DAY ONE

Depart Heathrow, UK on British Airways flight arriving in Delhi
India at around 1.30am on day two.
Transfer from airport to local Hotel in Delhi in comfortable 12-seater minibus.
Overnight at Delhi Hotel.

DAY TWO

Bharatpur transfer

Breakfast at 9.30am for departure 10.30-11am for transfer to Bharatpur via 12 seater tourist Minibus. We normally manage a couple of stops en-route & any remaining pools attract a fantastic mix of birds. Typical species encountered – Black-winged Stilt, Redshank, Temminck’s Stint, Ruff, Marsh Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Red-wattled Lapwing, Snipe, White-breasted Waterhen, Citrine Wagtail, White-browed Wagtail, Spot-billed Duck, Little Grebe, Asian Pied Starling, Common Myna, Common Moorhen, Marsh Harrier, Shikra and Black-shouldered Kite. Cattle Egrets in the fields and other birds on the journey include Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Little Egret, Great Egret, Indian Pond Heron, Grey Heron, Long-tailed Shrike, Black Drongo, Bank Myna, Red-rumped Swallow plus Rhesus Macaque. Arrive Bharatpur 7-7.30pm.
Overnight Birders Inn, Bharatpur.

DAY THREE

Keoladeo Ghana National Park (Bharatpur)
Keoladeo Ghana National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Sites) is one of the finest heronries in the world. A natural depression of some 28 sq/km of flood plains, this national park boasts of recording 425+ species of birds. The park is haven for ducks, egrets, waders and many migrant birds. The park is breeding site for 100’s of Painted Stork, Purple Heron, Black-headed Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Egrets and the Sarus Crane – the biggest flying bird in the world.
Local birding guide, plus rickshaws in the park for transportation all included. We will visit the park early morning returning for a break and lunch and then visiting the park again the afternoon.
Typical species on the first day are listed below:-
Spotted Owlet, Eurasian Spoonbill, Black-headed Ibis, Painted Stork, Black-shouldered Kite, Indian Darter, Indian Robin, Indian Pond Heron, Purple Heron, Grey Heron, Indian Peafowl, Comb Duck, Spot-billed Duck, Northern Pintail, Black-rumped Flameback, Grey Francolin, Indian Grey Hornbill, Common Hoopoe, Common Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Greater Coucal, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Little Swift, Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Laughing Dove, White-breasted Waterhen, Common Moorhen, Common Coot, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt, Red-wattled Lapwing, Black Kite, Marsh Harrier, Shikra, Greater and Indian Spotted Eagles, Common Kestrel, Little Grebe, Little, Great and Indian Cormorants, Little, Great and Cattle Egrets, Black-crowned Night Heron, Long-tailed Shrike, Rufous Treepie, Brown Crake, Striated Heron, House Crow, Long-billed Crow, Black-hooded Oriole, Black Drongo, Orange-headed Ground Thrush, Red-throated Flycatcher, Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, Bluethroat, Oriental Magpie Robin, Indian Robin, Black Redstart, Brahminy Starling, Asian Pied Starling, Common and Bank Mynas, Red-rumped Swallow, Red-vented Bulbul, Plain Prinia, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Tailorbird, Common Chiffchaff, Blythe’s Reed Warbler, Hume’s Warbler, Wire-tailed Swallow, White-cheeked Bulbul, Jungle Babbler, House Sparrow, Chestnut-shouldered Petronia, Grey Wagtail, Common Babbler, Purple Sunbird, Open-billed Stork, Purple Swamphen, Sarus Crane, Indian Darter and Lesser Whistling Duck, Greylag Geese, Ruddy Shelduck, Booted Eagle, Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, Large Grey Babbler, Egyptian Vulture, Black-necked Stork, Plain Martin, Zitting Cisticola, Olive-backed Pipit, Indian Silverbill, Clamorous Reed Warbler.

