BIRDS OF THE HIMALAYAN FOOTHILS & THE TAJ

Transcription

1 BIRDS OF THE HIMALAYAN FOOTHILS & THE TAJ Delhi Agra Chambal Bharatpur - Delhi Pangot Corbett New Delhi Day 1 Travel to Delhi Day 2 Arrive at Delhi. afternoon sightseeing Day 3 Travel to Chambal with morning sightseeing at Agra. PM boat safari on River Chambal Day 4 Morning boat safari on River Chambal; Later driven to Bharatpur. Afternoon at leisure Day 5 Morning bird-walk at Bharatpur. Afternoon optional birding Day 6 Morning bird-walk at Bharatpur. Afternoon optional birding Day 7 Morning sightseeing at Agra. Later driven to New Delhi Day 8 Morning travel by train to Kathgodam. Later driven from Kathgodam to Pangot Day 9 Morning bird-walk in Pangot. Later birding in Sattal or Binsar area.

2 Day 10 Morning birdwalk in Pangot. Later birding in Bhimtal and Mongoli area Day 11 After breakfast, driven to Corbett National Park. Afternoon enjoy a jeep safari Day 12 Morning jeep safari to Dhikala. After safari check in at Dhikala. Afternoon jeep safari Day 13 Morning and afternoon jeep safari Day 14 Morning short jeep safari (optional). Later driven to New Delhi Day 15 Fly back from Delhi Day 1 Depart the UK to Delhi arriving early next morning. Day 2 Arrive New Delhi Arrive into New Delhi. On exiting the baggage reclaim you will be met by a representative and transferred in an air conditioned vehicle to your hotel, The Claridges New Delhi (40 minutes drive from the airport). Time permitting, you will enjoy a privately guided walking tour of New Delhi after the tour you will be driven back to the hotel. Day 3 Delhi to Jarar (Chambal) via Agra Today early morning you will be driven to the New Delhi station (approximately 30 minutes drive) to board your train to Agra (0600/0810 hours; air conditioned chair car). Upon arrival at Agra station you will be met by your driver and be driven to Chambal River Sanctuary (1 hour 30 minutes drive). Later in the day enjoy a boat safari on the River Chambal. Upon arrival in Chambal you will check-in to The Chambal Safari Lodge. Chambal River Sanctuary is one of the smaller sanctuaries of India yet this place has an impressive list of birds, mammals and reptiles. The area is best explored on motorized boats and a couple of boat trips allow one a good chance to come across the endemic Indian Skimmers. Apart from rare birds, reptiles like the Gharial or the Fish Eating Crocodile and the Marsh Crocodile, a number of turtles and rare mammals like the Gangetic Dolphin, Jungle Cat, and Common Palm Civet are sighted here. Overnight - The Chambal Safari Lodge - All meals included

3 Day 4 Jarar (Chambal) to Bharatpur Today early morning enjoy a boat safari on the River Chambal. After the safari, you will be driven back to your lodge for breakfast. After breakfast, and some rest, you will be driven to Bharatpur (3 hours drive). On arrival at Bharatpur check in to the Laxmi Vilas Palace Hotel. You will meet your guide at the hotel reception and he will help you plan the stay and the birding. If you wish, a short birding walk in the near and surrounds can be arranged. Overnight - The Laxmi Vilas Palace - All meals included Day 5 Bharatpur Early morning meet your guide and then be driven to the Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary (10 minutes drive) start the birding walk inside the sanctuary. After breakfast inside the park, head on tricycles (rickshaws) for farther afield areas for birding. Depending on your level of interest and health, you can go back to the lodge for lunch or else have lunch inside the park. Post lunch resume birding or relax in the lodge. In case you decide to carry on birding finish the day around day break and then be driven back to the lodge. Overnight - The Laxmi Vilas Palace - All meals included

