Itinerary:

Day 0-Arrival at Gwalior Airport:

Arrival and overnight at a hotel in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. Note that there are frequent hour-long flights from Delhi

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Day 1: Search for the Indian Skimmer & Black-bellied Tern

We will depart pre-dawn and head towards the Chambal River situated near Agra, where we will look for the endangered Indian Skimmer & Black-bellied Tern for the entire morning. This site is the most reliable for these endangered riverine birds that are vanishing with their habitats.

We then depart towards Bharatpur National Park, which is a crucial wintering ground for huge flocks of migratory waterfowl. Over the next two days, we will explore this wetland area for some notable species: Black-necked Stork, Dusky Eagle Owl, Sarus Crane, Indian Vulture, Brooke's Leaf Warbler, Bank Myna, Knob-billed Duck and Black Bittern

Day 2 & 3: Birding in Bharatpur Wetlands

Birding continued in Bharatpur National Park. Depart from Bharatput to Tal Chhapar on the evening of Day 3.

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Day 4 & 5: Birding in Tal Chhapar

After covering the wetlands species, we head towards the more arid regions of Rajasthan-- Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary, where we mainly look for the Indian Spotted Treecreeper and the endemic White-browed Bushchat. Birding here will be done from the comfort of a safari vehicle. We will spend till Day 5 afternoon to cover the grasslands of Tal Chhapar, after which we depart for Jorbeer Conservation Reserve to catch the late evening activity

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Day 6: Birding in Jorbeer 

The conservation reserve situated in Jorbeer is one of the most important raptor sites in India. Serving as a wintering ground for huge flocks of Yellow-eyed Pigeons, Steppe Eagle, Eastern Imperial Eagle,  Himalayan Griffon, Eurasian Griffon, Cinereous Vulture, the Greater Spotted Eagle and rarely even White-tailed Eagles. 

Along with migrant raptors, the reserve also offers great chances of viewing the resident raptors: Tawny Eagle, Egyptian Vultures, Red-necked Falcon & Laggar Falcon. We will spend time birding in Jorbeer till late evening of Day 6, and subsequently depart for Desert National Park in Jaisalmer (6-hour drive).​

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Day 7: Birding at the Desert National Park in search of the Great Indian Bustard

At Desert National Park, over the next few days, we will go on multiple jeep safaris in search of one of the rarest resident birds of India– The Great Indian Bustard. This critically endangered bird faces a threat from habitat loss and electric power lines, the most important reason for their rapid decline. There are only about 250 individuals that remain in the wild, an estimated 170 of which can be found in this national park.

Our entire day here will be spent exploring different areas of the park with a mid-day break from late-morning to late-afternoon. We will also target the desert specialities like Cream Coloured Courser, Trumpeter Finch, Greater Hoopoe Lark, Desert Lark, Bimaculated Lark & Asian Desert Warbler.

Overnight stay at a luxury tented accommodation amidst the desert.

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Day 8: Birding at the Desert National Park

Repeat of Day-7

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Day 9: Birding at the Desert National Park & Depart to Ahmedabad

One last morning safari at the park to ​look for species we may have missed. We catch evening flights from Jaisalmer/ Jodhpur to Ahmedabad (50-minute flight) where we halt for the night.

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Day 10: Birding at the Nalsarovar 

We spend an entire day birding at Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary, which in recent times has become a magnet for vagrants and rare migrants. Our main targets here include Namaqua Dove, Sirkeer Malkoha, Baillon's Crake, Common Crane, Great White Pelican, Paddyfield Warbler, Greater Flamingo & Lesser Flamingos

At the end of daylight, we drive up to our homestay situated near Bajana Creek in the Little Rann of Kachchh, where we halt for the night.

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Day 11: Birding at the Little Rann of Kachchh:

The expanses of these salt flats are a stronghold for the Asiatic Wild Ass which we should be able to see while on the lookout for birds like Sociable Lapwing, Macqueen's Bustard(Asian Houbara), Syke's Lark(Tawny Lark) and various desert birds and raptors that we may have missed at previous locations.

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Day 12: Birding at LRK & depart to Mumbai:

Final morning safari at LRK for any last chance birding. We drive to Ahmedabad to catch an evening flight to Mumbai (50-minute flight). Overnight stay at a hotel in Mumbai

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Day 13: Search for the Forest Owlet

We will pick up all the tour participants at the crack of dawn and head towards Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary early in the morning, where we will look for the critically endangered Forest Owlet for the entire day.

Tansa WLS is home to the rarest owl species of India: the Forest Owlet. In 1997, this range-restricted owl was rediscovered after 113 years of having been declared extinct. Still, very little is known about this elusive owl. 

Overnight stay at a hotel in Mumbai.​​​

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Day 14: Departures from Mumbai

Post-breakfast, tour participants are dropped off at Mumbai International Airport for departures. 

END of TOUR

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