Trans Himalayan Birding Jeep Safari - Across the Roof of the World- September 2008

- A Himalayan Pilgrimage with Mr and Ms. Allan Kruse( Denmark)

Passing through Hindu villages that time has passed by, we enter a true wilderness - a dense primeval forest deep with green grass and dotted with wildflowers. Traversing Spiti - a place of wild desolation, deep canyons and thousand year old Buddhist monasteries, high on the Tibetan plateau - the land that time forgot we enter .the Great Himalayan National Park we trek upward through lush meadows that give way to jagged landscape of alpine lakes peaks giving us access to the most amazing birding opportunities.

Covering two distinct environments with their own distinctive cultures and exhilarating scenery – this is a journey for those individuals bold of spirit and in good physical condition. Porters carry our packs and an experienced and cheerful team of local guides, cooks and helpers tend to our comfort and safety throughout the trip.

This is truly the adventure of a lifetime –

Even for those who have spent a lifetime adventuring!

Trans Himalayan Jeep Safari : A Jeep Safari is a mix of culture and adventure. These trips involve visiting remote villages, monasteries etc. to feel the culture and passing through the rugged train of the Himalayas. It involves experiencing the remote cultures and the people.

Responsible Ecotourism : Joint Venture with SAHARA- Unlike other tour operators (many of whom are not locally based and often exploit the local population), SHA has a unique relationship with the regional Kullu Valley organization, SAHARA. SAHARA is a non-governmental society (NGO) of locally organized Kullu Valley villagers who are registered with the Government of India. SAHARA is dedicated to helping the local village people improve the quality of their lives by developing sustainable local economies (such as ecotourism). These are linked to the protection of the local environment. Our joint venture with SAHARA ensures that your fees actually help to support the local people and build sustainable livelihoods.

Trek Highlights Adventure and Wildlife:

- Trek in the India’s newest national park-The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) A pristine, undeveloped area with minimal tourism/trekkers, uncluttered, clean trails, large and unique animals - Opportunities to observe on of the world’s most endangered species (the rare Western Tragopan pheasant) and animals that are supported only by the unique ecology of the Western Himalayas Rich and dense flora and fauna of the Himalayas. The Park falls within one of the globally important Endemic Bird Areas (D02: Western Himalaya) identified by the ICBP Biodiversity Project (ICBP 1992). 183 bird species including 132 passerines and 51 non-passerines have been recorded from the Park which is comparable with 71 non-passerines and 150 passerines recorded throughout the hilly regions of Himachal Pradesh above 1,500 m altitude

Detailed Tour Program

Day - 01 - Arrival New Delhi - Escorted to Hotel for rest. O/n Hotel Delhi Day - 02 - Delhi-Chail - Morning drive from Delhi to Chail in the morning (08 hr.). Birding in Chail in the evening. One gets familiarized with common species such as Blue whistling thrush, Large billed crow, Green backed and Great tit, Arey-hooded Warbler, Russet sparrow, Wire-tailed swallow, Khalij pheasant, Oriental hobby etc. Overnight in Chail Palace. Day - 03 - Chail- Narkanda - Drive from Chail to Narkanda after morning birding and breakfast. Make a brief stop at Kufri zoo to look at some Himalayan mammals. Birding in Narkanda in the evening. One can look for Indian blue robin,

Brownish-flanked bush warbler, Himalayan griffon, Large hawk cuckoo, Black and yellow grosbeak,Spotted nutcracker, Sgreenish and Lemon-rumped warbler, Ultramarine and Asian brown flycatcher, Eurasian blackbird etc. Overnight in Hotel Hatu.

