Himalayan Birds

Birding in Langtang National Parks
TripCode: NTH07
19 Days trip
Country: Nepal

Highlight

• Rare Panda and Snow Leopard
• Many endangered and rare birds
• Tamang culture
• Spectacular Himalayan peaks
• Sacred alpine lake- Gosainkund

Bordering with Tibet, Langtang national park is located in the north of Kathmandu valley. It is the third most popular area of adventure trekking destination in Nepal, which makes fewer tourists in season for excellent Birdwatching or nature treks here. This national park is amazing natural assets of Nepal that host numerous rare, endanger flora and fauna. Ibis bill travel up to Langtang to breed. Rare, elusive Red Panda and Snow leopards live up here. Himalayan Gosainkund Lake is one of the holiest lakes important to whole country.

Trip Itinerary

Day01: Arrive Kathmandu. O/N hotel.

Meet in Kathmandu airport and transfer to your hotel. Evening- tour briefing and welcome group dinner, Overnight hotel

Day02: Birding tour in Kathmandu

With a pack breakfast, very early you will drive to Shivapuri national park for nature hike. Birdwatching for the whole day and return to Kathmandu for the overnight. The pack lunch also will be carried for the day. Shivapuri national park located very near to Kathmandu city is one of the best site for birdwatching and nature hike, which host over 300 species of birds. Evening- slide presentation of birds of Nepal and its status

Day03: Day in Kathmandu for nature trip

Another beautiful place for birds, Godawari and Phulchowki will be visited Birdwatching tour to Phulchowki hill. This is definitely the best place in Kathmandu valley, which can produce over hundred species’ of birds in a single day.

Day04: Drive to Syabrubesi and begin camp

After early breakfast drive to Syabrubesi via Trishuli and Dhunche and overnight camp near the village.

Day05 to 15: Birding hike/trek to Langtang valley and Gosainkund Lake

Birdwatching hike though Lama Hotel, Ghoretabela, and Kynjin Gompa to Gosainkund. There is great chance of seeing and finding many species of Himalayan bird including Ibisbill along the Langtang Khola till Kynjin areas

Day16: Return trek to Dhunche

Today you will return trek to Dhunche a small town to catch a bus back to Kathmandu next day.

Day17: Kathmandu

Return drive to Kathmandu and transfer to your hotel.

Day18: Leisure day.

Evening – farewell dinner before summing up the finding of birds and wildlife in the camp.

Day19: Trip concludes

The wonderful nature trips come to an end and fly back to onward destination, with lots of life time memories.

Trip Cost

US$ 2150/person on twins sharing basis
Minimum 2 person

Cost Inclusion:

• All land transportation as per itinerary
• Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu with breakfast
• Day birding tour in Kathmandu valley
• Langtang valley/Gosainkund trek arrangements on full board, equipments, staffs and porters
• For camping all camping gears and equipments but pls. Bring your own Sleeping bag.
• A kitchen utensils and gears
• All support staffs- Tour guide/leader, expedition cook, kitchen, helpers and porters.
• Cost of national park and TIMS
• Staff insurance

Bird hike/trek

Above trek itinerary is designed for any nature and adventure lovers based in camping accommodation. For bird lovers this is a must nature trek into the Himalayan lap. To have the maximum record of number of birds the camping will be usually done in more remote areas wherever possible and also the hiking duration are usually shorter on most of days for better result.
Trekking days usually begins at 6am in the morning and ends at 4 or 5pm, depending on how often we are lucky to see the birds and other wildlife along the trail. There is always plenty of chance to see many species of birds in and around our campsite, with a chance to glimpse the rare Red Panda and other endangered species of animal. Seeing and finding the monkeys should not be a problem along the trail. As we head further the density of birds will decrease but there is always great chance to glimpse the rarer species.
Our experienced cook will provide the hot lunch in between the camps. Sometime there is possibility that you will be provided with pack breakfast and lunch but it’s less likely though. Our food consists of mainly of local cuisine blended with some western and Chinese food. For drinking boiled or iodized water will be provided. All you need is a bottle to be filled and refill as per your requirement during the breaks.

