Rajasthan & Gujarat Birding & Wildlife Tour
17 Nights/18 Days
New Delhi – Sultanpur – Tal Chappar – Kichan – Jaisalmer – Desert National Park – Jalore – Mount Abu – Little Rann of Kutch – Greater Rann of Kutch – Ahmedabad
Highlight Species
- Cheer Pheasant
- Koklass Pheasant
- Wallcreeper
- Ibisbill
- Sarus Crane
- Bluethroat
- Painted Sandgrouse
- Black Bittern
- Indian Skimmer
- Black Francolin
Overview - Rajasthan & Gujarat Birding & Wildlife Tour
Without a doubt, Rajasthan and Gujarat are the two states that India is most proud of. The region’s endemic and endangered species can be seen while birding in Gujarat and Rajasthan and on a tiger safari tour.
This Birding in Gujarat and Rajasthan tour in India is sure to keep you on the edge when it comes to searching for these feathered beauties, with birds like the Great Indian Bustard, Sarus Crane, Macqueen’s Bustard, and the Demoiselle Crane.
Winter is the ideal season to study migrants as they seek shelter from the cold and find food. Witnessing their sizable congregations will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
On this birding tour in Gujarat and Rajasthan, see birding sanctuaries and national parks in India such the National Chambal Sanctuary and Keoladeo National Park, also known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.
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Detailed Itinerary - Rajasthan & Gujarat Birding & Wildlife Tour
On arrival at the New Delhi airport, you will be met by our representative who will transfer you to your hotel and assist you in check in at the hotel. He will also handover and explain all travel related documents. Overnight stay is at the hotel.
Day 2 : New Delhi – Sultanpur – Tal Chapar (380 km, 08 hrs drive)
Early morning with packed breakfast get transferred to Sultanpur National Park. Our guide will meet you at the gate and proceed for birding at Sultanpur National Park.
The park is centered on a body of water that serves as breeding habitat for most aquatic birds. Delhi features some of India’s most fertile soil. The Yamuna has been dumping alluvial soil from The Great Himalayas in the Delhi flatlands for over a million years. Unfortunately, the city’s recent population surge has turned it into a concrete jungle. However, the outskirts reveal a different narrative. It has a diverse avifauna, with over 300 bird species.
Sultanpur National Park is a birdwatcher’s heaven. Thousands of birds migrate from Central Asia and European countries to India in the winter to avoid the bitter cold. They are looking for a warmer spot to feed. According to a survey conducted by the Delhi state wildlife department, the Sultanpur is home to about 28000 birds throughout the winter. Some of the birds which you get to see in this National Park are the Indian Cormorant, Little Cormorant, Purple Heron, and the other dabbling ducks floating underneath the tree. Some of the birds we saw from the point were Greylag Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, Common Pochard, Spot-billed duck, Northern Shoveler and many more.
Later come out of the National Park and drive towards Tal Chapar 308 km takes around 07 hrs drive. On arrival check in to the Homestay. Dinner and overnight at the homestay in Tal Chapar.
Day 3 : Tal Chapar
Morning and afternoon safari in Tal Chapar. The Tal Chapar (or Tal Chhapar) Wildlife Sanctuary is one of India’s best-kept wildlife photography secrets. The park, which is located on the outskirts of the vast Thar Desert, receives relatively little rainfall each year. As you move closer to the park and travel via road, you’ll come across sand dunes. However, once inside the park’s gates, the environment transforms into a tree-lined avenue that leads to a beautiful meadow.
Grassland birds can be seen in abundance here. The stars of the avians here, Laggar Falcons and Red-necked Falcons dazzle us with their fast-flying speeds. With a spectacular flash of blue, rollers lift off from their perch. With their graceful attitude and movement, Indian Coursers are a treat to watch. Black Francolins, with their magnificent plumage, calls all throughout the park and make appearances on occasion. Starlings in large flocks perform aerobatics. The White-browed Bushchat’s puff-and-roll routine is one of the most spectacular presentations in this grassland.
All Meals and overnight at the lodge in Tal Chappar.
Day 4 : Tal Chappar – Khichan (310 km, 7 hrs drive)
Morning after early breakfast check-out from the lodge and transfer to Khichan 270 km takes around 05 hrs drive. On arrival check-in to the lodge. Afternoon proceed for Annual migration of Demoiselle Crane area.
It takes Demoiselle crane two weeks to complete the approximately 5,000-mile voyage from their breeding grounds in Mongolia and the Caucasus region to Rajasthan and India’s mild winter. They arrive in November and seek refuge in Khichan for over five months.
