Gujarat Birding Tour 7 Night And 8 Days
Destination: Ahmedabad, Nakhatrana, Chhari Dhand, Fulay Village, Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary, Bhuj, Banni Grassland, Mandvi Road, Dholavira
Duration: 07 Nights and 08 Days
Tour Code: 831
Description:
The eight-day tour is a beautifully handcrafted birding trail taking you to the undisturbed landscape of Gujarat, throbbing with a unique birdlife. The journey will kickstart in the wetlands and arable fields of Chhari Dand and Fulay Village that transform into a wintering ground for several rare and endangered birds such as Grey Hypocolius, Dalmatian Pelican, Oriental Darter, Black-necked Stork, Indian Skimmer, etc. The following day you will be heading towards the Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary. The vast grassland of the sanctuary is a roosting place for many sought-after winged species such as Indian Bustards, White-browed Bush Chats, Indian Coursers, Heuglin’s Gulls, Slender-billed Gulls, etc. The next day, you will be visiting the Banni Grassland of the Great Rann of Kutch. The place is widely recognized for being a haven for Birds of Prey such as the Tawny Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle, and the Greater Spotted Eagle. Mandvi Road is the next destination in this prolific journey. During winters, the region transforms into the wintering ground for a wide variety of migratory birds. including Lesser & Greater Flamingos, several migratory ducks, Ibises, Gulls, Terns, Godwits, Crab Plovers, and many more. The tour will culminate at Dholavira, a place that is recognized worldwide for carrying the ruins of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Itinerary Overview
Day 01: Arrival at Ahmedabad and transfer to Dholavira
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Tourism Hotel
Arrival at Ahmedabad and straight drive to Dholavira (360 kms / 8 hrs). On reaching Dholavira, check into your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight stay at Dholavira.
Day 02: Dholavira
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Tourism Hotel
On this day, explore some archaeological sites in Dholavira. Experience the magic of the ancient city while grasping the rich history the land has to offer. Visit places like prehistoric lanes, stepwell, Dholavira museum, Harappan Civilization Site, Fossil Park, and Flamingo Bird Sightseeing.
Overnight stay at Dholavira
Day 03: Dholavira to Nakhatrana
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: CEDO Camp
Early morning, after having breakfast, visit to Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary from Nakhatrana - Jakhau Mangrove swamps, Pingleshwar sea coast - Indian Bustards, White-browed Bush Chats, Indian Coursers, Heuglin's Gulls, Slender-billed Gulls, Curlews and Whimbrels, Waders Turnstones, Curlew Sandpipers, Dunlins, etc.
Overnight stay at Nakhatrana
Day 04: Nakhatrana
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: CEDO Camp
On this day, visit the Banni Grassland for birding. There are around 15 species, due to the planting of a non-indigenous thorny shrub (Prosopis juliflora) by the FD in the Sixties to control the soil salinity. This thorny shrub, known locally as gando baval, literally crazy thorn-bush, grew very fast, destroying several native species and eroding huge tracks of the grassland.
This area is widely recognised as important for birds because of its location on the flyway for many migratory species, and migration studies have been conducted here by well-known organisations like the Bnhs. The mix of grasslands, scrub, and wetland also makes this a heaven for raptors, with the Tawny Eagle and Bonelli’s Eagle breeding here and Greater Spotted Eagle, Imperial Eagle, and Steppe Eagle wintering in the Banni area. Endangered species like the White-backed and Long-billed Vulture are seen in the Banni area. White-naped Tit is a vulnerable species of the Banni region.
Day 05: Nakhatrana
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Cedo Camp
Day visit to GRK for birding. Our guide will assist you with the birding points to spot the target species.
Overnight stay
Day 06: Nakhatrana to Bhuj
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Infinity Resort
After breakfast, proceed for birding at Mandvi Road.
The coastal marshes of Gujarat are rich in winter migratory species, and the coast of Mandavi attracts large flocks of migratory birds and waders, including Plovers, Phalaropes, Godwits, Sandpipers, Gulls, Flamingos, Pelicans, Shanks, etc.
The town of Mandvi itself harbors abundant migratory and resident waterfowl and can be seen and photographed easily, making it a must-visit destination in GRK.
We shall explore both the wetlands in Mandvi town and the coast of Modhava beach (about 25 kms from Mandvi). Where we would be able to get both Lesser & Greater Flamingos, several migratory ducks, Ibises, Gulls, Terns, Godwits, Crab Plovers, Sanderlings, Ruddy Turnstones, Dalmatian & Rosy Pelicans, Oystercatchers, Pied Avoce, and Several Species of Egrets, Herons & Waders.
Some Bird Species of GRK: Common Crane, Demoiselle Crane, White-naped Tit, Stolickza’s Bushchat, Marshall’s Iora, Montagu’s & Hen Harriers, Crab Plovers, Oystercatchers, Bluethroat, Rufous-fronted Prinia, Isabelline Shrike, Red-necked Phalarope, Isabelline & Variable Wheatear, Hoopoe Lark, Rosy & Dalmatian Pelicans, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Short-eared Owl, Black Francolin, Steppe Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Laggar Falcon, Eurasian Hobby, Long-legged Buzzard, Desert Warbler, Flamingos, Collared Pratincole, Eurasian Wigeon, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Great-crested Grebe, Quails, Rufous-fronted Prinia, Orphean warbler, Grey-necked, Red-headed and Black-headed Buntings, Chestnut-bellied, Spotted Sandgrouse, Indian Courser, Grey Hypocolius, European Roller, Eurasian White Stork, several species of waders and about 200+ other species.
Day 07: Bhuj
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Infinity Resort
Proceed for birding/ visit sites as per your interest
Overnight stay
Day 08: Bhuj to Ahmedabad
Meals: Breakfast and Packed Lunch
Accommodation: None
Early morning travel to Ahmedabad. Tour ends
Highlights
- Great Birding
- Excellent mammal diversity, such as the Wild Ass
- Varied Landscape
- Amazing road journey
- Great food
- Explore the site, which contains the ruins of an ancient Indus Valley Civilization / Harappan city
Services Included
- Stay at Tourism Hotel for 02 nights
- Stay at CEDO Camp for 03 nights
- Stay at Infinity Resort for 02 nights
- Meals as per itinerary
- Dedicated vehicle for 08 days
- All Taxes
Services Not Included
- Airfare/ Train tickets, personal expenses such as telephonic calls, camera, laundry charges, internet, tips, any entrance fees, and extra meals.
- Anything that is not mentioned in “Package Inclusions.”