Other wildlife included Rhesus Macaque, Golden Jackal, Wild Boar, Nilgai (Blue Bull), House Mouse, Rock Python, Chital (Spotted Deer), Six-striped Ground Squirrel, Monitor Lizard and lots of stunning Butterflies including Grey Pangee, Common Rose Butterfly and Striped Tiger. Arachnids and Odonata also add to the enjoyment.
Overnight Birders Inn, Bharatpur.

DAY FOUR

Bharatpur wetland
Full morning & afternoon birding excursion in Keoladeo Ghana National Park (return for lunch at hotel). Local birding guide, plus rickshaws and riders for transport, carrying tripods, cameras etc! In the park, rickshaws for transportation all included. Tips to drivers extra.
Overnight Birders Inn, Bharatpur.

DAY FIVE

Dholpur/Chambal River
Depart at 6AM with packed breakfast and lunch for Dholpur/ Chambal River. A drive of about 100 kilometers from Birders Inn (approx 1.5-2 hours subject to birding time enroute) will get us to the boat riding point on the Chambal river. From here we take a motorized boats that takes 6/12 guests each (we will have 2 small boats or 1 big boat). We spend about 2 hours on the boat, with some roadside birding on the way back.
Overview Chambal River: About 100 Kilometers from Bharatpur are the once bad lands of the Chambal. Thanks to the many in-famous bandits (many akin to Robin Hood fame) and their shenanigans, the Chambal Valley saw little to no
development up till now, leaving a clean and ‘alive’ river – one of the finest riverine habitats in India. Today, the Chambal River supports an array of wildlife, many of which you will not see in the wild anywhere else in the world.
Chambal supports over 240 bird species including specialties like Indian Skimmer and the Black-bellied Tern both of whom nest in the smooth sand banks of the Chambal. Others that we shall be on the lookout are Bonelli’s Eagle, Long legged Buzzard, Egyptian Vulture, Small Pratincole, Laggar Falcon, Streaked Throated Swallow, Plain Martin, Sarus Crane, Black-necked Stork, Grey Francolin, Indian Skimmer, Indian Courser, Orange-headed Thrush, Brahminy Starling, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher etc. There will be lots of wildfowl, plus dependant on water levels migrant waders.
The rich and vast sand banks of the Chambal today are home to the critically endangered and endemic Gharials, Marsh Crocodiles are found in good numbers along with 8 species of turtles including the critically endangered Red-crowned Roofed Turtle. We will be keeping an eye for the Gangetic River Dolphin and mammals such as the Striped Hyena, Desert Fox and Jungle Cat.

Overnight Bharatpur

DAY SIX

Bharatpur – Delhi – Ramnagar – Tiger Camp, Corbett NP
Morning visit locally for Painted Snipe etc and other wetland birds.
Depart Bharatpur at 11am in our 12 seater transfer to Tiger Camp, near Corbett NP with some short birding breaks en-route.
Overnight at Tiger camp, Corbett NP

DAY SEVEN

Corbett NP
Early morning drive for Ibisbill if we have failed to see them on the previous afternoon. Back for a deserved breakfast and shower before boarding our open top 4 wheel drive jeeps for the amazing drive into the wilderness and pristine forest of Corbett NP. Corbett NP is a mix of dense deciduous forest, riverine forest, grassland and a large water body, It has extremely rich avifauna and a wide range of mammals, including Tiger, Elephant and Leopard.
You will be sat in the rear of the jeep, each jeep will have 2-3 clients, plus a local guide and driver. Highlights include:- Red Junglefowl, Kalij Pheasant, Lesser Yellownape, Lineated, Blue-throated and Brown-headed Barbet, Emerald Dove, Indian Grey Hornbill, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Crested Treeswift, Emerald Dove, Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, Lesser Fish Eagle, Pallas’s Fish eagle, Lemon-rumped
Warbler, Grey-hooded Warbler, Red-billed Leiothrix, Blue-winged Minla, Black-headed Oriole, Long-tailed Minivet, White-browed Fantail, Bronzed Drongo, Lesser racket-tailed Drongo, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch and Velvet-fronted Nuthatch. This is not an extensive list as we will record well over 100 species of birds in the park! Also Gharial, Mugger Crocodile, Monkeys, Catfish and Golden Mahseer.
Overnight Golden Tusk

