Limosa's classic Nepal itinerary is chock full of great birds, such as the stunning Siberian Rubythroat Brian Small, Limosa

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1 Nepal CHITWAN, KOSHI & KATHMANDU Limosa's classic Nepal itinerary is chock full of great birds, such as the stunning Siberian Rubythroat Brian Small, Limosa 2020 Sunday 8th - Saturday 21st March (14 days) Small group tour with David Walsh & local guide RETURNING! Flanked by the world s tallest mountains, the spectacular Himalayan kingdom of Nepal should be on every birder s list of places to go! Focusing on three of the country's finest wildlife areas, our classic itinerary begins and ends amidst the bird-rich hill forests of the beautiful Kathmandu Valley. From there, we descend to the lowland jungles of Chitwan National Park, with its fantastic diversity of colourful tropical birds and a fine array of mammals - including the rare Indian One-horned Rhinoceros. A four-night stay beside the splendid Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal's richest wetland site, adds a wealth of new birds to complete a wonderful tour - one on which we should see around 300 species. Classic three-centre birdwatching trip to Nepal 4 nights in Kathmandu, including two days exploring the forested slopes of Phulchowki Black-throated Bushtit, Fire-tailed Sunbird, Himalayan Shrike-babbler, Himalayan Bluetail 4 nights Chitwan, home to Great Hornbill, Himalayan Flameback and Blue-bearded Bee-eater Chance to come face-to-face with the endangered Indian Rhinoceros... from elephant-back! 4 nights at tranquil Koshi Camp, beside Nepal's most important wetland reserve Swamp Francolin, Siberian Rubythroat, Indian Courser - and Ganges River Dolphin Expertly led by Limosa s David Walsh and an English-speaking Nepalese bird guide What's Included? Limosa Tour Leader Expert English-speaking Nepali ornithologist guide Return flights - London Heathrow to Kathmandu Domestic flight in Nepal - Biratnagar to Kathmandu 12 nights accommodation in Nepal, staying at comfortable hotels and wildlife lodges All main meals included - with drinking water provided during the day Boat trip and elephant safari at Chitwan Transportation by 4WD vehicles and air-conditioned small coach All excursions, permits/entry fees, tour based tips (including local drivers, guides) and taxes LIMOSA HOLIDAYS, West End Farmhouse, Chapelfield, Stalham, Norfolk NR12 9EJ (UK) TEL: +44 (0) info@limosaholidays.co.uk WEB: limosaholidays.co.uk

2 Outline Itinerary Days 1-2: Fly London Heathrow overnight to Doha (Qatar), onward connection to Nepal. Night Kathmandu Day 3: Full day birding on the slopes of Phulchowki mountain (2782m). Night Kathmandu Day 4: We travel from Kathmandu to Chitwan National Park, birding as we go. Night Chitwan Days 5-7: Three full days exploring Chitwan NP, including boat trip on the Rapti River and an elephant-back safari. Chitwan (3 nts) Day 8: Transfer from Chitwan to Koshi, birding en route at Hetauda. Night Koshi Camp Days 9-11: Birding in and around Koshi Tappu Reserve. Koshi Camp (3 nts) Day 12: We drive to Biratnagar for a late morning flight back to Kathmandu. Afternoon visit (optional but included) to Pashupatinath Hindu Temple and Boudhanath Buddhist Stupa. Night Kathmandu Day 13: Full day birding on Phulchowki. Night Kathmandu Day 14: Fly Kathmandu to Doha (Qatar) and onward to London Heathrow Tour Overview Flanked by the world s tallest mountains, the spectacular kingdom of Nepal should be on every birder s list of places to go! Its name is synonymous with images of pagodas, Buddhist stupas, Hindu temples and a panorama of snowcapped Himalayan peaks. Although entirely land-locked, no other country on earth boasts such an incredible altitudinal range - and the result is a bird list that totals well over 800 species, spanning everything from Giant Hornbill and Indian Courser to Himalayan Cutia and Red-billed Blue Magpie. Limosa's Nepal itinerary is a 'classic', focusing on three of the country's very best wildlife areas and offering varied and rewarding birdwatching without the need for an arduous mountain trek. Our tour is timed to coincide with the start of spring bird migration in Nepal. Although some wintering species will already have headed north, others will remain, and by visiting in March we have the opportunity to see early arriving summer visitors. Add a host of exciting resident birds and, overall, we can expect to find around 300 species on this tour - plus some terrific Asian mammals, too (seen more easily in March than earlier in the year), and a range of spectacular butterflies and colourful dragonflies. We begin and end our holiday amid the moist hill forests of the Kathmandu Valley, where we'll spend two full days exploring the slopes of Phulchowki mountain. At 2782m (c9200ft), this is a mere hill by Nepalese standards! But if we have a clear day, we should enjoy our first views of the mighty Himalaya, soaring high above the clouds to the north. It takes a while to sink in... can they really be mountains we are looking at out there, above the clouds? On Phulchowki we will explore altitudes from 1600m (c5300ft) to 2700m (c9000ft) using a track which goes right to the top. After a chilly start first thing, we can reasonably expect the daytime climate to be pleasantly warm here in March, making this an ideal introduction to Asian birding. Red-billed Blue Magpie, Himalayan Bluetail, Fire-tailed Sunbird, Blackfaced Warbler, Rufous-winged Fulvetta, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush, Rufous Sibia and Black-throated Bushtit are among many delights that await - and, with luck, we might also come across scarce Himalayan specialities such as Kalij Pheasant, Striated Laughingthrush and the enigmatic Himalayan Cutia. From Kathmandu, we descend to Nepal s lowlands - the Terai - to explore the jungles of Chitwan National Park (and with an outside chance of finding Ibisbill and Nepal s one endemic bird, Spiny Babbler, along the way). Undoubtedly one of the world s great natural parks, Chitwan is blessed with a fine mix of lowland grassland and forest. Birds to look forward to include Great Hornbill, Collared Falconet, Himalayan Flameback, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Red-headed Trogon, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Black-backed Forktail and Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush info@limosaholidays.co.uk

