Winter Birding Package 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 the program activities, evening a nice welcome dinner in typical Nepalese or similar restaurants.

Morning our 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.

Today, our program leads further into deeper side of the National Park forested area around Bees Hajari and Lama Tal, a swamp small lake and a pond with marsh land, where one can observe more water birds and fishing and serpent eagles, chance of seeing Open Billed Storks, Fulvous whistling-duck, Ruddy Shelduck also known as Bhramini, Mandarin duck, Eurasian teal, Mallard, Spot-billed duck, Northern pintail, Common porchards, Tufted duck, Common merganser, Darters (snake bird), Horn bill, swift, swallows, egrets, sand piper with fishing and serpent eagles and chances of seeing some marsh mugger crocodiles, these ponds is active with smaller species of turtles also.

This morning followed by programs with jungle activities or nature tours with more bird watching for few hours before breakfast, after a last day in Chitwan with breakfast drive to picturesque Pokhara one of the most popular and famous touristic spot in all Himalaya and probably around the world best holiday destination with alluring Annapurna Himalaya backdrop with majestic Mt. Machhapuchhre “Fish Tail” which dominates the Pokhara valley and reflects on the pristine lake Phewa. Drive leads on the same road for few hours and then heading towards west with views of Annapurna, Lamjung and Manaslu range of peaks as the journey nears Pokhara, on reaching at Pokhara transfer to a nice hotel by the lake Phewa with afternoon free at leisure to wander around the lake side with its line of restaurants, stores and shops.

Morning a short drive towards North West of Pokhara around the outskirt where you can observe the simple farm and country life of traditional villagers, here with short walks into a pristine wooded area with nice views of mountains and Pokhara valley, 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 and Egyptian Vultures flying high above, after a pleasant break and walk in this peaceful environment, spending some time to observe the bird life, with picnic pack lunch and refreshment heading back to Pokhara and into hotel.

Catching the early morning views of the high Annapurna Himalaya with magnificent Mt. Machhapuchhre after breakfast depart from this nice scenic Pokhara on the same road fro few hours, on reaching at Mugling Bazaar the junction between Pokhara, Chitwan and Kathmandu from here following the Trisuli River for few hours upstream and then heading high on the winding uphill towards the ridge of Kathmandu valley at Nagdhunga and Thankot from here a short drive back in the hustle, bustle city life in Kathmandu and into respective hotels with afternoon time for walks around the street of Thamel with evening last farewell dinner in a typical Nepali restaurant with cultural programs.

After a wonderful time and last day in Nepal, 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 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 “Winter Birding Package Offer” with a cultural and historical tour around famous world heritage sites with wonderful service of Himalayan Smiles Treks & Adventure (P) Ltd.