Northern India Birds and Wildlife

Day 1 – November 3rd 2026 – Arrival in Delhi
Our tour begins at Delhi Airport, where we will be welcomed by our local guide and transferred to the hotel. If we have time we might do some birding en route. Overnight at Country Inn & Suites by Radisson. https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/country-inn-sahibabad

Day 2 – November 4th 2026 – Delhi to Corbett via the Ganges river

Our First official day of the tour. Following an early breakfast we will start our journey towards beautiful Corbett National park. On the way we will pass the famous Ganges river. We will do some birding and check out the wintering Gulls & Terns near the river. The Ganges is of course one of the holiest rivers and we will witness many Hindu pilgrims bathing and worshiping in the river. Hindus believe that bathing in its waters washes away sin. Hindus also have built many temples for cremating, or burning, the dead bodies along the Ganges. They scatter the ashes on the river, believing that the dead will go straight to heaven. After lunch on the road we will continue to the Corbett National Park, arriving in the late afternoon. Night at Acorn Hideaway resort and Spa. https://acornresorts.com/

Day 3 – November 5th 2026 – Jim Corbett National Park

Morning and afternoon jungle safari in the Corbett National Park looking for variety of unique birds as well as Royal Bengal Tiger, Indian Leopard, Asian Elephant and more. Corbett National Park comprises 520.8 km2 area of hills, Dense moist deciduous forest, riverine belts, marshy depressions, grasslands and a large reservoir. The park has more than 500 species of birds including specialties such as Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Tawny fish Owl, Asian-barred Owlet, Great Barbet, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Brown-fronted Woodpecker, Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike, Eurasian Jay, Black headed Jay, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Common green magpie, Long-tailed Minivet, Scaly-breasted Munia, Yellow-breasted Green Finch and many more. Thick jungle and plentiful prey make this reserve an ideal habitat for Royal Bengal Tigers which we will put in extra effort to find. Overnight in Acorn Hideaway Resort & Spa

Day 4 – Nov 6 2026 – Corbett and adjacent areas

A Full day of birding in Sitavani, Kumeria, Mohan, Garjia and adjoining buffer areas of the park. We will climb up to the base of the mountains and search for the iconic Ibisbill, Wallcreeper, Great slaty woodpecker, Common green magpie, Black-crested & Himalayan Bulbul, Black-chinned, Babbler, Rufous Sibia, Streaked and White-crested Laughingthrush, Dark-sided Flycatcher, Ultramarine Flycatcher, Little Pied Flycatcher, Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, Verditer Flycatcher, Greyhooded Warbler, Ashy-throated Warbler, Grey Bushchat, Blue Whistling Thrush and many more. Overnight in Acorn Hideaway Resort & Spa

Day 5 – Nov 7th 2026 – Corbett to Pangot

An early start with another exclusive Jungle Safari, searching for birds and cats. After breakfast and checkout we start the scenic drive to Pangot, arriving for lunch. In the afternoon we will do some birding around the lodge looking for Himalayan specialties such as Green Backed Tit, Black-throated Tit, Bar-tailed Treecreeper, White-tailed Nuthatch, Black-headed Jay, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush and many more. Overnight in the Nest Cottage, Pangot. https://thenestcottages.in/

Day 6 – Nov 8th 2026 – Pangot.

A Full day of birding around Pangot. We spend the exploring the oak, pine and rhododendron forests in the area. During our easy paced hikes we will encounter an excellent selection of Himalayan species, including Bearded and Himalayan Vultures, Kalij Pheasant, Blue-winged Minla, Spotted and Slaty-backed Forktails, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Rufous-bellied Niltava, and Red-billed Blue Magpie. The beautiful valleys and creeks in the area are home to an amazing variety of flora and fauna, and with luck we may come across some amazing animals such as Sambar, Barking Deer, Himalayan Palm Civet, Yellow-throated Marten, Brown Ghoral and maybe even an Indian Leopard. After lunch at the lodge, we will check some lower altitude habitats for real specialties such as both Cheer’s and Koklass Pheasants, Crested Serpent Eagle, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, various woodpeckers including Brown-fronted and Himalayan, thrushes such as Black-throated and Mistle, warblers such as Tickell’s Leaf, Greenish, Whistler’s, and Grey-hooded, flycatchers such as Asian Brown, Ultramarine, and Verditer, laughingthrushes such as White-throated, Striated, Streaked, and Chestnut-crowned, Altai and Blackthroated accentors, Upland Pipit, Blue-winged Minla, Whiskered Yuhina, Slaty-headed and Red-breasted Parakeets, Long-tailed and Grey-backed Shrikes, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush, Himalayan Bluetail, Blue-capped Redstart, and Himalayan Prinia. We will put in some effort to find the shy Grey-crowned Prinia which is rarely seen anywhere else in India. We will also visit nearby Baggar and Gughu Kham and search for Brown Fish Owl, Brown Wood Owl, and Long-billed Thrush. Overnight in the Nest Cottage, Pangot

Day 7 – Nov 9th – Pangot to Sattal

Early morning birding in Pangot looking for any target birds we may have missed. After breakfast we will check out and head to Barapatthar Nainital for some quality birding and then continue to the Sattal, arriving for lunch. Sattal or Sat Tal (seven lakes) is an interconnected group of seven freshwater lakes situated in the Lower Himalayan Range near Bhimtal, a town of the Nainital district in Uttarakhand. Set amongst dense forests of oak and pine trees, Sattal is one of the few unspoiled and unpolluted freshwater biomes in India and over 500 species of birds have been recorded here. Overnight in Wild Kumaon, Sattal – https://wildkumaon.com/

Day 8 – November 10 – Sattal

A Full day of birding in and around beautiful Sattal. The area offers an amazing variety of birds but we will put in particular effort to find the secretive Rufous-throated and Common Hill Partridges. We can also expect to see Green-tailed Sunbird, Eurasian Griffon, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Lesser Yellownape, Bluethroated and Great Barbets, Slaty-headed Parakeet, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Red-billed Leothrix, Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush, Ashy and Mountain Bulbuls, and Golden Bush Robin. We will visit a special local hide where many of these species present super close photographic opportunities. Overnight in Wild Kumaon, Sattal.