Day - 04 - Narkanda-Sarahan - Morning birding on the trail to Hatu peak. Drive to Sarahan (1920 m / 5 hr.) a village surrounded by apple orchards and dominated by Srikhand Mahadev Peak (5155 m) and is famous for Bhimakali Temple and a pheasant breeding centre. Rest of the day birding around the pheasant breeding center. One can expect White-throated fantail, Grey-headed canary, yellow-billed blue magpie, Common rosefinch, Crested bunting, Lammergeier, Common kestrel, Changeable hawak-eagle, Common tailorbird etc. Overnight in Hotel Srikhand. Day - 05 - Sarahan - Sangla - Morning drive to Sangla (2900 m / 6 hr.) through the breathtaking gorges of the Greater Himalayas. Evening bird walk at Sangla. One can expect Brown dipper, Common Raven, European goldfinch, Fire-fronted serin, Lesser cuckoo, Booted eagle, Dark sided flycatcher, Western crowned warbler, Tree pipit etc. Overnight in tents. Day - 06 - Sangla - Local birding drive leisurely to Chitkul (2 hr.) stopping for birding en route . Chitkul is the last inhabited village surrounded by green fields and high mountain peaks. For birders the special ones are Red-headed bullfinch, White-winged grosbeak, Gold crest, pink-browed rosefinch, Slaty blue flycatcher, White-tailed rubythroat, Rufous vented & Rufous napped tit, Spot winged tit, White cheeked nuthatch, Blue-capped redstart, Brambling etc. The quaint little houses, temples, gompas and the people of Baspa valley conjure up a perfect image of Shangri-La. Return to Sangla in the evening. Overnight in tents. Day - 07 - Sangla - Nako - Drive to Nako via Khab (one of the most pretty drives in this region - from the confluence of Sutlej and Spiti rivers the road ascends into steep & winding drive with sparse vegetation and one can enjoy the view of snow clad Reo Purgill Peak). Stop at various places to look for birds. Near Nako, one can see Chukar, Pied wheatear, Golden eagle, Mountain chiffchaff, Golden oriole, Black redstart, Blue rock thrush, Hill pigeon, White-capped water redstart etc. Overnight in hotel / tents. Day - 08 - Nako - Pin Valley National Park - (breakfast, lunch, dinner)This drive is via Tabo. We will make a brief stop here to see this 1000 year old monastery. We will also make stops on the way for birding. Overnight in tents.

Day - 09 - Pin Valley National Park - We will explore surrounding areas for birding. Look for Himalayan snowcock, Tibetan snowfinch, Eurasian eagle owl, Common swift, Long-tailed shrike, red-billed & yellow-billed choughs, tickell's leaf warbler, Horned lark, Citrine and White wagtail etc. Overnight in tents. Day - 10 - Pin Valley National Park-Pang Mo - Drive in the morning via Kaza, Kibber and Kye monastery. We will camp in the scenic meadows of Pang Mo. At Kaza, we will have rooms for wash and shower for and hour or two. At the camp site one can look for Hume's short-toed lark, plain mountain finch, rock bunting, black redstart etc. One can expect to see Blue sheep, Pika, Red fox etc. Overnight in tents.

Day - 11 - Pang Mo-Chattru - Drive in the morning to Chattru stopping to look for birds at Losar & Kunzum Pass. After crossing the pass we will enter Lahul. We will look for birds in the meadows of Lahul and Chattru. Today we may see the Great rosefinch, Snow pigeon, Green sandpiper, Red-billed & yellow-billed choughs, Himalayan griffon etc. Overnight in tents.

