North Sikkim Bird Photography Tour

Tour At A Glance

Sikkim and Lachen-Lachung-Gurdongmar...Why?

Do you like to explore a new place? Of course you do…. Experience North Sikkim, a bird watcher’s heaven, which is yet to be explored. In gullies and trenches of Rhododendron valleys, between the creeks and crevasses of snowy and rocky boulders one can find pheasants in flocks - Blood Pheasants, Snow Partridge, Himalayan and Tibetan Snowcocks. Though primarily it is a birding tour, but obviously you can’t afford to miss out on the amazing mammals like Himalayan Serow, Brown Goral, Marmots and pika. 

Tibetan plateau is the most amazing place to be on earth and birding at a height of 17,000 ft on flat terrain is more exciting and thrilling, these experiences are effable. You have to be in North Sikkim to feel the magnificence of the area . What can be more fun filled than watching Kiangs running by, Hume’s Ground Tit foraging on swampy-marsh land of high altitude, a flock of Rufous-necked, White-rumped Snowfinch and Tibetan Snowfinch is a pretty common species in this locale which is a birding paradise. A tree full of royal blue colored Grandala, Accentors and Finches moving on slopes will provide you with grand experience, the sonorous music of the streams and cataracts, the sparkling blue sky, the fresh air and the sweet chirping of the birds... the serenity of the place offers solace beyond compare.

We will explore Gurdongmar lake region also; it falls under Tso Lhamo basin and situated on Tibetan Plateau of North Sikkim. In the easternmost part we will cover ‘Katao’, during this tour, which is adjacent to Bhutan hills. 

The magnificent rocky outcrops around you which in summer will be covered by Rhododendron Flowers and Lavenders and in winter the same place will be full of pink and white Birch buds. Scimitar Babblers, Parrotbills, Robins and Babbler species will keep you busy for hours in the variety of bamboo thickets. Still in doubt to join this tour?  Don’t be...join our birding tour to North Sikkim now.

Why take this tour with us? Our Team boasts of a combined wildlife experience of over 35 years Our ground support personnels at every destination is among the best and they have extensive knowledge and understanding of their respective locations.... AND MORE

​Note that in all our North-Sikkim Tours we will pick you up from Bagdogra Airport/New Jalpaiguri Railway Station/Hotel in SIliguri or Bagdogra.