3 In addition to a fantastic diversity of colourful tropical birds, we hope to encounter the peculiar fish-eating Gharial along with a fine array of mammals - including the rare Indian One-horned Rhinoceros, which we ll approach for a thrilling close encounter while riding on elephant-back! A four-night stay at a comfortable and permanent tented facility beside the splendid Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve completes our three-centre tour. The thatched tents here are walk-in safari-style, each with its own en suite facilities attached. The grounds of our camp have been developed into a haven for wildlife: Black Bittern, Bronze-winged Jacana, Scaly Thrush and Siberian Rubythroat being just four on the long list of outstanding garden birds! As at Chitwan, the night sounds of cuckoos, owls and nightjars are magical. We explore the local area from a convenient bund (raised bank), which protects the adjacent arable land from flooding, and on the nearby grasslands. Swamp Francolin, White-rumped Vulture, Indian Courser, Small Pratincole, Brown Fish Owl, Streak-throated Woodpecker and Smoky Warbler are among many target species. The Koshi river itself is home to the endangered Ganges River Dolphin, and other mammals to watch for here include wild Asian Elephant and Bengal Fox. Astonishingly for a country that's only the size of England and Wales, almost 10% of the world s bird species have been recorded in Nepal. If you haven t visited Asia before, our tour offers a very special wildlife experience to start you off! While for those who have already travelled to this bird-rich continent, Nepal is sure to reward you with a wide range of new species and wonderful memories. Our March 2020 trip will be Limosa's tenth tour to Nepal and guide David Walsh's fourth visit there. Join David and one of the country s foremost local bird guides for an unforgettable fortnight birdwatching in Nepal. Daily Itinerary Days 1-2 FLY LONDON TO KATHMANDU Our birdwatching tour to Nepal commences with a Qatar Airways evening flight from London Heathrow to Doha (Qatar) and onward connection to Kathmandu. We arrive in the capital Kathmandu on the afternoon of day two and transfer directly to our comfortable city hotel, where we stay for two nights. Kathmandu lies in a wide valley basin at an elevation of 1400m (c4,600ft) above sea level and is a bustling mix of the ancient and modern. Night Kathmandu Day 3 KATHMANDU VALLEY: PHULCHOWKI After an early breakfast we drive southeast for around an hour to reach Phulchowki mountain. Travelling in 4WD vehicles, we take a track that leads right to the top. At 2782m (just over 9000ft), Phulchowki is the highest peak in the Kathmandu Valley. Having brought a picnic lunch, we are able to spend the whole day in this area - and we have a second opportunity to explore here on our final full day. Weather permitting, we will concentrate on the upper slopes on one of our two visits, birding a little lower down on the second day. We ascend in our vehicle as far as road conditions allow, our aim being to walk in stages back down so as to cover as much as possible of this splendid forest track on foot. With the range of species changing according to altitude, the list of birds it's possible to see on Phulchowki is exceptional - and if visibility is good, there are distant views through the forest towards the Himalaya s tallest peaks as they protrude, improbably, above the clouds! Phulchowki means meeting place of the flowers, after the thickets of rhododendron trees that clothe its lush, forested slopes. More bird species are found on this mountain than anywhere else in the Kathmandu Valley and a truly mouth-watering crop of warblers, yuhinas, laughingthrushes, babblers, bulbuls, sunbirds and flowerpeckers will keep us on our toes! info@limosaholidays.co.uk

4 Although patience and perseverance will be required as always in forest birding, the likes of Black-faced and Chestnut-crowned Warblers, Fire-tailed Sunbird, Himalayan Bluetail, Redbilled Leiothrix, Ultramarine Flycatcher and Bar-throated Minla are among a long list of colourful gems to watch for. Amongst the commonest birds on the upper slopes are Rufous Sibia and a range of Phylloscopus warblers: we should be able to compare Ashy-throated, Blyth s Leaf, Buffbarred and Grey-hooded. We will also keep our eyes open for Striated Bulbul, Himalayan Blacklored Tit, White-browed and Rufous-winged Fulvettas, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush, Blue-winged Minla, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker and both Whiskered and Stripe-throated Yuhinas. On the lower and middle slopes, we hope to find birds such as Kalij Pheasant, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Nepal Fulvetta, Himalayan Shrikebabbler, Black-throated Bushtit, Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler, White-throated and Striated Laughingthrushes, Great Barbet and Greentailed Sunbird. If we are very lucky, we might