Birding Tour of Sikkim & West Bengal

Day 01 – Arrive Kolkata
Arrive Kolkata by International flight. Meeting and assistance upon arrival and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 02 – Kolkata – Bagdogra (By Flight) – Lava
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to board the flight for Bagdogra. Arrive at Bagdogra airport, drive to Lava (approx. 100Kms/ 04 hours). This Valley are bird watcher’s delight, some of the birds spotted around Lava & Neora are Satyr Tragopan, Ashy Wood Pigeon, Rufous throated, Yellow throated Fulvetta, Red – faced Liocichla, Cutia, Rusty-bellied shortwing, Blue fronted Robin and long – billed Thrush etc.

Upon arrival check-in at the forest Camp / lodge and relax amidst the comforts of your room. Evening explore the beauty of the surroundings with the chirping and singing of birds. Overnight at the forest Camp / lodge.

Day 03 – Lava
Today after breakfast, Bird along an isolated forest trail. Cover the Algarah Road from the 04kms marker to the 06kms marker (away from Lava). You also cover the Pipeline trail and look for species including Raschet Forest, Nepal Cutia, Black headed Shrike Babbler. Keep look out for Pale caped Woodpecker (Bamboo birds) Rusty-bellied Shortwing, Golden breasted Fulvetta along with Pygmy Wren-babbler, Scaly breasted wrenbabbler, long billed Wren-babbler, and Rufous throated wren-babbler. You also visit Tiffindara peak. Overnight at the forest Camp / lodge.

Day 04 – Lava
Today after breakfast, we will start a little early for bird watching in Kampung Reserve forests and Git Valley. Starting from the Git Valley, we trek along several forests exploring ravines and stream beds through the Kampung Forests. Later return for camp for overnight stay.

Day 05 – Lava – Neora Valley National Park
After breakfast, we will drive up a steep road track to the entrance to the Neora National Park, climbing to 2400m to start our birding trek through the Neora River Valley. Descending into the Neora Valley, through bio-diverse sub Himalayan forests and flora, we will be birding here for whole day. Later return to camp for overnight stay.

Day 06 – Neora Valley National Park
Today after breakfast, continue your day with explore more birds on some selected trail in the Neora valley National Park. We will be doing the walk as per the guide instruction. Overnight at the forest Camp / lodge.

Day 07 – Neora Valley – Rushet Reserve Forest – Kalimpong
Today after breakfast we will go on birding trek, back out of the Neora Valley by a diverse trail crossing the main ridge line through hill for birding along forest trails in the Rushet Reserve Forest. Late afternoon drive to Kalimpong and check-in at the hotel and relax amidst the comforts of your room. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 08 – Kalimpong – Pelling
Today after breakfast, drive to Pelling (approx. 95Kms/ 04 hours). The western towns of Pelling and Pemayangtse present breathtaking views of the beautiful Singalila range. Pelling is on the state highway connecting Gangtok and Yoksum and rests at the foot of snow capped Mt. Kanchenjunga (28156 ft.). The important Pemayangtse monastery is a few kilometers from Pelling and is situated on a hilltop (7000 feet) which is covered by moist temperate Oak forests decorated with moss and lichens.

Upon arrival check-in at the hotel and visit the forest area for birding. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 09 – Pelling
Today after breakfast, visit the Pamayangtse Monastery and Sangacholing Ridge. This area are well wooded and the moist forests hold Maroon-backed and Rufous-breasted Accentors, Green-tailed Sunbirds, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatchers, Blue-fronted Redstarts, Brownish-flanked Bush Warblers, Scarlet and Long-tailed Minivets, Coal, Green-backed and Black-throated Tits, various Yuhinas, Fulvettas, Shrike Babblers, Scimitar Babblers, Laughingthrushes and Babblers. Overhead, migrating Steppe Eagles, Greater Spotted Eagles and Oriental Honey Buzzards add to the list. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 10 – Pelling – Khecheopalri Lake – Yuksom
Today after breakfast, drive to Khecheopalri Lake for birding walk. The Lake which is at an altitude of 6000 feet is located off the road connecting Pelling with Yoksum. This high altitude waterbody is surrounded by dense forests.

Continue your drive to Yuksom which is in west Sikkim. Upon arrival check-in at the hotel and visit the forest area for birding. Birds to look out for include the Bay Woodpecker, migrant ducks and occasionally some rare species such as Black necked Grebe, Baer’s Pochard or Greater Sccaup. Other birds spotted have been speckled wood pigeon, Emerald Cuckoo, Blue winged and Scaly Laughing Thrushes and White napped Yuhina. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 11 – Yuksom
Today do Birding around Yuksom Forest. Some of the birds which can be found here are Mountain Hawk Eagle, Crimson breasted Woodpecker, Maroon Oriole, Short-billed and Grey chinned Minivets, Himalayan Bulbul, Red -tailed Minla, White-naped Yuhina, Thrushes, Grey winged Blackbird, White tailed Nuthatch, sunbirds and various bush chats. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 12 – Yuksom – Ravangla
Today spend your morning birding around Yuksom. Later drive to Ravangla (approx. 03 hours). It lies between Tendong (8500 ft.) and Maenam (10600 ft.) peaks lies the sleepy hamlet of Ravangla (7000 ft.) in South Sikkim. Ravangla itself has scrub forest which attracts a rich variety of Himalayan birds. Verditer Flycatchers, Blue-fronted Redstarts, Grey Bushchats, Dark-throated Thrush, Blue-whistling Thrush, Green-backed Tit and White- browed Fantails. The forests around Ravangla resound with the unmistakable calls of Laughingthrushes, Babblers, Cuckoos and Hill Partridge. The rare Satyr Tragopan makes Maenam a home and the lucky can hear its breeding call from the higher reaches of Ravangla. Overnight at the lodge.

Day 13 – Ravangla
Today do full day birding & trekking at Maenam wildlife Sanctuary especially for Satyr Tragopan and Vivid Neeltava, Red faced Liochichlia, short billed and Grey Chinned Minivets. Overnight at the lodge.

Day 14 – Ravangla – Darjeeling
Today after breakfast, drive to Darjeeling (approx. 75Kms/ 04 hours), the “Queen of the hill stations”, its name derived from “Dorje-Line” which means the place of “Dorje”, the mystic thunderbolt. Covering a distance along the Teesta & then a vertical climb thru Tea Gardens, it is an experience of unforgettable beauty.

Upon arrival check-in at the hotel and relax amidst the comforts of your room. Afternoon is free for leisure walks or explore the local market. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 15 – Darjeeling
Today very early in the morning around 3.30am will drive to visit the Tiger hill (it is the sunrise point over Mt. Khangchendzonga), the glimpse of sunrise from here will give you a different charm. Further we will return to city and on the way back we will visit Ghoom Monastery & Batasia Loop.

Post breakfast we will go on sightseeing tour of Darjeeling which includes Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, P.N. Zoological Park (closed on Thursday), Tenzing Rock, Tibetan Refugee Centre (closed on Sunday) and various Tea estate. Late afternoon is free for leisure walks or explore the local market. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 16 – Darjeeling – Bagdogra – Kolkata (By Flight)
Morning after breakfast drive directly to Bagdogra airport (approx. 80Kms / 03 ½ hours) to board flight for Kolkata. Arrive Kolkata and rest of the day is free to explore the city or for individual activities.

Late night transfer to the airport for your departure flight for onward destination.