Birding Nepal's Off Beaten Trail

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Duration: 12 Days

Trip Grade:

Birding Nepal's Off Beaten Trail visits lesser known bird spots highlighting the rich avifauna it has to offer.  Over the years Nepal has grown to be one of the most popular South Asian destinations for bird lovers and photographers.

Though comparatively small in landmass; the diverse topography and geography makes it home to 889 species of migratory and endemic birds representing 8% of the world's known avian species. Endowed with a diverse habitat of high alpine regions over 8000 metres to the lowland terai plains at 90 metres it has a unique environment for birdlife among which 32 species are endangered.

Journey begins from Kathmandu Valley home to estimated 500 bird species, travels south west to Chitwan National Park home to 543 species, continues to Jagdishpur Reservior, Bardia National Park for its 426 bird species and Shukla Phanta National Park's 373 bird species.

D1 : Arrival at Kathmandu 1340 metres
Arrive in Kathmandu, a relaxed afternoon with a briefing and refreshment session to go over the activities of the week ahead.

Stay at Resort close to Phulchowki.

D2 : Kathmandu – visit to Phulchowki 2795 metres

Today we visit Phulchowki Hills and Godawari Botanical garden 1520 metres, two places with thriving flora and faunas. It is one of the highest hills surrounding the Kathmandu valley located 18 km southeast from the city, it has a good view of the valley.  It has recorded approximately 300 species with the rich bird life being attributed to it being a natural migratory path from the north to the south.

Starting at the base Godavari Botanical Garden slowly make way up to the summit of Phulchowki hill. Keep a keen eye for Nepal's only endemic bird - the Spiny Babbler. The Blue-naped Pitta is also a rare bird found in this area. With the Spectacled Finch, an occasional passing visitor.

Other birds include Yellow – Throated Minivet, Tibetan Siskin and Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird, Chestnut-winged Cuckoo, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Crested Goshawk,  Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Yellow-browed Tit, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Red-billed Leiothrix, Whiskered Yuhina, Besra, Bronzed and Racket-tailed Drongos, Greater Yellownape, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Nepal Cutia, Ultramarine Flycatcher and Black-winged Cuckooshrike. There are raptors and scavangers such as White-rumped Vulture, Slender-billed Vulture and Cinereous Vulture.

D3 / 4 : Kathmandu – Chitwan National Park 110 to 850 metres drive

We drive 181 kms exiting Kathmandu valley and along the Trishuli river to Chitwan National Park, the country’s first national park established in 1973 and most popular wildlife viewing destination.

On arrival, refreshment will be served and nature guides will brief about resort facilities and the next day's activities.

Chitwan National Park is in a valley area of 972 sq kms located in the central lowland Terai. Its mixed habitat of riverine forest, oxbox lakes, hard wood forest and open grasslands make it an ideal bird spotting area.

Over 540 bird species have been recorded here, half the country's total. It has two-thirds of the country’s globally threatened bird species. Several are only found here. Birds include; Bengal Florican, Grey-crowned Prinia, Slender-billed Babbler and Lesser Adjutant also grassland dwellers. The Slender-Billed Babbler is only found here and is the largest population in South Asia.  Given such distinction, in 1983 Chitwan National Park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

More bird on the lists are : Indian Spotted Eagle an endangered species breeding in Chitwan; Ferruginous Pochard, Great Hornbill, Black-bellied Tern, Grey-headed and Lesser Fish Eagles, White-tailed Eagle, Cinereous and Red-headed Vultures, Pallid Harrier, Laggar Falcon, Darter, Painted and Black-necked Storks, Paradise Flycatcher, Rufous-rumped Grassbird, Giant Hornbill and Yellow-breasted Bunting. Others are Sarus Crane, Indian Skimmer, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Jerdon’s Babbler and curlews. The Bar-headed Goose, a trans-Himalayan migrant is seen on the Narayani river.

We will drive, take canoe excursion and observe bird life at designated spots including a highlights visit to the Ramsar Site Beeshazari Tal an oxbow lake on the northern buffer zone.  Look out for white-rumped vulture, Pallas’s fish-eagle, lesser Adjutant Stork, Ferruginous Duck, Ruddy Breasted Crake, Black Ibis, Green Backed Heron, White Breasted Waterhen, Blue Eared Kingfisher, Pheasant Tailed Jacana, Northern Pintail, Yellow Wattled Lapwing among others.  Aquatic species include fish eating gharial and marsh crocodile.

Overnights in Resort.

D5 / 6 : Chitwan National Park – Jagdishpur Reservior Lumbini 197 metres

After spending splendid birding days at Chitwan, we drive 165kms west to Lumbini on a scenic highway and visit Jagdishpur Reservior spread over an area of 157 hectares. In winter, migratory  birds come here from China, Russia, Mongolia, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan and stay until February. Though its bird species vary from 40 plus to over 60, this area has the highest bird count during winter period.

On arrival, refreshment will be served and resort staffs will brief about the facilities and discuss the afternoon program.

After lunch, explore the habitat around and go on an introductory walk. Look out for Grey Hornbill, Asian Koel, Lesser Goldenback, and Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpeckers, Spotted Owlet, Common Babbler, Indian Spotted Eagle, Sarus Crane among others. Time permitting we may also do a short walk through the cultivated fields.

From the hotel it is a drive of 1.30hrs to Jagdishpur Reservoir approximately 40km with bird watching along the way. Serving as an irrigation resource, it is one of the most important wetlands of Nepal. During mid-January, as many as 20,000 waterbirds congregate here.

