeed a memorable trip, one that stays with you for a lifetime.
Outline Itinerary
- Day 1 Arrive Kathmandu and transfer to hotel
- Day 2 Birdwatching tour in Kathmandu- Shiva Puri
- Day 3 Birdwatching tour in Kathmandu- Phulchowki hill (1520m– 2760m)
- Day 4 Birdwatching tour in Kathmandu - Phulchowki hill (1520m– 2760m)
- Day 5 Birdwatching tour in Kathmandu - Taudaha Lake
- Day 6 Birdwatching tour in Kathmandu - Nagarjun Forest
- Day 7 Flight/drive to Biratnagar/Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
- Day 8 Bird watching tour in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
- Day 9 Flight/drive back to Kathmandu
- Day 10 Sightseeing tour in Kathmandu and international departure
PRICE INCLUDES:
- Airport transfers and escort
- 6 nights accommodation at 3 star hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast on twin sharing
- 1 night accommodation at Park Village Resort with breakfast on twin sharing
- All surface transfers included as per the itinerary in private vehicle
- Kathmandu/Biratnagar/Kathmandu airfare
- 2 night 3 days package at Koshi tappu wildlife camp on full board with service of trained Naturalist
- Biratnagar/Koshi tappu/Biratnagar transfers
- Service of a expert bird watching guide as per itinerary
- All National park and entry fees
- Sightseeing tours in Kathmandu with English speaking local guide and entry fees
PRICE EXCLUDES:
- Nepal visa
- International flight and airport tax
- Lunch & dinner in Kathmandu, Hetauda & Pokhara
- Tips, any expenses of personal nature
- Clients insurance.
- Anything not included in the itinerary
Detailed Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrive Kathmandu and transfer to hotel
It is a panoramic thrill flying into Kathmandu on a clear day. The views of snow-capped mountain peaks sprawling down below you are almost ecstatic, beginning a whole chain of memorable experiences that stay with you for a long, long time. A representative and driver from our office will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel. The representative will help you check into your designated hotel. At the hotel you will be briefed about your daily activities .
- Day 2
Bird watching tour in Kathmandu-Shivapuri
Shivapuri is few kilometers north from the main city hub. It covers 159 sq. km, providing the appropriate habitat to plenty of wild-lives within its dense vegetation. Ornithologists have recorded more than 300 species of birds in the area which includes spiny Babbler, scarlet Finch, yellow-bellied Bush warbler, Eurasian eagle-owl, white gorgeted fly catcher, barred cuckoo-dove, Golden-throated barbet and many more. After a day’s bird watching tour in the conserved woods of Shivapuri, you will drive back to your hotel in the city. .
- Day 3
Bird watching tour in Kathmandu-Phulchowki hill (1520m – 2760m)
Phulchowki lies 18km southeast of Kathmandu. The highest mountain encircling Kathmandu valley is Phulchowki 2760m. The place is a paradise for birds. The lower region of this hill is covered on the first day. After, the early morning breakfast you will be driven in a car towards the lower Phulchowki. Phulchowki is an ideal bird’s habitat. Regularly found species of birds include Besra, Black Eagle, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Kalij Pheasant, Common Hill Partridge, Ashy Woodpigeon, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Mountain Scops Owl, Collared Owlet, Golden-throated Barbet, Speckled Piculet and Crimson-breasted Pied among others. More than 50 species of migratory birds have recorded to visit the place as the seasonal visitors. After, the long day watching birds at Lower Phulchowki you will be escorted back to your hotel in the city in a company’s car . .
- Day 4
Bird watching tour in Kathmandu-Phulchowki hill (1520m – 2760m)
Early morning, after the breakfast, you will again drive back to Phulchowki foothills. Your bird spotting tour on the densely vegetated mountain continues towards the higher altitude. During the tour, you will get an opportunity to spot the above mentioned species of birds or if you are lucky you may encounter with rare species of birds which normally visit the place. After the remaining bird watching tour at Phulchowki, you will once again drive towards the hustle and bustle of the city then to your hotel. .
- Day 5
Bird watching tour in Kathmandu-Taudaha Lake
Enjoy the feast on the breakfast table at your hotel in the city and then board a private vehicle. Today you will be traveling just for a while. On the way to Dakshinkali Temple, Taudaha lies 10 kilometers south-east to the Kathmandu valley. Taudaha- a wetland of Kathmandu valley covers up the area of 4.7 hectares out of which 4.2 hectares is a structural area where as the remaining 0.5 hectare is the peripheral land around the lake. Taudaha is one of the chief habitats for water fowl. It is also a significant passage for migratory birds on their way from Siberia to India, whose species count during the winters exceeds two hundred. They often rest over here for a couple of days before they restart their flight to India. The cyclic arrival of migrants has served to boost the biodiversity of this particular wetland. The full day you will be involved in bird watching, fish feeding and exploring the vicinity around. At the end of the day you will drive back to your hotel in the city. .
- Day 6
Bird watching tour in Kathmandu- Nagarjun Forest
Today you will enjoy bird watching tour in Nagarjun Forest, where you will have opportunities to see many kinds of birds. For example White breasted kingfisher, Paradise flycatcher, large racquet-tailed drongo, Golden backed woodpecker, etc are some of the common sights. Giant hornbill, one of the endangered bird species is found in some forest patches. .
- Day 7
Flight/drive to Biratnagar/Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
Today you will take an hour long flight to Biratnagar and from there you will drive to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve. Upon reaching at Koshi Tappu first you will check-in into your designated forest lodge and then you will begin your brief bird watching session in the nearest areas of the park. In the evening, you will return back to your hotel for the dinner and go for the well earned rest. .
- Day 8
Bird watching tour in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
Today you will wake with dawn and begin your fresh morning nature walk in the close by neighborhood. Then after the breakfast you will begin your rafting session at Saptakoshi River to witness the various marine and jungle wildlife including the water birds. At some point you will enjoy the picnic lunch at the bank of river. Post lunch, you will drive to Koshi Barrage to view the bird life and fresh water dolphins. Koshi Tappu is the home of more than 485 species of birds including Water-cock, Indian nightjar, Dusky Eagle-owl and critically endangered species like Bengal florican. After the long bird-watching trip for a full day you will return back to your hotel. .
- Day 9
Bird watching tour in Koshi Tappu /drive Biratnagar / fly Kathmandu transfer to hotel
With the early morning wakeup call, you will wake to begin the birding tour in the nearby woods. After the couple of hour’s bird watching tour, you will return to your hotel for the breakfast and then drive to Biratnagar Airport. From Biratnagar you will board a plane to Kathmandu. After an hour flight, as you land at the domestic section of Kathmandu Airport you will be cordially received by the company representative who will escort you back to your hotel room in the city. Rest of the day is on your own. .
- Day 10
Depart Kathmandu
Three and half hours prior to your departure your tour officer and a driver will be at your hotel reception to pick you up. You will be transferred to the airport in a private vehicle. Our tour officer and driver will see you off. Have a safe flight! .
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We highly recommend this to anyone else in UK seeking a similar experience.
Community Service
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