Demoiselle cranes are the tiniest cranes in the world, and they’re known for their intricate communication systems. They clearly succeeded in making it known that Khichan is a secure sanctuary with a full cuisine. The cranes could be heard for miles as you approached the construction site. Their singing is never-ending, with a deep rasping voice shouting forth a symphony of noises. Moving across the land and listening to different groups can help isolate strains. They will be together for the rest of their lives, and duets and complex ballet-like dance enhance their love. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 5 : Khichan – Jaisalmer (190 km, 4 hrs drive)
Early morning visit Pakshi Chugga Ghar in Khichan for birding. Pakshi Chugga Ghar is a place where birds feed themselves in the Khichan Village. This is a one-of-a-kind occurrence. Though it is embedded in Indian culture and religion to feed grains to birds, the scale at which it is done at Khichan is enormous. Every year, a million Indian rupees worth of grain is divided around the Bird feeding Home. The Home is a 300-square-meter (50-by-60-meter) open-air fenced area on the village’s outskirts where birds can be fed. Demoiselle Cranes visit the Home every day for feeding throughout the migration season.
Later after lunch check-out from the lodge and drive to Jaisalmer and overnight stay at Desert Palace in Jaisalmer.
Day 6 : Jaisalmer – Desert National Park (50 km, 01 hrs drive)
After an early breakfast check out from the hotel and transfer to Dessert National Park. On arrival check-in to the lodge and proceed for a safari to Dessert National Park for Indian Bustard one of the world’s heaviest flying birds. The great Indian bustard, a critically endangered species found only in India, is perhaps the park’s most popular feature. One of the last places where this species can be found in large numbers is Desert National Park. As a result, thousands of birdwatchers flock to species from all over the world. The park also supports a range of other birds of interest to birdwatchers and environmentalists, in addition to the great Indian bustard like sand grouse, Gray Partridges, Spotted Eagles, Short-toed Eagles, Tawny Eagles, Demoiselle crane, Shrikes, Quails, Larks, Peafowl, Bee-eaters, Eagles, Laager falcons, Harriers, Orioles, Warblers, Buzzards, Kestrel, babblers, and vultures, etc.
Get back to the lodge for lunch. And again start the afternoon safari in your leisure time. Desert National Park is located near the towns of Jaisalmer and Barmer in the Indian state of Rajasthan. With a total area of 3162 km2, this is one of the largest national parks in the country. The Thar Desert environment is well-represented in the Desert National Park. Around 20% of the park is made up of sand dunes. Crags and compact Salt Lake bottoms, intermedial areas, and fixed dunes make up the dominant landform. Come back from the safari at sunset. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 7 : Desert National Park
Morning and afternoon jeep safari inside the National Park. The thorn forest kind of vegetation covers a large portion of Thar’s desert region. Local communities, particularly the ‘Bishnois,’ revere and defend Khejri Prosopis cineraria, which is often found. DNP has limited vegetation, with open grassland, thorny bushes, plantations, and dunes as the main habitat types. The Chinkara, also known as the Indian Gazelle (Gazella bennettii), is a popular antelope in this area. The desert fox, wolf, and desert cat are among the park’s other prominent residents.
All Meals and overnight at the lodge in Dessert National park.
Day 8 : Desert National Park – Jalore (380 km, 08 hrs drive)
Early breakfast and drive to Jalore 360 km, 07 hrs drive. On arrival check-in to the Siana Camp. Dinner and overnight at the Camp.
Day 9 : Jalore
The camp will provide you with a guide and a jeep to take you for the safari around Jalore. You will have the morning and the afternoon safari around the Jalore area. Siana is not a tourist destination, but for birders, Siana Gardens is a great home base. The guides will take you out for birding and viewing the wildlife around the very interesting countryside area. The landscape around Siana, which comprises arid desert plains and rocky desert hills rising suddenly out of the plains, partly covered in scrub jungle, offers excellent birding opportunities. Indian (or Long-billed) Vulture, Indian Thick-knee (split from Eurasian), Rock Bush Quail, Painted Sandgrouse, the skulking Sirkeer Malkoha, the impressive Indian (or Rock) Eagle Owl, Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark, Indian Bushlark, the uncommon and nomadic White-bellied Minivet, Large Grey Babbler, and Bay-backed Shrike are among this arid zone area. During the jeep ride, you will get the chance to encounter some of the mammals like Indian Gazelle, Desert Fox, Leopard (during the evening and night time), Asiatic Wildcat, and blue bulls.
All meals and overnight at the camp.
Day 10 : Jalore – Mount Abu (180 km, 3 hrs drive)
The morning after breakfast get transferred to Mount Abu. On arrival check in to the lodge. Leisure time at the lodge. Mount Abu, located in Rajasthan’s Sirohi district, is a picturesque and unique hill station. Mount Abu appears to be no less than a wonder in this desert state, with a colorful mix of rustic abodes of tribal people and opulent residences including British-style bungalows and royal holiday hotels. This location, which is covered in large stretches of verdant forests, tranquil lakes, and cascading waterfalls, allows you to enjoy magnificent sights all year. Mount Abu is well-known for its scenic splendor, but it is also a religiously significant site for Jains. Mount Abu’s structural architectural wonders, among other locations to see, have drawn history fans and architecture aficionados from all over the world. Overnight at the Hotel in Mount Abu.
