Nepal Bird Watching Highlight Tour

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 bird watching program activities, evening a nice welcome dinner in typical Nepalese or similar restaurants.

Morning a drive of an hour or more leading towards the southern east suburb of Kathmandu valley through the city of Patan / Lalitpur, journey continues beyond the Ring Road the circles the valley and heading further on the rural farm areas of peaceful surrounding away from the busy traffic of the city, as the ride brings at Godavari Botanical Garden area, from here ride leads higher on the steep winding road to reach at Phulchoki hill top. A great scenic hill adjoining within Kathmandu Valley and the highest point of Kathmandu valley, a picturesque spot for Himalayan mountain views and flora and fauna with Redheaded Trogan, a very rare bird sighted here in April 2002 (it was last seen n Nepal 44 years ago). Phulchowki Hill top at 2,759 meters high about 18 kms South East of Kathmandu on the route to Godawari Botanical Gardens, certainly a great place and famous for birds and some wild life with amazing panorama of mountains views from the top of Phulchowki with Annapurna, Manaslu and Ganesh Himal towards North West and with central Himalaya range of mountains of Langtang-Jugal Himal and continues towards North East Mt. Everest extending to other high Himalayan peaks Around this lovely forested area, about 90 species have been recorded including the endemic spring babbler, as well as the Curia, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Rufous Bellied Pied Woodpeckers and the Black-throated Parrot bill, to name a few. After an enjoyable and peaceful stop for few hours admiring the mountains and surrounding landscapes views and its serene environment, drive leads to a descent at Godawari Botanical Garden, here with time visit of Botanical Garden with exotic Himalayan plants, herbs and flowers and the traditional village life drive back to Kathmandu which takes an hour, lunch depending upon the time either on route in Patan or Godawari area as there are many fine restaurants along the drive back to Kathmandu and check into respective hotels after an interesting and wonderful day at Phulchowki hill top and Godavari Botanical Garden.

Morning a scenic and interesting drive on the main Nepal’s highway leading past the valley rim towards south west, journey descends with awesome views of Ganesh, Langtang and Manaslu Himalaya, and then following the Trisuli River for sometimes with a refreshing stop at River Side Spring Resorts for lunch with impressive bird life around the garden of the resorts premises, after a break here heading further west in the warmer areas passing many villages and towns with amazing scenery of snow capped mountain from Annapurna Manaslu, Lamjung Himal, as the drive nears Pokhara closer towards Annapurna great massive mountain range with magnificent Mt. Maccahapuchare “Fish Tail” which dominates the Pokhara valley, on reaching Pokhara transfer to respective hotels by the lake Phewa, after a welcome and briefing regarding your stay and programs, after lunch and refreshment a short walk with great evening dinner with cultural folk dance of various parts of Nepal ethnic tribes.

After a pleasant morning and breakfast a boat ride for an hour on Phewa Lake, the ride leads to a visit on a small island where Bahari Temple is located dedicated to female deity, local comes to visit for prayer and worship, in Saturday more crowds offering smaller animals like goats and chickens as well. The view is totally captivating from this wonderful spot in serene atmosphere. From here heading to other side of the lake for an hour hike to reach the ridge where World Peace Stupa is located a Buddhist Peace as well called as Shanti Stupa in Nepali, an excellent next view point a short hike a drive near to the top ridge of Pokhara at Shanti or Peace Stupa, located south of Phewa Lake on a ridge top. Peace / Shanti Stupa, a Buddhist monument on a hilltop, also known as Ananda hill, built by a Japanese monk Nipponzan – Myohoji Morioka Sonin with local supporters. This beautiful spot offers tremendous overwhelming views of Pokhara valley and of the snow capped peaks towards north. After a great peaceful time including the bird watch soaring high above the Himalayan sky, return back to hotel and refreshment and lunch late afternoon a short drive to the nearby scenic hills of Pokhara valley at Sarankot altitude of 1,460 meters at least 500 m higher above Pokhara valley and its beautiful Fewa lake, a stunning spot for overwhelming panorama catching the sunrise where it hits the tall Annapurna mountain range from Annapurna I (8,091m / 26,545ft) Annapurna South (7,219m-23,693ft), Gangapurna (7,455m-24,457ft) and Annapurna III (7,555m-24,787ft) stretching to Mt. Machhapuchhre (Fish-tail) 6,997 m with world’s 7th highest Mt. Dhaulagiri 8,167 m , 8th highest Mt. Manaslu 8,163 m and Lamjung Himal towards mid east. Here at Sarankot with awesome views of the snow capped peaks with Pokhara valley and the lake, a most remarkable spot and this place is famous and popular for Paragliding also, overnight at Sarankot Lodge, hotels with stunning sunset.

