Tour: The Kumaon Essentials
Places Visited
Delhi, Nainital, Marchula (Corbett), Dhela (Corbett)
Species in Focus – Tiger, Leopard, Wild Elephant, Civets, Fishing Cat, Hog Deer, Yellow Throated Marten. Bengal Monitor etc.
The bird list goesCommon Flameback Woodpecker, Indian Tree Pies, Blue Whistling-Thrush, Lammergeier, Himalayan Griffon, Crested Serpent Eagle, Flycatchers, Cheer Pheasants, Kalij Pheasant, Koklas Pheasants, Dollarbird, Leaf Birds, Flowerpecker, Purple Sunbird, Brown Headed Stork-Billed Kingfisher, Stork-Billed Kingfisher, Crested Kingfisher, White-Throated Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, Blue-Eared Kingfisher, Himalayan Kingfisher, Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird, Green-Tailed Sunbird, Black-Throated Sunbird, Black-Breasted Sunbird, Crimson Sunbird, Fire-Tailed Sunbird, Thick-Billed Flowerpecker, Plain-Leaf Flowerpecker, Fire-Breasted Flowerpecker, Russet Sparrow, Rufous Babbler, Black-Headed Jay, Scaly-Breasted Wren-Babbler, Black-Capped Sibia, Blue Whistling Thrush, Finches, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Black Eagle, Eurasian Jay, White-Rumped Needletail, Black-Headed Jay, Black-Lored, Black-Throated Tits, Black Bulbul, Ashy-Throated Warblers, Black-Chinned Babbler, Rufous-Breasted Accentor, Red-Billed Blue Magpie, Grey-Winged Blackbird, Eurasian Griffon, Common Buzzard, Black-Chinned Babbler, Pink-Browed Rosefinch, Common Wood Pigeon, Slaty-Headed Parakeet, Laughingthrush, Chestnut-Tailed Minla, Lemon-Rumped Warblers, And Many More.
Price Includes
✔ Accommodation (12 nights) in amazing Lodges/ Hotels.
✔ Meal Plan – Delhi – Bed & Breakfast- Rest of places on full board.
✔ All transportation by air-conditioned chauffeur driven vehicle.
✔ All entrances fee and guide during sightseeing.
✔ 5 private Game drives in Corbett NP.
✔ All Birding walks & trails as mentioned in the itinerary including Naturalists.
✔ Specialist naturalists and park fee during game drives in national parks.
✔ All currently applicable taxes. (Subject to change)
✔ Meal Plan – Delhi – Bed & Breakfast- Rest of places on full board.
✔ All transportation by air-conditioned chauffeur driven vehicle.
✔ All entrances fee and guide during sightseeing.
✔ 5 private Game drives in Corbett NP.
✔ All Birding walks & trails as mentioned in the itinerary including Naturalists.
✔ Specialist naturalists and park fee during game drives in national parks.
✔ All currently applicable taxes. (Subject to change)
Day 1 – Arrive Delhi
Arrive Delhi and you will be met by Mysteries of India representative and transferred to hotel. Overnight in Delhi.
Overnight at hotel.
The Claridges
The Imperial
The Oberoi
JW Marriott
Overnight at hotel.
Accommodation Options
The Claridges
The Imperial
The Oberoi
JW Marriott
Day 2 – Delhi
Today you start your day with Sightseeing of Old and New Delhi.Visit Humayun’s Tomb, Qutab Minar, Red Fort, Jama Masjid (Mosque), Chandni Chowk (Moonlight Square) and its nearby markets, India Gate and drive past the Presidents Palace and Parliament.
Overnight at hotel.
The Claridges
The Imperial
The Oberoi
JW Marriott
Overnight at hotel.
Accommodation Options
The Claridges
The Imperial
The Oberoi
JW Marriott
Day 3 – Delhi to Nainital
Drive to Nainital. At an elevation of roughly 2,000m. Formerly a British hill station Nainital is a glittering jewel in the Himalayan necklace, blessed with scenic natural splendour and varied natural resources . Dotted with lakes and forest around that makes it a perfect abode for birds and other wildlife in the region.
AbbotsFord
Here you will stay at charming heritage home called Abbotsford. Abbotsford Prasada Bhawan a little nook in the woods that time left unmolested. Even for 145 years. While the rest of the town has marched on and bowed to the dictates of commerce, burgeoning populations and livelihoods, this proud little estate still stands as a sentinel of a bygone era, a relic of simpler, pristine times.
