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Birds of Nepal

Nepal Tours - Crested Serpent Eagle

CHOICE OF ACCOMMODATION - See Price Grid below

14 days from £1650

excluding international flights

DAY 1 – Depart UK.

DAY 2 – Arrival in Kathmandu.

DAY 3 – Kathmandu.

Today has been left free. You might prefer just to relax or spend the day sightseeing, capitalising on the opportunity to visit some of the pagoda-style temples, palaces and squares of Kathmandu or its neighbouring cities of Patan and Bhaktapur. The dedicated birdwatcher may prefer to make an early start by heading for the forested slopes of Phulchowki Mountain (2,780m/9,000ft).
Meals included: Full breakfast.

EVEREST MOUNTAIN FLIGHT

Thisexperience of a lifetime offers you the chance to view the mighty Himalayanpeaks including Everest, the highest mountain on earth.  This is the closest one can get to the peakswithout having to trek or climb.  Everest Mountain flight details.

DAY 4 - Fly to Pokhara

Depart this morning on a short flight to Pokhara. On arrival transfer by road to your hotel. There is a wealth of hill birds and some mammals to be seen in the forests and lakes of this picturesque valley. Exquisite minivets are bound to attract your attention, together with a wide selection of warblers, flycatchers, woodpeckers, laughing-thrushes, sunbirds, flowerpeckers and rosefinches. On the thermals that rise above the valley, a variety of resident birds of prey, particularly eagles and vultures may be seen. Migrant eagles and falcons may also appear. There are many other special birds of this region, amongst them the beautiful Green Magpie and White-crested Laughing-thrush.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner.

DAY 5 - Pokhara

A two-night stay here will allow you the chance to walk amongst these hills and forests, through scrub and alder groves, and to enjoy the impressive sight of terraced fields, reaching thousands of feet up and down the mountainsides. The lower terraces are usually for rice, the higher ones for barley, wheat, potatoes, buckwheat and millet. As well as birds, there are many colourful butterflies to be seen on your walks and, with luck, you may glimpse an interesting animal or two; Muntjac, Hanuman Monkeys, Orange-bellied Squirrels and Yellow-throated Martens have all been seen here.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner.

DAY 6 – Drive to the Royal Chitwan National Park.

It is now time to leave the hills and descend to the lowlands. The drive is a scenic one, following the Narayani River for part of the way, through a deep and beautiful subtropical valley towards the Royal Chitwan National Park. This is a chance to look out for such riverside birds as Plumbeous Redstarts, White-capped River Chats, Blue Whistling Thrushes, forktails (pictured left: a Spotted Forktail) and kingfishers. Overhead you may see some of the birds of prey that use the valley: Crested Serpent Eagles, Crested Honey Buzzards, Black Kites, Steppe Eagles and many others. By lunchtime you should reach your lodge in the Royal Chitwan National Park where you will be staying for the next three nights.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner.

DAYS 7 and 8 – Royal Chitwan National Park.

Two full days in the Royal Chitwan National Park, where a variety of excursions are arranged with the help and enthusiasm of excellent naturalist.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner each day.

DAYS 9 to 12 - Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve.

From Chitwan you will next transfer by car to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, along the East-West Highway. Although this journey is likely to take much of the day, the abundant birds and village life observed along the roadside offer plenty of compensation. The reserve is situated in eastern Nepal, close to the border with India.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner each day.

 
Pictured: Little egret.

DAY 13 - Return to Kathmandu.

Today you will travel to Biratnagar, situated in the Gangetic floodplains of south-eastern Nepal, to catch your plane to Kathmandu. Heading west, the flight gives spectacular views of the Himalayas (weather permitting) including distant views of the world's highest peak, Everest. In the evening you will be taken (unless you are already staying there)  to the unique Dwarika's Kathmandu Hotel for a special farewell Nepali dinner.
Meals included: Full breakfast, dinner.

DAY 14 – Depart for home.

Private transfer to the airport for your international flight home.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

International Flights

There are no direct flights between London and Kathmandu. We recommend the services of Qatar Airways from London Heathrow to Doha with a good onward connection to Kathmandu. Flights are daily throughout the year. Current timings (subject to possible change) are as follows:
Heathrow/Doha. Depart at 15.05; arrive Doha at 23.89
Doha/Kathmandu. Depart at 01.05 (next day); arrive Kathmandu at 08.30
Kathmandu/Doha. Depart at 09.30; arrive Doha at 11.45
Doha/Heathrow. Depart at 12.30; arrive Heathrow at 17.55

Nepal Tours: Birds of Nepal (Tour Reference: WDNP005)
2012 Departures
Price per person based on a minimum of two persons travelling together:

Standard Hotels
Kathmandu - Hyatt Regency
Pokhara - Temple Tree Resort & Spa
Chitwan National Park - Tigerland Safari Resort
Koshi Tappu Wildlife Lodge

Superior Hotels
Kathmandu - Dwarika's Kathmandu Hotel
Pokhara - Temple Tree Resort & Spa
Chitwan National Park - Tigerland Safari Resort
Koshi Tappu Wildlife Lodge

Single Room Supplements on request.

* This itinerary is not recommended between May and September.

The price includes:

• Hotel accommodation as listed above in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities (except at Koshi Tappu where toilet facilities are shared).
• 12 full breakfasts, 9 lunches and 10 dinners as shown in the itinerary.
• Scheduled flights between Kathmandu and Pokhara (and between Biratnagar and Kathmandu) including taxes.
• Private transportation throughout.
• All sightseeing as shown (unless indicated as ‘optional’), including entrance fees.
• The services of a private English-speaking driver in Kathmandu. Transportation during your stay in Pokhara, the Royal Chitwan National Park and Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve will be on a shared basis.
• The services of naturalist guides at Pokhara, the Royal Chitwan National Park and Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve.

• International flights (see our recommendation above). We are happy to discuss the flights with you and give you further guidance.
• Optional sightseeing.
• International airport taxes.
• Tipping. We will be pleased to give guidance in this often sensitive matter
• A Nepal Visa. This can be obtained before departure from Embassy of Nepal in London, or alternatively you can purchase the visa (current price US$25) on arrival at Kathmandu Airport (recommended).

A deposit of £250 per person is required at the time of booking. The balance of the price for your Nepal tour must be paid at least 8 weeks before your departure date.