GreaterStone PloverThe highest mountains on earth,thundering rivers, magical montaneforests and dense lowland junglesfilled with colourful birds and the mostexciting of large mammals. For a countrythat lies 800 kilometres from the sea,Nepal has a scenic and altitudinal varietythat is quite unrivalled. It will be our aimon this holiday to explore its many facets,focusing on the fabulous range of birdsand mammals that they support. This willbe a less strenuous adventure than ourother Himalayan journeys so as to allowas wide a range of people as possible tosample Nepal's delights with us.We begin this holiday in the KathmanduValley. Once the bed of a large andancient lake, the valley is now a colourfulmosaic of rice paddies and quaintred-brick farmhouses, surrounded by highforested hills that support a fine variety ofbird and mammal species, includingmonkeys, Muntjac, Jungle Cat, Leopardand even Tiger! We will explore the best ofthese forests during our 3-night stay inKathmandu ... and we will find time to visitthe unique array of temples, palaces andnarrow alleyways of this fascinatingcapital, and the neighbouring cities ofBhaktapur and Patan.A long but beautiful drive through the hills, with tantalising glimpses of thesnowbound peaks of Ganesh Himal andLangtang, brings us to the busy town ofPokhara, the starting point of our trek. This 9-day circuit takes us along highridges into the hills north of Pokhara,where pretty Gurung and Chhetri villages,and magnificent forests of oak andrhododendron decorate the hillsidesbeneath the towering white summits ofAnnapurna South and Machhapuchare-the Fish Tail Mountain. Here live numerous bird species; amongst themsome of Nepal's brilliantly colouredpheasants, and a variety of tits, minivets,warblers, laughing-thrushes, rosefinches,sunbirds and woodpeckers. The highlight of our walk is the high ridgebetween Ghandrung and Ghorepani. Here, some of the best of Nepal's highforest-now thankfully affordedprotection by the Annapurna ConservationArea Project-provides a refuge for some of the rarest Himalayan species. We will be looking in particular for suchforest gems as Golden-breasted Fulvetta,Rufous-bellied Shrike-babbler, VinaceousRosefinch and Great Parrotbill. Twoattractive mammals, the Red Panda andthe Yellow-throated Marten, are alsooccasionally seen here.On completion of our trek, we will drivefrom Pokhara to the Seti River for a day'srafting journey down the beautiful andtranquil Seti Valley. Moving slowlydownriver through the forested foothillsand into the lowlands of Nepal, we havean ideal opportunity to relax and enjoy themagnificent scenery and birdlife of theriver. We will see forktails, redstarts,whistling thrushes, kingfishers and manybirds of prey.As the river slows and broadens into thelowlands of Nepal, we once again take tothe land, driving to Chitwan National Parkfor a stay of three nights in a comfortablejungle lodge. Comprising 932 squarekilometres of Sal and riverine forest andgrassland, Chitwan has a greater diversityof wildlife than any other area of Nepal.Over 480 species of birds have beenrecorded in the park and we can expect tosee nearly half of these, as well as manymammals and reptiles that may includeIndian Rhinoceros, Wild Boar, Sambar,Muntjac, Chital and Hog Deer, Rhesus and Hanuman Monkeys, and crocodiles.Tigers, Leopards, Sloth Bears and Gauralso occur but are more difficult to see. Wesearch for them all on foot, elephant backand by dugout canoe.A long journey by road now takes us toour comfortable tented camp at KoshiTappu Wildlife Reserve. Three nights at thecamp will allow you to enjoy thisoutstanding Asian wetland by raft, LandRover and on foot. So rich in birdlife is thisremote reserve that over160 species arelikely to be seen,together with such rareanimals as Wild Water Buffalo, GangesRiver Dolphin, Smooth Otter, Jungle Cat,and Gharial and Marsh MuggerCrocodiles. We are in no doubt that thispeaceful and rewarding spot, followed bya spectacular flight back to Kathmandu,past the snowy summits of MountsEverest, Lhotse, Makalu andKanchenjunga, will provide a fitting end to this varied and exciting holiday.Nepal - A WildlifeAdventureA 22-day wildlife adventure, combining rafting, jungle and wetland exploration, and a gentle 9-day trek in the forested hills beneath the spectacular Annapurna Massif.Sunday 13th November - Sunday 4th December 2011 Cost: £3,495Sunday 11th November - Sunday 2nd December 2012 Cost: £3,595Outline itinerary Day 1 Depart London. Day 2/3Kathmandu. Day 4Pokhara. Day 5/13 Trekking. Day 14Rafting, Seti River.Day 15/17Chitwan National Park. Day 18/20Koshi Tappu WildlifeReserve. Day 21Kathmandu. Day 22Fly London.AccommodationA variety of good hotels, lodgesand permanent tented camps, mostwith private facilities. Fully servicedcamping whilst trekking and rafting.FoodIncluded in the price, except forlunches and dinners in Kathmandu.Allow £35.TrekkingGrade B. Easy to moderate.Between 900 and 3,350 metres.FocusBirds and mammals.LeaderSuchit Basnet or HathanChoudhary, plus local guides. Single room supplement£280.Single tent supplement£120. Web quick search:NPL06 254Call now or visit www.naturetrek.co.uk for your free Trip ItineraryTIBETINDIAINDIAINDIADHAULAGIRIGHOREPANIPOKHARACHITWANNATIONAL PARKKATHMANDULANGTANG NATIONALPARKANNAPURNACONSERVATIONAREASHEOPURI WILDLIFERESERVELUKLANEPALSAGARMATHA (EVEREST)NATIONAL PARKMt EVERESTLHOTSEMAKALUKANCHENJUNGAKOSHI CAMPBIRATNAGARKOSHI TAPPUWILDLIFE RESERVEANNAPURNA IAnnapurna South and Machhapuchare from GhandrungGharial Crocodiles