Day 12 : Mount Abu – Little Rann of Kutch (260 km, 5 hrs drive)
After early breakfast check out from the hotel and transfer to Little Rann of kutch. On arrival check in to the lodge. After lunch proceeds for the afternoon Jeep safari. The Little Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, which spans 4954 square kilometers, is one of the world’s most fascinating and unusual landscapes. The Asiatic Wild Ass or khur, one of the world’s most endangered species, can be found in this Rann’s Wild Ass Sanctuary. On January 12, 1973, it was designated as a sanctuary. Dinner and overnight at the lodge in Little Rann of Kutch.
Day 13 : Little Rann of Kutch
Morning and afternoon jeep safari inside the Sanctuary. The 15th Biosphere Reserve is the Little Rann of Kutch, and also serves as a vital feeding, nesting, and roosting habitat for a significant number of birds because of its strategic location on a bird migration route and its link to the active Gulf of Kutch. The Little Rann of Kutch is home to some of the world’s largest flocks of greater and lesser flamingos. The Little Rann of Kutch has a diverse range of habitats, including saline desert plains, rocky and thorn scrub, dry grasslands, plateaus, lakes, and marshes. In this sanctuary, there are approximately 74 raised plateaus or islands known locally as bets. It’s also known as a huge ecotone, a transitional region where two different ecosystems, in this case, marine and terrestrial, gradually merge.
Apart from Asiatic wild asses, Black Bucks, Indian Gazelle, Blue Bulls, Desert Fox, Jackal, Jungle Cat, Indian Hares, Indian Wolf, and Wild boars can also be found here. Birds such as the Spotted and Indian Sand Grouse, Houbara Bustard, Grey Francolin, Desert Wheatear, Lesser Whistling Duck, Steppe Eagle, Short-toed eagle, Greater Hoope Lark, Imperial Eagle, Peregrine falcon, Marsh Harrier, White-rumped Vulture, Pied Avocet, Common Crane Crested lark and many more birds can be seen in the various lakes. Because saline mudflats do not support any flora, vegetation is generally xerophytic in nature and only occurs in fringes and edges. There are 253 flowering plant species mentioned, with 18 species of trees, 23 species of shrubs, 18 species of climbers/twiners, 157 species of herbs, and 37 species of grasses.
All meals and overnight at the lodge in LRK.
Day 14 : Little ran of Kutch – Greater Rann of Kutch (350 km, 08 hrs drive)
Morning Jeep safari inside the Sanctuary. After safari check-out from the lodge and transfer to Greater Rann of Kutch. Dinner and overnight at the Homestay in Greater Rann of Kutch.
Day 15 : Greater Rann of Kutch
Morning and afternoon jeep safari in Banni Grasslands. Banni is known for rich wildlife and biodiversity spreading across an area of 2,617 square Kilometers. About 150 species of migratory and resident birds are found along with a rich diversity of Herpetofauna and other invertebrates. The wild animals include Blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus), Chinkara (Gazella bennettii), Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), Black-naped hare (Lepus nigricollis), Wild boar (Sus scrofa), Jackal (Canis aureus), Grey wolf (Canis lupus), Caracal (Caracal caracal), Hyena (Hyaena hyaena), Bengal Fox (Vulpes vulpes), Jungle cat (Felis chaus), etc.
All Meals and overnight stay at the Homestay.
Day 16 : Greater Rann of Kutch
Morning and afternoon jeep safaris in Lala Bustard Grassland (Naliya Grassland).
One of the finest dry grasslands in Gujarat is found in the Abdasa and Mundra talukas, which cover about 50,000 acres. The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) was named a refuge in 1992. The existence of this bustard, as well as species like the Lesser Florican (Sypheotides indica), confers high conservation significance to the site. A single ecosystem, grassland vegetation with sparse vegetation of bushy Zizyphus, dominates the Sanctuary as a whole.
The sanctuary has a nice drivable route that allows visitors to see the endangered Great Indian Bustard as well as a variety of other species such as Black and Grey Francolins, Indian sandgrouse, quails, larks, shrikes, coursers, and plovers. Birdwatchers will enjoy this refuge because it is home to endangered species such as the Stoliczka’s Bushchat and the White-naped Tit. A variety of Raptors, including Aquila Eagles, Harriers, Buzzards, and Falcons, feed on Spiny-tailed Lizards at the refuge.
All meals and overnight at the lodge in Greater Rann of Kutch.
Day 17 : Greater Rann of Kutch – Ahmedabad (410 km, 8 hrs drive)
After breakfast check-out from the lodge and drive to Ahmedabad airport 410 km takes around 08 hrs to board a flight at 1850 hrs to New Delhi at 2120 hrs. Overnight at the hotel in New Delhi.
Day 18 : New Delhi Fly Home
The morning after relaxed breakfast check out from the hotel and transfer to the airport to board a flight home or onwards journey.
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