S/03: 14 days Lava, Singelila National Park, Darjeeling & Mahananda Birding Circuit
Featuring Mahananda WLS, Lava Forests, Singelila National Park & Darjeeling
Includes 06 days trekking up to 3600 meters elevation

Day 01: Fly to Bagdogra. Transfer to Siliguri.

Arrive by air from Delhi, Kolkotta, or Guwahati. Met by your guide and transffered to hotel at Siliguri. Time permitting take a short drive to Mahananda Wild Life Sanctuary for birding. Overnight at hotel

Day 02: Siliguri-Mahananda WLS - Siliguri

Full days birding at Mahananda WLS. Overnight in hotel at Siliguri.

Located just outside Siliguri astride the Mahananda river, this sanctuary is well known for its large population of Elephants. As a result it has not yet been explored by birders. T he deciduous forests and riverine belt provides habitat for a rich variety of birds in the sanctuary, A hours birding foray restricted to the fringes of the sanctuary, revealed that the forests were teeming with bird life. Some of the birds we saw: Lesser Adjutant, Red Naped Ibis, Black Baza, Besra, Greater Coucal, Large Cuckoo Shrike, Black hooded Oriole, Indian roller, Green billed Malkhoa, Red Jungle Fowl, Indian Grey Hornbill,  Himalayan Griffon, Jungle and Asian Barred owlet, various Bee eaters, Egret, Common Hill Myna. We are sure to see many more species.

Day 03 - Day 06: Kalimpong - Lava - Kalimpong
Basing ourselves at Kalimpong for 04 days, we will make daily trips to Lava Forests, Rushet Forests, and Neora Forests, visiting identified hot spots.