DAY EIGHT

Corbett NP – Pre-breakfast, morning and afternoon game drives
Pure Sal forest nearby are home to Flamebacks, Great Slaty, Rufous, Fulvous-Breasted & Scaly-Bellied Woodpecker, Emerald Dove, Gold Fronted Leafbird, Large Cuckooshrike, Large Woodshrike, Scaly Thrush, Asian Brown & Snowy-Browed Flycatcher & Rufous-Bellied Niltawa, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush, Plain-backed Thrush, the stunning Golden Bush Robin, Orange-flanked Bush Robin, Blue-capped Redstart, Great Tit, Greenish Warbler, Dusky Warbler, White-browed Shrike Babbler, Yellow-breasted Greenfinch, Black-throated Thrush and Pink-browed Rosefinch. Dhikala has always been the most popular destination in Corbett because of it’s sheer abundance of wildlife and awesome location high up-above the banks of the Ramganga river (that provides fantastic views on every direction). The huge expanse of the lush grasslands and with the meandering Ramganga flowing into the massive Ramganga lake (reservoir) surrounded by the lush Shivalik ridges interspersed by the Himalayan foothills. Elephants are the dominant mammals of Corbett, but even these are dwarfed by the larger-than-life vistas.
Here we have 3 days watching amazing birds, wildlife & every chance of a Tiger
encounter. Overnight Golden Tusk.

DAY NINE

Corbett NP – Pre-breakfast, morning and afternoon game drives
After Breakfast we will visit the Ramganga reservoir & river. Packed with fish, Muggar & the fish eating Gharial Crocodile thrive here and so do Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Grey-Headed & Lesser Fish Eagle and the Osprey large areas of marshy reeds and riverine tracts is ideal habitat for various migratory & resident waders, ducks, snipes, storks, coots and moorhens. Much of our focus will however will be on the massive grasslands where our primary focus will be on grassland specialties like Bright – Headed and Zitting Cisticola, Red Avadavat and globally threatened species – Grey –crowned Prinia, open patches and jeep trails are home to a rich variety of Wagtails, Pipits and Larks. Massive deer herds, Wild boars, Lesser Cats and a region that boasts of undoubtedly the highest Tiger density anywhere in the world. Scanning through your binoculars along the river and the edge of the lake would reveal numerous Muggers and the fish eating Gharial Crocodiles and perhaps a group of Otters. Sharing there habitat are various waders storks, herons, sandpipers, plovers, ducks and geese) and Ospreys, and fish eagles. Typical species encountered on previous trips include Kalij Pheasant, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Black Stork, Woolly-necked Stork, Black-shouldered Kite, Lineated Barbet, Osprey, Stonechat, Olive-backed Pipit, Pintailed Green Pigeon, Himalayan Flameback, Spotted Dove, Emerald Dove, Collared Falconet, Scarlet Minivet, Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Common Starling, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Ashy Bulbul, Red Junglefowl, Plum-headed Parakeet, Lesser Fish Eagle, Cinereous and Red-headed Vultures, Crested Serpent Eagle and Changeable Hawk Eagle, Bluethroat. Black-shouldered Kite, Olive-backed Pipit, White-capped Bunting and in the Sal Forest Brown Fish Owl, Blue-throated Barbet, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Puff-throated Babbler, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Scaly-bellied Woodpecker Common Iora, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, Skylark, Maroon Oriole, & both Monkeys, Sambar (the Tigers favourite prey), Spotted Deer, Wild Boar and Muntjac & Indian Elephant.
Overnight Golden Tusk

