Day 1: Arrival in Delhi
You arrive at Delhi International Airport, where your birding guide welcomes you. The evening is for rest at your hotel after your long journey. Overnight in Delhi.
Day 2: Delhi – Corbett National Park
After breakfast, you set off for Corbett National Park (approx. 6 hrs). By afternoon, you’re already birding along the Kosi River, spotting Crested Kingfisher, Plumbeous and White-capped Redstarts, Brown Dippers, Blue Whistling Thrush, and in winter, possibly the striking Wallcreeper. Overnight at a lodge near Corbett.
Day 3: Birding around Corbett (Outside the park)
At first light, you explore birding sites around Corbett. The highlight is searching the stony riverbeds for the rare Ibisbill. Cliffs may reveal another Wallcreeper, while forests resound with the calls of Great Hornbill, Collared Falconet, Long-tailed Broadbill, and Lesser Fish Eagle. Bright splashes of color come from Red-billed Blue Magpie and Common Green Magpie. Overnight near Corbett.
Day 4: Into Corbett Tiger Reserve
Morning and afternoon jeep safaris take you deep into Corbett’s forests. Apart from mammals like Tiger, Asian Elephant, and Hog Deer, the birdlife here is astonishing: Great Slaty Woodpecker, Lineated Barbet, Black-headed Jay, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, and Pallas’s Fish Eagle. As dusk falls, you return to your lodge, with the sounds of the jungle still echoing. Overnight near Corbett.
Day 5: Corbett – Manila
Leaving Corbett behind, you drive into the tranquil hills of Manila. Birding en route is rewarding, and by afternoon you’re exploring the forests near your lodge. Highlights may include Rufous-bellied Niltava, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Himalayan Rubythroat, Yellow-bellied Fantail, and Red-billed Leiothrix. Overnight in Manila.
Day 6: Birding in Manila
An early start takes you into Manila’s oak and pine forests. At dawn, the calls of Cheer Pheasant and Koklass Pheasant echo through the slopes. You also look for Hill Partridge, Black-faced Warbler, Green-tailed Sunbird, Rufous Sibia, and Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher. It’s a full day of immersive birding in these peaceful hills. Overnight in Manila.
Day 7: Manila – Chopta/Mandal
The road climbs higher towards Chopta–Mandal, with birding stops along the way. You may see Himalayan Vulture, Lammergeier, Grey-headed Bullfinch, and Verditer Flycatcher. By afternoon, you’re birding around Chopta, surrounded by rhododendron forests and crisp mountain air. Overnight in Mandal.
Day 8 & 9: Birding in Chopta & Mandal
These two days are the heart of your Himalayan birding adventure. In the alpine meadows and forests of Chopta, the dazzling Himalayan Monal may appear on a ridge, while thickets hold Koklass Pheasant and Cheer Pheasant. Flocks of Scarlet Finch, Fire-tailed Sunbird, and Speckled Wood Pigeon roam the slopes. The forests are alive with White-throated and Streaked Laughingthrushes, Rufous-vented Tit, Himalayan Woodpecker, and many more. Each bend of the trail holds a new surprise. Overnight in Mandal.
Day 10: Chopta – Rishikesh
You descend towards Rishikesh, stopping for birding en route. By evening, you’re on the banks of the Ganges, where Crested Kingfisher, River Lapwing, and Osprey are often seen. Overnight in Rishikesh.
Day 11: Rishikesh – Delhi
Morning birding around Rishikesh adds more species before you continue to Delhi. By evening, you’re back in the city, with time to relax at your hotel. Overnight in Delhi.
Day 12: Birding at Sultanpur – Departure
Your last day begins with a morning excursion to Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, a rich wetland on Delhi’s outskirts. Here, you can see Painted Stork, Black-necked Stork, Eurasian Spoonbill, Sarus Crane, Bar-headed Goose, Bluethroat, and many waders depending on the season.
After a rewarding morning, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then return to your hotel to freshen up and prepare for your onward journey. Later, you are transferred to Delhi International Airport for your flight, or you may choose to spend another night in Delhi.
By the end of this journey, you will have explored India’s birding treasures across varied landscapes—from the lowland rivers and forests of Corbett, to the pheasant-rich slopes of Manila, the high-altitude meadows of Chopta, and the wetlands of Sultanpur—making this a truly unforgettable Himalayan birding experience.
