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Small group birding tours
India is home to roughly 14% of the world’s birds, an astonishing avian richness that can be largely attributed to the diversity, one of the greatest on earth, in climatic zones, topography, and habitats. However, unless you have a few months at your disposal India, and its remarkable birdlife, is just far too vast to be covered within a single itinerary. Our small group birding tours have therefore been carefully designed to focus on specific parts of the country, incorporating the most productive birding sites within the most productive regions. Among India’s almost 1300 species are a considerable number of regional endemics, largely concentrated in four main centres of endemism; the rainforest of the Western Ghats, the flood plain of the Brahmaputra in Assam, the montane rainforest of the Eastern Himalayas, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Each of these regions is represented in our small group birding tours.
These tours run to set departure dates, scheduled at the most favorable time of year in terms of species movement, ease of sightings, and climatic conditions to optimize sightings within the duration of the tour, with particular emphasis on endemic and endangered species and other specialities of the given region. Although the primary focus is birding, there are always plenty of opportunities to view a host of other forms of wildlife, which we aim to incorporate into the itinerary without compromising on our main pursuit.
Professionally led by knowledgeable and experienced tour leaders these tours are suitable for both experts and beginners – your tour leader, and sometimes an additional local guide, will always be on hand to assist.
Designed to be as non-intrusive as possible, we restrict the group size of these tours to a maximum of 10 participants, excluding leaders; thus ensuring quality birding experiences at a highly competitive price. We guarantee our scheduled departures with a minimum of 6 participants, with the operation of the tour at the stated price dependent on reaching this number – we will however operate a tour with a group size of 4 providing every participant agrees to pay an small group surcharge of 10% of the per person cost, to cover the costs that running a tour for such a small group entails.
The prices of our small group tours are inclusive of:
§ Accommodation as per the itinerary (based on 2 people sharing a room)
§ All transport as per the itinerary, including domestic flights and airport transfers
§ All meals
§ Bottled drinking water
§ Wildlife safaris and all birding activities as per the itinerary
§ Sanctuary and monument entry fees
§ The cost of any additional permit applicable to the tour region
§ Accompaniment throughout the tour by a professional tour leader
§ Comprehensive pre-departure information and species checklist
§ A contribution to help offset the carbon emissions created throughout the chosen tour
§ A contribution to a reputable organization working within the tour region, as applicable
In other words, almost all of the expenses you will incur throughout the tour, with the exception of:
§ International airfare and applicable departure taxes
§ Passport and Indian visa fees
§ Drinks other than water, snacks
§ Sanctuary and monument camera fees, where applicable
§ Laundry, telephone bills, tips, and any other expenses of a personal nature
§ Charges incurred while making the payment – bank transfer / cheque processing fees
If you are traveling alone we will ask you whether or not you would be prepared to share a room with another single tour participant. If you choose not to share a room, or if a suitable room-mate cannot be found, a single supplement will be applicable. We do not however penalize the single traveler - our single supplements are quoted at cost price.
You may like to combine a place on a small group tour with a visit to any other region, in which case we would be glad to put together a personal tour extension for you – our suggestions are given in our itinerary pages.
Anytime birding and wildlife itineraries
Our anytime birding itineraries can be run at a time to suit you - perfect if you prefer to travel alone or as a family or private group. Any itinerary can of course be altered, extended, or further customized as per your requirements. If your interest is primarily birding, do read through our small group birding tours too, even if you are not keen on traveling as part of a group, since it may be possible to run these itineraries as anytime tours on request.
Alongside almost half of the birds of the entire Oriental Region are more than 350 mammals including 60% of the world’s wild Tigers, the entire remaining population of Asiatic Lion, 80% of One-horned Rhinoceros, and 50% of all Asian Elephants. Our anytime wildlife itineraries focus on some of the most thrilling wildlife destinations in the country and some of the most recognizable species on earth.
