The extremely arid area west of the Aravalli hill range, comprising both the salt desert of Gujarat and the sand desert of Rajasthan covers 6.9 % of the country’s landmass. The Thar Desert is one of the smallest deserts in the world, but it has a wide variety of habitats and biodiversity. Some 250 to 300 species of birds have been reported from this area. Some of the important species to be seen are highly endangered Great Indian Bustard, the migrant Houbara Bustard, various species of Sandgrouse, raptors, wheatears, larks, pipits & munias. Rann of Kutch acts as important breeding ground for both Greater and Lesser Flamingo’s.
Delhi – Jaipur -Sambhar Lake – Phalodi – Jaisalmer – Jodhpur – Zainabad – Gondal – Gir – Diu
15 nights / 16 days
To view animals in wild habitat Indian Nature Tours uses transport, ranging from elephants, quite often jeeps, canters, variety of boats and rickshaws are very interesting. Thus, the visitors get to see these rare fauna from close quarters in their own surroundings. It is just not about visiting National Parks in India, it is about being there at the right time, with the right people, to know in advance what to expect, to be looked after well in a strange land, and to take back home memories bag full, is like traveling with Indian Nature Tours.
Arrive Delhi late in night and transfer to hotel for overnight stay.
Morning start the city tour of Delhi covering both Old and New Delhi.
Morning leave for Jaipur (4 hrs) on way visit Amer Fort. Later transfer to hotel. Afternoon tour of Jaipur visiting the City Palace, The Observatory, The Palace of Winds etc. Overnight at the hotel.
Morning leave for Sambhar Lake Lake – birding at Sambhar Lake, the biggest Salt lake in India We may be able to see many varieties of Water birds like –
Flamingos, Coots, Pelicans, Spoonbills, Whistling teals, Mallavds, Pochards, Shovellers, Cormorants, Snake birds, Pintails, Pochards, wadders, dabchick etc and many land birds like- Indian Roller, Tailor birds, Kingfisher, Buntings, Chat, Minivets, Tits, Sunbird, Dove,Grey Partridge, Bee-eaters, Common Cranes, Domoiselle Cranes etc. Late afternoon leave for Phalodi. On arrival transfer to the palace hotel for overnight stay.
We will spend early morning and evening looking Domoiselle Cranes that come to feed outside the village. Overnight at the hotel.
Morning drive to Jaisalmer enroute brief stops for birding. On arrival transfer to hotel. Evening visit Sam for sun set view at the Sand Dunes.
Full day excursion of Desert National Park:Desert National Park is located 27 miles west of Jaisalmer contains a number of species of fauna and flora, quite remarkable to Desert region. In fact much of this 1280-square mile park consists of rolling sand dunes with its own characteristic trees and flower. In its arid grasslands you can see chinkara, blackbuck, nilgai, wolf and desert cat. There is also wide range of birdlife including spotted eagle, kestrel, lanner falcon, sand grouse, desert courser and great Indian Bustard. Overnight at hotel.
Morning leave for Jodhpur enroute stoppages for birding. Afternoon city tour of Jodhpur visiting the impressive Mehrangarh Fort and the royal Cenotaphs. Overnight at the hotel.
Morning excursion to the Bishoni Villages to see Blackbuck Antelope and Chinkara (Indian Gazelle) and some other desert Birds while waiting at Waterholes.
Overnight at the hotel.
Morning drive to Zainabad. Arrive late evening at the Rann to stay at Desert Coursers Camp- a rustic property located next to a village lake.
Full day birding at the Rann of Kutch Sanctuary. Typical birds to be seen at the Rann are Lesser Flamingoes, the Greater Flamingoes, White Pelicans, the Dalmatian Pelicans, Small Pratincoles, Temminck’s Stints, Greater Spotted Eagle. Evening watch Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse at waterholes. Lucky few can spot the elusive Macqueen’s Bustard and Indian Courser. Other rare and endangered animal to be seen is the Wild Ass also known as Gudkhars in the local language and Indian gazelle, wolf, jackal, Indian and desert foxes, desert and jungle cat.
Another day at Zainabad looking for birds not seen on the first day. In a walk next to the lake the typical birds which can be seen are Blyth’s Reed, Bluethroats, Temminck’s Stint, Shoveler, Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper and a Citrine Wagtail. In the cotton field a slight distance away one can watch Montagu’s Harrier flying over the fields. Afternoon excursion in the Rann can be rewarding by the sights of Nilgai, Wild Ass, Hoopoe, Pied Kingfisher. In the creeks numbers of White Pelicans, Painted Storks, Spoonbills, Teals, Shoveler and occasional Shelduck, In the scrubs Rufous-tailed and Greater Short-toed Larks. Overnight at the camp.
Morning drive to Gondal. The stay will be at the Royal Palace. Afternoon birding at the grassland and lakes surrounding the royal palace.
O/n at 11 room Riverside Palace or 7 room Orchard Palace.
Morning drive to Gir ( 3-4 hrs). On arrival transfer to the Gir Lodge. Afternoon excursion in the Gir National Park the abode of the Asiatic lion,Leopard, sambar, spotted deer, blue bull, 4-horned antelope, Indian gazelle,etc. Crested hawk eagle, crested serpent eagle, bonneli’s eagle, paradise flycatcher, treepie, blossom headed parakeet, are among the many birds seen.
O/n at The Gir Lodge.
Morning and evening excursions in the Gir National Park. O/n at the lodge.
Morning drive to Diu to take flight to Mumbai. On arrival transfer to the International Airport for flight back home.
