Day 1: Arrive Kathmandu
Arrivals into Kathmandu international airport this morning. We’ll spend the afternoon exploring the surrounding Kathmandu valley where we can expect a good introduction to Nepal’s more common species, such as Red-vented Bulbul, Jungle Myna, House Swift, Steppe Eagle and Black Kite. Time permitting, we will explore the subtropical broadleaf forests at Nagarjun Forest Reserve, looking for Himalayan Bluetail, Aberrant Bush Warbler, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler, Red-billed Leiothrix, Blue-throated and Golden-throated Barbets, Mountain Bulbul, Grey Bushchat, Spotted Forktail, Grey Treepie, and Red-billed Blue Magpie. Night in Kathmandu.
Day 2: Phulchowki Danda
Today, we will explore the forested slopes of Phulchowki Danda, the highest peak in the Kathmandu area, up to 2,770m (9,080 ft.). This is a rewarding site, where rich roadside subtropical and temperate forests across the elevational gradient host a plethora of Himalayan specialities. We will look for various Laughingthrushes including White-crested, White-throated and Streaked, Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler, Black-chinned Babbler, the Nepal endemic Spiny Babbler, Scaly-breasted Cupwing, the monotypic White-bellied Erpornis, Hoary-throated Barwing, Scaly Thrush, Grey-winged and White-collared Blackbirds, skulking Grey-bellied Tesia, White-browed and Golden Bush-Robins, the smart Black-faced Warbler, Maroon-backed Accentor, Himalayan Cutia, Rufous Sibia, Fire-tailed Sunbird, Brown Bullfinch, Black Eagle, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Mountain Scops-Owl, and the daytime vocal Collared Owlet. Night in Kathmandu.
Day 3-6: Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
On day 3, we take a short flight to Biratnagar in the country’s southeast corner before driving on to Koshi Tappu for a four-night stay. Koshi Tappu is one of Nepal’s finest reserves, and a vital remnant of a once extensive and impenetrable tract of the swamp forest that is now among the most fragile and threatened habitats in the subcontinent. Over these three days, we will explore the riverine grasslands looking for White-tailed Stonechat, White-throated Bush Chat, Striated Grassbird, Golden-headed Cisticola, Yellow-bellied Prinia and Swamp Francolin. We will also go in search of Lesser Adjutant, Black-necked Stork, Red-naped and Black-headed Ibis, shy Black and Yellow Bitterns, Greater Painted-snipe, Marsh Sandpiper, Bar-headed Goose, Grey-headed Swamphen, Yellow-wattled and Grey-headed Lapwings, Knob-billed Duck, scarcer Falcated Duck and Baer’s Pochard in the vast wetlands and reedbeds beneath the Kosi barrage. The impressive selection of waders and waterfowl we see here will be complemented by species such as Siberian Rubythroat, Abbott’s Babbler, Pale-chinned Flycatcher, Indian Paradise-Flycatcher, Dollarbird and Oriental Pied Hornbill in patches of woodland. Birds of prey include White-rumped Vulture, Pied Harrier, Pallas’s Fish-Eagle and Short-toed Snake-Eagle, with a selection of night birds at dusk and dawn, including Brown Boobook, Indian Scops-Owl, Brown Fish-Owl, Jungle Owlet and Large-tailed Nightjar. We also hope to see Asiatic Wild Buffalo and possibly Ganges River Dolphin. Nights in Koshi Tappu.
Day 7: Koshi Tappu to Chitwan
Day 7 will take us on the long drive west to Chitwan National Park for a four-night stay. Although mostly a travel day, we will be looking for Ibisbill, Crested Kingfisher, Little Forktail, Sand Lark, and the occasional Long-billed Plover on the shingle banks of the Rapti River along our journey through the lowlands. Night in Chitwan.
