25th Apr - 25th May 2027 31 Days
Maximum Group Size 5
Activity Level Medium
Pricing US$11,615
Tour Leader Lobsang

Introduction

The Eastern Himalayas centered around the Indian State of Arunachal Pradesh is one of the prime Bird-Photo-Tour locations in the whole of Asia due to the sheer magnitude of its avian diversity which exceeds 900 bird species. Bird-Photo-Tours Asia’ Arunachal Pradesh expedition is scheduled around the prime spring season, lasting an extensive 31-days and will focus on two Himalayan districts on the western side of Arunachal Pradesh: (i) Tawang District and (ii) West Kameng District. With numerous opportunities for photographic portraits of so many birds it is difficult to highlight specific species but nonetheless Bird-Photo-Tours Asia has identified three main areas of special significance for the Bird Photographer (i) Tragopans: the opportunity for photographic portraits of Satyr Tragopan / Temminck’s Tragopan and Blyth’s Tragopan (ii) Wren Babblers: the opportunity for photographic portraits of 8 (eight) Wren Babbler species and (iii) Local Specialities: the opportunity for photographic portraits of Fire-tailed Myzornis / Gould’s Shortwing / Snow Partridge / Blood Pheasant / Golden-naped Finch / Ward’s Trogon / Bugun Liocichla. Bird-Photo-Tours Asia’ 31-day Arunachal Pradesh expedition provides a once-in-a-lifetime bird photography experience at one of the prime locations in Asia, if not the world.

Photographic Highlights

Tawang District: Bhutan Laughingthrush / Rufous Sibia / White-collared Blackbird / Darjeeling Woodpecker / Rufous-bellied Woodpecker / Crimson-breasted Woodpecker / Speckled Wood Pigeon / Satyr Tragopan / Blood Pheasant / Solitary Snipe / Golden-naped Finch / Himalayan Monal / Snow Partridge / Rusty-flanked Treecreeper / Hodgson’s Treecreeper / White-browed Tit-Warbler / Dark-breasted Rosefinch / Chinese Beautiful Rosefinch / Dark-rumped Rosefinch / White-browed Rosefinch / Red-headed Bullfinch / Himalayan Buzzard / Blue-fronted Redstart / White-throated Redstart / Black Redstart / Collared Grosbeak / White-winged Grosbeak / Fire-tailed Myzornis / Fire-tailed Sunbird / Brown-throated Fulvetta / Altai Accentor / Alpine Accentor.

West Kameng District: Temminck’s Tragopan / Brown Parrotbill / Pygmy Cupwing / Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler / Bar-winged Wren-Babbler / Darjeeling Woodpecker / Dark-rumped Rosefinch / Dark-breasted Rosefinch / Ibisbill / Long-billed Plover / Daurian Redstart / Hodgson’s Redstart / White-browed Wagtail / Blyth’s Tragopan / Black-headed Shrike-Babbler / Black-eared Shrike-Babbler / Green Shrike Babbler / Black-throated Parrotbill / Ward’s Trogon / Chestnut-breasted Partridge / Sikkim Wedge-billed Wren-Babbler / Scaly-breasted Cupwing / Pygmy Cupwing / Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler / Long-billed Wren-Babbler / Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler / Bar-winged Wren-Babbler / Spotted Elachura / Temminck’s Tragopan / Bugun Liocichla.

Pricing

Price US$11,615
Single Supplement US$1,058
Deposit US$3,484
Bird-Photo-Tour Asia Inclusions:

Guiding Fees / Ground Transportation / Accommodation / Meals / Entrance Fees / Tipping for Drivers, Boatsmen, Hotel and Restaurant Staff.

Bird-Photo-Tour Asia Exclusions:

International Flights / VISA Fees / Travel Insurance / Tips for Local Guide / Alcohol / Laundry / Items of a Personal Nature

Itinerary

Day 1 Guwahati, Assam State [1N, 0D, 0S]. Arrive in Guwahati and transfer to hotel.