also find the rare and localised Himalayan Cutia, a specialist of mossy trunks. Taking a break from seeking passerines and looking to the skies, Black Eagle and both Cinereous and Himalayan Vultures are possible. Bird activity inevitably quietens down by early afternoon and after both visits we can expect to arrive back in Kathmandu with plenty of time to unwind before another tasty dinner tonight. Night Kathmandu Day 4 KATHMANDU TO CHITWAN Leaving Kathmandu this morning, we drive west then south as we descend from the hills into the lowlands. We'll make a few short birding stops along the way, looking for Plumbeous Water Redstarts and sparkling White-capped Redstarts by small streams, and River Lapwing beside the wide but fast-flowing Trishuli River. If we are very lucky, we may chance upon a wintering Ibisbill (although by mid-march it's likely that they will already have departed for their breeding grounds). Further on, a roadside grassy bank might seem an improbable place to look for another special bird! But this is the habitat of Nepal s one and only endemic bird - the Spiny Babbler - and we hope to find one in the short time available here. Wallcreeper and Bonelli s Eagle both inhabit areas not far from here. Depending on traffic, we may take lunch at a restaurant with Green-billed Malkoha and Large Cuckooshrike amongst its list of garden birds. The grounds are also a haven for butterflies, many with names to conjure with such as Lemon Pansy, Great Eggfly and Colour Sargeant; and a water feature is home to a little-known dragonfly called the Granite Ghost! It will be hard to tear ourselves away from the fascinating wildlife and sit down for lunch, but the momos meat-filled dumplings are sure to tempt us! Continuing south, we complete our journey to Royal Chitwan National Park, aiming to arrive as the day draws to a close. We may well be greeted by the calls of Brown Hawk Owl in the grounds of our well-appointed lodge just outside the park, our base for a four-night stay. Night at Jungle Villa Resort, Chitwan Days 5-7 CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK Chitwan s splendid Sal forests and riverine grasslands encompass an area of more than 900 square kilometres and boast a greater variety of wildlife than anywhere else in Nepal. Almost 500 species of birds have been recorded within the boundaries of this magnificent park and we can expect to encounter a good cross-section of these during the course of our stay. We spend three full days exploring the jungle by various means: walking in the grasslands outside the park, using open top 'jeeps' to go into the heart of the forest, taking an elephant-back safari and relaxing on a boat trip down the Rapti River. We are sure to be impressed by the night sounds from our rooms, with the songs of Large-tailed and Savannah Nightjars to listen for, and the manic calls of Common Hawk Cuckoos (or brain-fever bird) soon to be ingrained in our memory! info@limosaholidays.co.uk

5 As the nocturnal chorus dies away, the familiar crowing of Red Junglefowl (the real McCoy here, of course!) greets the dawn. With the first rays of light, new birds might well include Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, Jungle Babbler, Coppersmith Barbet, Black-hooded Oriole and Red-whiskered Bulbul. The adjacent grasslands have their own distinctive avifauna such as Bengal Bush Lark, Paddyfield Pipit, Slender-billed Babbler, Indian Grassbird and White-tailed Stonechat. Rednaped Ibises feed on the marshy margins, where we also hope to find Himalayan Rubythroat, Spotted Bush Warbler, Chestnut-capped Babbler and Brown Crake. Chitwan's varied woodlands hold a plethora of exotic species and we won t need to venture far from our lodge before encountering Oriental Pied Hornbill, Green and Chestnut-headed Beeeaters, Himalayan Flameback, Common Iora, and both Chestnut-bellied and Velvet-fronted Nuthatches. But it will be on our 'jeep' drive deeper into the jungle that we will have the chance to see more of Chitwan's specialities. With luck, we may find Spot-winged Starling, the most localised member of its family in Nepal, feeding on a flowering Red Cotton Tree. Oriental Darter, Grey-headed Fish Eagle and Stork-billed Kingfisher live side-by-side on one particular lake, whilst woodpeckers here include both Greater and Lesser Yellownapes. Our eagle-eyed local spotters will be assets as we drive slowly along, looking out for Scarlet and Rosy Minivets, Bronzed and Hair-crested Drongos, Red-breasted and Plum-headed Parakeets, Crested Treeswift and Puff-throated Babbler. If we are lucky, we will come across a restless feeding flock, alive with birds such as Greater Racquet-tailed Drongo, Lesser and Greater Necklaced Laughingthrushes, Common Green Magpie and White-browed Scimitar Babbler. Great Hornbill, Blue-bearded Beeeater, Red-headed Trogon, Collared Falconet and Black-backed Forktail are further attractions in the park and their presence will encourage us to keep looking! We hope to find Indian Peafowl in full display, yet another spectacle to live long in the memory. A boat trip here will provide a lovely contrast to our forest birding. As we drift along, we hope to get 'up close and personal' with birds such as Little Cormorant, Lesser Adjutant, Asian Openbill, Red-wattled Lapwing, White-browed and Citrine Wagtails and Rosy Pipit. If we are lucky we might also see the rare and decidedly odd-looking, long-snouted, fish-eating Gharial. We specifically look for mammals both during afternoon 'jeep' drives and on our elephant-back safari. The latter is actually one of the best ways to get close to the mammals for which Chitwan is so famous - as well, of course, as adding a thrilling new dimension to the tour! We are sure to encounter the endangered Indian One-horned Rhinoceros - and the sight of one of these great armour-plated beasts crashing towards us through the undergrowth or gazing at us from a safe distance along the track is an experience one is unlikely ever to forget! Of Chitwan s other numerous large animals, we are likely to see Wild Boar, Sambar, the lovely Spotted Deer, Hog Deer, Rhesus Macaque, Grey Langur and the aptly-named Marsh Mugger crocodile. Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear and Gaur are also present at Chitwan, but our chances of actually seeing one are, unfortunately, extremely slim! Three further nights at Jungle Villa Resort, Chitwan Day 8 CHITWAN TO KOSHI Leaving the jungles of Chitwan behind today, we head east to Koshi. It s a full day s drive along the east-west highway, which runs through the heart of Nepal s Terai region. By making an early start however, there will be a little time for birding en route, with Indian Rollers and Ashy Woodswallows to watch out for as we sit back and enjoy the captivating images of everyday life in lowland Nepal. We will aim to arrive at our destination just as dusk settles over the great Koshi river. Our base for the next four nights will be a permanent tented facility nestled beneath shady trees in a remote corner of this internationally important RAMSAR site. Although it is situated well off the beaten track, we think you ll be pleasantly surprised by the standard of accommodation info@limosaholidays.co.uk

6 available here, and Koshi Camp has been a firm favourite with everyone on past tours. Night at Koshi Camp Days 9-11 KOSHI TAPPU WILDLIFE RESERVE Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is located in the far eastern corner of Nepal, close to the country's southern border with India. It is renowned as Nepal s finest wetland but the amount of time we spend looking at the river and marshland actually forms only a small proportion of our birding here. The grounds of our camp have been developed into a real haven for wildlife. The ponds hold Black Bittern, Bronze-winged Jacana and Whitebreasted Waterhen - and we have a good chance of seeing Siberian Rubythroat, too. Asian Koel (another bird whose repetitive call you'll soon come to recognise!), Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Black-rumped Flameback, Taiga Flycatcher, the spiky-crested Indian Paradise Flycatcher, Scaly Thrush and Blue-throated Barbet are among many other possibilities in and around the 'garden'. As at Chitwan, the night sights and sounds are simply magical. We can expect to hear jackals, cuckoos and nightjars and to see both Spotted Owlet and Brown Hawk Owl, as well as Blackcrowned Night Herons and Indian Flying Foxes as they leave their daytime roosts. We spend two mornings exploring the local area from a bund which protects the adjacent arable land from flooding. Wetland birds include Greyheaded Lapwing and Black-headed Ibis, whilst Striated Grassbird and Smoky Warbler are found in the reedy fringes. The trees, bushes and long grass are home to an array of birdlife including Swamp Francolin, White-rumped Vulture, Rednecked Falcon, Streak-throated Woodpecker, Whistler s Warbler and Black-throated Thrush. With any luck, our guides will also know where to find the local pair of Brown Fish Owls. On one morning, we'll drive to an area of short grassland adjacent to the Koshi river. It may be necessary to cross the water on a boat to an otherwise inaccessible island in search of Indian Courser, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Indian Thickknee, Sand Lark, Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark, Small Pratincole and Pallas s Gull. To the south, near the barrage across the broad river, we may be fortunate to spot some of the endangered Ganges River Dolphins that live here. Large mammals at Koshi include Jungle Cat, wild Water Buffalo (now one of the world s most endangered large mammals) and Nilgai (or Blue Bull ), the subcontinent s largest antelope. We may also find wild Asian Elephant, Indian Grey Mongoose, Golden Jackal and Bengal Fox. Given that we are in the lowlands it is likely to be hot enough for us to benefit from a siesta in the afternoon, though the avian delights of our camp are likely to prove irresistible to many! Afternoon explorations around the camp are sure to produce more good birds and in addition those interested in insects can photograph, identify or simply enjoy the feast of butterflies and dragonflies. Even those whose interest has previously centred solely on birds can hardly fail to be impressed by Variegated Flutterers, Malay Lilysquatters and Fulvous Forest Skimmers - and not just for their names! The camp is situated next to a village and it is well worth taking time out to wander along the street and see the locals going about their daily lives. The children in particular are sure to give you a warm welcome! Three further nights at Koshi Camp Day 12 DRIVE TO BIRATNAGAR, FLY TO KATHMANDU After some final birding, we reluctantly leave Koshi Camp this morning and make the 90- minute drive east to Biratnagar Airport, where we ll catch a short domestic flight back west to Kathmandu. The flight takes about 45 minutes and, if the visibility is clear en route, we should be treated to a glorious panorama of Himalaya s tallest peaks to the north, with the summit of Mount Everest away in the distance. On arrival in Kathmandu, we head to our hotel for a late lunch. Afterwards, those that wish can spend the remainder of the afternoon on a sightseeing tour of this fascinating capital city with an English-speaking guide (participation is info@limosaholidays.co.uk

