Migration Watch

Migration Watch (Birds)
12 days trip
Tripcode: NTH17
Cost: US$ 1663, single supplement: US$ 390

Trip highlights

• Kathmandu valley birds
• Chitwan valley birds
• Wetland species from KoshiTappu

During this tour you will be visiting the wonderful site of birds where they flock and stays some time in Nepal. The tour highlights the migrating birds that come as far as Siberia to winter and return back to their breeding ground when the weather become congenial.. Nepal inspite of being very small country is exceptional for birds’ life, which forms about 9% (Bird Conservation Nepal) of total birds exist in the whole world. The birds found and seen in Nepal are incredibly diverse occurring in all suitable habitats from lowland to mountains and in dry to wetland areas.

Itinerary outline

Day01: Kathmandu and hotel
Day02: Visit Shivapuri national park for bird hike
Day03: Visit Phulchauki and Tau dah
Day04: To Chitwan
Day05- 06: Day in Chitwan exploring the park and surrounding
Day07: To Koshi Tappu for wetland species of birds
Day08-10: Day at Koshu Tappu exploring around it.
Day11: Return Kathmandu
Day12: Trip concludes

Note: trip extension is available.

Detailed programme

Migration Watch (Birds)
12 days trip
Tripcode: NTH05
Cost: US$ 1663, single supplement: US$ 390

Trip highlights

• Kathmandu valley birds
• Chitwan valley birds
• Wetland species from KoshiTappu

Trip fact-file

Trip name: Migration Watch (Birds)
Tripcode: NTH17
Trip duration: 12 days trip
Area/country: Kathmandu valley, Chitwan national park and Koshi wetland, Nepal
Activities: Bird hikes and tour
Walking duration: 2-3 hours to 7-7 hours at some point
Transportation: Private vehicles and flight from Biratnagar to Kathmandu
Views: mountain views from Shivapuri summit and Phulchowki hill (Langtang, Ganesh Himal, Annapurna, and Jugal Himal etc.) Best time: Winter (January and February)

TOUR ITINERARY

Day01: Arrive Kathmandu (1400m)

Meet in Kathmandu airport and transfer to your hotel. Afternoon- tour briefing and welcome dinner at one of the authentic Nepali estaurants in the evening

Day02: Shivapuri national park hike

After early breakfast, you will drive for about half hour and begin Shivapuri national park bird hike, reaching to the summit possibly, which is the second highest (2730m) hill surrounding Kathmandu valley. After your whole day birdhike, return to your hotel and summarize the birds seen. The pack lunch will be taken during this day.

Day03: Phulchowki hill

The day begins very early with a drive to the Shivapuri hill, the highest hill of Kathmandu valley rim, which host incredible birds’ diversity. After leaving the vehicle, you will bird hike down to Godawari to return drive to Kathmandu. Time permitting; we can visit also Tau Dah, which is the only living lake near Kathmandu, which gets many waterfowls during the fall. The food provided will be packed breakfast and lunch.

Day04: To Chitwan

After early morning breakfast, you will drive to Chitwan and transferred to the resort inside the park. Time will be spend in natue/bird walks in the park

Day05-Day06: Days in Chitwan

These two days will be spent exploring the birdlife in and around Chitwan national parks. The visit to important parts of nature deeply can be very rewarding

Day07: To Koshi Tappu for wetland species of birds

The drive after breakfast in Chitwan will bring to Koshi after about 5/6 hours. The short bird walk will be possible upon arrival. Accommodations will be in the tented camp resort near the Koshi Wildlife Reserve.

Day08-10: Rest Day

These days will be spent exploring the around it. Koshi Tappu located in the east lowland of Nepal is great place for the migrating waterfowls, on the vastness of wetland formed my Sapta Koshi, one of the major river system in Nepal.

Day11: To Kathmandu

After having wonderful experience of migrating birdlife recorded during the whole trip, you will return flight back to Kathmandu.

Day12: Trip concludes in Kathmandu

The Trip

Birds are the amazingly fascinating life form on the planet earth. Watching, studying and appreciating them are great pleasure and opportunity for human. There are lots to learn from them, which is possible only when we allow them to exist side by side. Many birds has been lost from the earth and numerous are in the verge of extinction.
Migration of the birds to Nepal is wonderful especially during the months in winter. The migration begins from the beginning of fall. Then the birds usually are recorded and seen in Nepal for the months of October, November, December, January, February and March till later summer times, best months being January and February to watch the migrating species of birds.
During this tour you will be visiting the wonderful site of birds where they flock and stays some time in Nepal. The tour highlights the migrating birds that come as far as Siberia to winter and return back to their breeding ground when the weather become congenial.. Nepal inspite of being very small country is exceptional for birds’ life, which forms about 9% (Bird Conservation Nepal) of total birds exist in the whole world. The birds found and seen in Nepal are incredibly diverse occurring in all suitable habitats from lowland to mountains and in dry to wetland areas.
The birding tour, walk or hike usually begins very early as early morning being the best time to see and hear the birds in Nepal.
The time in Kathmandu will be spent a longer hikes than other places. The walk or hike is in the hill area and can be longer depending how you take your time and the finding of birds and other parts of nature, whereas the walks in Chitwan and Koshi is on a flat part , which can be still stretched to longer duration specially visiting places far from the accommodations.
Birdlife Kathmandu valley In Kathmandu valley over 400 species of birds are identified so far and most birds are migrating species which includes Nepal has 31 species of globally threaten species of birds among which few occurs in Kathmandu valley e White-rumped Vulture, The birds from Shivapuri national park comprising over 318 species (BCN)

Equipments and clothing

A pair of binocular (8x40 recommended) and telescope if possible, Birds of Nepal field guide, pencil/pen and note book and camera.
Traveling to the nature requires some norms to be observed and we should be careful in choosing the clothing. The dull light green and colours that blends well in the nature will also not disturbing to the birds and animals, that allow us to experience them better. Therefore 3 pairs of such clothing would be strongly advised. Please also bring a warm fleece jacket on top of water proof jacket will be handy too.

Trip Cost and inclusion

US$ 1663 per person on twin sharing basis
Single supplement: US$ 390

Inclusion

• Accommodations in Kathmandu in tourist standard hotel with breakfast included
• All land transportation through out the trip as listed
• Biratnagar to Kathmandu flight at the end
• Bird tour to Shivapuri and Phulchowki area
• Accommodations with all meals in Chitwan Na Koshi Tappu
• Escort of local nature guide/tour leader.
• National parks fees and all government taxes
• All the activities, which can be taken as per requirement at Chitwan and Koshi Tappu

Migration of Bird Trip Departure Dates

The winter is a good migrating season for wintering birds, though summer/spring also the season when we get summer visitors. At the moment we are offering this tour during the winter, when the season is best to see the birds in open and as well as in the forest. Following two departure dates are available now:

1. 17th Jan – 28th Jan, 2008
2. 03rd Feb – 14th Feb, 2009