Best of Bird Watching Tour in Nepal

On arrival in Kathmandu received by our guides and staff with warm welcome and garland, then transfer to respective hotels in the heart of the city around or near interesting and happening area of Thamel, on checking into rooms with refreshment our guide will brief with information regarding your stay in Nepal with us and of the program activities, evening a nice welcome dinner in typical Nepalese or similar restaurants.

Morning a short drive towards North of Kathmandu after a 40 minutes of ride reaching at the entrance of Shivapuri Watershed & Wildlife Reserve where the top ridge stands at 2,523 meters high, here after getting the entrance tickets a slow hike into a pristine wooded area with nice views of Kathmandu valley below, after a leisure walk listening to the sound of birds, here our guide will try his best finding birds and recognizing with the sounds of different species of birds life found around, the most common are thrush, exotic sun birds of red and yellow color with black stripe, wood peckers, hoopoe, sparrows, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, Green-backed Tit, Black-colored Tit, Black-throated Tit, Himalayan Bulbul, Red-vented Bulbul, Ashy-throated Warbler, Warbler, Black-chinned Babbler, Nepal Fulveta, Fire-tailed Sunbird with some Himalayan brown eagles flying high above, after a pleasant break and walk reaching at Nagi Gompa (monastery) which is nunnery with 20 or more young nuns stays here for Buddhism study some after few years can retire back to normal life or continue with further high level, located in a peaceful environment this monastery about 50 years old, a great spot with views of Kathmandu valley. After a short visit in the main hall of the monastery, walk leads uphill for an hour or more reaching at the top of Shivapuri Hill where there is a shrine of Lord Shiva with asram (rest houses for the pilgrims and visitors) little further from here in this heavily forested area spending some time to observe the bird life, with picnic pack lunch and refreshment heading downhill back to the main entrance gate for the drive back to hotel in the busy city of life of Kathmandu.

Morning out next exciting adventure on bird watching leads with an interesting drive towards the south of Nepal, on the main busy highway following the Trisuli River for few hours passing farm villages and towns, on reaching the mid way at Mugling Bazaar our route heads further down where the high hills disappears for flat lands known as Terai, the drive is on the even road till reaching at Tadi bazaar of Chitwan area, and then an hour of good drive towards the buffer zone of Chitwan National Park where most of the hotels, lodge and resorts are located on reaching the respective hotels / resorts welcome by the manager and naturalist with welcome drinks and orientation of the programs and activities while in Chitwan with do’s and don’ts. After refreshment and lunch our guide and naturalist will take you on a short village and nature walk as familiarization of the area, as this region is warm with sub-tropical temperatures where the deep jungles are located home for the Royal Bengal tiger, rhino and many species of wild life and various birds. Chitwan is also the bread basket of Nepal as this low fertile land grows enough crops like rice to feed the entire country. On the walk you can observe the local way of life of Tharu people the indigenous tribe of the low lands Terai, many common myna birds are seen along with house sparrow, crows, 3 types of black drongo birds are plenty around the villages with swifts. After an enjoyable walk return back to hotel for night program Tharu folk dance or slide show with dinner.

Morning starts early with activities either elephant safari, bird watch or jungle walk for few hours as programs set by the hotels / lodge / resorts for different group wise, the tour leads through the Rapti River and into the main national park heavily forested with Sal, Kapok (silk cotton) and exotic trees and thick vegetation with grass lands, on elephant back the driver makes sure that you see some wild life like sloth beers, rhino, deer or tigers, birds life are abundant, as Chitwan home for more than 500 species of different bird species and some of them are Blue Indian Roller, Stork-billed Kingfishers, Bengal Florican, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Bee-eaters, Giant and intermediate Horn Bills and Cormorants with many storks and Egrets also. Best season around for birds watching in Chitwan are from February to May and October to November, however winter seasons are best for migratory birds in the low lands of Nepal Terai. After whatever activities are arranged in the morning back to hotel for breakfast and to refresh before next programs lined up such as elephant bathing /briefing or dug our canoe ride downstream on Rapti River chances of seeing crocodiles the marsh muggers and Gharial types with plenty of birds life including water birds storks and ducks, the migratory Ruddicel or Brahmini ducks are in great numbers during winter season migrating from Siberia, Mongolia and Tibet in winter. After a great time return back to hotel for lunch and rest in the afternoon till another activities such as jungle drive, jungle walk or bullock cart ride near local villages and visit the local Tharu museum. After an enjoyable and interesting afternoon activities evening with entertainment either local Tharu Folk dance or Slide Show of the Chitwan and wildlife followed by dinner.

This morning followed by programs with jungle activities similar to Day 04 or vice versa, allowing you with more time to spend in this serene jungle surrounding with exotic bird and wild life.

Today after breakfast a jeep ride or a canoe ride for a visit at Crocodile breeding farm at Kasara in the heart of Chitwan National park, very interesting as the fresh water Gangetic Gharial are near to extinct in this planet to save them this breeding farm has been establish by foreign wild life donor such as Frankfurt Zoological and other WWF ( World Wild Life Fund) here you can observe the Gharial from hatchery to adult stage, this reptiles are vegetarian but eats only fish as flesh survives with other aquatic vegetations, once fully grown they are set free in the rivers. After an interesting time here back to hotel for lunch and other activities as per the program set.

