There is nowhere in the world quite likethe Indian subcontinent! So rich is theregion in flavour and variety, whether itis the scenery, culture, history or wildlifewhich most appeals to your taste, thatevery visit is packed with unique andunforgettable memories. City life in modernIndia may outwardly sport all the trappingsof the 21st century, but underlying this is aunique culture which has developed overthousands of years and permeates everyaspect of society. Delhi has had manyrulers during a long and turbulent history,whereas the machinations of life in thefabled city of Kathmandu were virtuallyunknown to the rest of the world untilcomparatively recent times and it has beendescribed as a city with more temples thanhouses and more gods than people. Totravel through the Himalayan foothillsbetween these two diverse cities is one ofthe most beautiful and fascinating journeysin Asia - a journey that encapsulates thesheer variety of this magnificentsubcontinent.We begin our tour in India's capital, NewDelhi, then board an overnight train to visit Corbett National Park. A mouthwateringmenu of sub-Himalayan birding is on offerat Corbett, but the park also holds a wealthof mammal species, amongst them IndianElephant and that most supreme of Asianpredators, the Bengal Tiger. Arguably oneof the most picturesque of India's nationalparks, Corbett was named in honour of thelate Jim Corbett, a legendary hunter-turned-conservationist who played an importantrole in helping to create the reserve. Manyof the birds we are likely to see in Corbettare characteristic of the Himalayan regionand include a number of Palearctic raritiesto set pulses racing! After spending four nights in Corbett, wetravel next to Bardia National Park, situatedin the lowlands of western Nepal.Comprising magnificent Sal and riverineforests, and extensive grasslands, Bardia's936 square kilometres are home to Tiger,Leopard, Elephant, Rhino, a few Blackbuck,Spotted Deer, Sambar, Barking and HogDeer, Nilgai, Wild Boar and Sloth Bear, aswell as Marsh Mugger Crocodile and theendangered fish-eating Gharial. Nearly 400species of birds occur in the park andduring our 3-night stay here we will hope tofind such species as Great Slaty andStreak-throated Woodpecker, CrestedKingfisher, Wallcreeper, Large-billed LeafWarbler and Greater Racquet-tailedDrongo. Bardia is bordered to the west bythe Karnali River, one of the largest inNepal, and this enables us to explore thepark by raft, as well as by jeep and on foot.An inflatable raft trip down to the southernboundary of the park is a tranquil way ofviewing the birdlife and water-oriented animals such as Smooth Otters and bothMugger and Gharial Crocodiles. TheKarnali River is also one of the best areasin Nepal to view the highly endangeredGanges River Dolphin.In order to break the long journey toChitwan, we will spend one night in Lumbiniand explore the fascinating complex ofancient temples and modern stupas whichmark the birthplace of Buddha. We will thencontinue to Chitwan National Park. Thismagnificent reserve is one of the fewremaining undisturbed vestiges of the 'terai'region, which formerly extended over thefoothills of India and Nepal. It has aparticularly rich flora and fauna, protectingpopulations of both One-hornedRhinoceros and Bengal Tiger as well asmany other mammals and a stunningvariety of birdlife. A diversity of riverine andforest habitats, interspersed with opengrassland, ensures that there are alwaysnew areas to explore during our stay andever present in the distance are the snowysummits of the Himalayan giants whichstretch across Nepal in an unbroken linefrom east to west. We will spend two nightsinside the park, and two outside, in order toexplore a full range of habitats. We head finally to the capital of Nepal,Kathmandu, pausing along the way to scanfor Ibisbills, White-capped Riverchats andother waterside birds that frequent the fast-flowing Trisuli River, the course of which theroad follows. After a sightseeing tour ofKathmandu, we conclude a memorabletour with a birdwatching trip to the forestedslopes of Phulchowki which, at 2,740metres, is the highest mountain in thevalley. Many species typical of the highHimalaya occur here and, with accessfacilitated by a road, we can enjoysearching for these without recourse tomountaineering or trekking!For