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India birdwatching tours - discover our wide selection of tour itineraries below

 

You may like to join one of our fixed departure birdwatching tours which run to scheduled dates with small group sizes accompanied by professional tour leaders.

Alternatively you may prefer to travel independently, following one of our anytime birdwatching itineraries (or indeed any of our fixed departure birdwatching tour itineraries) with flexible tour dates to suit you, and with accommodation, transport and driver, and guides all arranged in advance.  In addition, all of our itineraries can be fully customised to your needs and expectations, so if you do not find what you are looking for, wish to combine two or more tours into a single itinerary, or incorporate additional interests do not hesitate to contact us to create your own personalised tour.

  • For general tour information, including how to plan a custom-designed tour click here
  • To view the tour schedule of all forthcoming fixed departure birdwatching tours click here  
  • View all destinations on a tour map


 

Fixed departure birdwatching tours

  

 

North India and the foothills of the western Himalaya

Ranthambhore - Bharatpur - Chambal - Kumaon Himalaya: Sattal & Pangot - Corbett

(16 days, starting/ending in Delhi) >>view itinerary  >>view tour schedule

Rufous-bellied_NiltavaOur most popular fixed departure tour is an excellent introduction to birding in India, taking in a wealth of habitats from the deserts of Rajasthan to the alluring forests of the Himalayan foothills.  Our bird list regularly exceeds 370 species, key among these being Indian Courser, Sarus Crane, Black-necked Stork, Indian Skimmer, Collared Falconet, Wallcreeper, Ibisbill, Himalayan and Siberian Rubythroats, Cheer and Koklass Pheasants, Little, Spotted and Slaty-backed Forktails, a possible 9 species of vulture and an array of flycatchers and laughingthrushes, with good chances of Ganges River Dolphin and Tiger, and a visit to the Taj Mahal.

 

 

Assam and western Arunachal Pradesh - Kaziranga, Nameri, Eaglenest

Nameri & the Jia Bhorelli - Eaglenest - Kaziranga

(16 days, starting/ending in Delhi) >>view itinerary  >>view tour schedule

Bugun_LiocichlaThe tract of rugged mountainous terrain that dominates India's northeast corner is characterised by the close proximity of its enormous range of altitudes.  Different complexes of species exist here almost side-by-side, making this the richest birding area in the country.  Our itinerary covers almost 3000m of altitude from the Brahmaputra floodplain to the montane rainforest of the eastern Himalaya, targets including Bugun Liocichla, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Ward's and Red-headed Trogons, Bay Woodpecker, Beautiful Nuthatch, Cutia, Sultan Tit, White-winged Duck, Ibisbill, Greater Adjutant and Bengal Florican, plus Indian One-horned Rhinoceros.

  

 

East Assam and the Mishmi Hills

Mishmi Hills - Dibru-Saikhowa - Digboi Oilfields - Hollongapar - Kaziranga

(16 days, starting/ending in Delhi) >>view itinerary  >>view tour schedule

EAM_-_Marsh_BabblerAt India's northeastern extremity the Mishmi Hills, a forest-draped tract of mountainous land, rival Eaglenest as a repository of east Himalayan species while hosting specialities of their own.  Combined with the remnant grassland and wet-forest mosaic of the adjacent flooodplains of the Brahmaputra and Dibru Rivers this is a region of great complexity, where key species include endemics such as Swamp Prinia, Marsh Babbler, Black-breasted Parrotbill, Mishmi Wren-babbler, and Sikkim Wedge-billed Babbler among gems including Blyth's Tragopan and Slender-billed Scimitar-babbler, plus Hoolock Gibbon, Mishmi Takin and Indian One-horned Rhinoceros.

 

 

Gujarat - Kachchh and the Kathiawar Peninsula

Velavadar - Gir - Jamnagar, Khijadiya & the Gulf of Kachchh - Great & Little Ranns of Kachchh 

(16 days, starting/ending in Delhi) >>view itinerary  >>view tour schedule

Crab_PloverGujarat is a state of remarkable ecological importance, where the enormous variation in the strength of the southwest monsoon is reflected in a range of vegetation and habitat types, from vast saline flats and true desert, to tropical savannah grassland and deciduous forest.  Key species Crab Plover, Great Indian Bustard, Indian and Cream-coloured Coursers, Grey Hypocolius, White-browed (Stoliczka's) Bushchat, White-naped Tit, and Desert Warbler, are accompanied by migratory waterfowl in their thousands during the winter months, plus Asiatic Wild Ass and the critically endangered Asiatic Lion, two of India's most special mammals.

 

 

Endemics of southern India's Western Ghats

Thattekad - Periyar - Munnar & Eravikulam - Chinnar - Anaimalai/Parambikulam - Ooty - Mudumalai

(15 days, starting/ending in Kochi) >>view itinerary >>view tour schedule

Kerala_LaughingthrushThe Western Ghats are a range of low mountains extending along peninsular India's west coast.  Despite their tropical latitude the influence of altitude imposes a temperate climate on high ranges, home to a unique montane ecosystem.  The steamy tropical forests of the foothills and forest-grassland mosaic of the hills support 28 endemic and near-endemic birds, with a further 13 shared with Sri Lanka.  Targets include Black & Orange Flycatcher, Kerala, Black-chinned and Wynaad Laughingthrushes, Malabar Trogon, White-bellied and Nilgiri Blue Robins, Malabar Pied Hornbill and Ceylon Frogmouth, plus endemic Lion-tailed Macaque and Nilgiri Tahr.

