Day 01:
Arrive Bhadrapur and transfer Darjeeling (135 kms, 5/6
hrs drive). O/N Hotel.
Day 02: Early morning excursion to Tiger
Hill to view the sunrise over Mt.Kunchendzonga. En route
visit Yigacholing Ghoom Monastery which enshrines the
statue of Maitreya Buddha (coming Buddha). Later visit
the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Zoological Park,
Panda breeding Center, Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center
and nearest tea garden to witness the orthodox manufacturing
process of Darjeeling tea. In the afternoon take joy ride
on Himalayan Heritage Train (Toy Train) from Darjeeling
to Ghoom (8 kms) and return to Hotel.
Day 03: Transfer to Kalimpong (52 kms).
Sightseeing of Kalimpong visiting Zandokpalri Phobrang
Monastery, Deolo Hill, flower nursery and walk around
the little bazaar. O/N Hotel.
Day
04: Drive to Lava (38 kms). Lava is a prime birding
destination in this region. It is a small bazaar once
a halting place for caravans on the trade routes to Bhutan
and Sikkim. Surrounded by very large tracts of protected
forests ranging an elevation between 1600 and 2400 mtrs,
it includes the remote and uninhabited Neora Valley National
Park, and it is a bird watcher's haven. One can see Magpie,
Coral billed Scimitar Babbler, Scaly breasted Wren Babbler,
Golden Breasted Fulvetta, Hill Partridge, Rufus throated
Partridge, Satyr Tragopan, Wedge tailed Green Pigeon,
Speckled Wood Pigeon, Ashy Wood Pigeon, Emerald Dove,
Lesser Cuckoo, Crimson breasted Woodpecker, Lesser Yellow
nape, Long tailed Broadbill, Mountain Bulbul, Orange bellied
Leaf bird, Long billed Thrush, Chestnut Thrush, Eye browed
Thrush, Dusky Thrush, Chestnut headed Tesia, Slat belled
Tesia, Russer Bush Warbler, White spectacled Warbler,
Pygmy Blue flycatcher, Golden Bush Robin, Blue fronted
Robin, Spotted Laughing thrush, Cutia, Maroon Oriole,
Common Rose finch, Red Crossbill etc.
Day 05: Birding walk in the Neora Valley
National Park. O/N Hotel or Lodge.
Day 06: Birding walk in the Neora Valley
National Park. O/N Hotel or Lodge.
Day 07: Transfer to Rangeet Valley -
Damthang Forests, 2700 mtr - Ravangla, 2200 mtr. Drive
through the Teesta and Rangeet Valley to Damthang Forests,
stopping en route to look for Shikra, Red Jungle Fowl,
River Lapwing, Green billed Malkoha, White throated Kingfisher,
Crested Kingfisher, Chestnut headed Bee eater, Indian
Roller, Dollarbird, Great Barbet, Greater Yellow nape,
Black backed Wagtail, Small Minivet, Scarlet Minivet,
Black crested Bulbul, White cheeked Bulbul, Red vented
Bulbul, Black Bulbul, Golden fronted Leaf bird, Orange
bellied Leaf bird, Common Iora, Blue Rock Thrush, Chestnut
bellied Rock Thrush, White capped Redstart, Hair crested
Drongo, Green Magpie, Himalayan Swiftlet, and oriental
White Eye. At the Damthang forest we will take a birding
walk for 6 hrs. Some of the species we might see are:
Eurasian Buzzard, Eurasian Kestrel, Green Billed Malkhoa,
Dollarbird, Black winged Cuckoo etc.
Day 08: Rabangla - Pemayangtse, 2085
mtrs. In the morning a 4 hrs birding walk to Menam forests
of Oak, Chestnut, Magnolia and Rhododendrons at altitude
of 2900 mtrs. Likely to spot the same species as seen
at Damthang. In the afternoon, drive 52 kms to Pemayangtse,
with birding halts en route at selected spots. Arrive
Pemayangtse in the evening. O/N Hotel.
Day 09: Pelling offers the spectacular
views of Eastern Himalayas. To-day we bird for the full
day in the adjoining areas including visit to Pemayangtse
and Sangacholing Monasteries. Birds we are likely to see
are : Mountain Hawk Eagle, Black Eagle, Himalayan Griffon,
Indian Cuckoo, White throated Needletail,Great Barbet,
Grey headed and Bay Woodpecker, Lesser Yellow nape, Grey
Treepie, Striated Bulbul, Rufous capped and black chinned
Babbler, Hoary throated and Rusty fronted Barwing, Striated,Grey
sided and Greater Necklaced Laughing thrush, etc.
Day 10: Pelling to Khicheparli Lake,
1980 mtrs - Yuksom, 1780 mtrs. Drive to Khichepalri lake
for birding. Some of the best birds are migrant ducks,
black necked grebe, Baer's pochard, Speckled wood pigeon,
Emerald Cuckoo, Blue winged and Scaly Laughing thrush,
whitenaped Yuhina and many of the birds at Pelling. We
continue to Yuksom in the afternoon, check in at the hotel
and take a stroll in the evening.
Day 12: Yuksom: We spend the day birding
around Yuksom. Some of the birds you are likely to see
are : Mountain Hawk Eagle, Crimson breasted Woodpecker,
Maroon Oriole, Short billed and Grey chinned Mine vets,
Bulbul, Mina, White napped Yakima, various Thrushes, Grey
winged blackbird, various Tits, various Nuthatch and various
songbirds and bush cats.
Day 13: Transfer to Bhadrapur (170 kms,
6 hrs drive) for exit flight.
