Bugun Liocichla & more… birding in the North East (18 days) Small Group Tour B141

Introduction

One of the world’s most stunning birds is also one of the rarest and most recently discovered.  The exquisite Bugun Liocichla is just one of many enigmatic birds and mammals to be seen during this odyssey to north east India’s mountains, forests and grasslands.  At Nameri we will search forest pools for the rare White-winged Duck. We’ll explore the stunning Sangti Valley for the scarce Black-necked Crane, drive to the dizzy heights of Sela Pass where flocks of Grandala and Rosefinches can be found, then on to the legendary Eaglenest, where the Bugun Lioicichla was originally discovered.    Our final destination is Kaziranga National Park where targets included Finn’s Weaver, Blue-eared Barbet, Bengal Florican, Greater and Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrushes and perhaps even a Tiger, but most definitely Indian One-horned Rhino.

Itinerary and price

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Meals: Lunch and dinner are payable directly today. Your flight arrives at Delhi International Airport this morning.  We recommend you exchange money at the airport for the rest of your trip (it will save time and exchanging it in the NE will be difficult).  Look out for our representative outside Delhi Airport (he’ll have your names on a placard).  You’ll be able to drop off your luggage at your hotel (rooms available from 12 noon) and then in the afternoon visit Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary with a birding guide.  Target species here is Sind Sparrow and you’ll see many wetland species, with a chance of Indian Courser.  From Sultanpur you’ll be transferred back to your hotel. Night at hotel in Delhi Meals: Lunch and dinner This morning at a time to be notified you will meet at hotel reception and from here you'll be tranferrred to the Airport to take a short internal flight (excluded but we can advise on how you can book via the internet) to Guwahati where you will meet your bird guide for the duration of the tour. Drive to Nameri (6 hrs).  Birding around the grounds of Nameri Eco Camp for remainder of day.  Note: It is very likely you'll leave your hotel prior to the time they serve breakfast, so you will need to purchase something directly at the airport. Meals: Breakfast in Delhi, lunch and dinner Explore local forest and the Jia Bhareli river for White-winged Duck, Wreathed Hornbill, Ibisbill, Sultan Tit, Blyth’s Kingfisher and Green Cochoa. Return to camp. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner Drive to Dirang (7 hrs) birding enroute.  Visit Sangti Valley for Black-necked Crane if time permits and subject to the time of year.  Night at hotel Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner Day birding for Black-tailed Crake, Crested Kingfisher, Hoary-throated Barwing, Blue-headed Rock-thrush. Night at hotel. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner Drive 2 ½ hrs to Sela Pass for some high altitude birding, returning to Dirang hotel for the night.  Key species include Grandala, Himalayan Monal, Snow Partridge, Blood Pheasant, White-browed and Rufous-bellied Bush-robins and various Rosefinches. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and packed dinner Drive to Eaglenest where you will look for the Bugun Liocichla, Green Shrike-babbler, Red-headed and Grey-headed Bullfinches, Mountain Hawk-eagle….. Night at Lama/Ramaling in tented camp Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner You’ll spend five full days birding in the Eaglenest area from various fully serviced camps including Sunderview and Lama camps.  Explore the area known as Top Ridge where, as well as Ward’s Trogon, some fortunate groups have seen the extremely rare and elusive Red Panda.  Key species include Beautiful Nuthatch, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Blue-fronted Robin, Chestnut-breasted Hill-partridge, Blyth’s Tragopan, Temminck’s Tragopan, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide and Cutia.  Use of jeeps offers flexibility to choose the altitudinal range to bird, depending on the weather conditions and our priorities. There is a wealth of wonderful birding in this pristine and diverse montane forest including Golden Bush-robin, Purple Cochoa, Grey-bellied Tesia, Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler, various Wren-babblers and Parrotbills .  All nights camping. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner Drive to Kaziranga (6 hrs), a delight for birds and mammals alike.  Home to One-horned Rhino, Swamp Deer, Asiatic Wild Buffalo and Asian Elephant.  Tiger and Sloth Bear are also seen occasionally.  Birding is equally diverse with Finn’s Weaver, Bengal Florican and Blue-naped Pitta among the many highlights Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner Two full days birding in and around Kaziranga for Swamp Francolin, Spot-billed Pelican, Pallas’s and Grey-headed Fish Eagles.  In the tea gardens we might also add Blue-bearded Bee-eater and various Laughingthrushes and  Barbets.  Nights in lodge. Meals: Breakfast and lunch After breakfast head back to Guwahati for your internal flight to Delhi.  Night in hotel. Meals: Breakfast (served from 0700 hours) You will be transferred to the International airport for your flight home. Tour ends Tour extensions available. Please phone or email us for details. Price per person on a twin share basis with a minimum group size of 4 and max. of 8: £1950 Single room supplement £480 Price is based on the following hotels/accommodation:

Place	Hotel name	No. of nights
Delhi	Hotel Lohmod, Executive Room	1
Nameri	Nameri Eco Camp,  Tent with attached bathroom	2
Dirang	Hotel Pemaling, Standard Room	3
Eaglenest	Camping under canvas at fully serviced camps	6
Kaziranga	Jupuri Ghar	3
Delhi	Hotel Lohmod, Executive Room	1

Price includes

• Accommodation in the above mentioned hotels/camps with meals as listed
• All mentioned transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
• Service of birding guide for Sultanpur visit on Day 2
• Experienced birding guide from Day 3 arrival at Guwahati Airport to Day 17 departure from Guwahati Airport.
• Entrance fees to all National Parks and Sanctuaries
• Transfers in Delhi on Day 16 from airport to hotel and on Day 17 from hotel to airport
• All currently applicable taxes

Price excludes

• Any international airfare to/from India including International airport tax
• Any internal airfare
• Meals not specified
• Tourist visa and travel insurance
• Camera fee where levied
• Any additional taxes levied by the Government of India on the tourism sector in future
• Any expenses of personal nature such as hard/soft drinks, laundry, phone/fax calls, tips etc.
• Any item not mentioned in the price includes section.
• Any increase in the entrance fee to National Parks or Sanctuaries in the future. The price is based on the current entrance fee
• Cost incidental to any change in the itinerary/stay on account of flight cancellation due to bad weather, ill health, roadblocks and/or any factors beyond control

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