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Lava is the prime birding destination in this region,  It is a small bazaar 0nce a halting place for caravans on the trade routes to Bhutan and Sikkim. It is now a rather ugly forest Village with a Buddhist Monastery amidst a sea of evergreen forests at an elevation of 2100 m. Surrounded by very large tracts of protected forests ranging in elevation between 1600 and 2400 m, it includes the remote and uninhabited Neora National Park, and it is a bird watcher's delight.There are several sites for bird watching and photography around Lava and the adjoining Neora National Park.The forests have rough roads and walking trails. Birding is feasible from the main roads, however for deeper entry, forest department permission and a guide is required.. Birds recorded during our first tour to Lava are:- Bar headed Goose, Crested Serpent Eagle, Crested Goshawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Eurasian Buzzard, Black Eagle, Mountain HawkEagle, Kalij Pheasant, Oriental Turtle Dove, Spotted Dove, Barred Cuckoo Dove, Large Hawk Cuckoo, Common Cuckoo, Oriental Cuckoo, Greenbilled Malkoha,  Greater Coucal, Brown Wood Owl,  Asian Barred Owlet, Himalayan Swiftlet, Great Barbet, Golden throated Barbet, Grey capped Woodpecker, Greater Yellownape, Barn Swallow, Grey Wagtail, Olive backed Pipit, Black winged Cuckoo Shrike, Short billed Minivet, Striated Bulbul, White cheeked Bulbul, Red vented Bulbul, Black Bulbul, Maroon backed Accentor, Chestnut bellied Rock Thrush, Blue Whistling Thrush, Plain backed Thrush, Grey winged Blackbird, Grey sided Thrush, Dark throated Thrush, Grey bellied Tesia, Brownish flanked Bush Warbler, Aberrant Bush Warbler, Tickell’s Leaf Warbler, Buff barred Warbler, Ashy throated Warbler, Greenish Warbler, Blyth’s Leaf Warbler, Golden spectacled Warbler, Grey hooded Warbler, Grey cheeked Warbler, Chestnut crowned Warbler, Black faced Warbler, Broad billed Warbler, Siberian Flycatcher, Rufous gorgeted Flycatcher, Snowy browed Flycatcher, Whitegorgeted Flycatcher, Little Pied Flycatcher, Slaty blue Flycatcher, Sapphire Flycatcher, Verditer Flycatcher, Large Niltava, Rufous bellied Niltava, Grey‑headed Canary Flycatcher, Red flanked Bluetail, Rufous breasted Bush Robin, Blue fronted Redstart, White capped Redstart, Plumbeous Redstart, Little Forktail, Spotted Forktail, Common Stonechat, Grey Bushchat, Yellow bellied Fantail, White throated Fantail, White throated Laughingthrush, Striated Laughingthrush, Grey‑sided Laughing Thrush, Scaly Laughingthrush, Blue winged Laughingthrush,  Chestnut crowned Laughingthrush, Red faced Liocichla, Spot breasted Scimitar Babbler, Rusty cheeked Scimitar Babbler, White browed Scimitar Babbler, Long billed Wren Babbler, Rufous throated Scimitar Babbler, Spotted Wren Babbler, Rufous capped Babbler, Golden Babbler, Grey throated Babbler, Silver eared Mesia, Red billed Leiothrix, Black headed Shrike Babbler, White browed Shrike Babbler, Black eared Shrike Babbler, Rusty fronted Barwing, Hoary throated Barwing, Blue winged Minla, Chestnut tailed Minla, Red tailed Minla, Yellow throated Fulvetta, Rufous winged Fulvetta, White browed Fulvetta, Nepal Fulvetta, Rufous Sibia, White naped Yuhina, Whiskered Yuhina, Stripe throated Yuhina, Rufous vented Yuhina, Black throated Tit, Black browed Tit, Coal Tit, Green backed Tit, Yellow cheeked Tit, Yellow browed Tit, White tailed Nuthatch, Eurasian Treecreeper, Rusty flanked Treecreeper, Brown throated Treecreeper, Green tailed Sunbird, Fire tailed Sunbird, Little Spiderhunter, Bay backed Shrike, Long tailed Shrike, Ashy Drongo, Hair crested Drongo , Green Magpie, Grey Treepie, House Crow, Large billed Crow, Common Myna, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, White rumped Munia, Plain Mountain Finch, Crimson browed Finch, Dark breasted Rosefinch, Dark rumped Rosefinch, Tibetan Serin, Brown Bullfinch, Red headed Bullfinch, Gold Naped Finch, Little Bunting. Other birds that can be seen: Hill Partridge, Rufous throated Partridge, Satyr Tragopan, Wedge tailed Green Pigeon, Speckled Wood Pigeon, Ashy Wood Pigeon, Emerald Dove, Lesser Cuckoo, Mountain Scops Owl, Fork Tailed Swift, Ward's Trogon, Great Hornbill, White browed Piculet, Crimson breasted Woodpecker, Lesser Yellownape, Long tailed Broadbill, Mountain Bulbul, Orange bellied Leafbird, Long billed Thrush, Chestnut Thrush, Eyebrowed Thrush, Dusky Thrush, Rusty bellied Shortwing, Gould’s Shortwing, Lesser Shortwing, White browed Shortwing, Chestnut headed Tesia, Slat bellied Tesia, Russet Bush Warbler, White spectacled Warbler, Pygmy Blue Flycatcher, Golden Bush Robin, White browed Bush Robin, Blue fronted Robin, Spotted Laughingthrush, Coral billed Scimitar Babbler, Scaly breasted Wren Babbler, Cutia, Golden breasted Fulvetta, Fire tailed Myzornis, Black Throated Sunbird, Streaked Spiderhunter, Fire breasted Flowerpecker, Maroon Oriole, Common Rosefinch, Red Crossbill.

Day 07: Kalimpong-Manaybhanjan-  Megna, 2900 m
We set off at dawn by jeep, on a 62 kms ,three hour drive through rolling tea gardens and small bazaars to the village of Maneybhanjang. At 2134 meters, this is the end of the tarmac road and the start of a 1500 meter climb up on to the Singalila Ridge. After a quick breakfast, we continue drive up to Chitre, 2800 m along a very steep and rough trail of 02 kms. which follows a bare spur with degraded habitat. Start trek to Meghma. We walk along a undulating ridge with a gentle climb to Meghma, 2900 m for 07 Kms. We start birding the last 04 kms through evergreen forests. The trekking time without birding is 02 hrs. Overnight in lodge/camp.