Rest of the day at leisure or bird spotting around home as Abbotsford is the home for about 20 species of birds.
Overnight at hotel.
Accommodation Options
AbbotsFord
Day 4 – Nainital
Morning Birding Walk from Abbotsford via Cheena Chungi to Pangot – 4-5 hours
Follow the ancient uphill stone road above Abbotsford to Cheena Chungi, make your way into thick deodar forests and enjoy the topography, smell and sounds of the Kumaon forests. This is a birding paradise with more than 200 species of birds coming your way so keep those binoculars ready. Along the way our naturalist and birding guide will answer all your queries and tell you about the rare bits that the forest has to offer. Reach Pangot/Kilbury for lunch – view the Himalayan ranges and return to Abbotsford by car.
Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight at hotel.
AbbotsFord
Follow the ancient uphill stone road above Abbotsford to Cheena Chungi, make your way into thick deodar forests and enjoy the topography, smell and sounds of the Kumaon forests. This is a birding paradise with more than 200 species of birds coming your way so keep those binoculars ready. Along the way our naturalist and birding guide will answer all your queries and tell you about the rare bits that the forest has to offer. Reach Pangot/Kilbury for lunch – view the Himalayan ranges and return to Abbotsford by car.
Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight at hotel.
Accommodation Options
AbbotsFord
Day 5 – Nainital
Morning proceed for Abbotsford Heritage Walk.
Duration: Half a day ending with Lunch
Discovered in 1841 by a British officer who was a keen trekker, Nainital, is replete with its hidden gems that herald back to the time of yore. Explore the history of Nainital with Abbotsford. A heritage walk that gives you glimpses of the colonial Nainital, its architecture, local markets and popular restaurants.
Rest of day at leisure.
Overnight at hotel.
AbbotsFord
Duration: Half a day ending with Lunch
Discovered in 1841 by a British officer who was a keen trekker, Nainital, is replete with its hidden gems that herald back to the time of yore. Explore the history of Nainital with Abbotsford. A heritage walk that gives you glimpses of the colonial Nainital, its architecture, local markets and popular restaurants.
Rest of day at leisure.
Overnight at hotel.
Accommodation Options
AbbotsFord
Day 6 – Nainital to Marchula (Corbett) – Vanghat
Morning drive to Marchula in Ramganga Valley. Once you arrive at the suspension bridge you will be greeted by guide and porter who will guide you to Vanghat.
This 1.8 kilometers walk over the Ramganga suspension bridge and then through the sleepy village of Baluli and riverine forest is an excellent introduction to the valley, and can prove to be the most personally satisfying way of reaching the Lodge. At the end is trail a bamboo raft ferries you to remote Vanghat.
Check in at Lodge.
Evening by campfire for soup & beverages followed by dinner.
Overnight in hotel
Vanghat
Jims Jungle Retreat
This 1.8 kilometers walk over the Ramganga suspension bridge and then through the sleepy village of Baluli and riverine forest is an excellent introduction to the valley, and can prove to be the most personally satisfying way of reaching the Lodge. At the end is trail a bamboo raft ferries you to remote Vanghat.
Check in at Lodge.
Evening by campfire for soup & beverages followed by dinner.
Overnight in hotel
Accommodation Options
Vanghat
Jims Jungle Retreat
Day 7 – Marchula (Corbett)
Water Fall Trail – 1.5 km. Early tea/ coffee at the Hide, in dining thatch, followed by safety briefing.
Few forest walks will be more beautiful than this one hence we named it after one of Uttarakhandsfavorite forest authors. We cross over the Ramganga over a bamboo raft and after the initial 100 meters of steep walk along an Elephant trail (yes it’s amazing to realize that the Asian Elephant is such a hill animal). This forest hike goes up on the plateau of the abandoned Barasi village where we regularly spot Leaf Birds, Crimson Sunbird, Long tailed Minivets, Chestnut Bellied Rockthrush, Maroon and Black Hooded Oriole and often in the bushes Sambhar, Barking and locally rare Spotted Deer.