• Day 1 - Well, are you ready for a tour of your dreams; most definitely you are. So, on the early morning you are picked up as mentioned above and we proceed  via Rangpo-Singtam-Ranipol. Hot lunch will be served after we check in the hotel in Gangtok. A small chat session over lunch will help us knowing each other better and also set the tone for the tour. The skipper will provide some insights into the nature of the bird fauna, the available wildlife and its habitat. In the afternoon we shall go out for approximately 4 hours of birding in nearby birding trails of Fambong Lho-Pangthang-Lingtam complex. After returning to the hotel, we shall discuss the sightings from the afternoon session and post dinner we shall proceed for a good night’s sleep to get ourselves ready and revitalized for the consecutive days to come. (B,L,D)
• Day 2 - Early the next morning we get up fresh and in high spirits to start the day; we shall start at 6 AM from our hotel in Gangtok and proceed to Ganesh Tok. A temple sits here which is a home to a multitude of birds. Near the temple, we shall search for small and skittish Babblers and Wren Babblers along with other regular birds of mid-altitude elevation of Sikkim like Blue-winged and Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrushes, Red-billed Leiothrix, Rufous-capped Babbler, Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler etc. After a fulfilling session and with hearts pumped up for more birding action we will start our uphill drive to north Sikkim via Mangan. With an hour set aside for our lunch on the way we shall drive onwards towards Lachen; of course with birding on the way. Immediately prior to reaching Chungthang, we shall resume birding for bamboo species and other timaliidae mixed passerines. Our target shall be to check in at our hotel in Lachen before sundown; however, multiple good sightings and photo opportunities may cause delay in arrival at the hotel in Lachen. Post checking in and sumptuous dinner we shall retire for the night (B,L,D)
• Day 3 & Day 4 - On these two days we have explorations planned to the massive Tibetan flats which are a pleasure to explore and the most extreme high altitude birding experience one can ever get at heights of over 17,000 ft . Kiangs or Tibetan Wild Asses roaming on the vast Thangu-Gurdongmar plateau, Himalayan Marmots jumping around or  may be, just may be a Little Owl perched on a stone wall. Our last stretches for birding here is the lake region where Rufous-necked Snowfinch, White-rumped Snowfinch, Brown Accentor etc can be sighted abundantly. We may explore further in the Kalapatthar area for Pheasants and Partridges; in addition to the potential bird species, if luck remains on our side then we may be blessed with sightings of Himalayan Serow or a flock of Blue Sheep or Bharal. Though Pallas's Cat have seldom been seen in this part of the Himalayas, our mentor's hunger to show the best of these mountains may also make this dream a reality who knows! The journey we undertake in these two days might well be a little exhausting for you considering the height you ascend, but the abundant wildlife and their sightings will never make you realise it. (B,L,D)
• Day 5 - The day to move ahead from Lachen is on us and we happily proceed after checking out from our hotel early in the morning. We shall continue to explore different trails and tracks on the way to Lachung. Some particular trails of crucial importance as far as birds are concerned shall be checked on the way which are goldmines as far as bird sightings are concerned and have been well explored multiple times by the tour mentor. In these trails, one of the most thrilling experiences could be when one successfully photographs Wren Babblers, Scimitar Babblers, Tesias and Finches. The morning session is sure to yield many quality photographic opportunities and post this session we would take our lunch upon our arrival at Lachung. In the afternoon, we would explore the easternmost part of the Lachung hills, which is adjacent to Bhutan, towards Katao. In this breathtaking landscape, Golden Eagles or Himalayan Griffons may soar over our heads and tough-to-click but not-to-miss Bullfinches, Accentors, Siskins, Periparus tits would fly by us multiple times as we explore the conifer forests. Afternoon birding session will continue till sundown; after which we shall return to our hotel in Lachung. Post dinner we retire for the night. (B,L,D)
• Day 6 - After an early morning checkout from our hotel we shall start our downhill drive and start the return leg of the tour. Prior to having breakfast on the way, we shall enjoy the boon of some excellent spots for bird photography on the right side of the village in mixed montane forests near the premises of a monastery. En route, we stop at multiple promising locations, understanding the bird habitat and banking on the previous sighting experiences of the mentor to get more photo opportunities. We will have lunch on the way in a clean and quaint hill side eatery. Further, as we drive down, the vegetation changes with change in altitude and we expect to see mid-to-low altitude bird species of the region. Here, we would try to find the majestic Sultan Tit, Spot-winged Grosbeak, Golden Babbler, Rufous-capped Babbler, 2-3 species of Shrike-babblers etc. Depending on the previously seen birds and the expectations of our participants (as per the checklist), we may drive via Dikchu or via Pangthang (Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary). Before checking in at our hotel, we shall stop by at a tea shop refreshing ourselves and later by sundown check in to our hotel in Gangtok. (B,L,D)
• Day 7 - Leaving Gangtok hotel early in the morning with breakfast well packed with us we shall cover some promising birding areas in and around Gangtok. These are not fixed locations or trails but rather they change with season and depend vastly on altitude migration of timaliidae or passerine birds. We shall continue to explore the forests of Gangtok and the suburbs, till we have time in hand. Post a final and fruitful morning session we shall have our lunch at a restaurant in Rangpo, preferably in tourist lodge and start our downhill drive to Siliguri. Depending on the return flight or return train timings of tour participants decision shall be taken as to how much additional time can be spent for birding during our remaining drive. By the tour’s end we firmly believe that you shall be well acquainted with the bounty of bird and wildlife of North Sikkim and leave with many images and moments to cherish. (B,L)

Tour cost per participant is Rs 44,990/-  only for Indian Nationals.

This is an indicative cost which might increase if the forest administrative charges are increased.

Tour cost includes:

• Accommodation in hotel on twin sharing basis
• All meals as per the itinerary
• All surface transfer in SUVs as per the itinerary by Innova and Xylo
• All forest entry fee, Inner Line Permit fee, guide charges etc.
• Service of a dedicated wildlife photographer and naturalist for the entire tour
• All applicable taxes

Tour cost excludes:

• Participant's home town to Bagdogra / Siliguri / New Jalpaiguri and back charges
• Any extra food item not included in the meal as per the itinerary
• Any alcoholic beverage
• Any non-alcoholic beverage not included in the meal as per the itinerary
• Laundry, phone call, etc. personal charges
• Tips
• Anything which is not mentioned in "Tour cost includes"

TOURS - TERMS & CONDITIONS

PAYMENT TERMS & REFUND POLICY