Days 2-4 Tawang Town [2N, 1D, 2S]. Drive 6-hours to Tawang Town in Arunachal Pradesh State. Photographic Targets: Bhutan Laughingthrush / Rufous Sibia / White-collared Blackbird / Darjeeling Woodpecker / Rufous-bellied Woodpecker / Crimson-breasted Woodpecker / Speckled Wood Pigeon.
Days 4-11 Tawang District (Camping) [7N, 6D, 14S]. Drive 1-hour. Photographic Targets: Satyr Tragopan / Blood Pheasant / Solitary Snipe / Golden-naped Finch / Himalayan Monal / Snow Partridge / Rusty-flanked Treecreeper / Hodgson’s Treecreeper / White-browed Tit-Warbler / Dark-breasted Rosefinch / Chinese Beautiful Rosefinch / Dark-rumped Rosefinch / White-browed Rosefinch / Red-headed Bullfinch / Himalayan Buzzard / Blue-fronted Redstart / White-throated Redstart / Black Redstart / Collared Grosbeak / White-winged Grosbeak / Fire-tailed Myzornis / Fire-tailed Sunbird / Brown-throated Fulvetta / Altai Accentor / Alpine Accentor.
Days 11-12 Tawang Town [1N, 0D, 1S]. Drive 1-hour to Tawang Town. Photographic Targets: Bhutan Laughingthrush / Rufous Sibia / White-collared Blackbird / Darjeeling Woodpecker / Rufous-bellied Woodpecker / Crimson-breasted Woodpecker / Speckled Wood Pigeon.
Days 12-18 West Kameng District [6N, 5D, 12S]. Morning drive 3-hours. Photographic Targets: Temminck’s Tragopan / Brown Parrotbill / Pygmy Cupwing / Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler / Bar-winged Wren-Babbler / Darjeeling Woodpecker / Dark-rumped Rosefinch / Dark-breasted Rosefinch / Ibisbill / Long-billed Plover / Daurian Redstart / Hodgson’s Redstart / White-browed Wagtail.
Day 18-25 West Kameng District [7N, 6D, 14S]. Afternoon drive 5-hours. Photographic Targets: Blyth’s Tragopan / Black-headed Shrike-Babbler / Black-eared Shrike-Babbler / Green Shrike Babbler / Black-throated Parrotbill / Ward’s Trogon / Chestnut-breasted Partridge / Sikkim Wedge-billed Wren-Babbler / Scaly-breasted Cupwing / Pygmy Cupwing / Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler / Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler / Spotted Elachura.
Days 25-30 West Kameng District [5N, 4D, 9S]. Morning drive 2-hours. Photographic Targets: Temminck’s Tragopan / Bugun Liocichla.

Days 30-31 Guwahati, Assam State [1N, 0D, 0S]. Morning drive 6-hours to Guwahati.

Key: N: Night / D: Full Day / Session: Half-Day

Lobsang

Lobsang is an experienced guide with a first-class understanding of the needs of the bird photographer. One of India's top bird guides and currently serving as President of the Arunachal Pradesh Bird Club, Lobsang has a wealth of bird photography experience throughout India, particularly the bird-rich Himalayan region, growing up in Dirang and living not far away today in the mountains surrounding the Tenga Valley. Appointed as a Director and Shareholder of Bird-Photo-Tours Asia, Lobsang is 'India Managing Director' with particular responsibility for both India inbound and outbound Bird-Photo-Tours.

Medium Activity Level

(i) The guesthouses are all in close proximity to the bird photography locations (ii) Walking is at a light pace (iii) There is some requirement to hike (iv) some of the locations are at altitude at 3000-4000m (v) One of the locations requires camping for 7-nights. Summary: as some of the locations are at altitude and as one of the locations requires camping, it is for these reasons that this trip has been graded as 'Medium'.