NEPAL
The rich diversity of Nepal's culture, scenery and wildlife is perfectly complemented by the friendliness of its people. From the magnificent Himalayas to the sub-tropical lowlands the visitor is always given the warmest of welcomes.
For a country roughly the size of England, there is a fantastic diversity of birdlife, caused by the Indian and Palearctic influences, plus the changes in altitude. Kathmandu and Pokhara offer first class birdwatching in the shadow of the mighty Himalayas. Chitwan National Park is in the lowlands and is famed for its Bengal Tigers, One-horned Rhino and Leopard, as well as a myriad of bird species.
Our first three nights will be based at Godaveri, near Phulchowki, on the south edge of the Kathmandu valley. We will then drive to Pokhara, for a three night stay in the shadow of the mighty Annapurna range. Four nights at Chitwan will give us lots of time to find its rare birds, mammals and reptiles. We will then head back to Kathmandu, spending the final two nights at the wonderful Meridien Hotel in the heart of Gokarna forest.
Nepal is one of the poorer countries of the world. By staying in good quality accommodation, however, we will find that our visit is a very comfortable one. For those with a little spirit of adventure we shall find great beauty in the endless shrines and monasteries, the narrow streets and markets, the dramatic snow-capped mountains and bird-rich forests and wetlands. Nepal's magical qualities will stay in your memory forever.
Our first three nights will be spent at Godaveri, on the southern edge of the Kathmandu Valley. Our superb hotel is close to the Royal Botanical Gardens and Kathmandu’s premier birding site, Phulchowki mountain.
The area is famous for its Royal Botanical Gardens which are frequented by numerous species of bird and butterfly. We will visit both the gardens and surrounding secondary forest in the hope of finding Speckled Piculet, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Rufous-cheeked Scimitar-babbler, White-crested Laughing-thrush, Red-billed Blue Magpie and Golden Bush-robin.
Phulchowki is the highest of the mountains which encircle the Kathmandu Valley. Rising to a height of 9053 feet it gives a breathtaking view of the Himalayas, stretching from Everest to the Annapurnas.
In order to get a glimpse of Everest we will drive to near the summit of Phulchowki early one morning, watching the beautiful peaks as the sun rises. Birding on Phulchowki is the most productive in the Kathmandu area, and we should be treated to such delights as Red-flanked Bluetail, Maroon Oriole, Chestnut-crowned Laughing-thrush, Chestnut-tailed Minla, White-browed Fulvetta, Rufous Sibia and Fire-tailed Sunbird.
On day five we will drive to Pokhara, birdwatching en route. Our first stop will be by the Bagmati River, an excellent area in which to look for migrants and winter visitors. Noisy Red-wattled Lapwings announce their presence, but a sharp eye is required to find Grey-headed Plover in the dry fields. On a small lake we have seen Spot-billed and Falcated Ducks and Lesser Spotted Eagle. At Chobar the river has cut through rocks to produce a dramatic gorge where both Plumbeous Redstart and Blue Whistling Thrush can be found. Further on, we will look for the enigmatic Ibisbill, at a regular wintering site. Nearby, there may be four species of forktail, Little, Spotted, Slaty-backed and Black-backed.
Our hotel, the best in Pokhara, is located on the shores of the lake and is our base for the next three nights. Its grounds resemble a botanical garden, with abundant birdlife. The views across to Fishtail Mountain (Machupuchare) in the morning are spellbinding. However, Asian Barred Owls, Great Barbets, Beautiful Niltavas and various sunbirds will be doing their best to distract you!
The valley is at a lower altitude than Kathmandu and therefore contains a subtly different variety of birds. The town is situated by a lake. We shall also search forests, scrub-covered hillsides and streams. Although the nature of this trip prevents us from venturing into the highest mountains, a number of altitudinal migrants will be seen, having moved down to escape the harsh high-altitude winter.
The forest by the lake holds Kalij Pheasant, Puff-throated Babbler and Crimson Sunbird. Green Magpie and the equally wonderful Red-billed Blue Magpie can both be seen in the hotel grounds. All our recent visits have yielded Wallcreepers wintering along the Seti River.