7 optional but included within our tour price, and we expect to visit Pashupatinath Hindu Temple and Boudhanath Buddhist Stupa). Night Kathmandu Day 13 KATHMANDU VALLEY: PHULCHOWKI Our final full day in Kathmandu offers a further opportunity to sample the magic of Phulchowki. With spring migration now in full swing, the birds we see today are likely to be rather different from those on our previous visit. Since a great many species are found strictly according to altitude, we may choose to investigate areas of forest at a different elevation from that which we visited at the start of our tour. In any event, Phulchowki's wooded slopes are always rich in birds and, with no two visits ever alike, we are assured of some splendid montane forest birding as our time in Nepal sadly draws to a close. Night Kathmandu Day 14 FLY KATHMANDU TO LONDON We leave our hotel this morning and transfer to Kathmandu Airport for our flight home via Doha. Same day arrival back in London, where our birdwatching tour to Nepal concludes in the early evening. Trip Information Group Size Max of 10 participants & 2 leaders (both guides will travel regardless of group size) What To Expect A 14-day birdwatching tour to Nepal, featuring the country s top three sites: Kathmandu Valley, Chitwan National Park and Koshi Tappu Wildlife Refuge. Two-thirds of our tour is spent in Nepal's lowlands. Max elevation on this tour (Phulchowki): 2782m (c9200ft). Early starts are the norm for birding tours in tropical regions, where the daylight hours are relatively short (approx. 6.00am-6.30pm in Nepal during March) and where bird activity is at its peak early and late but generally dies away completely during the middle of the day. Especially in the sultry lowlands, it will be important to be in the field at dawn so we can hear the birds singing and calling as the day starts up - in some instances, this may be our only chance to discover if certain species are present or not, so we will naturally want to make the most of this opportunity. Overall, the tour is not a strenuous one but you should be prepared for early starts to enjoy the best of the morning s birding before the heat and humidity builds and activity starts to wane. After a lull during the hot middle part of the day, the birding tends to pick up again from midafternoon, so we are likely to be out until near dusk at Chitwan and Koshi. Our guides will be able to advise you locally about the day's events - if you wish to opt out of a particular session or walk, please don t be afraid to ask them. We have two long drives on the tour Day 4 and Day 8 which provide a chance to relax and take in the unique Nepalese landscape and life. Birds species Mammals species Butterflies species Dragonflies species Accommodation 12 nights accommodation at hotels and lodges in Nepal. In Kathmandu we stay at a good quality 4-star hotel in the city. At Chitwan we stay at the Jungle Villa Resort, a jungle safari lodge set beside the Rapti River, overlooking the National Park. Bedrooms here are large and comfortable, all with en suite facilities. Koshi Camp at the remote Koshi Tappu Wildlife Refuge is equipped with permanent, thatched, 'walk-in' safari-style tents, comfortable but simply furnished, each with twin beds and its own private facilities (with hot showers and western-style WCs) attached. There is electricity in all the tents for charging devices and lights. Both the lodge at Chitwan and Koshi Camp have their own separate dining room and bar. Meals All main meals are included in the tour price (and with drinking water also provided), commencing with dinner following our arrival in Kathmandu on Day 2 and concluding with breakfast on Day info@limosaholidays.co.uk

8 Breakfasts and dinners will usually be taken at our accommodation. On some days we will return to our base for lunch, whilst on others we will take a packed lunch with us or perhaps stop at a convenient restaurant. Walking The walking effort is mostly easy. At Phulchowki we may have to walk uphill if for some reason part of the track is closed to vehicles, but our aim will be to drive up and spend time walking downhill on the unpaved track. Most of it is a gentle incline but a few sections are steeper; you might consider bringing a walking pole if it normally proves helpful to you on uneven ground. In the lowlands it will be warm to hot, and humid at times. Although most walks will be relatively short in duration, some participants may find it helpful to bring a lightweight collapsible stool. Comfortable, lightweight walking shoes or boots with stout soles and good grip are recommended. Weather In March, the weather in lowland Nepal is generally fine - cool first thing then warming up, with daytime temperatures typically in the range of C (50-86 F). In the Kathmandu Valley and at Phulchowki it will be colder, generally 6-23 C (43-73 F) and it might feel distinctly chilly first thing. We may still encounter frosts on the higher slopes of Phulchowki, where it can be cold until the sun gets up and there may even be a few patches of ice remaining on the track. Most March days experience 8-9 hours of sunshine, and rainfall is low at this time of year. Nevertheless, we may encounter a storm or two in the lowlands. So be sure to pack your waterproofs just in case, and some warm clothing for early and late in the day! Ground Transport We travel by airconditioned small coach on the longer journeys from Kathmandu to Chitwan, and Chitwan to Koshi, switching to 4WD vehicles at Phulchowki and Koshi Wildlife Reserve. Opentop 4WD vehicles - and elephants! - are used when looking for mammals at Chitwan. Elephant Ride On one day at Chitwan, we will experience the thrill of an elephant ride, which