 

 

Endemics of the Andaman Islands

South Andaman Island (Port Blair - Mount Harriett - Chiriyatapu) - Havelock Island

(9 days, starting/ending in Chennai) >>view itinerary >>view tour schedule

EAI_-_DollarbirdOver 500 remote islands in the Bay of Bengal form the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago; the vast majority are uninhabited, forested and mangrove-edged, providing refuge to the endemics evolved in this tropical paradise out of sheer isolation.  The easily accessible islands of South Andaman and Havelock host 20 endemic and near-endemic birds, part of a rich avifauna incorporating species more commonly associated with SE Asia.  Key species include Andaman Woodpecker, Andaman Treepie, Andaman Crake, Andaman Teal, Andaman Hawk-owl and Andaman Scops-owl, plus Mangrove Whistler, Ruddy Kingfisher, and Edible-nest Swiftlet.

 

 

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Anytime birdwatching itineraries

  

  

Goa and the Sahyadri Hills

Goa coast - Backwoods Camp (Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary) & Bondla

 (recommended 14 days with flexible guiding, starting/ending at Goa) >> view itinerary

Ceylon_FrogmouthA former Portuguese enclave along the west coast of peninsula India, Goa has long been popular among birders, enticed by the diversity of birdlife, well-developed infrastructure and remarkable ease of birding.  Goa's birdlist exceeds 450 species, including 16 species endemic or near-endemic to the Western Ghats which skirt its eastern border.  Key species include Ceylon Frogmouth, Malabar Trogon, Great Pied Hornbill, Indian Pitta, Collared, Black-backed (Oriental) Dwarf and Blue-eared Kingfishers, Oriental and Collared Scops-owls, White-bellied Sea-eagle, various gulls, terns, waterbirds and raptors, sandy beaches and a tropical climate.

 

 

Kerala's Cardamom Hills

Thattekad - Munnar & Eravikulam

(8 days, starting/ending in Kochi) >> view itinerary

Malabar_Whistling-thrushA shortened version of our more comprehensive 15 day tours of southern India's Western Ghats, this tour takes in the rainforest of the foothills and the highest peaks of the ghats in the Cardamom Hills of the southern Indian state of Kerala.  Concentrating on two centres to reduce travel times this itinerary nevertheless provides the opportunity to see most Western Ghats endemic and near-endemic species, most notably Ceylon Frogmouth, White-bellied Treepie, Black and Orange Flycatcher, Kerala and Wynaad Laughingthrushes, White-bellied Blue Robin, Indian Broad-tailed Grass-warbler, and the endemic Nilgiri Tahr.

 

 

 

Bharatpur and the Chambal River

Bharatpur - Agra - Chambal

(8 days, starting/ending in Delhi) >> view itinerary

Indian_SkimmerCombining a visit to India's most famous bird sanctuary with time spent exploring a productive stretch of the perennial Chambal River and a visit to The Taj Mahal and Red Fort at Agra, this one week tour is an excellent introduction to birding in northern India.  Key species include Sarus and Common Cranes, Black-necked Stork, Indian Black, Glossy and Black-headed Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Indian Spot-billed and Comb Duck, Black Bittern, White-tailed Lapwing, Indian Skimmer, Black-bellied Tern, Great Thick-knee, Sand Lark, Desert Wheatear and Crested Bunting plus Gharial and Ganges River Dolphin.

 

 

 

Kumaon Himalaya

Corbett - Pangot - Sattal

(11 days, starting/ending in Delhi) >> view itinerary

Himalayan_GreenfinchAn exploration of the foothills of the Himalaya and the adjacent terai zone in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand state.  This region is fantastic for birds, a meeting point of the birds of the Himalaya and the Indo-Gangetic plains, and is especially interesting in winter months when species more usually associated with higher altitudes descend to avoid colder temperatures.  Key species include Himalayan and Bearded Vultures, Cheer and Koklass Pheasants, Golden Bush-robin, Collared Falconet, Striated, White-crested and White-throated Laughingthrushes, Nepal Wren-babbler, Great Slaty Woodpecker, with a chance of Tiger at Corbett.

 

 

Specialities of Kachchh

Little and Great Ranns of Kachchh

(11 days, starting/ending in Delhi or Ahmedabad) >> view itinerary

Cream-coloured_CourserIndia's largest protected area, the Little and Great Ranns of Kachchh are a vast expanse of salt flats, dominating the northern part of the state of Gujarat at India's northwest extremity.  Seemingly hostile conditions are home to an astonishing array of fauna, including many of India's most sought after birds.  Key species in this fascinating desert wilderness include Great Indian and Houbara (MacQueen's) Bustards, Indian and Cream-coloured Coursers, Grey Hypocolius, White-browed (Stoliczka's) Bushchat, Desert Warbler, White-naped Tit, thousands of overwintering cranes, flamingos and pelicans, plus Asiatic Wild Ass.

 

 

Eastern Himalaya and the Brahmaputra Basin

Nameri - Dirang and Sela Pass - Eaglenest - Kaziranga

(19 days, starting/ending in Delhi or Kolkata) >> view itinerary

GrandalaEssentially this is an extended version of our 16 day tour of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, which also incorporates regions of higher altitude (up to 4176m at Sela Pass, one of the highest motorable passes in the entire Himalayan chain) and enables a thorough exploration of the birds of the eastern Himalaya across the entire altitudinal range and provides the chance to see some of the eastern Himalayas most sought after gems.  Key additions at altitude include Grandala, Red-billed Chough, Snow Pigeon, Snow Partridge, Blood Pheasant, Himalayan Monal, Temminck's Tragopan, White-throated Dipper and Black-tailed Crake.

 

 

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