Catch the striking sunrise over the chain of Himalayan Mountains, after breakfast hike downhill with interesting bird watch sighting along the walk like ibis bill, wall creeper, brown dipper, colorful sun birds and other species of birds, afternoon at leisure for individual walk and bird watch on the Fewa Lake shore.

Morning our next exciting tour leads to an interesting drive towards the far south western part of Nepal on much warmer and sub tropical climatic zone at Lumbini the holy Buddhist sites and traditional birthplace of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, who was born in the 7th or 6th century BC. Drive leads on the winding road through the town of Waling, Syanga to reach a charming medieval town of Tansen, situated at 1372m, above sea level, the ancient town of Tansen is the headquarters of Palpa district, ancient culture, excellent mountain views, serene atmosphere and friendly people are the major attractions of this area. Beside Tansen famous for historical monuments, temples and lively handicraft industry, located about seven kilometers northwest of Bartung in Siddhartha Highway on route Lumbini and Bhairawa town. Here at Tansen with lunch break and refreshing stop, drive continues for few hours to reach our destination at Lumbini, on arrival check into nice hotels with afternoon a short walk with bird watching sights of this tropical area.

Morning visit of Maya Devi Temple (or Mayadevi) gave birth to Lord Buddha on her way to her parent’s home in Devadaha in the month of May in the year 642 BC. Feeling the onset of labor pains, she grabbed hold of the branches of a shade tree and gave birth to Siddharta Gautama, the future Buddha. The Buddha is said to have announced, “This is my final rebirth” as he entered the world. Buddhist tradition also has it that he walked immediately after his birth and took seven steps, under each of which a lotus flower bloomed. In 249 BC, the Buddhist convert Emperor Ashoka visited Lumbini and constructed four stupas and a stone pillar. Ashoka’s Pillar bears an inscription that translates as: “King Piyadasi (Ashoka), beloved of devas, in the 20 year of the coronation, himself made a royal visit, Buddha Sakyamuni having been born here, a stone railing was built and a stone pillar erected to the Bhagavan. The site was rediscovered in 1895, when a German archaeologist came upon Ashoka’s Pillar, identified by its inscription. Records made by the Chinese pilgrim Fa Xian were also used in the process of identifying this religiously acclaimed site. Lumbini was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. After a wonderful and interesting time with cultural and some bird watching like arus Cranes and other bird tropical bird life, afternoon our next journey leads to Chitwan a drive of 3-4 hours on the good and pleasant road heading east from Lumbini, on arrival at Chitwan National Park buffer zone where most of the hotels, lodge and resorts located, the naturalist and manger of the hotel will receive you with warm welcome and brief you with information regarding your stay and jungle activities, afternoon at leisure with cultural Tharu folk dance or Slide show of park history and wild life followed by excellent 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.

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.

Morning an optional nature / jungle activities with bird watch and visit to a tower (Machan) after few hours of early activities, after breakfast a driving journey back to Kathmandu, drive leads on a good highway leading north following the Trisuli River most of the way, on reaching the suburb of Kathmandu at Thankot where you can view Kathmandu city with Swayambhunath Stupa on a hill top, from here a short drive brings you back to hustle, bustle of city life and then check into respective hotels with last night and farewell dinner with typical Nepali meals and cultural dance program.

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 “Nepal Bird Watching Highlights Tour” with a cultural and historical tour around famous world heritage sites with wonderful service of Himalayan Smiles Treks & Adventure (P) Ltd.