Late Afternoon trek – Great Hornbill trail – 2km, Gradient – Steep walk
This somewhat steep trail is amidst Sal forest and offers a marvelous view of the meandering Ramganga. Common green Magpie, Red billed blue Magpie, Long tailed Broadbill are often sighted here. It’s a wonderful sight to encounter Great Hornbills here since we are at a vantage point, so heavily built are these birds that one can hear their wings flapping when they fly over the forest.
Today our guide will give you a wildlife presentation over campfire whilst your relish hot soup and & beverages followed by dinner.
Overnight in hotel
Vanghat
Jims Jungle Retreat
Few forest walks will be more beautiful than this one hence we named it after one of Uttarakhandsfavorite forest authors. We cross over the Ramganga over a bamboo raft and after the initial 100 meters of steep walk along an Elephant trail (yes it’s amazing to realize that the Asian Elephant is such a hill animal). This forest hike goes up on the plateau of the abandoned Barasi village where we regularly spot Leaf Birds, Crimson Sunbird, Long tailed Minivets, Chestnut Bellied Rockthrush, Maroon and Black Hooded Oriole and often in the bushes Sambhar, Barking and locally rare Spotted Deer.
Late Afternoon trek – Great Hornbill trail – 2km, Gradient – Steep walk
This somewhat steep trail is amidst Sal forest and offers a marvelous view of the meandering Ramganga. Common green Magpie, Red billed blue Magpie, Long tailed Broadbill are often sighted here. It’s a wonderful sight to encounter Great Hornbills here since we are at a vantage point, so heavily built are these birds that one can hear their wings flapping when they fly over the forest.
Today our guide will give you a wildlife presentation over campfire whilst your relish hot soup and & beverages followed by dinner.
Overnight in hotel
Accommodation Options
Vanghat
Jims Jungle Retreat
Day 8 – Marchula (Corbett)
Champion trail – 1.5 km
Birdlife –We continue our exploration of the bird habitats surrounding the lodge. Brown Dippers and the Little Forktail breed close by and the beautiful Wallcreeper is regularly sighted. White-capped and Plumbeous Water Redstarts and wagtails are common in winter. River Lapwings and Common Sandpiper are seen along with Ruddy Shelduck and sometimes Black Storks.
Probing higher treeless ridges may reveal Mountain Hawk Eagle, Himalayan Griffon, and Red-headed Vultures, and often in the same party… Lammergeyer!
Return back to lodge for breakfast.
Evening trek – Riverside trek – 2km, Gradient – Easy.
Most of this hike is amidst a broad trail cut amidst grassland habitats and bushes rich in edible berries of Ber and lantana are home to astonishing flocks of Slaty headed, plum headed rose breasted Parakeets, Bluethroated, Coppersmith, Lineated and Great Barbets, Red whiskered, Himalayan & Black Crested Bulbuls. Grassland and will have Humes, Grey headed and chestnut headed, puff throated Warbler, Grey breasted Ashy and striated Prinia. Woodpeckers are fulvous breasted, grey capped pigmy, and grey headed, lesser yellow nape and greater Yellownape. The fascination tiny Collared Falconet is often seen hunting down birds as big as themselves and bigger. Grasslands resound with constant calls of White Crested Laughing thrushes and the often heard but shy Rusty cheeked Scimitar Babbler. The riverine ecosystem of the Ramganga is incredibly rich and boasts of rare but locally common species like Lesser & Pallas’s fish eagle, Mountain Hawk Eagle. Altitudinal migrant that the valley eagerly awaits post monsoon are little and Spotted Forktails, Brown Dipper and the magical Wall creeper
Wildlife presentation over campfire whilst your relish hot soup and & beverages followed by dinner.
Overnight in hotel
Vanghat
Jims Jungle Retreat
Birdlife –We continue our exploration of the bird habitats surrounding the lodge. Brown Dippers and the Little Forktail breed close by and the beautiful Wallcreeper is regularly sighted. White-capped and Plumbeous Water Redstarts and wagtails are common in winter. River Lapwings and Common Sandpiper are seen along with Ruddy Shelduck and sometimes Black Storks.
Probing higher treeless ridges may reveal Mountain Hawk Eagle, Himalayan Griffon, and Red-headed Vultures, and often in the same party… Lammergeyer!
Return back to lodge for breakfast.
Evening trek – Riverside trek – 2km, Gradient – Easy.