DAY TEN

Corbett NP to Vangat
This morning we leave Corbett NP and head for an amazing and award winning Ecolodge situated in the buffer zone of the reserve. The rich riverine habitat of the Ramganga surrounded by broad-leaved forested hills and proximity to higher hills will reveal an exceptional variety of bird life. Birders will find it a privilege to be able to walk in this rich bird habitat. From our thatched dining area, one is able to watch gems like Pallas’s, Lesser Fish eagle and Great Hornbills. Searching bushes close by may reveal White-tailed Rubythroat, Bluethroat and the vocal Scimitar Babbler. Moist undergrowth will be searched for Chestnut Headed Tesia, Himalayan Rubythroat, high above us wew will see the soaring Mountain Hawk-Eagle.
To reach this amazing place, we have fun crossing the river on a wooden raft. We are all fitted up with life-jackets & hard hats! Plenty of birds around the river White-capped Water Redstart, Plumbeous Water Redstart, Long-tailed Shrike, Bronzed Drongo, Blue Whistling Thrush, Wallcreeper, White-browed & Yellow-bellied fantail in the bushes. Possibly Little and Spotted Forktail.

Overnight at Vangat Lodge, an award winning eco-lodge in a remote, beautiful forested river valley. Each person/couple will have a dedicated bungalow. Each bungalow has bedroom, bathroom and shower. Hot water is brought to the room in the morning and evenings. Breakfast, dinner and evening meals are served via candle light and evening camp fire.
Overnight Vanghat camp

DAY ELEVEN

Vanghat
A morning exploration of the river at Vanghat then we will explore the forested areas on the other side of the river. The forest here hold a rich array of commoner and scarcer forest birds alongside the riverine birds and mammals. Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, White-rumped-Needletail, Little Swift, Black-throated Thrush, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Little Pied Flycatcher, 10+ Grey-breasted Prinia, Lemon-rumped Warbler, Humes Warbler, Grey-hooded Warbler, Whistler’s Thrush, White-throated and White Crested Laughing Thrush, White-tailed Rubythroat, Spotted Forktail, Little Forktail, Long-billed Thrush, Pallas’s Fish & Lesser Fish Eagle Wallcreeper, Brown Dipper, Crested Kingfisher, Himalayan Griffon Vulture, Greater Spotted eagle, Steppe Eagle & Rufous-belled Eagle

DAY TWELVE

Vangat – transfer to Sattal
This morning we leave Vangat after an early morning walk and transfer to we will
be stopping off for birding en-route, arriving Sattal late afternoon.
Overnight Birders Den, Sattal

DAY THIRTEEN

Sattal
We will be up bright and early at 6am and head out with a packed breakfast to search the surrounding forest areas! The sought after species in this area will be Brown Fish Owl, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Lemon-rumped Warbler, Buff-barred Warblers, Black-throated Thrush, Common Rosefinch, Ashy Bulbul, Spotted and Slaty-backed Forktail, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Bar-tailed Treecreeper,
Small Niltava, Rufous fronted Niltava, and Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Streaked Laughing-thrush and Red-billed Blue Magpie, Lesser and Greater Yellownape, Himalayan Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker & Kalij Pheasant.
We will then head back for lunch, where after lunch you will have the opportunity to view and photograph birds from the dedicated hide overlooking the feeding station area. With continual comings and goings, this is an excellent place to spend an the afternoon. But requires a lot of space on memory cards as it’s excellent for prolonged views a range of hard to see species!!
At times four species of Woodpecker; Lesser and Greater Yellownape, Himalayan and Grey-headed Woodpecker can be seen! Kalij Pheasants and Black Francolins creep nervously into view from undergrowth. Also present were, Grey-winged Blackbird, Blue-whistling Thrush, Streaked Laughing Thrush, Grey Treepie, Russet Sparrow, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, Indian Junglefowl,
Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush, White-crested Laugingthrush. Black-lored tit, Late afternoon flocks of Oriental Turtle Doves. The real characters around the feeders are the large groups of White-cheeked Laughing Thrushes with their attitude and demeanour.
An occasional Eurasian Sparrowhawk, scatters into cover raucous Red-billed Blue-tailed Magpies!
In the grounds, Green-tailed Sunbirds can be seen taking nectar from flowers while Olive-backed Pipits feed on the lawn.