affords unrivalled close approach to many of the park's larger mammals. Boat Trip At both Chitwan and Koshi we have boat trips, in large dug out canoes on the Rapti River at Chitwan, and in a large rubber raft on the Koshi River. Lifejackets will be available for our use. Insects & other pests In common with all tropical regions, mosquitos are present throughout the year in Nepal. However, there is a low to no risk of malaria. See Health section, p11. Ticks are present in Chitwan, especially along the trails passing through dry woodland areas. Photos Away from the denser forest areas, good photographic opportunities - birds, mammals, butterflies, scenic and cultural. Flights There are currently no direct flights from the UK to Nepal. We fly from London Heathrow to Kathmandu via Doha with Qatar Airways. The domestic flight from Biratnagar-Kathmandu (c45 minutes) is included within our tour cost info@limosaholidays.co.uk

9 Tour Cost 2020 (14 days): 4395 (inc flights from London) Land only cost: 3795 Deposit: 600 Single Supp: 695 Cost includes Limosa Tour Leader Expert English-speaking Nepali bird guide Return flights London Heathrow-Kathmandu Domestic flight Biratnagar-Kathmandu 12 nights accommodation in Nepal All main meals (with drinking water included) Ground transport by air-conditioned minibus and 4WD vehicles Boat trips at Chitwan and Koshi Afternoon city tour in Kathmandu with guide All excursions, entry fees/permits, tour based tips (including drivers, local guides) and taxes Map and Limosa checklist of birds. Cost excludes Insurance, visa costs, drinks, airport meals/snacks & other items of a personal nature. About Your Guides David Walsh David lives in Suffolk, where he has recently retired from full-time teaching, although he continues to do part-time maths tutoring and sports coaching and enjoys singing in various local choirs. He has been a keen birdwatcher since his primary school days and still has his notebooks from the early 1970s to prove it! David ran bird clubs at his schools and is proud of the fact that several of the boys who he inspired as 11-year-olds are now working in full-time conservation. At home in Suffolk, he puts his love of bird songs and calls to good use, running surveys to monitor breeding birds in the spring and searching out migrant passerines in the autumn. David has been leading tours on and off since the mid-1980s. Over the last 10 years however, he has focused his attention on guiding across Europe, North Africa, Asia and South America, furthering his extensive knowledge of birds and developing his interest in butterflies and dragonflies as well. His boundless energy and enthusiasm, coupled with a determination to ensure that everyone in the group sees the birds, made him very popular with clients on the tours he led for Ornitholidays between 2007 and and he is very excited to become part of the Limosa team from 2019! Our March 2020 tour will be guide David's ninth visit to the Indian subcontinent, and his fourth tour to Nepal. Local guides David will be assisted throughout the tour by an excellent Nepali birding guide working for our specialist ground agents. Financial Security Limosa Holidays is a fully bonded Tour Operator and a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO). We hold an ATOL (Air Tour Operators Licence) granted by the CAA, providing for your protection in the event of Limosa Holidays' insolvency. Our ATOL licence number is ATOL For tours not including the cost of a flight from the UK or for holidays booked by you as Land Only, all payments made to us are fully bonded through the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT). Our ABTOT membership number is For details please see our brochure or website: Limosa Loyalty Discount We are proud of the number of loyal customers who travel regularly with us. As our way of saying thank you, we offer a Frequent Travel Discount. Under the scheme, everyone who takes four trips with us is entitled to claim a 5% discount on their 5th trip. *1 *1 Conditions: This offer applies to the basic tour cost only and excludes certain commissionbased trips, extra costs such as additional flights or accommodation, private extensions and cancellations. Discounts cannot be given in lieu of tour deposits or off the cost of single room supplements. Please note discount must be requested at time of booking! info@limosaholidays.co.uk

10 How To Book Check availability on our website or with our office. We are happy to hold Provisional Reservations for up to 7 days. After this, we do require a Booking Form and deposit to confirm your place on tour. Any unconfirmed space will be released. Book Online, by Phone or by Post You can book and pay the deposit simply and securely Online via our website, using the Book This Tour button on the relevant tour page or the Booking tab at the top of the page. Telephone bookings must be confirmed in writing by completion of a Booking Form (there's one tucked inside every brochure or as a PDF download from our website), which can be mailed to us in the time honoured way. Please be sure to read our Booking Conditions and General Information prior to booking. These can be found in full in the footer on every page on our website (or available from our office on request); also in an abridged form at the back of our brochure. When to Book Early booking is advised since flights and accommodation are much more easily secured well in advance. To encourage early booking, we are pleased to offer an Early Bird Discount - see our current brochure or website for details. All our tours are limited to small group sizes. So they can fill up quickly - sometimes even before our new brochure comes out! Single rooms