The highlights here are undoubtedly the raptors. Crested Honey Buzzard, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Bonelli's Eagle, Golden Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Shaheen Falcon, Amur Falcon, Lammergeier, Black Vulture, King Vulture and Himalayan Griffon Vulture have all appeared alongside the commoner species. Indeed, during one picnic we recorded no fewer than six species of vulture!
The lowland forest and grassland at Chitwan is famous for its wildlife and birds. The elusive Bengal Tiger is the most well known inhabitant. We had superb views of one on a recent trip. The Indian One-horned Rhinoceros is equally spectacular and rather more reliable, and there is also a good chance of seeing Leopard, Sloth Bear, Gaur and Gharial.
During our stay here we will be based at the excellent Gaida Wildlife Resort. Set in the heart of the forest, with adjacent grassland, we can expect numerous birds on our doorstep, ensuring that there will never be a dull moment.
Our best chance of seeing the rare mammals is on our early morning elephant rides. Moving through the grassland atop one of these gentle giants is an unforgettable experience. With the mist hanging over the plains and the world's highest mountains lit up in the background by the early morning sun, there can be no finer way to observe wildlife. Sightings of the rhino are virtually guaranteed, while birds recorded this way on our previous visits have included both Himalayan and Siberian Rubythroat and Brown Fish Owl.
With the help of the leader and local bird guides, there will be many thrilling moments during this four-day jungle safari. After our final birdwatching at Chitwan we will drive back to Kathmandu, stopping again to look for Ibisbill if necessary.
Our final two nights will be spent at the fantastic Meridien Hotel, set in 470 acres of forest in the Kathmandu Valley.
Here we can walk the numerous trails in the hotel grounds, as well as visiting other nearby birdwatching sites.
We are just half an hour from the famous Kathmandu Durbar Square, with its exotic market and richly carved shrines and temples. We will visit the famous Monkey temple as well as Bouddhanath, the largest stupa in Nepal. On the afternoon of day 14 we will drive the short distance back to the airport, leaving with lovely memories of one of the most exotic destinations on the planet.
There will be opportunities for pre-breakfast watching in the gardens of each base. Early mornings in the beautiful grounds of Fishtail Lodge are particularly productive. Breakfast will be taken at about 7.30am most mornings, perhaps later if the previous day has been tiring. Early morning elephant rides at Chitwan are not to be missed!
Basic fitness is all that is required. Full days will be spent in the field and short/medium length walks will be undertaken regularly. There will be very little uphill walking, and this will be done at a sensible pace.
Full-board accommodation is provided with three nights at the Godaveri Village Resort near Kathmandu, three nights at Fishtail Lodge, Pokhara, four nights at Gaida Wildlife Resort, Chitwan and two nights at Le Meridien, Kathmandu. All are very comfortable/superb, with en suite facilities and excellent food. The chalets at Chitwan have en suite bathrooms with hot water. Packed lunches will be taken when we expect to be away during the middle of the day.
PRICE INCLUDES …..
All birdwatching excursions with expert leader and local guide, full-board accommodation, soft drinks at meal times, local transport by mini-coach, reserve entrance fees, Chitwan jungle activities, return flight to Kathmandu, and flight and airport taxes.
Cost of travel insurance, payable at the time of booking. Cost of obtaining a visa (approx. £25 and obtainable on arrival in Kathmandu). Items of a personal nature, alcoholic drinks, laundry, etc.
Return flight from London Heathrow to Kathmandu (via Bahrain) using the scheduled services of Gulf Air. Outbound flight departs mid-evening, return flight arrives back early morning. Shuttle flights are available on this tour for £70 return (due at time of booking), from Manchester and other regional airports.
|
14 nights including two overnight flights:
Principal leader:
Maximum group size:
Cost with discount (if you book before 27th October 2007):
Full Cost:
Single supplement:
Deposit:
Insurance premium:
|
9th to 23rd February 2008
Paul J. Willoughby
12 clients with one leader and a local guide
£2520 per person sharing
£2670 per person sharing
£360
£300
£59 due at time of booking (£89 for age 65 to 69) (£118 for age 70 and over)
|