4 Day 6 Bharatpur A similar day birding on foot and on rickshaws for the whole day. Overnight - The Laxmi Vilas Palace - All meals included Day 7 Bharatpur to Delhi via Agra Early morning you will be driven to Agra for a privately guided morning visit to the Taj Mahal. After the visit and breakfast at a local restaurant you will be driven back to Delhi (5 hours drive). On arrival check in at the Manor hotel close to the departing station for next day s train which is away from the main city. The Taj Mahal is closed on a Friday. Overnight The Manor All meals included Day 8 New Delhi to Pangot via Kathgodam Early morning drive to the station to board the air-conditioned chair car coach to Kathgodam (0610/1135 hours). On arriving at the station meet your driver and be driven to Pangot which is further north from the Kathgodam station (2 hours 30 minutes). Pangot is a small Himalayan village surrounded by oak, deodar, fir, birch and pine trees a haven for bird lovers. The approach might take longer due to birding stops. Lunch will be at Nainital which will be en route to Pangot. A short birdwalk in the afternoon is suggested. Overnight Jungle Lore Lodge - All meals included Day 9 Pangot Pangot is a quaint village set in the foothills of the Himalayas. It is surrounded by Himalayan peaks, cool breeze drifts through the quiet village and you can hear the occasional shrill calls of the woodpeckers and the babbling of the laughing thrushes. Birds are aplenty in the surrounding areas and the walks are slow with frequent birding stops. Noteworthy birds include the Lammergeier, Himalayan Griffon, Blue-winged Minla, Spotted & Slaty-backed Forktail, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Khalij pheasant and many more. One can also spot mammals such as Yellow-throated Marten, Sambhar, Himalayan Goral, Barking Deer, Indian Palm Civet, Wild Boar etc. Birding in the near and surrounds mostly on foot after being driven around to pre-decided locations. Overnight Jungle Lore Lodge - All meals included Day 10 Pangot Birding in the area mostly on foot after being driven around to pre-decided locations. Overnight Jungle Lore Lodge - All meals included Day 11 Pangot to Corbett National Park After breakfast you will be driven down to the Corbett National Park (4 hours 30 minutes drive). On reaching the park check in at the Corbett Hideaway Lodge or a similar. This afternoon enjoy a jeep safari into the park.

5 Corbett National Park is India's oldest national park, located south of Nainital in the state of Uttaranchal. The park is known for its diversity and richness of birds, mammals and a few reptiles. The park was first established on August 8, 1936 as Hailey National Park under the United Provinces National Parks Act of India (after Sir Malcolm Hailey, the then Governor of the United Provinces.) In 1952, five years after India attained independence, the park was renamed Ramganga National Park, after the Ramganga River that flows through most of its length. In 1957, it was again renamed, Corbett National Park, in honour of Jim Corbett, a legendary hunter-turned-conservationist, best known for hunting man-eating tigers and leopards in the Kumaon and lower Garhwal in the 1920s, and for later chronicling his adventures in many books, like The Man-eaters of Kumaon and The Maneating Leopard of Rudraprayag, that were bestsellers around the world. The park is bounded to the North by the Kanda Ridge, with a height of 1043 m at its highest point. The entire area of the reserve is mountainous and falls in the Shivalik and Outer Himalaya geological region. It forms the catchment area of the Ramganga, a tributary of the Ganga. The main mammals that one expects to see here include the Asiatic Elephant, Tiger and Leopard. Some of the major birds of Corbett include the rare Hodgson s Bushchat, Striated and Bristled Grassbird, Blue Naped Pitta and the Himalayan Crested Kingfisher, Tawny Fishing Owl and the very rare Ibisbill. The endemic Fish Eating Crocodile can be sighted here basking on the beach of the Ramganga. Overnight Corbett Hideaway Lodge - All meals included Day 12 Corbett National Park Morning and afternoon jeep safaris to enjoy the park birding is mostly from the jeep. On your morning safari you will be transferred to the park interiors where a simple birding accommodation is run by the forest department. Here you will check in after the morning safari. What this place lacks in terms of creature comforts it makes up by its strategic and scenic location. In case you wish to stay at the lodge outside the park that is possible too. Overnight Dhikala Forest Lodge - All meals included Day 13 Corbett National Park Morning and afternoon jeep safaris to enjoy the park birding is mostly from the jeep. Overnight Dhikala Forest Lodge - All meals included

6 Day 14 Corbett to New Delhi After breakfast you have the choice of having a leisurely day or go for a last safari to the park. In case you do a safari you will return to the lodge for a quick meal and freshen up. Then you will be driven back to New Delhi (7 hours drive). On arrival at Delhi check in at the Trident Gurgaon or a similar hotel for an overnight stay. Overnight Trident Gurgaon - All meals included Day 15 New Delhi you will be driven to the international airport to connect to your flight back home. PRICE INCLUSIONS: Accommodation for 13 nights on Twin share basis and meals as specified in the itinerary Transportation by Toyota Innova s - mineral water will be provided for sightseeing and long drives Porterage fee at the hotel/airports only Local English speaking guide and entrance fees (single entry) to Taj Mahal and any other place of sightseeing All entrance fees at the national parks and jeep safaris (elephant safaris are extra) PRICE EXCLUSIONS: International, visa fees, airport tax or any kind of insurance cover Drinks and meals other than those mentioned in the itinerary Tips or gratuities Any car arrangements on free days Still and video camera fee at monuments and game parks and elephant safaris Items of personal nature like drinks, laundry, telephone calls, tips, camera fees, etc TRACKS SAFARIS WE GET YOU CLOSER TO INDIA