in particular can often be in short supply and among the first to go, so do try to plan well ahead if you definitely require one of these. Last-minute Bookings: We inevitably receive a few unexpected cancellations over the course of a season so it is always worth enquiring about vacancies on any tour - even for those departing in just a few weeks! Payments Deposit: The amount of booking deposit per person is shown alongside every tour. We accept deposit payments by electronic bank transfer (please ask for our bank details), UK debit card and cheque (made payable to Limosa Holidays and drawn on a UK bank in GBPounds Sterling). We also accept Visa and MasterCard credit cards for payment of Booking Deposits only. Balance: Full payment of the tour balance is due not later than 12 weeks prior to departure (20 weeks in the case of certain tours such as cruises or those involving rail travel). We will send you an invoice before the balance is due. We accept balance payments and any additional payments (e.g. interim flight deposits, flight upgrades, extra hotels etc) by electronic bank transfer (BACS), UK debit card or cheque. Payment by overseas customers These must be in GB Pounds Sterling and may be made by electronic transfer direct to our bank (please ask for our bank details). We do not accept cheques on US Banks in US Dollars, or cheques in Euros or Eurocheques. Credit cards - please note: (i) We do NOT accept credit cards or overseas debit cards for balance payments (including any additional or interim payments) from customers living within the UK or European Economic Area (the EEA is the EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). (ii) For customers living in North America, Australia and all other areas outside of the UK and the European Economic Area we are able to accept payment by Visa and MasterCard credit cards or overseas debit card but with a charge of 2.5% of the transaction amount to help offset card company charges. Late Booking Payments: In order for us to guarantee your airline seats, hotels etc., full payment is required at time of booking for all late bookings (i.e. bookings made within 12 weeks of departure) info@limosaholidays.co.uk

11 Other Things You Need To Know Passports & Visas Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months when you submit your application for a visa for entry into Nepal. VISA REQUIRED by UK passport holders. You will need a Tourist Visa to travel to Nepal. To avoid queues and possible delay on arrival Kathmandu, we recommend that you apply for your Nepal visa prior to travel. Send your passport, completed visa application form and passport photo, SAE and payment ( for 15-day entry as of October 2018) to the embassy for processing. Once your visa application is received by Embassy, the application may take up to 2-3 working days within the UK and up to 2 weeks outside the UK to be processed. To apply for a visa in the UK contact the Embassy of Nepal, 12A Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8 4QU (telephone: or 6231 or 5352). Visit the Embassy of Nepal, London website - [Visas are also available on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. To obtain a visa upon arrival by air in Nepal you must fill in an application form on arrival and provide a passport photograph. All foreigners, except Indians, must have a visa. A single-entry visa valid for 15 days costs US$25 (for up to 30 or 90 days they cost US$40 or US$100 respectively.) At Kathmandu s Tribhuvan Airport the fee is payable in any major currency, but preferably in US dollars.] You must have a valid visa in your passport to leave Nepal. If your visa has expired you will have to arrange an extension at the Department of Immigration, before your departure. Holders of non-uk passports should contact the nearest Nepali embassy or consulate to enquire whether or not they require a visa. If a visa is required, you will need to apply locally. If the embassy or consulate requires you to provide a letter confirming that you are booked on an allinclusive tour, please contact our office and we will be happy to provide one. Health & Vaccinations Visit your health professional at least 4 to 6 weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures. Country specific information and advice is published by the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC), visit: travelhealthpro.org.uk/countryinformation/ and by NHS (Scotland), visit: Useful information and advice about healthcare abroad is also available at NHS Choices website: ad/pages/healthcareabroad.aspx Compulsory vaccinations: None (yellow fever certificate required only if arriving in Nepal from infected areas). Recommended immunisations: tetanus, typhoid, diphtheria and hepatitis A. Consult your doctor for current advice regarding polio, TB and hepatitis B, which may be recommended in some circumstances. Malaria: There is a low to no risk of malaria in areas of Nepal below 1500m, particularly in the Terai district: awareness of risk and bite avoidance recommended. There is no risk of malaria in the city of Kathmandu and on typical Himalayan treks: again, bite avoidance recommended. For up-to-date details, visit NHS travel - Areas of risk can and do change however and you must consult your GP or health centre for the latest malaria advice in good time prior to travel. Current malaria map for Nepal - The above information, together with that contained within our Travel Information sheets (sent to everyone who books), outlines health info@limosaholidays.co.uk