Day - 12 - Chattru - Manali - Kullu - Goshaini - Drive in the morning from Chattru stopping to look for birds at Rohtang Pass. One can look for Monal, Khalij, Rosy pipit. This area remains less explored so we may have some special birds here. After crossing the pass we will head towards Goshaini via Manali. Overnight at Raju’s Lodge. Day - 13 - Birding Trek begins - Goshaini 1540 m - Rolla, 2040 m - 15 Km - In the morning we start out on a nice birding trek along Tirthan . Birds to be Spotted : Ultramarine Flycatchers, Pink-browed Rosefinches, several laughing-thrushes, warblers, Bush warblers etc. Asian Barred Owlet and Big flocks of Slaty-headed Parakeets, Brown Dippers, Plumbous Redstarts and White-capped Water-redstarts are in plenty. The trail has a gradual gradient all the way through coniferous and broad-leafed forests taking about 5-6 hrs to reach our destination at Rolla. Day - 14 Rolla, 2040 m - Shilt, 2900 m - 04 Kms - Today we commence on a short but very steep trek to reach Shilt, through coniferous and broad leafed forests with occasional meadows. This dense jungle is home to the Monal flying beautifully out of the trees. Birds to watch out for at Shilt include Lammergeiers, Golden Eagles and Himalayan Griffons.Shilt is a grassy meadow surrounded by trees and rhododendron with a beautiful view across the valley towards the snow covered mountains reaching highs of 4000 meters . Evening wander around Shilt to look for pheasants including the Western Tragopan. This elusive species prefers to rest in an inaccessible spot in thick dwarf bamboo in steep ravines. One also goes along a ridge through bamboo and forests . Birds to watch for include Monals, Collared and Spot-winged Grosbeaks, Plain Mountain-finches, Red-Eared Buntings and several rosefinches. Day - 15 - Shilt to Kharongcha - Today we decend downwards to Kharongcha the starting point of the corezone of the Great Himalayan National Park . Birds to watch for are Koklas pheasants , Bar-tailed Treecreeper . Himalayan Woodpecker, Long-tailed Minivet, White-Cheeked Nuthatch. O/n Camp at Kharongcha. Day - 16 - Kharogcha- Gushaini - Today we get back on the same path to the road head at Gushaini. Birds to watch include various species of Laughingthrushes like the Variegated Laughing-Thrushes and Kalij Pheasants. Today is a small trek and the rest of the day can be spent at leisure at Raju’s Lodge.

Day - 17 - Morning - Depature to Delhi by Flight Afternoon Free. Evening flight back back home.

Extension Trek

From Shilt to Dhela Thatch and Sainj Valley in the Great Himalayan National Park

(7 Days extra)

Number of Persons : Minimum 2 Maximum 6 Cost per person : US$1500 (includes all ground fees). Additional, separate charge: US$200: Kullu- Delhi transportation Total Charges per head $1500 or Euro 975

Trek Rating : Easy to Moderate . Trekkers should be in good physical shape, able to hike at altitude (up to 3,400). Some days will require 6+ hours on trails hiking to reach destination. There will also be rest days where trekkers can either rest or do shorter day hikes.

The price for the package includes: -- All accommodation in the above mentioned properties. - All trek logistic support: porters, cooks, personal porter (to carry client’s main clothing and gear pack of each trekker). - All meals during trek/tour. - All ground transport in deluxe a/c Qualis Jeeps. - A fluent English-speaking guide who will be with you from Day 01 to Day 15. - All entrance fees to monuments in Delhi, all Great Himalayan National Park Admission Fees and Park Video & Camera Fees. - A list of required and suggested gear needed by trekkers will be provided to participants.

The above rates do not include: - International round-trip flight tickets from abroad to Delhi. - RT airfare Delhi-Kullu Valley - Changes in programs or flight schedules due to reasons like climate and geographical hazards - Travel and flight insurance, emergency medical repatriation charges. Required by Great Himalayan National Park. - Expenses of personal nature including: liquor/drinks, telephone calls, shopping, etc. - Tips to porters and trekking staff. - Any items not mentioned above

Friends of Nature Eco-Tour Operators

Unique Himalayan Tours ……….Protecting the local Environment

Sunshine-SAHARA Adventures Arya Samaj Street, A.B Kullu

Phone/ Fax : +91-1902-225182 Mobile: 94181-02083 Email: info@sunshineadventure.com

sunhimalaya@yahoo.com Web: www.sunshineadventure.com