Limosa - Birdwatching and Wildlife Hoildays Worldwide

Flanked by the world’s tallest mountains, the spectacular Himalayan kingdom of Nepal should be on every birdwatcher’s list of places to go! Although entirely land-locked, no other country on earth boasts such an incredible altitudinal range. The result is a bird list that totals well over eight hundred species, with everything from Ibisbill and Emerald Dove to Scaly Thrush and Himalayan Bluetail. Our tour takes in three of the very best wildlife areas of all, offering easy and immensely rewarding birding - without the grind of a mountain trek. It’s a classic itinerary, and a trip that should produce some thrilling Asiatic mammals, too!

We begin and end our tour amidst the moist hill forests of the beautiful Kathmandu Valley. From the slopes of Phulchowki - at 2740m (9,000ft), a mere ‘hill’ by Nepalese standards! - one’s first sight of the mighty Himalaya, soaring high above the clouds to the north, takes a while to sink in... Can they really be mountains out there, above the clouds? At this time of year, the daytime climate will be pleasantly warm, making it an ideal introduction to Asian birding. Rufous Sibia, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch and Yellow-bellied Fantail await and we have chances of scarcer Himalayan specialities such as the shy Kalij Pheasant, Rufous Woodpecker and even Cutia.

From Kathmandu, we descend to Nepal’s lowlands - the Terai - to explore the jungles of Chitwan National Park. In addition to a fantastic diversity of colourful tropical birds, we may encounter the peculiar fish-eating Gharial and a fine array of mammals, including the rare Indian Rhinoceros - which we’ll approach for a thrilling close encounter while riding on elephant-back!

A three-night stay at a comfortable and permanent tented facility beside the splendid Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve completes our tour. Amid the vast expanses of open water, marsh and woodland here we may find the superb Pied Harrier, Ruddy-breasted Crake, and Thick-billed and Smoky Warblers, alongside Swamp Partridge, Lesser Adjutant and other more localized rarities. This is Nepal’s richest wetland site, and it is the sheer number and variety of birds that makes a stay at Koshi so special, with daily tallies of wetland species that can’t fail to impress. Besides, where else can you tuck into breakfast with the prospect of seeing up to four different species of kingfisher as an appetizer?

If you haven’t visited Asia before, then don’t let any unwarranted ‘fear of the unknown’ put you off travelling there. If you haven’t visited Asia before, then don’t let any unwarranted ‘fear of the unknown’ put you off travelling there. Returning for its tenth season, you will find our holiday to Nepal offers a truly wonderful birding and wildlife experience!