12 requirements for this tour. These details are given for guidance only, you must consult your doctor in good time prior to travel as to what immunisations (if any) are needed for your chosen holiday. For full and up-to-date health information we urge everyone to consult The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website prior to booking any overseas holiday. NaTHNaC is funded by the UK Government s Health Protection Agency and provides health information for both health professionals and travellers, with information compiled by its own clinical and scientific team. You can search for individual country requirements, which are updated regularly. Your Safety & Travel Advice An unavoidable aspect of travelling abroad nowadays is the threat it may pose to your safety and security. The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) encourages British nationals to be better prepared for their overseas trips with a view to avoiding common travelling traumas, risks and dangers. In order for you to assess and protect against any risks in your chosen destination it is strongly recommended that you refer to the relevant FCO Travel Advice both prior to booking and regularly before you travel. It is standard Limosa policy for our office to send a copy of the relevant FCO Travel Advice about the tour to all participants along with their Final Letter (ca. 2-3 weeks prior to the trip). Travel Aware - staying safe and healthy abroad - is a travel safety campaign run by the FCO, and another useful resource. Go to: Travel Insurance Good travel insurance is essential before setting off on any overseas trip. In common with all responsible tour operators, it is a condition of booking that all clients are fully and adequately insured before travelling overseas with us. Be aware that some destinations may require you to produce proof of comprehensive travel insurance (e.g. valid insurance certificate) at immigration on arrival in the country, so you should carry your documentation with you. Your travel insurance should cover against cancellation, curtailment, missed departure, delay, personal accident, death, loss of baggage and valuables (see note below), personal liability and legal expenses. Most importantly, your insurance must cover you fully in respect of medical care and repatriation should you become too ill to continue with the tour, including the cost of emergency evacuation by helicopter or air ambulance should this be necessary. Note that passenger liability insurance covering the transportation that we hire may be inadequate; it is therefore important that your insurance cover includes sufficient provision for your dependents in the event of an accident. We recommend that you obtain travel insurance as soon as possible after booking your holiday to ensure you are protected right from the word go in the event of unexpected cancellation prior to departure due to accident or illness. You must inform your insurers of any pre-existing medical conditions (including those of persons not necessarily travelling but upon whom your holiday may depend) that may require treatment during a period of overseas travel or might cause you to cancel the trip. Once you have arranged your insurance, please be sure to send us the following essential details: name and contact details of your insurance provider, your policy number, expiry date and your insurers 24hr Emergency Assistance number. Important Things to Note about Insurance Travel Insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover for valuable optical equipment, which is often best protected under your own household insurance policy. If in doubt ask your insurers for advice prior to travel info@limosaholidays.co.uk

13 Most travel insurance policies limit the amount of cover, typically up to a maximum tour cost of 5000 per person. If the tour you are booking exceeds this amount, additional cover can usually be provided upon payment of additional premium. We recommend all travellers check their individual policy limit to ensure the full cost of their holiday is covered. Arranging Your Insurance: due to UK Government legislation, under Financial Services Authority (FSA) regulations, we are not allowed to offer or recommend travel related insurance to customers. Premiums can vary widely according to your age, needs, health, choice of destination and other factors, while many people nowadays have Annual Travel Insurance cover. For these reasons, we leave you free to shop around and pick your own policy, one best suited to your own individual needs. Our office is open hrs Mon-Fri, and can also be reached by . In the event we are unable to take your call, please leave a message on our answerphone (24hrs) and our office will contact you as soon as we can. Thank you for your interest in our tours. We do hope that you will be able to join us - and we look forward to hearing from you again! revdwck General Information Our website gives easy access to detailed tour itineraries (Tour Info Packs), trip reports, trip photos and the latest Limosa News. Special Diets & Other Requests We pass on all such requests to the airlines, hotels and other suppliers, and do our best to ensure (but of course cannot guarantee) that your needs will be met. Please be sure to tell us about these (in as much detail as possible) at the time of booking, to allow good time to make the necessary arrangements. Smoking Almost all of our clients prefer a smoke-free environment. For the enjoyment and comfort of all, we ask that smokers refrain from smoking in proximity to the group and respect our NO SMOKING policy in the vehicle, at meal times and when watching wildlife. Any Questions? If you have any questions at any time, you ll find our office staff friendly, efficient, approachable - and just a phone call away, eager to assist you in every way info@limosaholidays.co.uk