Himalayas to the Plains – Birds and Tiger Tour (16 days) B126

Introduction

Test your birdwatching skills as you delve into eye-catching birdlife of the Himalayan foothills around Sattal and Pangot, revealing attractive species such as White-crested Laughingthrushes in the forests and White-capped Redstarts along the rivers.   Explore the very special wildlife area of Corbett with a chance of Bengal Tiger and close encounters with Asian Elephants, Pallas’s Fish Eagles and more.  Enjoy a relaxing day on the Chambal river with views of spectacular Gharials, Mugger Crocodiles, Indian Skimmers and possibly River Dolphins.

An encounter with a Bengal Tiger is a magical experience and the stunning surroundings of legendary Ranthambhore will provide memories to live with you forever.  And if that’s not enough, visit the world’s greatest symbol of love, the beautiful Taj Mahal, and enjoy the intricate, exquisite architecture as you soak up its enchanting atmosphere.

There are many ways to extend this tour, so please contact us for details

Itinerary and price

For help with your flight arrangements and to receive a no obligation quote, you can complete the enquiry form on our website or call 0800 280 8947 to speak to a flight advisor at StudentUniverse (in partnership with Gapyear.com), part of the Flight Centre Travel Group, a leading retailer of airfares and worldwide flights.

Meals: Payable directly today You will be welcomed at Delhi airport and taken to check in at local hotel (room available from 12 noon).  Spend the remainder of the day exploring Delhi sites with your driver. Meals: Breakfast in Delhi and dinner at Chambal Leave as early as possible (to avoid Delhi rush hour) for the drive to Agra (4 hrs) and visit the Taj Mahal (closed Fridays). Continue on to Chambal, check in at your safari lodge and relax in the grounds where you can see many birds including Plum-headed Parakeet and Orange-headed Thrush. Often fruit bats and sometimes Indian Palm Civet can be seen at dusk.  Lunch is excluded from the price so you can opt to have lunch where it fits best.  Your driver can help you decide on the place to eat. Meals: Breakfast and lunch at Chambal, dinner at Bharatpur This morning you will take a boat safari (2 ½ - 3 hours duration) on the Chambal river with the lodge naturalist.  Here is a good place to look for Indian Skimmer, Great Thick-knee, Small Pratincole and many other species.  Gharial, Marsh Crocodile and turtles rest on sandy islands and banks. After lunch drive to Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary (Keoladeo National Park) which will take approx. 3 ½ - 4 hrs.  Night at local hotel. Meals: Breakfast, lunch or packed lunch and dinner Explore Bharatpur with a naturalist guide.  Even when Bharatpur is dry you can see an incredible number of species here including Dusky Eagle and Indian Scops Owls.  Monsoon rains deliver plenty of water to the park where you can expect to see Painted, Black-necked, Woolly-necked and Open-billed Storks; also Great White Pelican, Black Bittern, both Pheasant-tailed and Bronze-winged Jacanas and many species of scrub and forest birds. Spend a second night at your hotel. Meals: Breakfast, lunch or packed lunch from Bharatpur and dinner at Ranthambhore Enjoy a final morning birdwatching around Bharatpur, then leave for Ranthambhore (6+ hrs).  Night at safari lodge. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner Over these two days you will be able to take two jeep safaris (by shared jeep) and two canter safaris (in a larger open-topped lorry) in search of Bengal Tiger and other mammals including Chital, Sambar Deer, Nilgai and even a Ruddy Mongoose if you are lucky.  The birdlife is equally as diverse. These safaris will be with national park guides in attendance. Nights at same safari lodge. Meals: Breakfast at Ranthambhore Today you will travel back to Delhi - 8 hrs by road, or if you prefer, at the time of booking you can opt for the train.  Night at hotel. Meals: Breakfast in Delhi, lunch and dinner at Sat Tal Leave early for the drive to Sat Tal (approx. 7 hrs), nestled in the Himalayan foothills, for a two-night stay.  Explore this pretty area focused around seven lakes with a birdwatching guide. Night at local hotel. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner Spend a full day birdwatching with your guide. Species might include Rufous Sibia, Great Hill Barbet and so many others.  Night at same local hotel. Meals: Breakfast at Sat Tal, lunch and dinner at Pangot Spend the morning birdwatching locally with your guide before driving to Pangot (2 hrs).  At Pangot explore oak and rhododendron forest with an experienced guide. Many species are likely including Red-billed Blue Magpie, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Himalayan Bulbul, Black Eagle…  Night at lodge. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner You’ll have another full day to explore  with your guide around Pangot and local area where you will see White-tailed Nuthatch, Himalayan Parakeet, Green-tailed Sunbird, Yellow-browed and Black-throated Tits, bulbuls and laughingthrushes. Spend a second night at the lodge. Meals: Breakfast at Pangot, lunch and dinner at Corbett Enjoy some final early morning birdwatching, then you’ll drive (3 hrs) to Corbett.   Check in at your lodge.  Spend the remainder of the day birding with your guide along the banks of the Kosi River (on foot). Species may include Brown Dipper, Wallcreeper, River Lapwing, Little and Spotted Forktails and many others. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner On this day take a jeep safari inside Corbett National Park (Bijrani Zone) with national park guide and enjoy an elephant ride and plenty of time to relax. If you are lucky birds might include Great Slaty Woodpecker, Pallas’s Fish Eagle and Great Pied Hornbill.  Common species include Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, drongos, shrikes, parakeets and various pigeons and doves.  Night at the lodge. Meals: Breakfast at Corbett Take this final opportunity to explore locally outside Corbett National Park.  Then your driver will take you back to Delhi (07+ hours).  You may wish to order a packed lunch (payable directly) for the journey. If time permits ask your driver to stop on the way to view the Ganges.   You’ll be taken directly to Delhi International Airport for your flight home (excluded and to be booked by you). Tour ends Prices for different hotel categories, the names of hotels and a list of inclusions/exclusions are shown below. Tour extensions to include Jaipur, Bandhavgarh, Kanha and many other locations are all possible, so please contact us for details Price per person for mid budget hotels option: 2 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £1585 3 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £1445 4 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £1335 Single room supplement £380 Mid budget price is based on the following hotels:

Place	Hotel name	No. of nights
Delhi	Hotel Lohmod, Executive Room	1
Chambal	Chambal Safari Lodge, Standard Room	1
Bharatpur	Hotel Sunbird, Standard Room	2
Ranthambhore	Pugmark Resort, AC Cottage	3
Delhi	Hotel Lohmod, Executive Room	1
Sattal	Pine Crest, Standard Room	2
Pangot	Nest Cottages, Standard Room	2
Corbett	Tiger Groove, Deluxe Room	2

Price per person for standard hotels option: 2 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £1670 3 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £1520 4 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £1400 Single room supplement £450 Standard price is based on the following hotels:

Place	Hotel name	No. of nights
Delhi	Hotel Lohmod, Executive Room	1
Chambal	Chambal Safari Lodge, Standard Room	1
Bharatpur	Hotel Sunbird, Deluxe Room	2
Ranthambhore	Pugmark Resort, AC Cottage	3
Delhi	Hotel Lohmod, Executive Room	1
Sattal	Pine Crest, Deluxe Room	2
Pangot	Mountain Quail Lodge, Standard Room	2
Corbett	Tiger Camp, Deluxe Room	2

Price per person for deluxe hotels option: 2 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £1910 3 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £1760 4 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £1640 Single room supplement £695 Deluxe price is based on the following hotels:

Place	Hotel name	No. of nights
Delhi	Vivanta by Taj Dwarka, Superior Room	1
Chambal	Chambal Safari Lodge, Deluxe Room	1
Bharatpur	Hotel Sunbird, Super Deluxe Room	2
Ranthambhore	Kipling Lodge, Superior Garden Cottage	3
Delhi	Vivanta by Taj Dwarka, Superior Room	1
Sattal	Pine Crest, AC Cottage	2
Pangot	Mountain Quail Lodge, Deluxe Room/Cottage	2
Corbett	Camp River Wild, Deluxe Cottage	2

Price includes

• Accommodation in the above mentioned hotels with meals as listed
• All mentioned transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
• Local birding guides at the respective birding places as per the itinerary
• One-hour boat safari (approx. 2 1/2 hours) followed by birding along the banks at the Chambal river
• 2 jeep safaris inside Ranthambhore National Park by shared jeep (up to four people plus guide) 2 by shared canter, all with mandatory park guide and inclusive of entrance fee
• Elephant ride at Corbett National Park
• Excellent accompanying bird guide for Sattal and Pangot areas
• 1 jeep safari inside Corbett National Park and 1 jeep for afternoon birding in the buffer zone
• All entrances to all the national parks and sanctuaries mentioned
• All currently applicable taxes

Price excludes

• Any international airfare to/from India including International airport tax
• Meals not specified
• Tourist visa and travel insurance
• Camera fee
• 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

Photo Gallery