those wishing to extend their holiday,we offer an extension east from Chitwan toKoshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, one of Asia'sfinest wetlands. Here, a remnant populationof wild Water Buffalo may be seen, as wellas other mammals such as Ganges RiverDolphin, Jungle Cat and Golden Jackal.From the delightful Koshi Camp up to 160bird species may be seen in a single day,amongst them such local specialities asRed-necked Falcon, Striated Marsh Warblerand the endangered Swamp Partridge andBengal Florican. It is a restful andrewarding spot to conclude a holiday!India & Nepal - Corbett to KathmanduThis 17-day holiday, in search of birds and mammals, offers a mouthwatering combination of the best national parks in the Himalayan foothills - Corbett in India, and the Sal and riverine forests of Bardia and subtropical jungles of Chitwan in Nepal, plus birdwatching and sightseeing in the Kathmandu Valley. Friday 18th November - Sunday 4th December 2011 Cost: £3,695Friday 10th February - Sunday 26th February 2012 Cost: £3,795 Friday 16th November - Sunday 2nd December 2012 Cost: £3,795Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve extension available on all tours Cost: £795Outline itineraryDay 1Depart London.Day 2Delhi; overnight train toCorbett.Day 3/6Corbett National Park.Day 7/9 Bardia National Park.Day 10 Lumbini.Day 11/14Chitwan National Park.Day 15/16Kathmandu.Day 17Return London.Koshi Tappu WildlifeReserve extensionDay 15/18Koshi Tappu WildlifeReserve.Day 19/20Kathmandu.Day 21Fly London.AccommodationComfortable tourist hotels in Delhiand Kathmandu; simple butcomfortable lodges and tentedcamps elsewhere. Most have privatefacilities. FoodAll included in the price, except for main meals in Delhi andKathmandu. Allow £20.Grading A. This is a wildlife tour thatincludes no strenuous walking.Focus Birds and mammals.LeaderTika Ram Giri or Suchit Basnet, pluslocal guides. Single room supplement£650 (extension: £95).Web quick search: IND23232Call now or visit www.naturetrek.co.uk for your free Trip ItineraryINDIANEPAL TIBET KOSHI TAPPUWILDLIFE RESERVE(EXTENSION)BIRATNAGAR CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK LUMBININEW DELHI KATHMANDU CORBETT NATIONAL PARK Mt EVEREST BARDIANATIONAL PARKRed-flanked BluetailHimalayanFlamebackTiger

The mighty peaks of the Himalaya, thegreatest mountain range on Earth,provide an awesome backdrop duringthis holiday which combines the very bestof Nepal's 'terai'(lowland forests andwetlands) with the scenic splendours ofDarjeeling - with its surrounding hills andtemperate forests - and KazirangaNational Park in Assam, home of theendangered Indian One-horned Rhinoceros. Our tour begins in Kathmandu, capital ofthe magical mountain kingdom of Nepal,where we overnight before journeying byroad through the delightful terracedfoothills above the Trisuli River to the RoyalChitwan National Park. This magnificentreserve is one of the few remainingundisturbed vestiges of the terai, a regionof riverine jungle, Sal forest and swampswhich once extended throughout thelowlands of Nepal and northern India. Thiswonderful habitat, formerly mosquito-riddenand inhabited only by the indigenous andmalaria-tolerant Tharu people, has aparticularly rich flora and fauna, includinglarge populations of both Indian One-horned Rhinoceros and Bengal Tiger, aswell as many other mammals and astunning variety of birdlife. Chitwan'sdiversity of riverine and forest habitats,interspersed with open grasslands, ensuresthat there are always new areas to exploreduring our stay and ever present in thedistance are the snowy summits of theHimalayan giants which stretch acrossNepal in an unbroken line from east towest.After spending three nights in Chitwan, wedrive east to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reservewhich lies close to the border with India,on the floodplain of the Sapta-Koshi, oneof the three main tributaries of theGanges. The reserve comprises endlessriverside and wetland habitats, togetherwith tall grassland with patches of scrubforest and deciduous mixed riverinewoodland, set against the backdrop of theeastern Himalaya, which includes MountMakalu (8,475 metres), the world's fifthhighest mountain. Koshi Tappu offersprime habitat for a variety of wildlife, andin particular supports the last survivingpopulation