Bird life include; Purple Swamphen, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Black Ibis, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Black-breasted Weaver, Ferruginous Duck, Saurus Crane, Lesser Coucal, Smoky Warblers, White-rumped Himalayan Vultures, Eurasian Griffon, Thick-billed Flowerpecker, Hume’s and Greenish Warblers, Steppe Eagle and Egyptian Vulture, Asian Openbills, Asian Woollyneck. Indian Spot-billed Ducks, White-tailed Lapwings, Grey-headed Lapwing, Red-naped Ibis, Purple Herons to name some.

Overnights in Resort.

D7 /  8 : Jagdishpur Reservior Lumbini – Bardia National Park 152 metres to 1441metres

Before our departure, we pay a visit to the Maya Devi temple where Lord Buddha was born. The Ashoka pillar stands testimony of the place being birthplace of the Prince of Peace.

Travel west a 173 kms drive across midhills to Bardiya National Park largest in the lowland Terai with an area of 968 sq kms. It is the center of Nepal's conservation efforts to disperse its wildlife species. Till date 91 Greater One-horned Rhinoceros have been translocated from Chitwan National Park to Bardia National Park from 1986 to 2017.

Park and local communities jointly manage the buffer zone in a unique partnership. They initiate community development activities and manage natural resources together.

On arrival, refreshment will be served and staffs will brief about the facilities and discuss the afternoon program.

An elephant ride provides a different view of the park as one can go off the main trail, Morning and late afternoon are ideal times to go on a jeep ride. The quiet flowing Karnali river is natural habitat of rare Gangetic dolphin and migratory birds. The Babai valley is an ideal place to visit for rhino, tiger, and elephant sightings. A total 61 species of mammals, 513 species of birds, 42 herpeto fauna and 120 fish have been recorded here.

The Bardia National Park and Shukla Phanta National Park located in the western Terai are important for their populations of grassland and forest bird species. Both protected areas have large stretches of grasslands making it prime habitat for some of the world’s most important grassland birds, like the Bengal Florican.

Birds to spot here are; Swamp Francolin, Ferruginous Pochard, Great Hornbill, Sarus Crane, Lesser Florican, Black-bellied Tern, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Grey-headed and Lesser Fish Eagles, White-tailed, Indian Spotted, Great Spotted and Imperial Eagles, Darter, Painted and Black-necked Storks, Rufous-rumped Grassbird, Jerdon’s Babbler and Finn’s Weaver.

Overnights in Resort.

D9 /  10 : Bardia National Park – Shukla Phanta National Park 152 metres to 1441 metres

Today we drive 139 kms further west to Shukla Phanta National Park enroute stopping at Ghodaghodi Tal a protected wetland Ramsar site. Established in August 2003 with an area of 2,563 hectres at 205 metres elevation on the Siwalik Hills lower slopes. It encompasses a system of around 13 large and shallow oxbow lakes and ponds with peripheral marshes and meadows. Surrounded by tropical deciduous forest and some streams along the periphery which are separated by hillocks.

The forest and wetlands serve as a wildlife corridor between the Terai lowland and the Siwalik Hills. Wildlife include Bengal tiger, smooth-coated otter, Eurasian otter, swamp deer, lesser adjutant stork, red-crowned roofed turtle and three-striped roofed turtle. This is one of the habitats of the Golden Monitar Lizard a rare endangered species.  It has approximately over two dozens marsh mugger crocodiles distributed in over 18 lakes.

After this stopover, continue westward to Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve which has a sizable population of Bengal Florican and is the only regular wintering site for Hodgson’s Bushchat.

On arrival, refreshment will be served and staffs will brief about the facilities and discuss the afternoon program.

Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve 305 sq kms plus a 243-square-kilometer buffer zone with habitat of open grasslands, forests, riverbeds and tropical wetlands. Its main grassland called "phanta" is the largest continuous patch of grassland in Nepal. Though small in size it has 43 species of mammals and 425 species of birds. Its rivers and streams has marsh mugger crocodiles and smooth-coated otters, besides 27 species of fish including the golden mahaseer and rohu. Reptiles include golden monitor lizard, Indian python, and several species of cobras. The reserve also has a rare and intriguing resident, the hispid hare.

We shall drive and stop at focal points for our bird watching including to Rani Tal lake, open grasslands in proximity to ponds and streams. Keep an eye for Swamp Francolin, Lesser Florican, Saurus Crane, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Grey-headed and Lesser Fish Eagles, White Rumped Vulture, Slender-billed Vulture, White Naped Woodpecker, Brown Capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Brown Headed Barbet, Tickell's Blue Flycatcher, Bristled Grassbird, Hodgson's Bushchat, Yellow-breasted Bunting, Jerdon’s Babbler and Finn’s Weaver.

This reserve has the largest herd in the world of swamp deer known locally as "barasingha" literally meaning large anglers with over 2200 individual deers.  It is a grand sight to see these magnificent animals move along the grassland and while crossing a jungle track.

Overnights in Resort.

D11 : Shukla Phanta National Park drive to Dhangadi Airport – Kathmandu flight
We  reluctantly say goodbye to an amazing bird watching journey and after breakfast transfer to Dhangadi airport a distance of 56 kms for a 1.15hrs flight to Kathmandu.

Check – in to hotel and enjoy a farewell dinner to celebrate the best bird watcher of the group!

D12 : Kathmandu departure

Transfer to Tribhuvan International airport for onward flight.

Bon Voyage!

Our Local Bird Watching Leader with experience and knowledge will accompany this trip.

Book Birding Nepal's Off Beaten Trail to enjoy and add to your bird check list some of the world's most unique and exciting bird species!

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