India: West
Rajasthan and Gujarat
A 16-day, small group birding tour through India's arid western region, exploring the rich bird and mammal diversity of desert, savannah grassland and vast seasonal wetlands.
Our comprehensive tour takes us through an extensive tract of the fascinating dryland habitats of western India, a distinctly arid region that nevertheless supports an incredible diversity of species. We begin by exploring shallow wetlands and acacia scrub in the outskirts of Delhi, before travelling south into the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat, first into tropical savannah and thorn scrub and then through historic citadels and rugged hills to the edges of the Thar Desert. Although seemingly inhospitable in places, this region hosts an incredible richness of desert and grassland birds, complemented by often incongruous gatherings of waterbirds in seasonal wetlands. Birding on foot and from open jeeps we'll look for scarce subcontinent endemics and regional specialities such as Spotted Creeper, Yellow-eyed Pigeon, Green Avadavat, White-naped Tit, White-browed (Stoliczka's) Bushchat, Grey Hypocolius, Indian and Cream-coloured Coursers, Sociable Plover, MacQueen's Bustard and the unequivocal highlight Great Indian Bustard, accompanied throughout by vast numbers of cranes, flamingos, pelicans and storks and a fine selection of mammals. The post-tour extension to southern Gujarat's deciduous woodland and tropical grassland adds the chance to see Asiatic Lion, Striped Hyaena, Indian Wolf and one of the world's largest harrier roosts.
Monday 22 January - Tuesday 6 February 2024 (Asiatic Lion post-tour extension to Saturday 10 February)
with Lokesh Kumar
Monday 20 January - Tuesday 4 February 2024 (Asiatic Lion post-tour extension to Saturday 8 February)
with Lokesh Kumar
2024: INR 285000 / $ 3475 / £ 2750 / € 3205 (Delhi/Ahmedabad)
Duration: 15 nights/16 days
Group size: min. 6 / max. 8 with 1 leader
Single room supplement: INR 45000 / $ 550 / £ 435 / € 505
Deposit: INR 57000 / $ 695 / £ 550 / € 640 (20% of the tour price)
Post-tour extension (Asiatic Lion):
2024: INR 115000 / $ 1400 / £ 1110 / € 1290 (Ahmedabad/Ahmedabad)
Duration: 4 nights/5 days (total 19 nights/20 days)
Group size: min. 6 / max. 8 with 1 leader
Single room supplement: INR 27000 / $ 330 / £ 260 / € 305
The tour is priced in Indian Rupees (INR). Amounts shown in other currencies are indicative.
The tour price includes:
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Accommodation
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All meals and drinking water
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Ground transportation
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Services of a guide throughout
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All birding and wildlife activities
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Reserve entry fees
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Tour info, pre-travel notes and checklists
Estimated flight costs:$ 900 / £ 700 / € 820 (to Delhi/from Ahmedabad)
Estimated visa costs: $ 25 / £ 20 / € 25*
*Estimated visa costs shown here are for a 30-day e-visa for India.
More information on what's included
Read about our small group surcharges