The Great Whales are a source ofwonder and fascination to most of usland-based humans, as we struggleto comprehend their alien, unfetteredexistence roaming the mysterious depthsof the world's oceans. Indeed, we seem topossess a seemingly insatiable desire tosavour the experience of being close tothese magnificent creatures and, whereverfeeding or breeding imperatives bringnumbers of whales to congregate in aparticular area, there will invariably be localboatmen taking visitors to enjoy a fewprecious moments sharing the ocean withthese leviathans. The largest of all thecetaceans, indeed the largest of allmammals, the Blue Whale has alwaysbeen something of an enigma, a trueocean wanderer living a pelagic lifestylewhich rarely brings it with any predictabilityclose to land. Gradually, however, scientistsare beginning to gain some understandingof the enormous migrations undertaken byBlue Whales and one discovery has beentheir regular appearances close to thesouth coast of Sri Lanka betweenNovember and April. It is this annual eventthat we will be taking advantage of duringthis popular new tour in a country that haslong been a Naturetrek favourite.Arriving in the capital, Colombo, we headsouth, skirting the towering escarpments ofthe central Hill Country before travellingthrough a landscape of palms, ricepaddies and roadside ponds to the IndianOcean coast where we stay for four nightsat a comfortable resort hotel. Doubtlessthe excellent amenities of theestablishment will be a welcome diversionduring our spare time, but each morningwe will undertake a whale-watching cruisefrom a nearby port. During these 4-hourexcursions we will sail up to 12 kilometresoffshore and, whilst seeing wild creaturescan never be guaranteed, we expect tohave multiple sightings of Blue Whales. Never a gregarious creature, the sightingsare usually of single animals, or perhaps acow and calf, but it is possible to encounteras many as 10 whales during these outingsand the expertise of the captain will be animportant element in finding our quarry.Despite averaging 25 metres in length andreaching a weight in excess of 100 tons,Blue Whales can be surprisingly elusive,but in these calm waters the mighty 9-metre high blow is often the firstindication of their presence near thesurface. Whilst concentrating each day onobserving Blue Whales, other smallercetaceans are also likely to entertain us.These may include Bryde's and PilotWhales, and Bottlenose, PantropicalSpotted, Striped and Spinner Dolphins, thelatter regularly appearing in pods of severalhundred individuals. Although theoccurrences of Blue Whales in Sri Lankanwaters have been known to researchers formany years it is only now that opportunitiesexist for visitors to see these impressiveanimals and, in 2010 and 2011, ourNaturetrek groups were rewarded by closeencounters in this most idyllic of settings.After this ultimate in whale-watchingexperiences we return to dry land to seekanother highly impressive mammal in Yala National Park. In recent years diurnalLeopards have been a regular attraction in this superb reserve and we will travel by jeeps for early morning and afternoon game drives, with thepossibility of suddenly coming upon a Leopard adding an exciting frisson toevery visit. Wildlife abounds in Yala andeach drive is likely to produce sightings ofIndian Elephant, Wild Boar, Spotted Deer,Sambar, mongooses, crocodiles andlizards as well as a stunning profusion ofcolourful birdlife. No visit to Yala everdisappoints, but it is the sight of asomnolent Leopard draped across thebranches of a tree or padding along atrack before disappearing into theundergrowth that creates a memory to lasta lifetime. During the final three days of thetour we will be staying at a verycomfortable hotel just outside the park and with no fences to constrain theinhabitants it is by no means unusual tosee a Wild Boar wander through thegrounds or even to find an elephantbrowsing in the garden! Yala is a magical place and a perfectvenue in which to complete a tour thatcombines the best of Sri Lankan wildlife,both marine and terrestrial, with the mostcomfortable of accommodation. It will bewith some reluctance that we will finallydepart from here and return to Colombofor a return flight back to colder climes;but, for those unwilling to leave, variouscombinations of tour extension can bearranged on request.Sri Lanka - BlueWhales & LeopardsA 10-day holiday in search of Blue Whales off Sri Lanka's south coast, as well asthe Leopards and other wildlife of Yala National Park.Saturday 11th February - Monday 20th February Cost: £2,395Saturday 3rd March - Monday 12th March Cost: £2,395Saturday 10th March - Monday 19th March Cost: £2,395Saturday 17th March - Monday 26th March Cost: £2,395Saturday 31st March - Monday 9th April Cost: £2,395Saturday 24th November - Monday 3rd December Cost: £2,395Saturday 22nd December - Monday 31st December Cost: £2,595Book direct on 01962 733051or see page 280 for Booking InformationANURADHAPURA MIHINTALE SIGIRIYA KANDY MIRISSAYALA NATIONAL PARK COLOMBO INDIANOCEANBAY OF BENGAL SRILANKAOutline itineraryDay 1Depart London.Day 2Arrive Colombo; transferMirissa.Day 3/5Whale-watchingexcursions from Mirissa.Day 6/8Yala National Park.Day 9Colombo.Day 10Fly London.AccommodationComfortable tourist hotels; allrooms have private facilities.FoodAll included in the price.GradingA. Easy day walks only.FocusBlue Whales, Leopards, othermammals and birds.LeaderDammithra Samarisinghe, SusanthaWeerappulli or Sunil de Alwis.Single room supplement£285.Web quick search:LKA06255LeopardBlue Whale