Western India Birding Tour

Western India Birding Tour (10 Days)
From USD 2250

Day 1: Ahmedabad - Little Rann of Kutch
Arrive Ahmedabad airport in the morning & met and transferred to Little Rann of Kutch (100 kms/2 hrs drive approx.) Arrive Little Rann of Kutch and check in to the lodge. Afternoon explore the Little Rann of Kutch by exclusive jeep, accompanied by naturalist.

Day 2: Little Rann of Kutch
We take morning and afternoon jeep rides into the heart of the Little Rann of Kutch today, returning for lunch. The Little Rann is most famous for its still healthy population of Indian Wild Ass and we should see several as we go in search of the areas avian specialties. Our main targets include wintering Macqueen’s Bustard, roosting Sykes’s Nightjar, Greater Hoopoe Lark, Lesser Flamingo, Indian Courser, White-tailed Plover, Great White and Dalmatian Pelicans, Montagu’s and Pallid Harriers, Imperial, Tawny and Greater Spotted Eagles and occasionally Sociable Plovers.

Day 3: Little Rann of Kutch - Mount Abu
After a final drive at Little Rann of Kutch we depart for Mount Abu (125 kms / 3 hrs), Arrive Mount Abu and check in to the hotel. Spending the afternoon around the open scrub and fields on the top of Mount Abu will hopefully bring us into contact with another rare Indian subcontinent endemic – Green Avadavat. Mount Abu is one of the few known localities for the species and we have an excellent chance of finding a small flock feeding quietly at the base of nearby bushes. White-capped and Crested Buntings are also possible here and any time spent in the forest lower down could include Indian Scimitar Babbler.

Day 4: Mount Abu - Bera
Morning birding at Mount Abu for species that we may have missed out on. Later depart for Bera (100 kms/2 hrs drive approx). Aravalli Range, is home to some of the species like Jungle Bush Quail, Painted Francolin, Grey Junglefowl, Red Spurfowl, Alexandrine and Plum-headed Parakeets, White- naped Woodpecker, White-spotted Fantail, Tawny-bellied Babbler, Jungle Prinia, Sulphur-bellied Warbler, Indian Yellow Tit and Crested. Arrive Bera and check in at your hotel / Camp. Evening jeep safari to Bera in-search of Leopards and birding.

Day 5: Bera
Morning jeep safari and birding in Bera with your accompanying bird guide. We have a great chance of seeing Leopard, Striped Hyena, Desert & Jungle Cat, critically endangered Indian Vulture, Laggar and Red-necked Falcon, Rock Bush Quail, Sirkeer Malkoha and Painted Sandgrouse.Evening jeep safari to Bera in-search of Leopards and birding.

Day 6: Bera - Chandelaogarh
After an early breakfast drive to Chandelaogarh (200 kms / 05 hours). Arrive Chandelaogarh and check in to your hotel. Evening birding around Chandelao Village (birding around the Lakes and in the fields).

Day 7: Bera – Jaisalmer DNP
Today we will make our way to Sam Village (Near Jaisalmer - 360 kms / 7 hrs). Arrive Sam, and check in at your tented Camp.

Day 8-9: Jaisalmer (Desert National Park)
We have two full days to explore Desert National Park by private vehicle & camel cart. The principal target is India’s most famous, but unfortunately now on rapid decline – Great Indian Bustard. However, the area is also full of birds including another declining, rare species – Stoliczka’s Bushchat, which we hope to find whilst searching for the bustard. A whole range of semi-desert species are also possible here – Cream-coloured Courser, Black-bellied, Chestnut-bellied and Painted Sandgrouse, ‘Desert’ Lesser Whitethroat, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Asian Desert Warbler, ‘Punjab’ Raven, Macqueen’s Bustard, Desert Lark, Variable Wheatear, and Lagger Falcon. Three critically endangered vultures are also possible – Indian, White-rumped and Red-headed, along with the more widespread Eurasian Griffin and Egyptian Vulture.

Day 10: Jaisalmer to Jodhpur - Departure
Early morning drive to Jodhpur Airport (320 kms/6 hrs drive approx.) to end the Western India Birding Tour.

Inclusions