We can accommodate, within reason, any number of participants in our anytime itineraries. If you are planning a tour for a large number of participants then we advise booking well in advance in order for us to make the necessary arrangement towards accommodating your group.
You can choose your departure date as per your commitments – the best time of year for a visit depends to some extent on the tour region and is indicated in individual tour itineraries however in general the best time for a bird or wildlife focused visit to India is between October and May during the dry season.
The itinerary is an outline for you to follow – the pace with which you follow it during each day (with the exception of any long distance travel) is entirely up to you. It is for this reason that we do not include the cost of sanctuary and monument entry fees in the cost of these itineraries – you are then able to take some time out, or make minor changes to the schedule, without being charged for components you do not use.
The cost of our anytime itineraries usually includes accompaniment by a knowledgeable local guide, depending on their availability at the time you choose to travel. Based on your own knowledge, travel experience, and expectations, you may however choose to travel alone. If you are traveling as a large group, you may likewise prefer to be accompanied by a tour leader, providing this is possible at the time you choose to travel.
The prices of our anytime itineraries are inclusive of:
§ Accommodation as per the itinerary (based on 2 people sharing a room)
§ All transport as per the itinerary, including domestic flights and airport transfers
§ All meals where included in accommodation arrangements (i.e. where board is all inclusive)
§ Wildlife safaris and all birding activities as per the itinerary
§ The cost of any additional permit applicable to the tour region
§ Accompaniment throughout the tour by local guide
§ Comprehensive pre-departure information and species checklist
§ A contribution to help offset the carbon emissions created throughout the chosen tour
§ A contribution to a reputable organization working within the tour region, as applicable
With the exception of:
§ International airfare and applicable departure taxes
§ Passport and Indian visa fees
§ Meals other than those mentioned above
§ Drinks other than water, snacks
§ Sanctuary and monument entry fees
§ Sanctuary and monument camera fees, where applicable
§ Laundry, telephone bills, tips, and any other expenses of a personal nature
§ Charges incurred while making the payment – bank transfer / cheque processing fees
Designing a tailored itinerary
With over 90 National Parks and 500 Wildlife Sanctuaries throughout the country protecting vital pockets of the multiplicity of climatic zones, topography, and habitat responsible for India’s rich faunal assemblage, the opportunities for bird and wildlife watching in India are endless.
Our small group birding tours and anytime birding and wildlife itineraries present the flexibility to choose from a broad variety of regions and species, however they are far from exhaustive and you may prefer to use the itineraries and site information found on this website to outline ideas towards your own tailored itinerary or tour extension.
By choosing a tailored tour you have absolute flexibility to design a tour around your preferences and expectations, including as many sites, species, and experiences as you like or as you have time for. We will be on hand to offer our suggestions, providing honest and impartial advice while building your tour around the specifications you provide, and will advise you accordingly on your options relating to daily logistics, sites and species.
You may like to focus on a set of particular target species (be they birds, mammals, or butterflies), visit a park, or even a lodge, that has been recommended to you, spend more time searching for the more elusive inhabitants of a single locality, or create an all-round wildlife experience by combining more than one geographical region into a single tour. Furthermore, the tour pace can be adjusted as per individual needs so that whatever you age, ability, and aspirations we will create a memorable itinerary that is productive, enjoyable, and logistically smooth while remaining competitively priced.
The cost of tailored itineraries can be calculated to include as much or as little as you like, while some components, such as accommodation, can be adapted to suit your budget. We will not usually include the cost of daily expenses such as meals, unless included in accommodation tariffs, as this bestows a greater degree of flexibility than is possible as part of a larger group. Depending on your own knowledge, travel experience, and expectations, you may choose to be escorted by a local guide, or to travel alone. If you are traveling as a large group, you may likewise prefer to be accompanied by a tour leader, providing this is possible at the time you choose to travel.
Just email us with your initial thoughts, or of course ask for our suggestions.
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