Low-land Nepal Bird Watching Tour - 9 days

Arrive Kathmandu Airport, meeting and transfer to Hotel Royal Singi – Centrally located 4 Star. ChitanNationalPark photo by JimmyChew

Full day birding around PhulChowki Hill – Phulchowki (2760 m) is the highest of the mountains encircling the Kathmandu Valley. This broad-leafed-sub tropical forest is the richest for birds and wildlife in the valley and remains the most convenient place to see some of the birds that are rare or local to Nepal. Phulchowki lies 18 km south east of Kathmandu above Godawari Village (1525 m).

Post breakfast, drive to Chitwan National Park (165 km, about 4.5 hours). Chitwan National Park stands today as a successful testimony to nature conservation in South Asia. This is the first national park in Nepal, established in 1973 to preserve a unique ecosystem that is significantly valuable to the whole world. The park, covering a pristine area of 932 sq. km, is situated in the subtropical inner Terai lowlands of the southern central part of Nepal. The park gained much wider recognition around the world when UNESCO included this area on the list of World Heritage Sites in 1984.

Formerly, the Chitwan Valley was well known for big game and was exclusively managed as a hunting reserve for the Rana Prime Ministers and their guests until 1950. In 1963, the area south of Rapti was demarcated as a rhinoceros sanctuary. In 1970, His late Majesty King Mahendra approved in principle the creation of Chitwan National Park.

The park consists of churia hills, oxbow lakes, and flood plains of the Rapti, Reu, and Narayani rivers. The Churia hill rises gradually towards the east from 150 m to over 800 m. The lower but most rugged Someshwor hills occupy most of the western portion of the park. The flood plains of Chitwan are rich alluvial. The park boundaries have been delineated by the Narayani and Rapti rivers in the north and west, and the Reu river and Someshwor hills in the south and south-west. It shares its eastern border with Parsa Wildlife Reserve.

Overnight at Tiger Land or similar

After breakfast, half day Jeep safari in National park, after lunch walk around the local village harvested land area, river habitats, river banks and open water areas to see the wide variety of birds.

Drive Chitwan/Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve: Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve lies on the alluvial flood plain of the Sapta Koshi River in southeastern lowland. Almost all the eastern and western embankments of the river define the area. Arna of wild Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), Blue Bull (Bocelaphus tragocamelus), and Gangetic Dolphin (Platanista gangetic) are the main attractions of this reserve. The lesser mammalian species include varieties of deer, cats, otters, bats, boar, etc. Around 300 species of birds have been recorded in the reserve area, which mostly include waterfowl, birds of prey, waders, and other water birds.

Overnight at Koshi Tappu Wildlife Camp or similar

Early morning, birding tour in National Park and after the breakfast drive to Koshi Tappu. Upon arrival, refreshment and roam around the camp, rest and dinner overnight.

This day starts with a wakeup call, as the best time to see the birds is in the early morning, which may benefit the early wakers with the crows and Bitterns.

Breakfast will be followed by a full-day birdwatching walk inside the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve with a packed lunch. The area between the Camp and Kusaha (Park Headquarters) is the best area for birds and wildlife. The thin Indian Rosewood forest provides excellent habitat for Warblers, Flycatchers, orioles, Bush Warblers, raptors, and a large variety of Waders. Returning to the camp by late afternoon for a cup of tea, coffee, or a bottle of chilled beer! Dinner is followed by a briefing for the next day’s program.

Transfer to Biratnagar Airport and fly back to Kathmandu. Overnight at Royal Singi In the evening, transfer to a Nepalese Restaurant for a typical Nepalese Dinner with a live cultural program.

Transfer to airport for final Departure depending upon the flight time.