Our next adventure on Bird Tour starts early breakfast as this will be a long drive on the long flat country road, the area are dominated with low land people of Indian influence in their culture, religion and daily life they are mostly farmers tending huge fields of rice, wheat, sugarcanes and other side crops or fishing, drive leads towards east reaching close to the border of Nepal / India border at Kosi Tappu Wild Life Reserve, located in Eastern Terai Far East Nepal, the Kosi area is great spot for waterfowl and waders, with more than 26 species of ducks alone. Here the method of viewing is by boat, gliding through the waters in the stillness of the early morning and evenings. Over 450 bird species have been sighted here, including Black Ibis, Honey Kites, Ospreys, Black Headed Orioles, Peregrine Falcon, Partridges, and Storks. Our two nights will be at Koshi Tappu Wildlife Camp or similar, located in the Far-South East of Nepal and it is one of the first comfortable with luxury camp, located at a mere distance of Koshi Tappu wildlife reserve, in the eastern part of the country, is truly a natural paradise on this planet earth. Koshi Tappu wildlife camp is the first camp established in the Koshi Tappu wildlife reserve in the year 1992. Established solely for the purpose of serving to the needs of the birdwatchers all over the world, the camp is staffed with bird specialists renowned in the country. Now, this camp has also served to the holiday needs of the nature lovers seeking solace from the city and the hectic life. Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve has earned a place for itself as a birdwatcher’s haven. The reserve spreads over Saptari and Sunsari districts in East Nepal over the embankments of River Koshi. The reserve has been recognizing as a wetland site from 1987 was established mainly to preserve habitat for the remaining population of wild buffalo in Nepal.

Morning almost similar to Chitwan program, however with much bird life, the naturalist and bird guide will take you on boating on the great wide Sapta Kosi, meaning where the 7 great glacial river of Nepal meets here, where the big barrage and dam has been constructed to control the flow of water, which can flood some parts of North East India of Bihar and some other states. Plenty of water birds and grass land birds are found with other wildlife such as the Arna(the wild buffalo) After a great enjoyable and peaceful time with activities retire back to camp for lunch and leisure afternoon, late afternoon or evening s a short walk around the camp premises to observe more bird / wild life or visit the local villages and observe the farm life.

After breakfast and observing more bird life, depart from the camp / lodge for few hours’ drive to the city of Biratnagar located close to Nepal / India border the drive leads more south on reaching at Biratnagar transfer to airport, where the daily flights operates 2-3 times a day which is of 40 minutes flights with great views of snow capped mountains from Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Everest, Gaurishankar, Jugal – Langtang and Ganesh Himal all the way till it lands at Kathmandu on reaching Kathmandu transfer back to respective hotels after a most amazing time in the world of Nepal’s bird life.

After a wonderful time beyond Kathmandu, it will a great experience visiting the world heritage sites around Kathmandu, our guide will pick you after breakfast for our interesting tour, visit of holy Hindu Temple of Pashupatinath with golden roofs, as non Hindu cannot enter the main premises, one can have view from the east bank of the River Bagmati, this temple famous and dedicated to Lord Shiva, one of the main gods in Hindu religion, in the month of February as per Hindu calendar celebration and fare takes place where thousands of pilgrims and worshippers from India and Nepal. From this holy sites a short drive to Bouddhanath Stupa, also called as ‘Little Tibet’ as this place is inhabited by Tibetans and Tibetan origin Nepalese people of Tibetan Buddhism. A huge dome of Stupa with prayer wheels that circles the wall, a fascinating Stupa with all seeing eyes of Lord Buddha believed to be more than 600 years old or more, the entire area with markets of Tibetan and Chinese goods and nice restaurants, shops and many monasteries. Afternoon tour continues towards the historical monument of old Swayambhunath stupa of more than 2,500 old history with super views of Kathmandu valley, it is also commonly named as Monkey Temple due to mass population of monkeys that reside around the forest within Swayambhunath Stupa, an old heritage sites and the landmark of Kathmandu valley where the four cardinal eyes of Lord Buddha watches the valley. A holy stupa located on a hill lock west of Kathmandu city with tremendous views of the valley and city with snow capped mountains towards north with dramatic contrast against rolling green hills that sounds the Kathmandu Valley. Time permitting visit the old Kathmandu Durbar Square in the heart of the city our guide will take you on a short tour visiting the gems of Kathmandu city the Durbar Marg (old Kings Palace) with uncountable monuments in the Kathmandu Durbar Square. The house of the Living Goddess (Kumari Ghar), the ferocious Kal Bhairab, the red monkey god, and hundreds of erotic carvings are a few examples of the sights at the Square! The buildings here are the greatest achievements of the Malla dynasty. After s wonderful day retire back to hotel with evening free at leisure.

Morning free for last hour shopping souvenirs and other genuine handicrafts, as Kathmandu streets is full of stores for shopping spree and delights, as per the international flight time our staff will transfer you back to Kathmandu Tribhuvan International airport for the flight back home or to respective port of call after a memorable and fascinating “Best of Bird Watching Tour in Nepal” with a cultural and historical tour around famous world heritage sites with wonderful service of Himalayan Smiles Treks & Adventure (P) Ltd.