25 Jan 2028 - 27 Jan 2028 (3 days)
USD3,295 SPACES AVAILABLE
Tour Leader: Local Leader
Tour Leader: Robert Williams
Tour Price (Per person): USD3,295 (EUR2,891 * GBP2,483 * ZAR53,292 * CAD4,661)
Single Supplement: USD475 (EUR417 * GBP358 * ZAR7,682 * CAD672)
Flight costs: USD260 (EUR228 * GBP196 * ZAR4,205 * CAD368)
This tour pairs with: India - Small Mammal Expedition 2028
An optional extension visits Bhitarkanika, where boat and walking explorations through mangrove-lined waterways targets the Fishing, Leopard and Jungle Cats, alongside a rich assemblage of reptiles and birds.
Mangrove Pitta; Brown-winged, Black-capped, Collared, Stork-billed, & Pied Kingfishers; Brown Fish Owl; White-bellied Sea-Eagle; Grey-headed Fish Eagle; Black Bittern; Pin-striped Tit-Babbler; Chestnut-capped Babbler; Asian Openbill; Black-headed Ibis; Oriental Darter; Purple Heron; Marsh & Terek Sandpipers; Eurasian Whimbrel & Curlew; Tibetan Sand Plover.
Fishing Cat; Leopard Cat; Jungle Cat; Smooth-coated Otter; Spotted Deer; Wild Boar; Indian Grey Mongoose.
Mangrove forest; tidal creeks and saline rivers; mudflats; estuarine waterways; islands; freshwater wetlands; reed-fringed pools; agricultural wetlands.
Warm tropical conditions, with cooler mornings and evenings; humid around the mangroves and wetlands, with mosquitoes and other insects possible.
8 with 1 Rockjumper Tour leader and 1 Indian tour leader
MODERATE TO CHALLENGING: This tour requires a good level of fitness, stamina, and overall health. It’s best suited for experienced birders who are comfortable with a more active itinerary. Please note that it may not be ideal for avid photographers, new birders, or those with mobility or health concerns.
Moderate
Comfortable
Moderate
150-180 speices
Scenic boat safaris through mangrove-lined creeks; Bhitarkanika’s extensive estuarine mangrove ecosystem; large Saltwater Crocodiles; monitor lizards and other reptiles; tidal mudflats and waterbird heronries.
Good
I had a wonderful time on this tour. The group had great chemistry, the accommodations and food were excellent and we visited many beautiful places. This and much more made for a very pleasurable experience. I hadn't been with Paul before on a tour; I'll certainly be checking on his tours now. Put simply, he was excellent. In addition to his obvious birding skills, he handled all phases very efficiently, and he made sure everyone could/would see as many birds (and mammals, etc) as they could, and his outgoing, pleasant personality all added up to a very rewarding and memorable experience. The guides and many other people of India really added to our trip. They were very friendly and helpful. That added a lot to our trip. Lastly, but not least, THANK YOU to all the Rockjumper staff. They helped me with all my questions and requests. They always do this. (Side note; this was my 11th nd 12th tours with Rockjumper) Again , THANKS to all at Rockjumper.
An excellent tour! Paul Josop lived up to our expectations for a Rockjumper guide - excellent knowledge of the birds; conscientious about getting everyone on the birds; on top of all the arrangements for meals, lodging and transportation; worked well with the local guide; and shared his excitement and good humor throughout the trip. The WhatsApp group that he set up was brilliant. He shared photos with us, as did other participants, and it was an easy way for us all to keep in touch. We would love to travel with Paul again.
Feedback for India – Western Deserts 2026 Overall, this was quite a trip. I had gone on the India – Northern Birds & Tigers just prior to this trip, so the number of new birds for us was low. However, we got most of the birds we were hoping for, a testament to Dušan and the highly-skilled local guides. We were well taken care of during the trip and all the accommodations were first class. The group were all serious birders, and we all got along together well and were able to contribute to the very respectful tally of the birds. The travel was a lot more than I anticipated. Several days were essentially all driving, with a brief stop or two to stretch and check for birds. I strongly recommend adding a day at Mt. Abu. We had only a few hours of birding there, sandwiched between very long drives. Adding a day there will be a great relief from spending so much time in the bus and allow us to catch up a bit on our sleep. I did a survey among our group and all greed that adding a day would be a great relief and would not keep any of us from choosing the trip. The birds were nearby, which helped a lot as we didn’t have a long drive to get to the birds. One location in particular, Desert National Park, was almost two hours. A closer accommodation needs to be scouted out. Dušan did a great job, and his enthusiasm kept us going when sleep depravation was hitting us. The guy never wanted to quit. We got all three mega birds, the Hypocolius, the Indian Spotted Creeper, and the Forest Owlet, quite well. All three were a great experience, especially the Hypocolius, as most of the group were family listers. We even had one of our group finish off the families during the trip! Thanks for offering and recommending this trip.
To David Hoddinott with many thanks. In my book, you are still the best guide I’ve ever birded with. Please give my regards to the office team. I am very proud to be part of the Rockjumper Family.
Clayton was friendly, informative and fun.... Very athletic and cheerful. Find him to be a wonderful guide.
India - Western: Desert Specials 2026 - February 2026
India - Southern: Endemics of the Western Ghats (Small Group) 2026 - January 2026
India - Northern: Birds & Tigers (Small Group) 2026 - January 2026
India - Northern: Birds & Tigers 2025 - November 2025
India south side test tour (Tpss) - July 2025
India - Northeast: Mishmi Hills & Assam specialities 2025 - April 2025
India - Northeast: Eaglenest & Beyond 2025 - April 2025
India - Northwestern Himalayas 2025 - March 2025
India - Red Panda Quest 2025 - March 2025
India - Northern: Birds & Tigers (Small Group) 2025 - February 2025
India - Weakland (North) 2024 - November 2024
India - Assam Extension II 2024 - April 2024
India - Assam Extension I 2024 - March 2024
India - Southern: Birding & Wildlife of the Western Ghats (Small Group) 2024 - January 2024
India - Northern: Birds & Tigers 2023 - December 2023
India - Assam Birding & Big Game Extension II 2023 - April 2023
India - Northeast: Eaglenest & Beyond 2023 - April 2023
India - Assam Birding & Big Game Extension I 2023 - March 2023
India - Northern: Birds & Tigers (Small Group) 2023 - January 2023