Bird-Photo-Tours Asia' Nepal expedition offers some of the finest bird photography opportunities in the entire Himalayas with spectacular scenery alongside the sheer pleasure of traveling through Nepal, one of the friendliest and least disturbed countries in the world. Our Nepal Bird-Photo-Tour is a highly enjoyable adventure that produces an extraordinary number of Himalayan specialities with key photographic targets including the Satyr Tragopan, Himalayan Monal, Snow Partridge, Blood Pheasant, Ibisbill, Red-headed Trogon, Spiny Babbler, Himalayan Cutia, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Nepal Cupwing, Tibetan Snowcock, Himalayan Snowcock, Yellow-throated Fulvetta and the chance to photograph the fabulous Sarus Crane. Nepal is a land of superlatives, one of the few surviving examples of a Tibetan Buddhist Kingdom that proudly guards its natural heritage. Blessed with a tiny population and steep inaccessible valleys, Nepal holds fabulous forests that are still largely untouched and full of birds. By far the greatest diversity of Himalayan bird species can be found in the Central Himalayas and this fantastic Bird-Photo-Tour journeying through Nepal, where over 600 bird species have been recorded, provides an outstanding opportunity to photograph some fabulous birds.
Pheasants: Satyr Tragopan / Himalayan Monal / Blood Pheasant / Kalij Pheasant.
Snowcocks / Cranes: Tibetan Snowcock / Himalayan Snowcock / Sarus Crane.
Babblers: Nepal Cupwing / Scaly-breasted Cupwing / Spotted Elachura.
Others: Black-headed Shrike-Babbler / Himalayan Cutia / Red-headed Trogon / Fire-tailed Myzornis / Beautiful Nuthatch / Fire-tailed Sunbird / Yellow-rumped Honeyguide / Golden-naped Finch / Scarlet Finch.
Guiding Fees / Ground Transportation / Accommodation / Meals / Entrance Fees / Tipping for Drivers, Boatsmen, Hotel and Restaurant Staff.
International Flights / VISA Fees / Travel Insurance / Tips for Local Guide / Alcohol / Laundry / Items of a Personal Nature
Days 1-2 Bagmati Province, Kathmandu Town [1N, 0D, 1S]. Arrive Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer to hotel.
Days 2-5 Koshi Province [3N, 2D, 5S]. Domestic Flight to Chandragadi Airport, Drive 7-hours, 80-km to Koshi Province. Photographic Targets: Satyr Tragopan / Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon / Hill Partridge / Green-tailed Sunbird / Yellow-billed Blue Magpie.
Days 5-8 Koshi Province [3N, 2D, 5S]. Drive 7-hours, 160-km to second bird photography location in Koshi Province. Photographic Targets: Swamp Francolin / Striated Babbler / Cotton Pygmy Goose / Striated Babbler / Pheasant-tailed Jacana / Lesser Adjutant / Bar-headed Goose / Indian Stone-Curlew / Indian Courser / Yellow-wattled Lapwing / Himalayan Griffon Vulture / Steppe Eagle / Crested Serpent Eagle.
Days 8-11 Bagmati Province, Chitwan National Park [3N, 2D, 5S]. Drive 9-hours, 380-km to Bagmati Province. Photographic Targets: Great Hornbill / Oriental Pied Hornbill / Indian Peafowl / Orange-breasted Green Pigeon / Woolly-necked Stork / Black-hooded Oriole / Himalayan Woodpecker / Black-rumped Flameback / Rufous-necked Laughingthrush / White-crested Laughingthrush / Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush / Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush.
Days 11-14 Lombini Province, Lombini [3N, 2D, 5S]. Drive 6-hours, 170-km to Lombini. Photographic Targets: Sarus Crane.
Days 14-17 Lombini Province [3N, 2D, 5S]. Drive 7-hours, 290-km to second bird photography location in Lombini Province. Photographic Targets: Great Slaty Woodpecker / Himalayan Flameback / Greater Flameback / Black-rumped Flameback / Indian Grey Hornbill / Jungle Prinia / Yellow-bellied Prinia / Indian Nuthatch / Tawny Fish Owl / Spot-bellied Eagle Owl / Changeable Hawk Eagle.
Days 17-20 Sudur-Paschim Province [3N, 2D, 5S]. Drive 4-hours, 150-km to Sudur-Paschim Province. Photographic Targets: White-throated Bush Chat / Jerdon’s Bush Chat / Bengal Florican / White-rumped Vulture.
Day 20-21 Bagmati Province, Kathmandu Town [1N, 0D, 1S]. Domestic Flight from Dhangadhi to Tribhuvan International Airport [END].
[Key: N: Night / D: Full Day / S: Session / Half-Day]
Lobsang is an experienced guide with a first-class understanding of the needs of the bird photographer. One of India's top bird guides and currently serving as President of the Arunachal Pradesh Bird Club, Lobsang has a wealth of bird photography experience throughout India, particularly the bird-rich Himalayan region, growing up in Dirang and living not far away today in the mountains surrounding the Tenga Valley. Appointed as a Director and Shareholder of Bird-Photo-Tours Asia, Lobsang is 'India Managing Director' with particular responsibility for both India inbound and outbound Bird-Photo-Tours.
(i) The guesthouses are all in close proximity to the bird photography locations (ii) Walking is at a light pace (iii) There is some requirement to hike (iv) Some of the locations are at altitude at 3000-4000m (v) None of the locations requires camping. Summary: as some of the locations are at altitude, it is for these reason that this trip has been graded as 'Medium'.