Overnight Birder’s Den, Sattall

DAY FOURTEEN

We will be up again bright and early for tea and biscuits before heading for a pre-breakfast vigil at another feeding station at Sattal Church bird hide, this offers up some similar species to Birders Den but with the opportunity for maybe 1-2 species that we hadn’t seen yet, and one particular partridge species.

Typically the feedstation gets very busy! With 50+ Rufous Turtle Dove, Red Junglefowl, Kalij Pheasant, Great barbet, Greater Yellownape, up to 5 species of Laughingthrush, up to 30 White-throated appearing, and the possibility of Striated Laughingthrush which is a real stunner. The star birds here are Rufous-throated Partridges , a species I’ve rarely seen elsewhere, my only previous encounter is in Assam, so this was a real bonus. The photography here is wonderful with close views and good light, usually both Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler and Red-billed Blue Magpie giv great photography opportunities!

We will head back for breakfast just before 9am, after breakfast we will explore around grounds of the lodge and the last chance to use the hide until lunch, allowing each person opportunity to pursuit their preference, the feeders offer great views and photography of Black Francolin and around the gardens Nepal House Martins, Russet Sparrows and Olive-backed Pipits can be found.

After lunch we will head back to the Gaula river area, where will look again for Tawny Fish Owl and explore the forest and wooded areas along the river, Pied & Crested Kingfisher, Wallcreeper, Himalayan Rubythroat, Dusky Warbler, Humes Warbler, Blue-Capped Redstart, if we have missed any of the three Forktail species or Long-billed Thrush this will be a final chance to seek them out in this favoured stretch of river.

Overnight Birders Den, Sattal.

DAY FIFTEEN
We will have just a couple of hours pre-breakfast birding this morning before heading back to Delhi! We will again take advantage of the hide overlooking the feed-station area. There’s normally the chance of just 1-2 more additions before we leave! Traffic permitting we should reach Delhi by early evening.
We will then transfer the group to the airport ready for the flight home.

DAY SIXTEEN

The flight departs at 0320 from New Delhi to London, arriving later the same day.

PASSPORT & VISA

You must ensure your passport has sufficient validity (at least 3 months) and that you leave plenty of time for any renewal. Visas are obligatory for entry to India with regulations frequently changing so please check at the time of booking. Currently you can get an e-Visa for around £50 or a full 3-month visa for about £120. At the moment, it is no longer necessary to visit the Indian embassy in London to obtain a visa and you can also use an online company who will complete everything on your behalf, for a bit more cost. 

HEALTH

You should make an appointment to visit your local health clinic for a travel appointment to discuss necessary inoculations for your trip. Please be aware that currently these type of appointments are at a premium so enquire well in advance. 

WHAT’S INCLUDED

14 nights accommodation, all park entrance fees, all meals with exception of any meal required on last evening before boarding the plane, airport transfers and assistance on arrival and departure, transport using A/C Tempo Traveler or Toyota Innova, rickshaw rides to and back to Park Gate at Bharatpur and services of guides.

NOT INCLUDED

Any expenses of personal nature such as telephone calls, tips, use of payable items in room mini bar, any kind of alcoholic, non-alcoholic beverages (unless specified), visas, travel insurance and tips (allow £200 per person). 

CLIMATE

Delhi & Bharatpur – 25c upper, 10c lower
Nainatal & Pangot – 16-18c upper, 0c lower
Corbett – 15-20c upper, 3-8c Lower
Vanghat – 20c upper, 3-8c lower

ACCOMMODATION

The standard of the accommodation we use is good. We will be using lodges that Chris has previously used on many occasions.
In the foothills of the Himalayas and in Corbett NP the rooms are bungalows and
they are simple and clean. There is limited heating at these lodges, you will be
provided with hot water bottles and thick quilts and blankets so you will not be cold in bed. All accommodation and rooms are en-suite.
And yes they all have Western style toilets!

This report was compiled by Chris Mills on his last tour to Northern India. 

NORTH INDIA TOUR 2022 Report

NORTHERN INDIA TOUR REPORT 2023