of wild Water Buffalo in Nepal.Nilgai (Blue Bull), Wild Boar, Jungle Catand both Spotted and Hog Deer areamongst other mammal species findingsanctuary in the reserve, whilst nearly 400species of birds have been recorded,including the endangered SwampPartridge, Red-necked Falcon and StriatedMarsh Warbler. Koshi is also an importantstaging ground and resting place formigratory birds and many new species forNepal have been found here. Theendangered Gharial and the MarshMugger crocodile may be observed in (orbeside) the Koshi River, and the fortunatemay even encounter the rare Ganges RiverDolphin. Our next destination is Darjeeling, wellknown as a popular hill-station during thedays of the British Raj and centre of arenowned tea-growing region. Situated at1,980 metres, the town is charming, ifrather ramshackle, but a fine base fromwhich to soak in the magnificent views ofMount Kanchenjunga and the Himalaya,and from which to enjoy the birds of theregion's temperate oak and rhododendronforests, amongst which are many easternHimalayan specialities. There may also bean opportunity to sample the world famousnarrow-gauge railway which loops its wayuphill to the town from the plains, affordingviews from many vantage points of themagical Himalaya on clear days. A short flight from Bagdogra will take usinto Assam for the final phase of our tour.Kaziranga National Park is one of the mostpicturesque wildlife parks in India and lieson the southern banks of the BrahmaputraRiver, to the north of the Mikir Hills whichrise to an elevation of over 1,000 metres.The predominant vegetation is a mixture of tall grassland and riverine forestintersected by marshes, streams and ox-bow lakes known locally as 'jheels' or'jils'. Kaziranga is famous for itspopulation of Indian One-hornedRhinoceros, estimated to be in the regionof 1,500 animals, and the park is by far thebest place in India to see them. Otherspecial large mammals to be found hereinclude wild Water Buffalo, Swamp Deerand Indian Elephant whilst, in the nearbyPanbari Reserve Forest, we may encounterHoolock Gibbons. We have three full daysto explore Kaziranga by both jeep and,perhaps, on elephant back, and to enjoythe profusion of its wildlife. There is alwaysplenty to see here and, if we are verylucky, we may even encounter one or twoof the more secretive residents such asGaur, Leopard Cat, Sloth Bear or even theever-elusive Tiger! Returning to Guwahati, we fly to Delhiwhere hotel rooms have been reservedprior to an early morning transfer to theairport to catch the international flight backto London. Back in the city, there will betime to reflect on the many wonderfulwildlife encounters of the precedingfortnight or perhaps to investigate the cityshops in search of a few bargains!The Best of India & NepalA 17-day holiday exploring the finest wildlife sites amongst the floodplains and foothills of the great Himalaya, including the jungles of Chitwan and vast wetlands of Koshi Tappu in Nepal, plus the forests of Darjeeling and the best reserve in India, Kaziranga. Friday 18th November - Sunday 4th December 2011 Cost: £3,495 Friday 10th February - Sunday 26th February 2012 Cost: £3,495 Friday 16th November - Sunday 2nd December 2012 Cost: £3,495Book direct on 01962 733051or see page 280 for Booking InformationINDIANEPAL BHUTAN BANGLADESH PAKISTAN TIBET BAY OF BENGAL MUMBAI KOLKATAKOSHI TAPPUWILDLIFE RESERVECHITWANNATIONAL PARKNEW DELHIKATHMANDU DARJEELING BAGDOGRA KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK GUWAHATIOutline itineraryDay 1Depart London.Day 2Kathmandu.Day 3/5Chitwan National Park.Day 6/8Koshi Tappu WildlifeReserve.Day 9/11Darjeeling.Day 12/15Kaziranga National Park.Day 16Delhi.Day 17Fly London.AccommodationComfortable tourist hotels inKathmandu, Darjeeling and Delhi;simple but comfortable lodges ortented camps elsewhere. Allrooms/tents have private facilities,except at Koshi. FoodAll included in the price, except formain meals in Kathmandu andDelhi. Allow £20.Grading Grade A. This is a wildlife tour thatincludes no strenuous walking.Focus Birds and mammals.LeaderTika Ram Giri or Suchit Basnet,plus local guides.Single room supplement£495.Extensions Pre- or post-tour extensions withinIndia or Nepal gladly arranged onrequest.Web quick search: IND33233NilgaiSal forest, ChitwanSunrise over Mount Kanchenjunga