A 10 day exploration of the foothills of the Himalayas and adjacent terai zone in the Kumaon region of the state of Uttarakhand, incorporating a visit to Corbett National Park where some much sought after birds are accompanied by a real chance of a Tiger sighting, with time in the higher hills at Sattal and Pangot in search of Himalayan specialities.

Species highlights:  Himalayan and Bearded Vultures, Cheer and Koklass Pheasants, Himalayan and Siberian Rubythroats, Golden Bush-robin, Spotted, Little, and Slaty-backed Forktails, Ibisbill, Wallcreeper, Collared Falconet, Long-billed Ground-thrush, Hodgson’s Bushchat, a host of laughingthrushes, flycatchers, and warblers, plus Tiger and Asian Elephant.

Best season to visit:  November to April

Tour price:  on request - please contact us for availability & prices

Day 1:  Delhi

Arrive in Delhi. Depart for the drive to Corbett National Park (6hrs).

Days 2-5:  Corbett

Spend four days birding in this uniquely picturesque wilderness, nestled against the foothills in the terai region of Uttarakhand, where the avifauna of the Himalayas merges with that of the Indo-Gangetic plains.  This location, combined with the great diversity of habitats – from deciduous forest to vast savannah grasslands – makes Corbett one of the richest birding areas in Asia, with specialities including Great Pied Hornbill, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Common Green Magpie, White-throated Bushchat, and 50 species of raptor, including Grey-headed, Lesser, and Pallas’s Fish-eagles, and Collared Falconet.  One great advantage of Corbett is the persistence of many exceptional woodland areas outside the park boundaries, in particular Mohan and Kumeria, that can be explored on foot for the more skulking of Corbett’s birds, such as Chestnut-headed and Yellow-browed Tesias.  There is also the chance of Ibisbill - an irregular winter visitor to the boulder-strewn banks of the Kosi River, alongside Himalayan Pied Kingfisher, White-capped River-chat, and Wallcreeper.  While most nights here will be spent outside the park one night will be spent in a forest rest house at Dhikala within the western ranges of the park.  The rest house complex is ideally situated overlooking the floodplain of the Ramganga reservoir, and a stay here allows for maximum time birding in wilderness areas, with the chance to see some of the park’s 50+ species of mammal, including Asian Elephants, and with luck Tiger.  Depart Corbett after lunch on day 5, driving up into the Himalayan foothills to Pangot village (4hrs).

Day 6-9:  Kumaon Himalaya – Sattal and Pangot

Four full days birding in the foothills of the western Himalayas at altitudes of up to 2610m, a region that contrasts starkly with the plains in terms of topography, climate, vegetation, and birdlife. In order to allow a thorough exploration of the range of elevations, accompanying habitat types, and their associated species, a further two nights will be spent at Pangot, home to more altitude-dependant montane specialities, before descending to Sattal (1450m) to spend two nights at bird-rich mid-altitudes.  Birding in this region is exhilarating, with mixed flocks and a high density of birds, particularly in the winter months when resident species are joined by migrants from higher altitudes. A mix of temperate forests, mature Oak woodland, Rhododendron, conifers, lakeside scrub, grassy slopes, and cultivation provide habitat to an astonishing variety of species and Himalayan specialities, including White-crested, White-throated, and Striated Laughingthrushes, Long-billed Ground-thrush, Black-chinned Babbler, Nepal Wren-babbler, Himalayan Pied Woodpecker, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Blue-winged Minla, Golden Bush-robin, Himalayan Greenfinch, Black-throated, Rufous-breasted, and Altai Accentors, Pink-browed Rosefinch, Spot-winged Grosbeak, Himalayan and Siberian Rubythroats, and Koklass and Cheer Pheasants.  Exposed peaks are a good place to find Himalayan and Bearded Vultures as they take advantage of morning thermals, while the entire region is dissected by shallow mountain streams home to some distinctive riverine species including White-capped River-chat, Plumbeous Water-redstart, Himalayan Pied Kingfisher, and three species of forktail – Spotted, Little, and Slaty-backed.

Day 10:  Sattal – Delhi

Depart Sattal, descending through the hairpin bends of foothills to the plains and continuing on to Delhi (8hrs).

Day 11:  Depart

Depart Delhi on your onward journey.

ACCOMMODATION

Comfortable birding and wildlife lodges at Corbett and Pangot, a comfortable permanent tented birding camp at Sattal, and a basic but comfortable forest rest house at Dhikala (one night only), all with private en-suite facilities. 

TRANSPORT

Jeeps, cars, or minibus to travel, depending on group size, and 4x4 jeeps for game drives at Corbett.  At Pangot and Sattal most birding will be on foot.

CLIMATE                                                                                                                  

Corbett is expected to be warm by day, with colder nights and early mornings.  The Himalayan foothills will be cool to cold, depending upon altitude and prevailing weather conditions.  Precipitation should be anticipated in the hills, in the form of rain, hail, or even snow.  

For more detailed information, or to book this tour, please contact us.