What to expect

Langtang is very rich in its biodiversity and we will be possibly have very productive tour, in terms of seeing, recording and hearing the birds and animal. However, please understand that the sighting of animals and finding of rare birds is not guaranteed. It is likely that we might be able to see many species of birds including rare ones but sometime people do not see many of them. The rare animals like Red Panda, Snow Leopards almost impossible but some time you may be just very lucky to come across.

Best Season

October-November and April to May are the best time to visit winter and summer birds, though other time is also good for this trip.

Useful resource

Please carry books on wildlife or birds and a pair of binocular. It’s such a nice experience to note down what you come across along the trail, a camera beside other essentials.

Level of grade

Moderate adventure, this tour involves walking for about 5-6 hours a day during the trek, which can be easy to strenuous, specially making climbs to the higher elevation and on rugged walking trails. The elevation gain is not more then 4500m but birding along the trail will ease most of walks making it physically and spiritually very enjoyable for any one.

Acclimatization and Safety

Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) can be life threatening if elevation is gained too rapidly without proper acclimatization. It is advised that no more than 500m of elevation is gained each day above 3500m with an extra night spend is important to be able to counter the elevation gain. Over exertion and dehydration contribute to AMS. Drink at least 3-4 litters of water everyday besides tea and coffee which act as diuretics. In this case our experienced trek leader or guide will be helpful advising and helping out.

Langtang National Parks

Established in the year 1970-71 with an area of 1710 sq. kms, Langtang national park was gazetted in 1976( Area). The park extends over parts of Nuwakot, Rasuwa, and Sindhupalchok districts in the southern mountainous terrain of the Nepal-China (Tibet) border. In 1998 an areas of 420 km2 in and around the park declare as a buffer zone. The park represents a meeting point between indo-Malayan and Palearctic realms, and holds a rich biodiversity.
The park offers a variety of natural splendors, from lush temperate river valleys to spectacular old growth forest and glacial-craved cliffs rimmed by snow-covered peaks. In spring and summer rhododendrons of red and pink blooms with the towering canopies of fir and oak forests. During this warm season the Yak and Chauri herds moves to higher elevation, making occasional camps in the pasturelands. During August, a lively festival of Janai Purnima, at Gosainkund Lake attracts thousands of Hindu pilgrims, followed by spectacular display of wild flowers, while livestock herds, once again, return to lower pastures in September

Floras of Langtang National parks

Sub-tropical vegetation characterized by Sal (Shorea robusta) forest in the southern section of the park is gradually taken over by hill forest (2000-2600m) consisting of Chir pine, Rhododendron, and Nepalese alder. The temperate zone (2600-3000m) is covered mainly by oak forest fading to old growth forest of silver fir, hemlock, and larch in the lower sub-alpine zone (3000-3600m). The Nepalese larch (larix nepalensis), the only deciduous conifer in the region, is found in this park and few places elsewhere. Throughout these zones different species of Rhododendron such as R. arboretum, R. barbatum, R. campanulatum, and R. lepidotum (scrubs) to name a few, form a colorful under story. Tree species such as birch, silver fir, Sorbus microphyla and twisted Rhododendron campanulatum are found near the tree line. It is here at 4000m Juniper and Rhododendron shrubs (R. anthopogon) slowly dissolve into expansive alpine grassland meadows.

Fauna of Langtang National Park

Langtang's expansive high meadows provide summer habitat for numerous ungulate species such as Musk deer and Himalayan Tahr. The park is also well known for its populations of Red panda, Himalayan black bear, Snow leopard, Wild dog, Ghoral, Serow and more than 250 species of birds # Source: Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation

Langtang National park map with walking trails

Departure Dates

1. 27th September 2007
2. 07 October 2009
3. 07th April 2010

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