Day 9 – November 11 – Sattal to Delhi

Some more early morning birding, breakfast and then we start the long haul back to the outskirts of Delhi. We will do some birding and have lunch on the road. We expect to arrive at out hotel in the afternoon. Overnight in Country Inn & Suites by Radisson.

Day 10 – November 12 – Delhi Sultanpur and Bharatpur

An early start with a packed breakfast and head to Sultanpur NP or Najafgarh Lake, looking for a large variety of waterbirds, ducks, Waders, Storks and many more. We will take some time to find the range restricted Sind Sparrow and other songbirds. After lunch drive to Bharatpur, home of the famous Keoladeo National Park. Overnight at beautiful Laxmi Villas Bharatpur – https://laxmivilas.com/about.html

Day 11 – November 13 – Keoladeo National Park

The Keoladeo Ghana National Park, also known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, is without a doubt one of the best places in Asia for birdwatching. The Sanctuary offers a variety and abundance of birdlife that is unmatched anywhere in India. We will spend the day birding with electric Rikshaws, a fun way to get around. The shaded, tree-lined bunds of the flooded “jheels” make for the ideal location for both birdwatchers and photographers and the sheer numbers of birds is truly amazing. Some of the birds we expect to find in the park and nearby habitats include: The majestic Sarus Crane, Greater Painted Snipe, Francolins, Dusky Eagle Owl, Indian Courser, Egyptian Vulture, Oriental Honey-buzzard, Redheaded Vulture, Crested Serpent-Eagle, Short-toed Snake-Eagle, Indian Spotted Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, Booted Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle, White-eyed Buzzard, Eurasian Marsh-Harrier. Coppersmith Barbet, Brown-headed Barbet, Alexandrine Parakeet, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Plum-headed Parakeet, Isabelline Shrike, Bay-backed Shrike, Long-tailed Shrike, Great Gray Shrike, Rufous-tailed Lark, Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark, Indian Bushlark, Common Tailorbird, Gray-breasted Prinia, Graceful Prinia, Ashy Prinia , Plain Prinia, Zitting Cisticola, Booted Warbler, Paddyfield Warbler, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Clamorous Reed Warbler, Hume’s Warbler, Brooks’s Leaf Warbler, Sulphur-bellied Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Greenish Warbler, Westerncrowned Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Greater Whitethroat, Yellow-eyed Babbler and many more. Overnight at Laxmi Villas.

Day 12 – November 14th – Bharatpur to Chambal

Following an early breakfast we start the drive towards Chambal. We will stop on the way to search for some dry forest species near Dholpur and check into our beautiful hotel.

The Chambal River is one of the country’s healthiest river systems and the source of life for millions of people. We will enjoy a comfortable boat trip up and down the river. The river here is clean and the great habitat is home to many rare animals. Besides birds, some of the animals we expect here are Marsh Crocodile (Mugger), the critically endangered Gharial (fish-eating Crocodile) and freshwater tent turtles. With some luck we might see the Gangetic River Dolphins, and even Indian River Otter.

The the river and its banks offer great birding and host many specialty species including Indian Skimmer (difficult in November) and the Black-bellied Tern, which is frequently spotted resting on sandbars in the middle of the river.

Other good birds here include the beautiful Small Pratincole, Great Thick-knee, Little and Great Cormorants, Grey Heron, Cattle Egret, Lesser Whistling-duck, Ruddy Shelduck, Comb Duck, Osprey, Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed and Kentish Plovers, River Lapwing, Common and Spotted Redshanks, Common Greenshank, Green, Wood and Common Sandpipers, Little and Temminck’s Stints, and possibly Pallas’s Gull. Other species present in the area include Black Kite, Steppe Eagle, Bonnelli’s Eagle, Vultures, Plain Martin, Barn and Wire-tailed Swallows, White, Masked and White-browed Wagtails, chances for Brown Crake and more.

Overnight at the beautiful Raj Niwas palace in Dholpur.

Day 13 – Nov 15th – To Agra and the Taj Mahal 

After breakfast we will drive to Agra and visit The world famous Taj Mahal. We will explore the grounds with a local guide and even get a chance for some birding,,, Following the tour we will have lunch and some time for souvenir shopping, before heading back to Delhi for our final night. Night at Hotel Bel-La Monde – https://www.bel-lamonde.com/nh8/index-nh8.php

Day 14 – Nov 16th– Departure 

Today we say a warm Alavida to India and transfer to the airport for our flights home.

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Tour price:

Group of 6 (sharing) – $4850
Group of 7 (sharing) – $4650
Group of 8 (sharing) – $4450
Group of 9 (sharing) – $4250
Group of 10 (sharing) -$4050

Single supplement: $650

Price includes:
All accommodation and transportation within the country
All meals from dinner on day 1 till breakfast on the last morning. Exclusive safaris at Corbett national park. Exclusive hides in the Himalayas. Boat tour on the Chambal River
All guiding and entry fees (parks, Taj).

Price excludes:
International flights
Visa to India Individual health and travel insurance.
Alcoholic drinks, souvenirs and items of personal nature
Tips to guides and driver.