Day 8-10: Chitwan National Park
At Chitwan, the avifauna of the Himalayas meets that of the Indo-Gangetic plains creating the richest assemblage of birds anywhere in the country. Over the next three days we will explore dense forests and riverine grasslands in various parts of the park on foot and by open jeep, making a special effort to track down grassland specialities including Slender-billed, Chestnut-capped and Yellow-eyed Babblers, Indian Grassbird, the delightful Red Avadavat, Tricoloured Munia, Grey-crowned Prinia, and the majestic Bengal Florican. Other highlights here include Great Hornbill, Common Green Magpie, Green-billed Malkoha, Red-headed Trogon, Long-tailed Broadbill, Himalayan Flameback, the prehistoric looking Great Slaty Woodpecker, diminutive White-browed and Speckled Piculets, Red-breasted, Slaty-headed and Blossom-headed Parakeets, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Brown-headed Barbet, Himalayan Rubythroat, Pin-striped Tit-Babbler, Spotted and Aberrant Bush Warblers, Smoky Warbler, Slaty-Blue Flycatcher, Silver-backed Needletail, Collared Falconet, Black Baza, Oriental Hobby, Indian Spotted Eagle and Grey-headed Fish-Eagle. The reserve’s vast expanses of floodplain grasslands, fringing forests and surrounding foothills hold an incredible richness of mammals. As we explore the park, we hope to come across some of these, including Rhesus Macaque, Tarai Grey Langur, Asian Elephant, Indian Rhino and Gaur, with the chance of more elusive Sloth Bear, Leopard and Tiger. Nights at Chitwan.
Day 11: Chitwan to Thulo Kharka
A long drive on day 11 will take us northwards up to 2,060m (6,760 ft.) in the mid-altitude Himalayas of central Nepal, towards the trekking gateway of Pokhara to Thulo Kharka for a three-night stay on the edge of the Annapurna Conservation Area. Night in Thulo Kharka.
Day 12-14: Thulo Kharka and the Annapurna Conservation Area
Over these three days, against the stunning backdrop of the snow-capped Annapurna range, we will explore the temperate forests and scrubby slopes of the surrounding mid-elevation hills. Here, we will again be looking for the montane specialities associated with higher altitudes that we will have had a first taste of in Kathmandu at the start of the tour. These will include highly prized Himalayan birds such as Hill Partridge, Kalij Pheasant, Striated, Rufous-chinned and Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrushes, Blue Whistling Thrush, Chestnut and Alpine Thrushes, Barred Cuckoo-Dove, Ashy Wood-Pigeon, Blue-fronted Redstart, Tibetan Serin, Rufous-breasted and Altai Accentors, Dark-breasted, Pink-browed and Spot-winged Rosefinches, Crimson-browed and Scarlet Finches, Snowy-browed, Slaty-backed and Rufous-gorgeted Flycatchers, a host of colourful warblers including Grey-hooded, Lemon-rumped, Chestnut-crowned and Whistler’s Warblers, Yellow-browed Tit, Black-throated Bushtit, Whiskered Yuhina, Nepal and Rufous-winged Fulvettas, Blue-winged Minla, White-tailed Nuthatch, Wallcreeper, Crimson-naped and Darjeeling Woodpeckers, Great Barbet, Black-eared and Green Shrike-Babblers, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Green-tailed Sunbird, skulkers such as Chestnut-headed Tesia and the tiny, almost tailless Nepal and Pygmy Cupwings, and Asian Barred Owlet. Overhead, we hope to see swirling flocks of the distinctive Snow Pigeon, Black Eagle, Himalayan Buzzard, and all nine species of South Asian vulture, including Slender-billed Vulture, with Black-backed and Slaty-backed Forktails, Plumbeous Water Redstart, White-capped Redstart, and Brown Dipper in mountain streams. These mountains are home to many exciting mammals, but they are largely elusive and the handful we expect to come across here include Nepal Grey Langur, Jungle Cat, Masked Palm Civet, Yellow-throated Marten, and Himalayan Goral. We will leave Thulo Kharka in the afternoon of day 14, flying from Pokhara back to Kathmandu for an overnight stay.
Day 15: Depart Kathmandu
Departures from Kathmandu international airport today.