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The Sandakphu Ridge is located on the southern end of the Singelila Range at an elevation of 3600 m. It provides good birding in Bamboo, Oak and Rhododendron forests between 2000 and 3000 m elevation. The best species recorded are:Cinereous and Himalayan Vulture, Blood Pheasant, Satyr Tragopan, Hill Partridge, Collared Pygmy Owlet, Rufous-bellied, Crimson-breasted & Darjeeling Woodpecker, Spotted Nutcracker, Yellow-billed Blue Magpie, Streak-breasted & Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler, Brown & Black-throated Parrotbill, Red-capped Babbler, Black-faced, Spotted and Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, Green Shrike-Babbler, Whiskered, Stripe-throated & Rufous-vented Yuhina, White-browed & Orange-flanked Bush Robin, White-browed & Rufous-winged Fulvetta, Grey-sided Bush Warbler, Ashy-throated, Buff-barred, Blyth’s & Lemon-rumped Warbler, Blue-fronted Redstart, Little Forktail, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush, White-collared Blackbird, Plain-backed Thrush, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Green-backed, Grey-crested, Rufous-vented, Rufous-fronted & Yellow-browed Tit, White-tailed Nuthatch, Nepal Treecreeper, Hoary-throated Barwing, Plain Mountain Finch, White-winged Grosbeak, Dark-breasted & White-browed Rosefinch. There is also the attraction of breathtaking views of KhangchenDzonga, and glimpses on Mount Everest, apart from the delightful forests. 

Day 08: Birding trek Meghma, 2900- Tonglu, 3070 – Garibas, 2621 m
Trek along a jeep track through Oak and Rhododendrons, for 10 Kms. We will climb first to Tonglu, 3070 m .(02 kms in 45 minutes)- taking time off for some spectacular sunrise views. Now we walk fairly level up to Tumling and then go downhill through the Singelila National Park birding for 06 Kms. Trekking time without birding is 03 hrs. Overnight at trekkers hut/camp.

Day 09: Garibas - Kalpokhri - Garibas birding trek.
Today we will spend the day birding the surrounding forests and going upto Kalpokhri ( 04 kms). There are several hot spots, and this is likely to be perhaps the most productive day. Overnight at Garibas trekkers hut/camp.

Day 10: Birding Trek Garibas, 2621 m-Kalpokhri, 3108 m – Sandakphu 3636 m
Starting at dawn, trek for 10 Kms along a grueling steep track. We will repeat birding in the Kalpokhri area for about 04 hrs, and then take the punishing climb to Sandakphu. The trekking time without birding is 04 hrs. Overnight at trekkers huts / camp.

Day 11: Sandakphu birding walk
Get up early for breathtaking views of the Khangchendzonga  and Everest group of peaks, at sunrise Latter we spend the day birding along selec ted tracks and trails along the Singelila Ridge line. Overnight at Sandakphu trekkers hut/camp.

Day 12: Birding trek Sandakphu, 3636 m- Gortum, 2775 m
Today in the morning we repeat birding around Sandakphu. In the afternoon trek down to Gortum , 2775 m through deep forests for overnight at a family lodge

Day 13: Birding Trek Gortum – Srikhola 1800 m – Rimbik, 2286 m - Drive to Darjeeling, 2143 m

Trek steeply down hill to Srikhola for birding in the Sri Khola Valley, Continue to Rimbik  In the afternoon we drive from  Rimbik  to Darjeeling. 66 kms in 4 hrs. Check in at  hotel for overnight stay.

Day 14: Darjeeling
Birding at Tiger Hill, Botanical gardens, and Zoological Park. Overnight at hotel

Day 14: Darjeeling-Bagdogra
Drive to Bagdogra airport in 03 hrs to board you departure flight. TOUR ENDS.

NOTE: Bird sightings depend greatly on season, timing, and patience. Sightings mentioned in the itinerary are only a guide and can not be guaranteed.

Tour Cost: on request

The cost includes  accommodation on full board, transport and a birding guide.

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