Most of this hike is amidst a broad trail cut amidst grassland habitats and bushes rich in edible berries of Ber and lantana are home to astonishing flocks of Slaty headed, plum headed rose breasted Parakeets, Bluethroated, Coppersmith, Lineated and Great Barbets, Red whiskered, Himalayan & Black Crested Bulbuls. Grassland and will have Humes, Grey headed and chestnut headed, puff throated Warbler, Grey breasted Ashy and striated Prinia. Woodpeckers are fulvous breasted, grey capped pigmy, and grey headed, lesser yellow nape and greater Yellownape. The fascination tiny Collared Falconet is often seen hunting down birds as big as themselves and bigger. Grasslands resound with constant calls of White Crested Laughing thrushes and the often heard but shy Rusty cheeked Scimitar Babbler. The riverine ecosystem of the Ramganga is incredibly rich and boasts of rare but locally common species like Lesser & Pallas’s fish eagle, Mountain Hawk Eagle. Altitudinal migrant that the valley eagerly awaits post monsoon are little and Spotted Forktails, Brown Dipper and the magical Wall creeper
Wildlife presentation over campfire whilst your relish hot soup and & beverages followed by dinner.
Overnight in hotel
Accommodation Options
Vanghat
Jims Jungle Retreat
Day 9 – Marchula to Dhela (Corbett)
Morning trek around Vanghat before departure – 2 – 3 km. Gradient – Easy.
An easy trail around Vanghat takes us into a rich Broad-leafed Moist forest and runs for about 750 meters amidst towering broad-leafed trees of Jamun (Syzygiumcumini) Tun (Toona sinensis) Sal (Shorearobusta) Rohini (Mallotusphilippensis), Kanju (Pongamia pinnata) etc. Numerous skulking species such as Chestnut headed Tesias, Blue winged Minla/ Siva, Red billed Leiothrix, Common Green & Red billed blue Magpies, Tawny & Brown fish Owl, Black chinned Babbler, Himalayan Blue Tailed, White Throated, Redbreasted, Slaty Blue, Little Pied Yellow bellied Fly catcher etc.
Jims Jungle Retreat
Vanghat
An easy trail around Vanghat takes us into a rich Broad-leafed Moist forest and runs for about 750 meters amidst towering broad-leafed trees of Jamun (Syzygiumcumini) Tun (Toona sinensis) Sal (Shorearobusta) Rohini (Mallotusphilippensis), Kanju (Pongamia pinnata) etc. Numerous skulking species such as Chestnut headed Tesias, Blue winged Minla/ Siva, Red billed Leiothrix, Common Green & Red billed blue Magpies, Tawny & Brown fish Owl, Black chinned Babbler, Himalayan Blue Tailed, White Throated, Redbreasted, Slaty Blue, Little Pied Yellow bellied Fly catcher etc.
After hot breakfast drive to Dhela (Corbett)
Corbett – Named after Jim Corbett, the legendary hunter naturalist, Corbett National Park was originally established in 1936, as Hailey National Park. It was later named Raganga National Park, before getting its present name in 1967. This is India’s first National Park and one of her finest wildlife sanctuaries. The park stretches over an area of 1300 sq. km (503 sq. miles) in the Himalayan foothills with open grasslands, sal and riverine forest and the beautiful life – giving Ramganagar River that flows through almost its entire length.
Over 50 mammal, 580 bird and 25 reptile species have been listed in Corbett, but it is most famous for the Royal Bengal Tiger. The very successful project Tiger of the World Wide fund for nature was first launched in this park.
Arrive and check in at hotel.
Afternoon Game drive in the park.
Lunch and Dinner at The Retreat
Overnight at hotel.
Accommodation Options
Jims Jungle Retreat
Vanghat
Day 10 & 11 Dhela (Corbett)
Morning & Evening game drives in the park in search of Tigers, Wild Elephants, Leopards, Sloth Bears, Jackals and of course plenty of birds.
Overnight at hotel.
Jims Jungle Retreat
Vanghat
Overnight at hotel.
Accommodation Options
Jims Jungle Retreat
Vanghat
Day – 12 Dhela (Corbett) to Delhi
Morning drive to Delhi. Check in at hotel.
Overnight at hotel.
Novotel Aerocity
The Imperial
The Oberoi
JW Marriott
Overnight at hotel.
Accommodation Options
Novotel Aerocity
The Imperial
The Oberoi
JW Marriott
