Wild Walk Tours
Himalayan Birding
Sattal or Sat Tal, in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand, derives its name from seven interconnected freshwater lakes. At an altitude of around 1,370m, Sattal lies in the Lower Himalayan Range, nestled amidst forests of pine and oak. It is famous for its rich biodiversity. The region is home to 500 species of resident and migratory birds, over 500 species of butterflies, and a variety of moths, beetles, bugs, and other insects.
Chopta, in the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary of the Garhwal Himalayas, is fast becoming a birdwatching hotspot in India. With fantastic landscapes, a mix of pine and deodar forest with rhododendrons, amidst lush ‘bugyals’ or grassy meadows, it is probably the best and most easily accessible place in India to see the stunning ‘nine-colored’ state bird of Uttarakhand, the Himalayan Monal, as well as other birds like Kalij and Koklass Pheasants, to the delightful Brown Dipper, nuthatches, and laughing thrushes. Chopta is an amazing place for wildlife lovers, birdwatchers, and photographers alike.
Itinerary
Day 1
The trip Starts from Delhi. It takes around 6 to 7 Hours to reach Sattal. Check in to your Hotel and the rest of the day is free and relaxed. Only Dinner Included.
Day 2
We start our Birding at Sattal and we spent the entire day at Various Birding Locations in Sattal. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Included.
Day 3
Early Morning Birding at Sattal. Post Brunch we head to Chanfi. Evening we drive to Pangot. Overnight at Pangot. Brunch and Dinner Included.
Day 4
From Sat Tal, we head further north into the Himalayas for some more spectacular birding. We have a long but beautiful drive ahead, interrupted by a few bird stops, to reach Mandal, just outside the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary.
Day 5
Mandal : Birding in Chopta is quite dependent on the weather. Heavy snowfall in the higher altitudes means birds will be forced to the lower levels around Mandal. An interesting option would be to take a long, but relatively easy, trek to a rock bee colony that is often frequented by Yellow-rumped Honeyguide.
Day 6
Mandal to Chopta : An interesting thing about birding in the himalayas is that bird communities change with altitude. As we travel to the higher regions, this becomes quite evident and we will soon find a very different mix of species.
Day 7
Chopta: Today, we will take an easy, but steep, trek to the Tungnath Temple (3,700 m). Although the path is also frequented by pilgrims and other trekkers, we should get sight of some interesting birds.
Day 8
Chota to Makku Math : We will continue westward, and spend some time birding in another area which tends to have the greatest diversity of birds.
Day 9
Makku Math to Dehradun : From our camp at Chopta, we head to the Doon Valley, and the luxury of Walterre. As usual, there is plenty of birding en-route, and, if lucky, we may have a chance of encountering Spectacled Finch, an occasional winter migrant to this area.
Day 10
Onwards to New Delhi : After our days of treks and climbs, we will spend time doing some leisurely birding today before we head back to Delhi.
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This trip can be broken down as two individual trips,
3Nights 4 Days Sattal only and
6Nights 7 Days Chopta.
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All our tours are curated with the minutest of details with the objective of giving our guests a rich travel experience. We partner with the best and most comfortable properties for accommodations. From Budget Accommodation to Luxury Cottages, we cater to all requirements.
Most Importantly our tours include the services of the Expert Birding Guide present throughout the trip.
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Weather you are a Solo Traveler or If you wish to travel in a group along with like-minded travelers, or even conduct a group of your own, we cater to all.